New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Recipe

Raw shrimp, ready for cooking. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was afraid to cook shrimp for the longest time, but it really isn't all that difficult. Admittedly, I often cheat and buy cleaned, peeled, and deveined shrimp to save time, but you can do it all yourself if you wish. This recipe is fast becoming a favorite summer supper.

 Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. cooking oil

1/2 lb. cleaned and prepared shrimp

1 Tbsp. black pepper

1 tsp. salt

2 fresh lemons, juiced

1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. Louisiana hot sauce

2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

1 Tbsp. butter

3 slices grilled French bread

Prep:

Heat a saute pan over medium low heat. Add the oil and shrimp, saute for two minutes. Add pepper, salt, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and parsley. Cook, stirring often for two to three minutes, or until shrimp is done. Add butter, remove from heat as soon as it's melted. Serve over French bread. 

Southern Living’s Classic Southern Desserts

If there is one thing we can do well in the South it's cook. I loved sitting on the kitchen counter watching my Nanny whip up wonderful desserts. One of my favorite things about family reunions was all the delicious desserts the women would make. My Papaw had a serious thing for the Italian Cream Cake one of the cousins would bring every year. I've long regretted not getting the recipes for the scrumptious treats from my childhood when I had the chance. It's hard to recreate dishes prepared by women who have been cooking for 50 plus years.


Thanks to Southern Living’s “Classic Southern Desserts: All-Time Favorite Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies, Puddings, Cobblers, Ice Cream & More” I can now make a mean Italian Cream Cake! With over 200 mouth watering recipes, you can easily find whatever Southern classic recipe you are looking for. There are classics such as Lane Cake along with new delights like Cappuccino Frosted Brownies. This is one of the few cookbooks that honestly has me wanting to try every single recipe in it!


The book is divided into sections, giving a brief description and overview of the chapter. You will also find tips to bake like a pro and histories of some of the South's most beloved desserts. The descriptions of the recipes themselves will have you drooling on the pages. And the pictures! Oh my goodness, this is some of the best food photography I've ever seen. Honestly, you could use it for a coffee table book. It would make an amazing mother's Day gift!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Easter and a Birthday

Easter was a wonderful day full of food, fun, family, and friends. We had our wonderful neighbors, or rather our self created family, over as well as my mom and step-dad. The kids and adults all played horseshoes and pitched washers in the yard before and after lunch. The day was spent laughing, talking, and of course eating. Monday was more of the same, as it was my husband's birthday. So, we had two days of amazing visiting and feasting.

Anyone who reads my blog very often knows I love to cook, especially during big get togethers. I enjoy cooking and entertaining, but tend to get overwhelmed when all is said and done because the kitchen ends up in a disaster. Luckily, I had some new products in the kitchen to help make my life a little easier.

First of all, I looked like the "hostess with the mostest" as my Nanny would say in this adorable apron from Flirty Aprons. It kept my clothes from getting splattered and made me look cute all at once. I really loved that it has such long ties, making it fit pretty much all sizes. I adore aprons but find many do not fit us plus size ladies. Not a problem with this cute apron!


So, I wore my apron and set about making an array of scrumptious food. When it came time to chill my lemon trifle and to put away my husband's birthday brisket, I was so excited to have CoverMate Food Covers available. They stretch to fit just about anything, so getting them over awkward shaped dishes and foods was no problem at all. They are reusable, which is great too! Much more economical than cling wrap and the like.

After the festivities I was left with a counter full of dirty dishes. I loathe doing dishes, truly I do. I'm one of those people who seem to get drenched by simply washing a glass. I hate when water runs down your arms and gets all over the place. That is why I was so excited about trying out On The Cuff. This product is basically sponge bracelets that keep you from getting all wet. I will tell you I was very impressed with how well they worked. They keep you dry while doing dishes and hubby thinks they'd be great for washing the car too. Honestly, I can think of lots of chores these clever things would be handy for.

All in all it was a fabulous couple of days. These great items helped make all the food prep and clean up so much easier. Don't you just love it when things go smoothly? I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday too!

Ramblings of a Texas Housewife Product Review and/or Giveaway Disclosure- I have received no compensation other than the offer of free product to review and/or giveaway. Any opinions expressed on Ramblings of a Texas Housewife are my own. My reviews are never reviewed or edited in any way by sponsors.

Fighting the Morning Fade

Image by pfv. via Flickr

I am not a breakfast eater. There, I said it. Unfortunately, my tendency to not eat breakfast sets me up for a mid-morning binge. Well maybe not binge, but I get so hungry and just grab whatever is the easiest thing to inhale. Most of the time what I eat at this point is basically junk. But, I'm hungry, so in the moment I don't really care.

Since I am trying very hard to start living a healthier lifestyle, I know that I need to have a high protein breakfast. Not just that, but I need to remember to take care of myself a lot better. After all, who will take care of everyone else if I'm not 100%? That sounds great, but the reality is that trying to fit that into my busy mornings can be quite difficult. Luckily, I read the following tips that have really helped me with this.

Sissy Biggers’s Top 5 Tips for Energizing Yourself in the Morning

No need for caffeine! To help get your family and you up and out the door during busy mornings, Sissy Biggers recommends:

Morning Stretches: Bend your body and stretch your mind. Find a quiet corner and create a pattern of simple stretches and deep breathing to get the circulation, and your mind going for the day ahead. After a few days, it will become an essential part of your daily routine.

Morning Power Stroll: Exposing your body to natural light first thing in the morning is a way to set your body clock for the day ahead--especially if you do it the same time every day. If you don't have a dog, take yourself for a walk and discover the invigorating and energizing benefits.

Numero Uno gets breakfast too. We worry so much about getting the kids off with a proper breakfast, we often forget that the morning meal is the best gift you can give yourself to stay alert and energized throughout the entire morning. Eat a wholesome breakfast that includes the all important protein. The convenience of Jimmy Dean breakfast bowls, entrees and sandwiches make for a quick and delicious breakfast that will keep you satisfied and alert until lunch.

Play upbeat music: From the latest pop hit to an old-time favorite, a blast from a favorite tune is sure to get you movin' and groovin' well into your morning.

Shower/bathe with citrus scents in the morning: Refreshing citrus scented soaps and shampoos like grapefruit or tangerine awaken and tingle the senses. It's like a glass of orange juice for the mind and body to get you up and going.

These are great, easy to do tips that have really made a difference for me the past few mornings. Try them for yourself and see how much better you feel! You might want to try the delicious recipe below as well. It tastes terrific and really gets you going in the morning.

I'd love to hear how y'all fight the morning fade. Please share your tips by leaving a comment!

Sage Sausage and Apple Crepes

Yield 6 Servings


Ingredients Amount

Store bought crepes 6

Granny Smith apples; peeled, sliced ¼ inch 2 cups

Brown sugar 1 tablespoon

Jimmy Dean Sage Bulk Sausage;

(browned, drained and roughly chopped) 1/2 lb

Heavy whipping cream 1 tablespoon

Lemon juice 1 teaspoon

Salt 1/8 teaspoon

Unsalted butter 2 ½ tablespoons

Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon


Method:

1. Melt butter in a 10-inch skillet
2. Once melted, stir in brown sugar
3. Add apples to skillet and sauté until slightly softened, approximately 5 minutes
4. Mix in cinnamon, salt and cream
5. Sprinkle lemon over sausage
6. Add sausage to apple mixture, stir
7. Divide filling into crepes
8. Serve warm

Cool Drinks for a Hot Day

Image via Wikipedia

It sure is a hot one today. Dan is out smoking a brisket and I have no idea how he is dealing with the heat. I am trying really hard to keep pushing water down all of us, but unfortunately water is no one's drink of choice around here and iced tea is much preferred. One thing I do to make it a bit more appealing is to make up a pitcher of our favorite Crystal Light or other drink mix, then freeze it into ice cubes. A couple of these fruity cubes make water taste a whole lot better. I've also been known to freeze small pieces of fruit like peach bits, pineapple, lemon, etc. into regular ice cubes then add to water for a bit of a treat. All I know is that anything cool is welcome on a day like today!

Hope you are all keeping cool and having a great Father's Day