shrimp en papillote

Shrimp en papillote (or shrimp in parchment) is something I like to make year-round, but it's especially ideal during the summer months. It's the perfect lazy day dinner that takes only a few minutes to prepare and cook. It's fresh-tasting, light and since it's cooked in parchment paper, a cinch to clean. I'd call it a one-pot meal, except there's no pot involved. So, one en papillote meal...if you will?

Shrimp en Papillote (adapted from Emeril Lagasse)
serves 1


1 teaspoon olive oil
1-2 handfuls broccoli florets
1-2 handfuls mushrooms, sliced
1 small handful red and/or yellow peppers.
1 small handful green beans
1 small shallot, peeled and sliced
8-10 shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger (optional)
Ground pepper, to taste


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F/204 degrees C.
Brush an 18-inch long sheet of parchment paper with the olive oil. 
Working on 1/2 of the parchment paper, layer the broccoli, mushrooms, shallots, peppers, green beans and then the shrimp. 
Drizzle with the sesame oil and soy sauce.
Season with the pepper.
Fold the parchment over the contents so that the corners meet. Fold the edges together repeatedly, 4 to 5 times, creasing it at every fold, to make an airtight seal on all sides (watch this video at 2:55 if you need a visual aid).
Place the packet on a sheet pan and into the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the packets are puffed and the shrimp is cooked through. 
Remove the baking sheet from the oven and open the packets carefully, as there will be a lot of steam escaping.
Serve immediately.

adventures in weekending: the unofficial start to summer

I welcomed summer last weekend with cheeseburgers, wine coolers, curly-topped cuties and sunshine. It's only the end of May, but it's shaping up to be a good season already.

These three-day weekends are joyous. I breathe a little easier, my outlook's a bit brighter and everything comes up roses. And that extra day to just sit home and do nothing is such a luxury. It should be like this all the time.

friday fillers

• What you NEED to know about the BSB/NKOTB reunion tour. And speaking of NKOTB, you need to see this (especially if Jordan was your fave).

• Best television finales. My fave is Buffy. Is it weird that I teared up just reading about it? Don't answer that.

• Is this kid exhausted or what? 

• Jenny Mollen's book report on Fifty Shades of Grey. Shameless, entertaining, hilarious read. Have at it.

• Ina Garten’s risotto cakes recipe was such a success. Only I quadrupled the amount of chives. Make that quintupled. Or...I just used a massive amount of chives.

• I need Sarah to be my life coach. Instead I downloaded her free ebook. LOVE.

Enjoy your weekend. And yay for those who don't have to work this Memorial Day (that's me!)...wooo!

how to break in your shoes in less than 2 minutes

My new flats were a bit too tight in the toes. So I tried this incredibly simple and neat trick from The Observer via Lifehacker for stretching out the area. And guess what? It worked!

Put on socks  and slip on your shoes. 
Aim the hairdryer on the tight section for a few seconds (wiggle and stretch your feet inside the shoe for maximum benefit).
Keep the shoes on while they cool.
Remove the socks and test out shoes.
It should be stretched out, but if you need more room, then repeat the process.

See? Told you it was easy.

kale and walnut pesto

They say if you love something, let it go.

And so I have…for a little while anyway.

When it comes to food I like, I have terribly obsessive ways. Once I find a recipe I love, I have to have it… ALL THE TIME. That was this case with this tomato sauce.  But I’ve had to shelf it, at least for a few weeks. Too much of a good thing, you know?

So, in came this easy pesto to save the day. Because the opposite of tomato sauce is pesto (in my logic). And that’s exactly what I needed to detox.

Kale and Walnut Pesto (adapted from Tastespotting)

makes about 1 cup (maybe a little more, depending on how much kale and olive oil you add)

About 3 cups of roughly chopped kale (or a small bunch, which is how I measured it)

3/4 cup of raw walnuts

1-2 garlic cloves

1/2 cup - 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper, to taste

Pulse garlic clove(s) in food processor until finely chopped, about 30 seconds.

Add kale and walnuts to processor until chopped, stopping in between to scrape sides and pish mixture down to blades.

With the processor running on low, add in extra virgin olive oil until you get your desired consistency.

Add salt and pepper. Mix.

{I love that bright, glistening green}

I consider this the green smoothie of the pasta world. It has a ton of vitamins A, C and K from the kale, not to mention the added benefits of the walnuts, extra virgin olive oil and garlic. And one batch of this makes enough for several servings. Use what you will and freeze the rest (try using this genius ice cube tray trick).

Some other uses leftover pesto:

• spread on crusty French bread (my savory breakfast for the next few days)
• substitute for mayo in sandwiches, burgers or even grilled cheese.
• mix in egg salad

For more delicious ideas, check out 50 things to make with pesto. 

 

adventures in weekending: lunch and lounging

Lunch at a Greek restaurant was pure food bliss - unfussy, fresh and so flavorful (must remember to order the lemony potatoes potatoes again next time - so yum).

We then headed across the street to my favorite park and found a shady spot on twigs and grass to lay the blanket on. It was the best place to brainstorm ideas for new and exciting creative projects and dream about never moving from that spot...ever.

Bob said it was one of his favorite days (it was mine too).

friday fillers

• How to pick out a good baguette. And speaking of which, I'm dying to try the goods at this place.

• She looks too fabulous in polka dots.

• I loved these crash hot sweet potatoes so much that I made them twice this week!

• How to effectively survive a stressful work day (#14 is my favorite tip - makes the day a little easier for me).

• Why not invest in your dreams?

• Pasta tips from master chef, Mario Batali.

yay, presents!

 A few thoughtful and lovely gifts from friends (and the boyfriend) that are so completely me:

 Anne Taintor Mug

 Owl ring

Small European dishes

Bag-shaped bowl

Harry Potter Coasters

Very Fond of Food, by Sophie Dahl

I love how people just know you so well that the thought behind the gift really shines through - more so than the object itself. It inspires me to be a better gift-giver (goodness knows I'm normally terrible at it). Note to self: must keep better track of other people's interests!

Isn't this an awesome gag gift for the Dirty Dancing fan? Although if I got it, I'd totally wear it -  and not ironically.

4 miracle workers (the personal care edition)

1. Kiss My Face Liquid Rock Roll-On – I have a confession: for as long as I’ve been wearing deodorant, I have never EVER found one that has worked for me. True story. Do any of you remember those Sure/Unsure commercials from the '90s? I was totally “unsure” 98% of the time, until recently, when I decided to try KMF's Liquid Rock antiperspirant. Whoa, does this stuff work. And no aluminum chloride, parabens or all that other cancer-causing mumbo jumbo found in most drugstore deodorants/antiperspirants. It does apply very wet, but I’ll take those few minutes of discomfort over being “unsure” any day.

2.Tigi Catwalk Session Series Salt Spray – Like the deodorant, I’ve tried many sprays that claim to give your hair that tousled, beachy look. Let me tell you something: my hair is naturally wavy (not the Gisele Bundchen kind of wavy, but the unruly kind of wavy) and I had never known a product that made me feel confident to wear my hair in its natural state until I saw this post (and went out and bought the product immediately!). Amazing product, does what it claims to do and my hair thanks me for giving it a break from the hot iron.

3. Kat Von D Tattoo Concealer – In spite of its name, this creamy formula doesn’t apply heavy or cakey. That is, if you pat on a very small amount (a little goes a long way). It’s a tad on the expensive side at about $23, but personally it’s worth the investment for hiding my “only got 3 hours of sleep last night” under-eyes. Best concealer ever.

4. Rohto Eye Drops  - Powerful, powerful stuff. It feels like Icy Hot (or Bengay) for your eyes, but it WORKS. Redness is gone within seconds. Perfect for looking bright eyed and bushy tailed on a sleepy Monday morning...or a post-late night drinking session with the girls.

So, what are some of your own miracle workers?








p.s. No, I’m not getting paid to endorse any of these. I just really believe in the products and thought I’d share my recommendations with you :)

fresh orange vinaigrette

When it comes to salad dressing, I’m more of an oil and vinegar type of girl. Every once in a while I like to mix it up with different flavors, and since the store-bought dressings are usually expensive and filled with mystery additives, I like to make my own.   

Fresh orange vinaigrette, which I made on a whim, just happens to be a new favorite of mine. It’s light, fresh and citrusy – perfect for spring/summer salads.

Fresh Orange Vinaigrette (adapted from AllRecipes)

1/4 cup fresh orange juice (1 orange, depending on how juicy it is)
2 tbs of balsamic vinegar
1 tbs Dijon mustard
2 tsp honey
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste


Combine all ingredients and stir vigorously with a whisk until smooth.

I bet it’d be good with this too. Or on a strawberry salad for added fruitiness.

what to do with a leftover vanilla pod (vanilla sugar!)

You’ve already used the beans for a made-from-scratch vanilla ice cream or cookies or some other type of sweet treat. And now all that’s left is an empty pod.

But don’t throw it away!

Use it to make heavenly, wonderful vanilla sugar (as if regular sugar wasn’t good enough on its own)

Place 1 pod in an airtight jar of sugar - about 2 cups.
Shake and let sit for a few days to a week.
Enjoy vanilla-infused sugar with anything you’d use sugar for, i.e. fruits, tea, cake, etc.

I like to have about a teaspoon or two in my morning coffee. It's pretty divine.

 

p.s. Or try tossing in the vanilla pod with this (substitute the extract).