#22: Make 10 New Recipes

The Hubs and I decided that we needed to try new foods and flavors. So I suggested we try recipes from different areas of the world. We decided to start with Asia and had Asian Week. I made 2 recipes based off of that idea.

Recipe 1

Pan Seared Shrimp with Soba noodles and Broccoli

source Proceed with Caution

Ingredients:

For the Shrimp

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I used EVOO)
• 1 1/2 pounds of shrimp (21/25 count), peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon granulated sugar

For the Sauce

• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons water
• 2 scallions, sliced thin

8-12 ounces of Soba noodles, cooked and drained

2 cups of broccoli

Directions:

1. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. (Double if pairing with noodles)
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over high heat until smoking. Meanwhile, toss shrimp, salt, red pepper, and sugar together in a bowl. Add half the shrimp to pan in single layer and cook until spotty brown and edges turn pink, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat; Using tongs, flip shrimp and toss until all but very center of shrimp is opaque, about 30 seconds. Transfer shrimp to large plate. Repeat with remaining oil and shrimp. After second batch has stood off heat, return first batch to skillet along with sauce mixture and toss to combine. Cover skillet and let stand until shrimp are cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Add cooked soba noodles and broccoli along with remaining sauce. Toss to combine, then serve.

Verdict:

We absolutely loved this recipe. The flavor was wonderful. On top of that it was exceptionally easy to make. Plus these are ingredients we usually have in the house. Definitely getting added to the recipe rotation.

Recipe 2

Kung Pao Shrimp

source Men's Health Magazine

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 5 small dried chillies or 1 teaspoon red chili flakes (I only used 1/2 tsp., but I don't like it too hot)
• 6 scallions chopped, save the greens for garnish
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
• 1 large red pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 pound medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts. plus more chopped for garnish

Directions:

1. Combine soy sauce, orange juice, vinegar, cornstarch, and sugar in bowl. Set aside.
2. Place a wok or large pan over high heat and add oil. When oil is lightly smoking, toss in chillies, scallion whites, garlic, and ginger.
3. Stir-fry for 30 seconds, until fragrant, but not browned or burnt. Add bell peppers and cook for another minute, stirring constantly with spatula. Then add shrimp and peanuts, and cook until shrimp turns pink, about 3 minutes.
4. Stir in the sauce and cook just long enough for it to thicken and form a light sheen around shrimp and vegetables, about 30 seconds.
5. Serve over a scoop of brown rice, sprinkled with chopped scallion tops and peanuts.

Verdict:

Another yummy dish. This one was selected by the Hubs and we both loved it. Very easy to make and we love the flavors. Also uses ingredients we have in the house regularly. I did add some (did not measure) hoisin sauce because we like the sweeter flavor.

#27: Read 50 Non-Crime Books

Room by Emma Donoghue

To 5-year-old Jack, Room is his entire world. It is all he knows. Any more than that gives the book away, but think Jaycee Dugard. This book was really good. I will admit the first 60 pages were a little hard to get through, but after that I could not put it down. It was just a little hard reading the book from the perspective of a 5-year-old. But actually that makes the book what it is. I highly recommend.

Tons of 101 in 1001 Updates

Completed

22. I have completed and exceeded making 10 new recipes. And can I tell you the Hubs and I love both of these recipes and I have made them a couple of times. Blog posts on both to follow.

29. I FINISHED GRAD SCHOOL. I am so excited about this. It is really a huge accomplishment for me. And I did really well in the program. Now I just have to focus on finding a job career related to my field. I am working on that.

46. I (We) sent Christmas cards this year. They were made by my wonderful "sister-in-law". We have gotten so many compliments on them. You can check out her wonderful creations on her blog The Life of Me. You will not be disappointed. She is fabulous.

88. I bought a pair of boots that I love. I have been searching and searching for a pair of tall boots that could actually fit my thick legs. Well I finally found some on Shoes.com. They were not crazy expensive, but they are what I really wanted. And on top of that they were 15% off, with free shipping, AND i got a 12% rebate from MrRebates.com. I am in love.

92. I did Karaoke. My family has HUGE Christmases. The past two years our entertainment has been karaoke. I rocked out to So What by Pink with 2 of my cousins and my 2-year-old goddaughter. And yes she thinks she knows the words. It was so fun.

Working On

27. I read another non-crime related book and it was wonderful. I could not put it down. Separate post to follow.

30. I watched the documentary King Corn with the companion piece Big River. Wow. More to come on this too.

31. Now that I have finished school, I am working on learning all the countries in Africa and being able to accurately label them on a map.

And that is what I have been doing.

#22: Make 10 New Recipes

I made another great recipe from the food blog The Way the Cookie Crumbles. This time it was a wonderful, flavorful pasta. Honestly, I cannot go wrong with selections from this blog. If you are in need of ideas make sure you check it out.

Taco Pasta Salad (serves 8-10)
source The Way the Cookie Crumbles

Ingredients:

• 1 pound wagon wheel pasta (I used whole wheat bowtie pasta)
  
• salt


• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen corn (organic)


• 1½ cups salsa (organic)


• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed (organic)


• 2 medium tomatoes, diced


• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro


• 8 ounces (2 cups) shredded cheddar cheese


• 3-4 tablespoons lime juice


• 1 large (or 2 small) avocado, peeled, seeded, and diced


• 1 tablespoon cumin


• 2 teaspoon chili powder


• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper


• 2 garlic cloves, minced


• ¼ cup olive oil
  

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta. Cook according to the package directions. Drain; stir the frozen corn into the pasta to cool the pasta and defrost the corn. Stir the salsa into the pasta and corn, then add the beans, tomatoes, cilantro, and cheese.

Squeeze the lime juice into a small bowl and add the avocado; stir to coat the avocado. Remove the avocado from the lime juice and stir it into the pasta mixture. Add the spices, garlic, and ½ teaspoon salt to the lime juice, then slowly whisk in the oil. Stir the dressing into the salad. Serve immediately or chill for up to 1 day (longer if you don’t add the avocado).

Verdict:

OMG. This was so good. I am really thankful to because I did not pay attention to how much this made. If the Hubs didn't like it, there was no way I would have been able to eat it all by myself. But that did not happen. He loved it and I did too. It was so much I was going to take some to my mom so it would not go bad. But I never got a chance. The Hubs was eating the leftovers everyday. That never happens. It was so good I have already given the recipe to 6 other people (I did not take credit for this recipe). One person already tried it and they loved it as well. You will not regret making this wonderful meal.

Bad Blogger

Ok, I have seriously been a bad blogger over here. I have so much going on. I read a really great book, I have a new recipe to post from an amazing food blogger, I am in my last semester of grad school, and I am sure there are tons of things on my 101 in 1001 list I have completed or am working. But I have been so busy I have not even had a chance to look at the list.

But there will be posts coming up about the book I read and actually 2 new recipes I have tried that were yummy.

So there is more to come.

I have been blogging over on Journey to Green and if you stop by there soon you can get a discount on a wonderful, natural, aluminum-free deodorant that actually works, as well as other all natural bath and body products from the fabulous Etsy seller, Rachel of Soapwalla Kitchen. So run over there and check it out.

I will be posting here soon.

#28: Read 100 Books

I have been a bad blogger. Well, for this blog anyway. I have been plugging away at my green blog and I hope you all will check it out. Journey to Green. I will try to be over here more, but with the other blog, my last semester of grad school starting Monday, trying to stick to going to the gym 3 times a week, and everything else I have going on; it might be tough.

But on to my 101 in 1001.

I have actually read 2 books. I finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. I really enjoyed the entire series. I am even more excited that they are making a movie. I have the Swedish version on my Netflix queue and should be getting that any day now.

I plowed through the rest of the series The Girl who Played with Fire and The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. I could not wait to see how it ended. Really, this is a must read series. I just hope the movie does it justice.

Making Changes

I have got to make some serious changes for my health. I too few months I will be thirty. I am not looking forward to this day at all. In fact, I am a little depressed about it, but I am trying not to think about it. I have decided that I will be even more depressed about this day if I do not start making changes to my diet and start consistently exercising. I tried the Insanity. Honestly, I am not there yet, but I will be. I want to lose 29 pounds. Really, more but I would be happy with 20. Way at the bottom of my blog is a ticker of my progress.

So basic changes, I have to watch the number of calories I am eating. I have been eating with reckless abandon and that is NOT like me. The Hubs keeps recommending that I go to a nutritionist. I am all for that, but I have to do some research. I do not want to go somewhere and they are trying to give me some pills or B-12 shots as a solution. That is not for me.

I have been going to the gym, but I know that is because I am in the midst of my little break between semesters. I am going to attempt to make a conscious effort to work out 3 times a week once school starts again. Hopefully, I will be able to fit that in. When I worked different hours I would go to the gym all the time. But since I changed my hours it has decreased and decreased. I have to change that.

I also need to find some variety in my meal plans. Frankly, I am getting bored. And when that happens, I start eating crap.

And basically those are the keys to getting in shape anyway. Work out more and eat less. So that is what I gotta do.

I just need to get motivated. And that is my biggest issue. I already know that more than one day a week I cannot get up at 3:30 and work out with co-workers, but I will do it once a week. I want to work out with the Hubs, but he likes to go too late. So I just have to convince myself to go alone. As Nike says, Just do it. And I will. I have to.