Creamed Shrimp in Mini Pastry Shells

I made this appetizer for Christmas & I'm sad to say I haven't made it since. Needless to say, but I will anyway, the words cream, shrimp, mini and pastry are just crying out to me to make this again very soon! It is so appealing to the eyes and tummy! Perfect for a cocktail party or holiday. I don't have my own picture but this comes close enough to give you an idea of the delish factor. No fresh herbs were sprinkled on top though.


2- 9 1/2 oz pkgs frozen mini puff pastry shells
1 1/2 lbs medium size shrimp
2/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tblsp chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp salt
3 tblsp butter
3 tblsp flour
1 cup milk
1 cup or 4 oz shredded swiss cheese
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp pepper

Bake pastry shells according to pkg. Let cool & set aside. Combine wine, onion, parsley & salt in saucepan and bring to boil. Add shrimp & cook 3-5 minutes. Drain, reserve 1/4 cup of the liquid. Chop shrimp, set aside.

Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add flour, stirring until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk & cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is thick & bubbly. Add cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in shrimp and reserved liquid, lemon juice & pepper. Spoon mixture into a greased shallow baking dish and bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes. Spoon mixture into shells and serve. Makes 25.

Notes: You can make the shrimp mixture ahead of time; just chill up to 8 hours and then bake for the 30 minutes before putting in the shells. Also, I'm not really sure why you couldn't just put the hot shrimp mixture into the shells without the 30 minutes of baking, but I just did what the recipe said.

I'm A Saucy Kinda Gal

I was so thrilled today to see that I am being recognized as today's featured chef over at Saucy Eats sponsored by the Secret is in the Sauce. Both are truly delicious sites which encourage bloggy love & culinary delights. I have had quite a few visitors today so it's been a real pleasure. I promise that if you visit me I will be right there at your bloggy doorstep with a hot dip and chips in hand. And a nice tall Mexican Mojito to boot!

Enjoy & come on back now, ya hear!

Great Kitchen Find

This is a dip chiller with a matching tray. Chips & Dip Anyone??

A recipe will come later but for now I wanted to post these two items I bought online and just received. This site is great if you love kitchen accessories but want them to fall into a certain theme. They have over 25 themes and within each theme there are about 11 different items like salt & pepper shakers and the like. I have a little bit of a wine theme in my kitch but it's a subtle one. This dip chiller was bought seperately from the tray. I just thought it was a good idea to put the chips or crudites on a matching tray next to the dip. The top of the bowl comes off so you can put your ice underneath. Can't wait to use it this weekend!!!!!

Happy Mondays & Grilled Bananas

Usually Mondays are anything but, because, well, that means the weekend is over. But I thought I would turn over a new leaf and try to feel as good on this Monday morning as if it was a Friday afternoon at 5pm. The weekend was beautiful, spending lots of time with family. We traded in a visit to the seafood market for a nice dinner at the Thai restaurant with my parents on Saturday. They loved it!!!! I took the camera to take pictures but then was too busy chowing down to actually take any. And the Farmers Market on an early Saturday morning with my little guy started the day off just right. Here are some more cute pics of our town. Click for larger, better view.

This is the heritage museum with an old train parked in front.

The fountain where bands play on certain Fridays.

One of my favorite wine & coffee bars I wish I owned!






Sunday was a great day started by brunch at Chef's Table with one of my best friend's Tammy. It deserves a post all its own but because I forgot my camera, words alone can not do it justice. Everything was amazing though, from the Smoked Salmon Frittata to the Artichokes, Creamed Spinach & Poached Eggs to the mimosas. This new restaurant, with only 9 tables in a very quaint setting at the bottom of an old historic hotel, is doing well so far. I look to go back for dinner sometime.

Sunday continued with us hosting a simple afternoon to Terry's parents. This meant fat free hot dogs on the grill with some fixins, and an easy to put together pasta salad on the side. I also threw some peaches on the grill just as a simple side and they went over very well. For dessert and on a whim, I decided to grill some bananas. I was inspired by a dessert by Bobby Flay on All Star Grill Fest. It is amazing to me how just 3 minutes on the grill brings out such a sweetness you can never imagine. And it's quite healthy with some fat free cool whip we always keep in the freezer. Perfect for adults and kids!!!!!! THIS is a must try. A tiny effort that will make you say WOW.

GRILLED BANANAS WITH WHIP CREAM












Slice the bananas lengthwise, leaving peel on just as in the picture. Brush a little vegetable oil on the bananas. Grill banana side down for 2 minutes to get some nice grill marks. Turn them over & grilled them one more minute. Carefully take off peel and place flat side up on a nice plate. Dollop some fresh cool whip on top. Last night I drizzled some hot fudge sauce I was lucky to have in the house but I really preferred it without. Next week we'll be trying Bobby's dessert just as he did it. I wish I could have gotten an after picture but again, I was too busy chowing down. I must stop that. Next week!!!!

Friday Foto

This is one of my favorites of Tristan in his early months. He's just as happy a 4 year old as he was here.

Chicken Breasts with Sweet Pepper Sauce

I haven't made this dish in quite some time but will this coming week, so while I don't have my own photo, this one should give a decent idea. It's easy enough to make and a nice variation from the mundane chicken breast dishes. Aside from the small amount of brown sugar and cream which will be divided among servings, it's a healthy choice.













2 tsp olive oil
4 boneless chicken breasts
Salt & pepper
1/2 to 1 cup chopped sweet onion
1 large red bell pepper, chopped
1 large yellow bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup cider vinegar (I decreased this from the original 1/2 cup so judge for yourself at the end and add more if needed)
3 tblspn brown sugar
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream

Sprinkle chicken with salt & pepper. Heat 1 tsp oil in skillet over medium high heat. Cook 8-10 minutes or until done. Place on platter & keep warm. Heat remaining oil in same skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, cook 3 minutes. Add bell peppers, cook 3 minutes. Add vinegar & sugar. Increase heat to high and cook 4-6 minutes until syrupy. Stir in cream. Cook 2-3 minutes or until reduced but thickened. Spoon over chicken. Serve with whole grain brown rice.

Priceless MasterCard Moments

It seems I have made quite a few wonderful discoveries lately, a little about myself, but mostly in the neigborhood and nearby. And it's just icing on the cake because as I already said before, I love where we live, it just seems to keep getting better.
I discovered this little creamery / coffehouse by just going a different route to an ol' familiar place. It's about 15 minutes away but worth the trip just to find myself in a cute little nearby town, sort of like a extra mini staycay (not a vaca). They only have ice cream and coffee but a visit back with my girlfriend and the kids started out the day last weekend just perfectly.
We've also been regulars at this new Thai place downtown. They appear to be doing well which makes us happy because we want them to stick around. We fell in love with a new dish this past weekend, the Pineapple Fried Rice, and for anyone who has never had a Thai fried rice, let me say I will never be ordering Chinese takeout again. They throw just a tad of curry in, yet it's sweet and aromatic and to die for. It's a complete meal with the chicken and shrimp thrown in. I think it's even turning my husband into a foodie. Tristan loves the white rice and they'll even do a mild chicken for him.

This place, Sabor Y Mexico, has been a favorite of ours. It's authentic Mexican food always makes us happy. Tristan loves it and often requests to go. Terry & I rarely eat the rice and beans to cut down on the cals and enjoy the tostadas and pork roast tacos even more. They know us well here after visiting at least weekly for the past couple of years.

Oh, and the new nearby seafood market I mentioned before? Well, it seems it's going to have to become a weekly stop. Terry and I both love the shrimp roll but this past weekend I tried the lobster roll and it was culinary ecstasy. Generous amounts of lobster freshly tossed with just a little seasoning in a mayo dressing, on a toasted New England style hot dog bun. Next visit, I will be trying the yellow fin tuna in a tortilla wrap lightly grilled. I already know it's delicious because my foodie friend Tammy told me so.

So, what's a girl to do with all these fantastic eateries all around, and a husband who is loving them as much as me? Work out more. I still cook each week but we have been loving our excursions and our increased quality time together as of late. I just need to balance it out with some hard workouts and then some fun time in the tub.
I have also been re-discovering spaces in the house, spaces I have looked at so many times but then just decide need a small enhancement, something to make it a little more like an oasis. Anything to make another little mini staycay, right?! So, I took 2 bookends from another room, placed them by our tub and then just created a little special space from there with candles and tiny books. Click for a larger view. That certificate on the left? That's a coupon for a Bath Anytime One of Us Asks. We write the date we took our last one to ensure too much time doesn't go by before the next one. I smile whenever I see it. And, as a bonus, this space deters me from throwing my dirty clothes where I always used to!!!!

Life is short so I am really making an effort to make the most of every little silly enjoyable thing. So far, I think am doing pretty good!!!!!