Trader Joe's "must-haves"

Oh how I love Trader Joe's! Each time I enter the store I look forward to discovering new products...did you know that each week Trader Joe's introduces a new product? In fact they've been known to introduce 15 new products in a single week! This makes for a very adventurous grocery trip. Here are a few of my very own "must-haves":













Next time you pop in this neighborhood store, be sure to put these items on your list. And let me know what your favorites finds are too!

Giving credit where credit is due

I must give credit to my dear husband. He cooked me a awesome dinner last night for Valentines Day. I was so impressed. He flipped through one of our old Southern Living magazines to find this shrimp dinner recipe. It was too delicious to not share with you all. We will definitely be making this again in our house!



Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Ingredients
1 1/2 pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp (16/20 count)
Coconut-Lime Rice
1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon kosher or 3/4 tsp. regular salt
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
Preparation
1. Peel shrimp; devein, if desired. Prepare Coconut-Lime Rice.

2. Meanwhile, process cilantro, next 7 ingredients, and 3 Tbsp. olive oil in a food processor 15 to 20 seconds or until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides.

3. Sauté shrimp in remaining 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Stir in cilantro mixture. Serve over rice.

Coconut-Lime Rice Ingredients
1 cup light coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine rice (Brian used a sticky wheat rice - also delicious)
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Preparation
1. Bring coconut milk, salt, and 2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in rice; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Stir in lime zest and juice.

Happy cooking.

Love and Snow

It seems like most everyone got to see a little winter wonderland this Valentines weekend, even those of you at the beach!

Here is a picture of my two LOVES in the snow:




Happy Valentines Day to you and your family!
XOXO!

Are you ready for some football?

A friend of mine shared this commercial with me last week. It got me pumped up for the Super Bowl. Don't get me wrong, I love a good game of football, but the hilarious commercials are definitely a bonus during the game. Check this out:

Budlight Clothing Drive Commercial

Speaking of beer, this is a great Super Bowl dip that the guys especially will love:

Beer Dip

2 8oz bars cream cheese (let is sit out for a bit so it is easy to stir)
2 bags shredded sharp chedder cheese
1 package dry ranch dressing
1/2 a bottle/can of beer of your choice

Stir all ingredients together until consistent and serve with a sturdy cracker. Wheat thins work well.

6 more weeks of Winter

The groundhog saw his shadow today y'all. It looks like we've got some more cold weather in store for us this season, or so they say! This might surprise some of you warm weather lovers, but I really enjoy this time of year. Here are a few of my favorite WINTER things:

Starbucks Peppermint Mochas:


Football:


Bundling up in Jackets & Scarves:


AND...snuggling up by the fire, bowls of chilli, comfy socks, cozy blankets, the occasional snow, the holidays, red wine, the beginning of a new year and cowboy boots.

Spring may be around the corner, but for now, I hope you all can enjoy "a few of your favorite Winter things".

Snow Day!

Happy Saturday morning to you all! And, Happy Birthday to my sweet husband!

This is what we woke up to this morning. I know it's not much snow, but it is very exciting for all of us here in the Queen City, unfortunately this isn't a common sight. We are looking forward to lacing up our snow boots, enjoying some hot chocolate and celebrating Brian's 27th bday. I hope you have snow where you are!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Soup on Sunday

The past couple of weeks I have found myself cooking a good pot of soup on Sundays for supper. A craving for soup comes with the winter weather in our house, maybe yours too! To me, there is just something about a good bowl of soup that goes with a relaxing Sunday evening. I have a new recipe for today, compliments of my moms good friend Carol. This is simmering in my kitchen right now and tastes delicious!

Lemon-Chicken Soup
6 skin-on, bone in chicken breasts
2 large onions, chopped
5 celery ribs, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. olive oil
1 (1 lb.) package carrots, sliced
4 tsp. lemon zest
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Toppings: cooked barley, cooked green beans or lemon slices.

1. Bring chicken and water to cover to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour.
2. Remove chicken, reserving liquid, and let cool for 15 minutes. Shred chicken.
3. Pour reserved cooking liquid through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl, discarding solids; wipe pot clean. Add water to cooking liquid to equal 10 cups.
4. Saute onion, celery and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat for about 5-6 minutes or until tender. Add shredded chicken, cooking liquid, carrots and next 3 ingredients. Cover, reduce heat to medium and cook 20 minutes or until carrots are tender. Add parsley. Serve with desired toppings.