Month: July 2012

4th of July

It’s a little late, I know.  But I did some cool things for the holiday that I thought would be worth sharing.

First up, burgers:

I thought that mixing shredded cheddar and diced bacon into the burgers themselves instead of using them as a topping would be pretty tasty, and I was right!  I also added in pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, and paprika (no salt b/c I figured the bacon would be enough).  I didn’t really measure, but you can get an idea for the proportions here.

Next up – jello shots!

I am kind of obsessed with jello shots right now.  Not the kind you made in college in the little cups that tasted like Everclear, but the fun, creative, tasty kinds found on Jelly Shot Test Kitchen.  These are solid enough to stand on their own in little cubes (or whatever shape you cut them into).  I haven’t gotten too fancy with cutouts and shapes yet, but I am getting pretty good at doing layers. (more…)

Update

We are attempting to really fine tune our diet to be as healthy as possible while still being tasty.  Hopefully you will see that reflected here with use of whole grains and lean proteins among other changes.  I still want to bake from time to time, but maybe only for parties or something where other people eat most of the sugary stuff.

Restaurants, however, are free zones with no restrictions, which brings me to my next update – Las Vegas week is next week, so keep an eye out for a big post when we get back!

Zucchini, Pea, Mint, and Feta Tart

I am so excited about zucchini season it isn’t even funny.  I have literally been dreaming about zucchini!  The very first thing that I wanted to make was this gorgeous vegetable tart.  Flaky, buttery puff pastry is topped with thinly shaved zucchini, bright peas, tangy feta, and fresh mint.  Yum, oh yum. (more…)

Creamy Shrimp Rolls

It has gotten hot, hot, hot out here – plants and people alike are wilting in the heat.  On days like these where you can’t bear to be outside for more than 5 minutes, slaving over a stove is out of the question.  These shrimp rolls are the perfect thing for oppressively hot days: fast, easy, cool, and refreshing.

All you have to do is mix together cold, cooked shrimp with celery, scallions, mayonnaise, and lemon juice. Put a piece of butter lettuce on a bun, top with the shrimp mixture, done!  Dinner in less than 10 minutes.

Creamy Shrimp Rolls
adapted from Real Simple
Makes 4 rolls

1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
kosher salt and pepper
1 1/2 lbs cooked medium shrimp, cut in half crosswise
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/4 cup sliced scallion greens
4 soft buns
1 small head butter lettuce, torn into pieces

In a medium bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Fold in the shrimp, celery, and scallions. Line the buns with the lettuce and fill with the shrimp mixture.