Lent Suppers - Spicy Shrimp Tacos

A standby in our house for a quick meal is tacos. Not the regular ground beef hard shell tacos but spicy shrimp or spicy fish tacos. The way we make them is super simple: take shelled and de-veined shrimp or fish cut into strips and toss with Siracha hot sauce. Saute and stuff a small corn tortilla. Typically we had a cabbage slaw, cilantro, lime and pickled red onions. Yum.

Siracha aka "Rooster Sauce" is our go to for spicing up meals but i n this dish it really makes the meal!

Bicycle Cake

Nate calls his 4th birthday his "Big Bicycle Birthday". It's not that he wants a new bicycle, he got a great hand-me-down bike from a neighbors grandson. He calls it his "Big Bicycle Birthday" because he wants a big cake shaped like a bicycle. Uhhhh...yeah...I could do that, right?

Sure.

I started by making to 6" rounds for the wheels and a sheet cake to cut into parts for the body of the bicycle. It's a bit rough and clunky, but it definitely resembles a bike...or scooter...or moped...at least it looks like a two-wheeled vehicle!

Much more successful were the Oreo lollipops. I simply stuck a stick into the center filling of the Oreo, dipped them in chocolate and sprinkled fun sprinkles on top. They worked out much better than anticipated.

The best part was that Nate had a good time. He didn't notice the awkwardness of the cake or the uneven dip of the cookies. In his eyes everything was perfect. 

Happy birthday little guy!

Lent Suppers - Cajun Shrimp

Last week we actually made two non-meat dinners. The first was Cook's Illustrated "Best Vegetarian Chili". I'm not posting the recipe or instructions as it was way too much work for the end result. I've had yummy vegetarian chilis before and this wasn't what I had in mind when I made it. It was more of a mock meat chili.

The other recipe was an old standby that we typically make during the Summer, Cajun Shrimp. This recipe is tasty every time! We eat it on its own as an appetizer or tossed with pasta as a main course. The best part is that it is super simple to make.

 

Start with tail on, deveined shrimp.

 

Toss with vegetable oil, Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes and Worcestershire sauce. Grill on the barbecue until cooked through.

Place cooked shrimp in a clean bowl. Don't touch as they are hot! (Gabby is saying Ow as she wanted to eat one and the shrimp were still hot!)

Drizzle a generous portion of honey on top and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

Cajun Shrimp

Ingredients:

12 shrimp, deveined with the tail on
1 T vegetable oil
1 1/2 t Cajun seasoning
1 1/2 t. red pepper flakes
1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce
1 T+ honey

Directions:

Toss the first 5 ingredients in a bowl. Grill on a barbecue until done.

Place in a clean bowl and drizzle with honey. Serve warm.

Fluttering Butterfly

 

My friend Amanda's birthday was last weekend so I hauled out my craft supplies and started brainstorming what to make for a card. I make Amanda a card every year. We made the startling realization that this is the 16th card I've made her. Here's a link to last years card.

 

This year I admittedly poached the idea from this cool picture I saw at Ikea. I took the picture with my phone a couple of years ago and have been meaning to make my own since.

 

 

To start I drew out some butterfly silhouettes on the backside of my card stock. Then I took out an X-Acto knife and cut along the lines. Next, carefully erase the pencil marks.

 

Then glue a colorful piece of paper to the backside and voila! I think I'll try making a larger shadowbox picture for Gabby's room next!

Partying with Poh Poh

My mom (aka Poh Poh to the kids) came up for a very short but activity packed couple of days this week. We celebrated Nate's birthday early with a trip to the toy department at Target, ate food non-stop and did what my kids do best, ran and ran and ran around the house.

It was exhausting but so much fun. The brief visit highlighted how much I miss my mom for the big events like the kids birthdays but the everyday things too. Sure wished she lived closer.

I love you, Mom!

Lent Suppers - Pasta with White Clam Sauce

 

Last year I made Spaghetti with Red Clam Sauce, and it was a huge hit with the family. From the same magazine article that I cut out that recipe there was a recipe for Pasta with White Clam Sauce. Since we liked the first so well I decided to try the second recipe this year.

 

The ingredient list is similar and simple: spaghetti, olive oil, garlic, 2 cans chopped clams, white wine, red pepper flakes, parsley and butter.

 



 

Start off by cooking your pasta according to package instructions. While that is cooking heat olive oil in a pan and add the smashed garlic cloves. Cook until golden brown.

 

Add in the clams with their juice, wine, red pepper flakes and pepper to taste. Simmer until the liquid thickens a bit so it will coat the pasta, not just run off. I know it doesn't look too appetizing at this point but trust me that the end product will taste yummy.

 

Add in the parsley and butter.

 

 

Then toss in the pasta. Cook for about a minute and serve warm.

 

Spaghetti with White Clam Sauce

 

Ingredients:

 

coarse Salt

1 lb. spaghetti (I used fettuccine)

1/4 c. olive oil

2 garlic cloves, smashed

2 cans (6 1/2 oz each) chopped clams, with their juice

1/4 c. dry white wine

1/4 t. crushed red-pepper flakes

freshly ground pepper

1/4 c. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1 T. cold unsalted butter

 

Directions:

 

Bring a large covered pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente.

 

Meanwhile, make the sauce: Heat oil in a very large skillet over medium-low heat until hot but not smoking. Add garlic; cook, stirring, until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in clams with their juice, wine, and red pepper flakes; season with salt and pepper (keep in mind that the clams are already quite salty). Reduce heat, and simmer until sauce is thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

 

Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Stir pasta, parsley, and butter into sauce in skillet; season with salt and pepper. If sauce doesn't coat pasta evenly, stir in a few tablespoons reserved cooking liquid. Cover; cook 1 minute over medium-low heat. Serve immediately.

Potty

I don't know if it is a fluke or we are on the road to potty training but Gabster has used the potty several times now. The first time I admit I Snap-chatted a picture of her "business" to a few people. Gross, I know. Whether she is trying to mimic her big brother or truly has a desire to use the potty I don't know. I will just be happy when this household is diaper free!