Video

Ok, I have been an extremely poor blogger as of late. In my defense, I've been out of the country training for a new job for the better part of 2 weeks and just haven't had the energy. And I'm totally being lazy on this post to share a video I watched today... it's adorable. I especially love when the daughter sings and yawns at the same time. So cute.

Oh Right... This Blog is Supposed to Encourage More Cooking!



mmm.. shrimp!

 Well I'm now a month into this blogging business and I am not doing so well!  I blame it on what I'm now calling The Great Never Ending Cold of 2011. My cooking has been, well, pretty much non-existent lately. It doesn't help that I can't really taste food. Mix that in with the feeling like crap and add a final touch of laziness and, well, there you go!

I did actually make dinner New Year's Eve. (For the record, I have cooked since then - I don't want anyone to worry that I haven't eaten for the past 8 days... it is me we're talking about here!) Anyway, my big exciting new year's that ended with me in bed before midnight, started with a dinner of shrimp tacos. Most people know that I would be happy eating Mexican food pretty much every night of the week... so I thought it would be a good way to welcome the New Year. And I was right... they were yummy! This recipe is pretty much made up, so I'm leaving off measurements... fix as much or as little as you need and the seasoning is really up to your taste!

Wow... I HAVE to work on my photography skills! They were really not this bland looking!

Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Cream

raw shrimp, deveined and shells removed

oil

chili powder

garlic powder

corn tortillas

(you could use flour tortillas, but I'm currently obsessed with corn tortillas so that's what I recommend)

avocado

sour cream

lettuce

cheese

First, make the avocado cream. Mash your avocado with a fork, sprinkle on some salt, chili and garlic powder. Mix with sour cream - I used about 2/3 cup to 1 large avocado. You could also add some lime (I didn't have any) or some cilantro if you liked that sort of thing. Once it's seasoned to your liking, throw it in the fridge to marinate a bit while you make the tacos.



For the tacos: Heat your skillet on med/high heat and once it's warmed up add your oil... not a lot - just enough to coat the shrimp. While your pan is heating up toss the shrimp in the chili and garlic powder; add to heated oil. Cook the shrimp... about a minute and a half on each side until done. Set aside. Heat another skilled on med/high heat... once it's hot (no need for additional oil) heat the tortillas... about a minute on each side. Spoon in the shrimp, cheese, avocado cream, lettuce... whatever other toppings you'd like. So good!

Train Wreck

Confession time... I am a fan of The Bachelor. I've watched every season but one. It's like a train wreck that even though I know it's wrong, I can't help but look. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to keep watching this season. It's only one episode in and I'm so annoyed. Oh, who am I kidding... we all know I'm going to keep watching!

Anyway, Bachelor Brad is back for a second chance to find his true love. His first season was three years ago and in the end he didn't pick either of the women. Apparently this was some sort of reality TV war crime and his penance is to repeat his time on the show. I don't see the big deal - he didn't see a future with either one so he let them go instead of proposing and then breaking up 30 days later like the other Bachelors before him. But, his public beatings seem to have taken every ounce of self-esteem from the poor man and he's spent years in therapy figuring out why he didn't propose to the women he didn't love and now he's ready to fix this mistake! He better find himself a wife this time... one of his potential brides suggested that if he doesn't he would have to move to a remote cave, grow some sort of crazy beard, and never be seen in public again.

So on his first night there was the usual parade of crazy quality "ladies". The first one out slapped him! There was a woman who summoned him to the car to open the door for her. Another one sang to him... seriously - WHY do they think this is a good idea? Would you, on a first date with someone serenade him? I couldn't even watch that one... thank God for the DVR so I can fast forward through the truly awkward moments. Another "lady" told him that someone dumped her because of the size of her ass and then proceeded to ask him if he could handle, ahem, all of her. Oh dear god. Oh and I saved the best for last... there is a girl with fangs. FANGS. I'll say it again - FANGS!!!  And he says "they are really hot". And HE KEPT HER. I can't believe I voluntarily watch this.

Next week I'll be keeping a count on how many times someone says "For the right reasons". I'm sure I heard it at least 10 times in the 2 hours tonight. I also may have to start drinking on Monday nights to survive the season. Because I just can't miss this "journey"... that would be crazy!