Category Archives: Recipes

Hasty Tasty Shrimp “Campy” ☺

Handheld vegetable spiral slicer by Spiralife

Handheld vegetable spiral slicer by SpiraLife

I previously posted about my new spiral vegetable slicer, the SpiraLife. Today I challenged my husband to try my lightened, low-carbohydrate version of shrimp scampi. He had his doubts. He loves his pasta, and substituting spiral-cut squash didn’t appeal to him. But he’s a good sport.

I call this dish “campy” because it’s a fake-out, and I also thought the name “shrimp campy” cute. You may call it anything you wish, but please give it a try. It’s healthful, filling, and tasty.

RECIPE

Hasty Tasty Shrimp “Campy”

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium zucchini, spiral-cut into noodles
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 10 oz. frozen cooked salad shrimp (no need to thaw)
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • salt & pepper

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Directions:

  1. Rinse and drain the zucchini. The rinse water clinging to it should be sufficient to create the steam to cook the “pasta” without overcooking it.
  2. Steam the zucchini in a covered, 2-quart saucepan over low heat for 10-12 minutes or until tender. 
  3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium-size saute pan over low heat. Add the frozen salad shrimp, salt, pepper, and minced garlic.
  4. Remove saute pan from heat as soon as the shrimp are warmed. Do not overcook.
  5. Toss cooked zucchini “pasta” with the shrimp. Serve garnished with the Parmesan cheese.

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The verdict? My husband admitted it tasted better than he expected. He even said I could make it again. So there you have it: Shrimp “Campy” without the high-carb pasta! And it sneaks an extra serving of vegetables into your daily diet.

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Filed under scampi, Shrimp, Zucchini

Dinner Under Pressure Encore

Cooking several vegetables together in one pot means easier cleanup and faster meals. I made this chicken meal yesterday. No hot oven and few pots and pans to wash!

Dinner Under Pressure

Dinner Under Pressure.

 

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Filed under cooking, Green Beans, Healthful Eating, kitchen equipment, Vegetables

Rachel’s Awesome Brownies

My mother-in-law makes the best brownies. Today I asked for her secret, and she agreed to share her recipe. As it turns out, her recipe came from an ancient (at least 50 years old) Sunbeam Mixmaster cookbook. She doubled the brownie recipe then added her own touch to produce this awesome tasting batch of brownies. There is no box mix on the market to rival these!

 

RECIPE

Rachel’s Awesome Brownies (modified from Sunbeam)

These are big sellers at our church bake sales.

Ingredients:

  • 1½ cups sifted flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup shortening or butter, softened
  • 4 eggs, unbeaten
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 squares (4 oz.) unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
  • 2 cups chopped pecans or walnuts
  • 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In large mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.
  3. Add softened shortening (or butter), eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix on Medium (4) for one minute.
  4. Add melted baking chocolate and nuts. Mix for 30 seconds.
  5. Fold in chocolate chips.
  6. Pour batter into a 9″ X 13″ greased baking pan.
  7. Bake for 35 minutes. Check for doneness using a toothpick or cake tester.
  8. Remove pan from oven and allow brownies to cool before slicing.
  9. Cut into equal sized squares and serve.Yield depends on the size of squares cut.

I don’t use the adjective awesome often, but these brownies deserve the descriptor. Yum!

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Filed under Cake, desserts

REVISITING THE RANCH: KING RANCH CHICKEN CASSEROLE

My healthy version of King Ranch Chicken posted three years ago is still my favorite, but I wondered if I could make it “hasty” without sacrificing the “tasty” part of the meal.

I consulted my good friend Betty (as in Betty Crocker) and her version takes shortcuts I decided to try. The biggest difference in my version and hers is my casserole soaks in the refrigerator for several hours before baking. Mine also has more ingredients. So if you’d like to make this casserole for your next covered dish dinner and you’re short on time, try Betty Crocker’s version. It’s tasty enough for my family, and a bit less work for me, although I still have to have my fresh cilantro garnish at the end.  😉

Remove from oven and top with chopped cilantro.

Remove from oven and top with chopped cilantro.

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Filed under casseroles, chicken, cooking