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Showing posts with label Seafood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seafood. Show all posts

Spicy Guacamole Shrimp Melts {& Concord Foods Seasoning Mix GIVEAWAY}

Guacamole Shrimp Melts

Oh, I have a very exciting post today! You know why? Well, because I'm sharing a very easy, very yummy recipe featuring two wonderful products from Concord Foods. But that's not all. It's also because one of you gets to try these wonderful products, too! That's right. Compliments of Concord Foods, I get to give away a sampler pack of their guacamole and salsa seasoning mixes to a reader of The Kitchen is My Playground. Yay!

And that makes me happy. Because I love to give gifts. So now let's check out what I made with Concord Foods' stuff so you can get going with entering to win the sampler pack. Ok?

Continue Reading >>
Guacamole Shrimp Melts

Oh, I have a very exciting post today! You know why? Well, because I'm sharing a very easy, very yummy recipe featuring two wonderful products from Concord Foods. But that's not all. It's also because one of you gets to try these wonderful products, too! That's right. Compliments of Concord Foods, I get to give away a sampler pack of their guacamole and salsa seasoning mixes to a reader of The Kitchen is My Playground. Yay!

And that makes me happy. Because I love to give gifts. So now let's check out what I made with Concord Foods' stuff so you can get going with entering to win the sampler pack. Ok?

Continue Reading >>
reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Shrimp and Grits Casserole




Shrimp and grits.  It's totally a southern-tradition dish with which I was absolutely unfamiliar until I moved to North Carolina.  I'll admit, I was afraid to try it at first. And now?  It's one of my favorites!

I have posted this recipe before ... way back when The Kitchen is My Playground was a wee 2 months old.  And I was using a point-and-shoot camera.  The pictures I took of Shrimp and Grits casserole with the point-and-shoot were especially terrible.  I've been itching to repost this with a better photo.  I can't say these pictures are totally wonderful (this casserole is really difficult to photograph!! ... at least for me), but they're at least a little better.

Now, a lot of shrimp and grits dishes are spicy - this one certainly is not. It's a very mild-flavored, cheesy, shrimpy grits casserole-style dish, without the typical spice.  The original recipe is from Cooking Light magazine, but I think I've tweaked it to put back in most of the bad things they worked so hard to take out. Oh well.

Start by cooking up your grits. I've learned from my southern friends, who've grown up cooking grits, that the secret to good grits is to add the grits to the liquid mixture very slowly. Whisk them constantly while you're adding the grits, and cook them until they're very thick.

When you're just starting they'll look like this: ...


... and will look nice and thick like this when they're done:


Once your grits are cooked, stir in some Parmesan, cream cheese, chives, parsley, shrimp, and other good stuff.


Bake it up ...

... and serve up a big ol' plate full.  Then dig in to this creamy comfort food.  I like mine with a side of lima beans or sauteed cabbage.  Yuuuuuuuum. 
I invite you to follow The Kitchen is My Playground with Pinterest, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, Linky Followers, bloglovin', or Feedburner. Buttons are in the right sidebar. I'd love to have you back soon!


Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Adapted from Cooking Light magazine
Ingredients
2 c. milk (I use whole milk, but any 'slimmer' variety is fine too)
3/4 c. chicken broth
1 c. quick-cooking grits
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
2 T. butter
4 oz. cream cheese (less fat Neufchatel-type is fine)
1 or 2 T. chopped fresh chives (you can also use dried)
3 T. fresh parsley or 1 T. dried parsley
1 T. lemon juice
1 egg
1 lb. peeled shrimp, roughly chopped


Directions
1.  Bring milk and chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually add grits and salt to pan, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly.

2.  Remove grits from heat. Stir in Parmesan, butter, and cream cheese until melted; then stir in remaining ingredients.

3.  Spoon grits mixture into a 11x7" baking dish generously coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until set and the top is just starting to get some golden brown areas.

Enjoy!


This post is linked with Foodie Friday hosted by Rattlebridge Farm, Weekend Bloggy Reading hosted by Serenity Now, Inspiration Friday hosted by At the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff Saturday hosted by Six Sisters' Stuff, Think Pink Sundays hosted by Flamingo Toes, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Addicted to Recipes, Sundae Scoop hosted by I {heart} Naptime, Savvy HomeMade Monday hosted by Home Savvy A to Z, Mangia Mondays hosted by Shine Your Light, Just Something I Whipped Up hosted by The Girl Creative, Totally Tasty Tuesday hosted by Mandy's Recipe Box, Tuesday Talent Show hosted by Chef in Training, Share Your Creations hosted by Kristen's Creations, It's a Keeper Thursday hosted by It's a Keeper, Saturday DishesGooseberry Patch Recipe Round-Up, Saturday Dishes.



Shrimp and grits.  It's totally a southern-tradition dish with which I was absolutely unfamiliar until I moved to North Carolina.  I'll admit, I was afraid to try it at first. And now?  It's one of my favorites!

I have posted this recipe before ... way back when The Kitchen is My Playground was a wee 2 months old.  And I was using a point-and-shoot camera.  The pictures I took of Shrimp and Grits casserole with the point-and-shoot were especially terrible.  I've been itching to repost this with a better photo.  I can't say these pictures are totally wonderful (this casserole is really difficult to photograph!! ... at least for me), but they're at least a little better.

Now, a lot of shrimp and grits dishes are spicy - this one certainly is not. It's a very mild-flavored, cheesy, shrimpy grits casserole-style dish, without the typical spice.  The original recipe is from Cooking Light magazine, but I think I've tweaked it to put back in most of the bad things they worked so hard to take out. Oh well.

Start by cooking up your grits. I've learned from my southern friends, who've grown up cooking grits, that the secret to good grits is to add the grits to the liquid mixture very slowly. Whisk them constantly while you're adding the grits, and cook them until they're very thick.

When you're just starting they'll look like this: ...


... and will look nice and thick like this when they're done:


Once your grits are cooked, stir in some Parmesan, cream cheese, chives, parsley, shrimp, and other good stuff.


Bake it up ...

... and serve up a big ol' plate full.  Then dig in to this creamy comfort food.  I like mine with a side of lima beans or sauteed cabbage.  Yuuuuuuuum. 
I invite you to follow The Kitchen is My Playground with Pinterest, Facebook, Google Friend Connect, Linky Followers, bloglovin', or Feedburner. Buttons are in the right sidebar. I'd love to have you back soon!


Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Adapted from Cooking Light magazine
Ingredients
2 c. milk (I use whole milk, but any 'slimmer' variety is fine too)
3/4 c. chicken broth
1 c. quick-cooking grits
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
2 T. butter
4 oz. cream cheese (less fat Neufchatel-type is fine)
1 or 2 T. chopped fresh chives (you can also use dried)
3 T. fresh parsley or 1 T. dried parsley
1 T. lemon juice
1 egg
1 lb. peeled shrimp, roughly chopped


Directions
1.  Bring milk and chicken broth to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Gradually add grits and salt to pan, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly.

2.  Remove grits from heat. Stir in Parmesan, butter, and cream cheese until melted; then stir in remaining ingredients.

3.  Spoon grits mixture into a 11x7" baking dish generously coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until set and the top is just starting to get some golden brown areas.

Enjoy!


This post is linked with Foodie Friday hosted by Rattlebridge Farm, Weekend Bloggy Reading hosted by Serenity Now, Inspiration Friday hosted by At the Picket Fence, Strut Your Stuff Saturday hosted by Six Sisters' Stuff, Think Pink Sundays hosted by Flamingo Toes, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Addicted to Recipes, Sundae Scoop hosted by I {heart} Naptime, Savvy HomeMade Monday hosted by Home Savvy A to Z, Mangia Mondays hosted by Shine Your Light, Just Something I Whipped Up hosted by The Girl Creative, Totally Tasty Tuesday hosted by Mandy's Recipe Box, Tuesday Talent Show hosted by Chef in Training, Share Your Creations hosted by Kristen's Creations, It's a Keeper Thursday hosted by It's a Keeper, Saturday DishesGooseberry Patch Recipe Round-Up, Saturday Dishes.
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Clam Chowder with Greens {a lighter NE Clam Chowder option}


The thick and creamy goodness of New England style clam chowder, chock full of clams, cream, and tender potatoes ... it's one of my favorites.  But, I felt it necessary to find a lower-fat, lower-carb, healthier version to make at home that didn't induce the usual post-bowl guilt I felt after indulging in it's rich yumminess.

Still, it was difficult for me to let go of the traditional.  I did grow up in New England, after all.  When I came across a recipe packing in greens and boasting lower calories and carbs, I was skeptical, but tried to hold on to a chowder-open mind.  Replace the traditional potatoes with leafy greens??  Really???  Though skeptical, I was intrigued.

So, figuring the worst that could happen was a wasted pot of chowder, I took the plunge and cooked up a batch.  Well guess what?  This is now my go-to Clam Chowder.  No wasted pot of chowder here.  While it's not quite as thick as the traditional fare, it's got great flavor and a healthy kick from the greens.

Healthy greens like these turnip and mustard greens ...

... chopped up and cooked up with a whole mess of clams, half-and-half, and turkey bacon.


Serve up a bowl with some whole-grain bread, and you've got yourself a hearty meal with all the creamy goodness of New England Clam Chowder ... and minus the guilt.


Clam Chowder with Greens
Source:  Adapted from Prevention Healthy Cooking's Lose Weight the Smart Low-Carb Way

Ingredients
1/4 lb. (about 5 slices) turkey bacon
1 T. olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
6 T. flour
4 c. (about 12 oz.) chopped turnip or other greens
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
3 (10 oz.) cans chopped clams, juice reserved
1 c. milk or half-and-half
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions
1.  Drain clams, reserving the juice.

2.  Chop bacon; cook in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until crisp.  Drain on a paper towel and set aside.

3.  Add olive oil to the same pan, and then add onion and garlic.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 8-10 minutes.  Add flour and cook and stir about 1 minute, coating onions with the flour.  Add chopped greens and cook about 2 minutes. 

4.  Stir in chicken broth and reserved clam juice.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes.  

5.  Stir in milk or half-and-half and heat through.  Stir in black pepper, clams, and turkey bacon; cook for 1-2 minutes more.

Note:  I usually use a combination of turnip greens and mustard greens.

Enjoy!




This post is linked with Strut Your Stuff Saturday hosted by Six Sisters' Stuff, Sundae Scoop hosted by I {heart} Naptime, Think Pink Sundays hosted by Flamingo Toes, Mangia Mondays hosted by Shine Your Light, Savvy HomeMade Monday hosted by Home Savvy A to Z, Tuesday Talent Show hosted by Chef in Training, Totally Tasty Tuesdays hosted by Mandy's Recipe Box, Cast Party Wednesday hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain, Foodie Friday hosted by Rattlebridge Farm.

The thick and creamy goodness of New England style clam chowder, chock full of clams, cream, and tender potatoes ... it's one of my favorites.  But, I felt it necessary to find a lower-fat, lower-carb, healthier version to make at home that didn't induce the usual post-bowl guilt I felt after indulging in it's rich yumminess.

Still, it was difficult for me to let go of the traditional.  I did grow up in New England, after all.  When I came across a recipe packing in greens and boasting lower calories and carbs, I was skeptical, but tried to hold on to a chowder-open mind.  Replace the traditional potatoes with leafy greens??  Really???  Though skeptical, I was intrigued.

So, figuring the worst that could happen was a wasted pot of chowder, I took the plunge and cooked up a batch.  Well guess what?  This is now my go-to Clam Chowder.  No wasted pot of chowder here.  While it's not quite as thick as the traditional fare, it's got great flavor and a healthy kick from the greens.

Healthy greens like these turnip and mustard greens ...

... chopped up and cooked up with a whole mess of clams, half-and-half, and turkey bacon.


Serve up a bowl with some whole-grain bread, and you've got yourself a hearty meal with all the creamy goodness of New England Clam Chowder ... and minus the guilt.


Clam Chowder with Greens
Source:  Adapted from Prevention Healthy Cooking's Lose Weight the Smart Low-Carb Way

Ingredients
1/4 lb. (about 5 slices) turkey bacon
1 T. olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
6 T. flour
4 c. (about 12 oz.) chopped turnip or other greens
2 (14 1/2 oz.) cans chicken broth
3 (10 oz.) cans chopped clams, juice reserved
1 c. milk or half-and-half
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions
1.  Drain clams, reserving the juice.

2.  Chop bacon; cook in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until crisp.  Drain on a paper towel and set aside.

3.  Add olive oil to the same pan, and then add onion and garlic.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 8-10 minutes.  Add flour and cook and stir about 1 minute, coating onions with the flour.  Add chopped greens and cook about 2 minutes. 

4.  Stir in chicken broth and reserved clam juice.  Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for about 10 minutes.  

5.  Stir in milk or half-and-half and heat through.  Stir in black pepper, clams, and turkey bacon; cook for 1-2 minutes more.

Note:  I usually use a combination of turnip greens and mustard greens.

Enjoy!




This post is linked with Strut Your Stuff Saturday hosted by Six Sisters' Stuff, Sundae Scoop hosted by I {heart} Naptime, Think Pink Sundays hosted by Flamingo Toes, Mangia Mondays hosted by Shine Your Light, Savvy HomeMade Monday hosted by Home Savvy A to Z, Tuesday Talent Show hosted by Chef in Training, Totally Tasty Tuesdays hosted by Mandy's Recipe Box, Cast Party Wednesday hosted by Lady Behind the Curtain, Foodie Friday hosted by Rattlebridge Farm.
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My Mom Throw's a Great Party! {Party Series Part 1}

I have such a wonderful Mom!  Not only is she a fabulous friend with whom I love to hang out, she's a fantastic hostess too.  She knows how to throw a great party! 


This past week she hosted a wine tasting party for a group of her girlfriends.  They get together about once a month for fellowship and fun, rotating the hosting role, and typically partaking in some grape-based beverages along the way.  Want to know what they call themselves?  This is such a sweet and fun name ... they call themselves Thirsty Girls.  That's so clever!  It's even more clever when you know that what brought them all together to begin with was their love for shag dancing, and they dance at a place called Thirsty's II.  Yup, just about every Sunday night (and possibly Saturday, too) you can find most of this group dancin' the night away at Thirsty's  II.  And that's how Thirsty Girls was born.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in this Thirsty Girls party, both as a guest and as my Mom's sous-chef.  I'm not sure which part was more fun - actually attending the party and getting to know my Mom's friends, or hanging out in the kitchen with Mom for two days as we prepared all the food together (well, a good portion of the food - my Mom is super organized and already had quite a bit of it done!).  Both were a blast. 

We had the camera going the whole time we were in the kitchen, snapping pictures all along the way.  That means I get to share a whole bunch of super-tasty recipes with you that are just perfect for entertaining.  So get ready!! ... Here comes the "Party Series!"

Let's start this first post of the series with a look at some of Mom's nice little touches.  She's quite creative, and came up with some elegant wine-themed decorating ideas.  Then I'll share her Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp recipe, and a list of her full party menu so you'll know what to look forward to.  Sound good?

Nice Touch #1:  Cork Table Cards

Table labels
Or, table labels, you might say!  Aren't those cute?  We started with business card-sized cards that I embossed.  That's one of my other hobbies ... making cards and miscellaneous things (like these) using a dry-embossing technique.  Look closely at the lower right corner of the cards and you'll see an embossed wine bottle, wine glass, or grape bunch.  I know - it's really hard to see in this picture.  Hopefully I'll be getting a better camera real soon.

Next Mom used a serrated knife to cut a sliver off the bottom of some corks.  This made a flat base so the corks would sit up on the table.  Then she made a slit in the top of each cork ...

Preparing the corks
... and slid in the label card.

The table label line-up

Nice Touch #2:  "Elevated" Centerpiece
Check it out!  Mom made her light fixture into an "elevated" centerpiece by tying wine glasses to it with pretty ribbons!  How absolutely clever!!  Other than it being creative and beautiful, there was a functional reason for this, too ...

"Elevated" centerpiece
... her table was completely full with her tasty treats!  This "elevated" centerpiece is certainly one way to solve a serving space problem.

"The Spread"
Nice Touch #3:  Herb Bouquets
Mom made little herb bouquets in bud vases to place around the house.  They looked great, and were a very simple way to add a festive touch.  Though it looks like a bug or two may have been having a party out in the garden on this basil leaf!  I guess everyone ... or everything? ... loves fresh basil.

Herb bud vase bouquet
Now for the menu. 

On the savory side:
Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp (recipe below)
Tortellini Salad
Antipasto Platter with Grape Tomato & Caper Salad
Tarragon Chicken Salad-Stuffed Profiteroles
Marinated Cheese
Grand Marnier & Spiced Rum Fruit Dip
Shrimp Curry Mango Bites
Tapenade Crostini
Toasted Pesto Rounds

The savories
For dessert:
Almond-Raspberry Bars
Caramel-Walnut Bars
Lemon-Coconut Bars
Raspberry Chocolate Truffles
Mini Mocha-Toffee Crunch Cheesecakes
Dark Chocolate Drunken Cherries


I told you Mom throws a great party!
The desserts


Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp
Source:  A Family Friend

Ingredients
2 T. butter, melted
1 T. olive oil
1 T. minced garlic
2 T. minced dill weed
2 T. minced shallots (or grated mild onion)
2 T. fresh lemon juice
Dash cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper, to taste
2 lbs. peeled & deveined cooked shrimp

Directions
1.  Mix all ingredients, except shrimp, to make the marinade.  Pour marinade over shrimp.  

2.  Refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp
I have such a wonderful Mom!  Not only is she a fabulous friend with whom I love to hang out, she's a fantastic hostess too.  She knows how to throw a great party! 


This past week she hosted a wine tasting party for a group of her girlfriends.  They get together about once a month for fellowship and fun, rotating the hosting role, and typically partaking in some grape-based beverages along the way.  Want to know what they call themselves?  This is such a sweet and fun name ... they call themselves Thirsty Girls.  That's so clever!  It's even more clever when you know that what brought them all together to begin with was their love for shag dancing, and they dance at a place called Thirsty's II.  Yup, just about every Sunday night (and possibly Saturday, too) you can find most of this group dancin' the night away at Thirsty's  II.  And that's how Thirsty Girls was born.

I was fortunate enough to be able to take part in this Thirsty Girls party, both as a guest and as my Mom's sous-chef.  I'm not sure which part was more fun - actually attending the party and getting to know my Mom's friends, or hanging out in the kitchen with Mom for two days as we prepared all the food together (well, a good portion of the food - my Mom is super organized and already had quite a bit of it done!).  Both were a blast. 

We had the camera going the whole time we were in the kitchen, snapping pictures all along the way.  That means I get to share a whole bunch of super-tasty recipes with you that are just perfect for entertaining.  So get ready!! ... Here comes the "Party Series!"

Let's start this first post of the series with a look at some of Mom's nice little touches.  She's quite creative, and came up with some elegant wine-themed decorating ideas.  Then I'll share her Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp recipe, and a list of her full party menu so you'll know what to look forward to.  Sound good?

Nice Touch #1:  Cork Table Cards

Table labels
Or, table labels, you might say!  Aren't those cute?  We started with business card-sized cards that I embossed.  That's one of my other hobbies ... making cards and miscellaneous things (like these) using a dry-embossing technique.  Look closely at the lower right corner of the cards and you'll see an embossed wine bottle, wine glass, or grape bunch.  I know - it's really hard to see in this picture.  Hopefully I'll be getting a better camera real soon.

Next Mom used a serrated knife to cut a sliver off the bottom of some corks.  This made a flat base so the corks would sit up on the table.  Then she made a slit in the top of each cork ...

Preparing the corks
... and slid in the label card.

The table label line-up

Nice Touch #2:  "Elevated" Centerpiece
Check it out!  Mom made her light fixture into an "elevated" centerpiece by tying wine glasses to it with pretty ribbons!  How absolutely clever!!  Other than it being creative and beautiful, there was a functional reason for this, too ...

"Elevated" centerpiece
... her table was completely full with her tasty treats!  This "elevated" centerpiece is certainly one way to solve a serving space problem.

"The Spread"
Nice Touch #3:  Herb Bouquets
Mom made little herb bouquets in bud vases to place around the house.  They looked great, and were a very simple way to add a festive touch.  Though it looks like a bug or two may have been having a party out in the garden on this basil leaf!  I guess everyone ... or everything? ... loves fresh basil.

Herb bud vase bouquet
Now for the menu. 

On the savory side:
Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp (recipe below)
Tortellini Salad
Antipasto Platter with Grape Tomato & Caper Salad
Tarragon Chicken Salad-Stuffed Profiteroles
Marinated Cheese
Grand Marnier & Spiced Rum Fruit Dip
Shrimp Curry Mango Bites
Tapenade Crostini
Toasted Pesto Rounds

The savories
For dessert:
Almond-Raspberry Bars
Caramel-Walnut Bars
Lemon-Coconut Bars
Raspberry Chocolate Truffles
Mini Mocha-Toffee Crunch Cheesecakes
Dark Chocolate Drunken Cherries


I told you Mom throws a great party!
The desserts


Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp
Source:  A Family Friend

Ingredients
2 T. butter, melted
1 T. olive oil
1 T. minced garlic
2 T. minced dill weed
2 T. minced shallots (or grated mild onion)
2 T. fresh lemon juice
Dash cayenne pepper
Salt & pepper, to taste
2 lbs. peeled & deveined cooked shrimp

Directions
1.  Mix all ingredients, except shrimp, to make the marinade.  Pour marinade over shrimp.  

2.  Refrigerate for several hours before serving.

Enjoy!

Garlic & Dill Marinated Shrimp
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Shrimp & Pesto Pizza - Mark's favorite!

I'm still not back in the kitchen.  Soooo many thanks to my fabulous friends who are keeping Mark and me fed!!  But I do have a few more things in my "backlog" that I can write about.  And since I'm better able to sit at the computer now and my Mom's gone back home (meaning - I'm extra bored!), I think I'll crank out a series of four related posts this week.  They'll be about PIZZA!  That's the plan right now anyway - we'll see if I can actually get them all written.  I'm choosing to think positively.

A while back, I posted about one of our favorite homemade pizzas - Sausage & Balsamic-Caramelized Onion pizza.  I've got four more of our favorite combinations in the queue, starting here with Mark's absolute favorite, Shrimp & Pesto pizza ... with sun-dried tomatoes tossed in to make it even better.


Whenever I ask Mark what kind of pizza he'd like for dinner, this one is his answer.  The boy's got good taste!  Start by spreading your prepared crust with a thin layer of pesto ... jarred or homemade.  I use Trader Joe's jarred pesto.  Keep it thin ... the pesto flavor can easily become overpowering if you get it on there too thick.

A thin layer of pesto for the sauce
Then layer on mozzarella cheese, shrimp, and sun-dried tomatoes.  If you're using medium or small shrimp, just place them on whole.  If they're large shrimp, slice them in half lengthwise or give them a rough chop so they're in manageable bite-sized pieces.

Adding the toppings
Cover the shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes well with mozzarella to keep them nice and moist while baking.  When it's all golden brown, dig in!  I think you'll be glad you did.


Shrimp & Pesto Pizza
Source:  Inspired by a friend

Ingredients
Pizza dough (homemade or store-bought dough ball; click here to read more about pizza dough)
Pesto
About 8-10 medium uncooked shrimp
Sun-dried tomatoes, drained & diced
Shredded mozzarella

Directions
Peel and devein shrimp; slice in half lengthwise (if using small shrimp, use more and don't cut them in half).  Roll pizza dough out to desired size; place on preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of pesto over the crust for sauce. Top with shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and just beginning to brown. Enjoy!
I'm still not back in the kitchen.  Soooo many thanks to my fabulous friends who are keeping Mark and me fed!!  But I do have a few more things in my "backlog" that I can write about.  And since I'm better able to sit at the computer now and my Mom's gone back home (meaning - I'm extra bored!), I think I'll crank out a series of four related posts this week.  They'll be about PIZZA!  That's the plan right now anyway - we'll see if I can actually get them all written.  I'm choosing to think positively.

A while back, I posted about one of our favorite homemade pizzas - Sausage & Balsamic-Caramelized Onion pizza.  I've got four more of our favorite combinations in the queue, starting here with Mark's absolute favorite, Shrimp & Pesto pizza ... with sun-dried tomatoes tossed in to make it even better.


Whenever I ask Mark what kind of pizza he'd like for dinner, this one is his answer.  The boy's got good taste!  Start by spreading your prepared crust with a thin layer of pesto ... jarred or homemade.  I use Trader Joe's jarred pesto.  Keep it thin ... the pesto flavor can easily become overpowering if you get it on there too thick.

A thin layer of pesto for the sauce
Then layer on mozzarella cheese, shrimp, and sun-dried tomatoes.  If you're using medium or small shrimp, just place them on whole.  If they're large shrimp, slice them in half lengthwise or give them a rough chop so they're in manageable bite-sized pieces.

Adding the toppings
Cover the shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes well with mozzarella to keep them nice and moist while baking.  When it's all golden brown, dig in!  I think you'll be glad you did.


Shrimp & Pesto Pizza
Source:  Inspired by a friend

Ingredients
Pizza dough (homemade or store-bought dough ball; click here to read more about pizza dough)
Pesto
About 8-10 medium uncooked shrimp
Sun-dried tomatoes, drained & diced
Shredded mozzarella

Directions
Peel and devein shrimp; slice in half lengthwise (if using small shrimp, use more and don't cut them in half).  Roll pizza dough out to desired size; place on preheated pizza stone or baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of pesto over the crust for sauce. Top with shrimp and sun-dried tomatoes, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-25 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and just beginning to brown. Enjoy!
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Cooking the Catch with My Fishing-Fanatic Brother!


Did you think I'd disappeared?? Well, I'm back! Kind of. As many of you know, I'm a bit under the weather after having had surgery last week. I'm happy to report that, as of today, I actually feel sort of like a human being again. But, I'm not back in the kitchen yet and probably won't be for another week or two. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce you to my brother Bryan.

Now to say that my brother loves to fish is about the biggest understatement one can make.  If he's not working or sleeping, he's pretty much fishing.  Or writing about his fishing adventures on his blog.  Along the way, he's become really great at cooking up his catch.  So in the absence of me being able to be in the kitchen, I thought I'd share a few of my brother's posts that include his methods for cooking up yummy fish dishes.  I'm a fan of shell-fish, but not "swimmy fish" as I say.  Though when Bryan cooks "swimmy fish," even I love it!  Click on the links below to view Bryan's posts on his blog.

Seared Tuna Loin & Fresh Tuna Salad

 Lemon Pepper Swordfish

 Grilled Mahi with Mango Salsa

I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into my brother's world!

Did you think I'd disappeared?? Well, I'm back! Kind of. As many of you know, I'm a bit under the weather after having had surgery last week. I'm happy to report that, as of today, I actually feel sort of like a human being again. But, I'm not back in the kitchen yet and probably won't be for another week or two. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce you to my brother Bryan.

Now to say that my brother loves to fish is about the biggest understatement one can make.  If he's not working or sleeping, he's pretty much fishing.  Or writing about his fishing adventures on his blog.  Along the way, he's become really great at cooking up his catch.  So in the absence of me being able to be in the kitchen, I thought I'd share a few of my brother's posts that include his methods for cooking up yummy fish dishes.  I'm a fan of shell-fish, but not "swimmy fish" as I say.  Though when Bryan cooks "swimmy fish," even I love it!  Click on the links below to view Bryan's posts on his blog.

Seared Tuna Loin & Fresh Tuna Salad

 Lemon Pepper Swordfish

 Grilled Mahi with Mango Salsa

I hope you enjoy a little glimpse into my brother's world!
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