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Take Me Out to the Ball Game! April 17, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Dinner, Family, Food.
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My first baseball game of the season.

Rockies vs. Cubs. What a great game to start with.

I will admit that I am not the biggest baseball fan. But I do love going to games. It is so much easier to get into the game when you can cheer on the players, clap when they need some help, and sing a good round of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’

It makes it even better when the Rockies win 9 to 5!!!

When we got back to Boulder, Chris found twenty dollars in his pocket so we decided to make a night of it.

Hubby took me to Pasta Jay’s on Pearl Street. What a delicious meal! It was sort of warm enough to sit outside, so we did. It definitely reminded me of our visit to Rome a few years ago.

I had Pasta Carolena which was shrimp and artichoke hearts in a tomato and sweet basil sauce. Absolutely scrumptious. Artichoke hearts are just about one of my favorite foods, so I gravitate towards anything on a menu that includes them. I was certainly not disappointed this time!

Getting a Little Greener March 11, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Dinner, Food, Plants.
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Another beautiful day in the neighborhood! I really just cannot get over how beautiful Boulder is in the sun.

Moods are lifted, after school programming can go outdoors, my plants begin to sprout! All is right in my world.

Can you believe that they GREW that much in just one day! They’re doing so well!

For dinner, I decided to keep going with my green theme. That meant more pesto!!!

The Recipe:

  • 1 cup cooked rotini
  • 1 tbsp pesto
  • 7 cooked shrimp
  • 1/4 cup quartered artichoke hearts
  • 2 tsp sliced olives
  • 2 tsp mushrooms

Cook the noodles and shrimp so they are done at about the same time. Mix in the pesto. Add the rest of the ingredients. Simple as that.

I have become mildly obsessed with pesto and shrimp. I really love the combination… then add in some artichokes and it’s over the top good! Perfect quick meal that takes 10 minutes. Definitely good in my book!

Cilantro is Addictive March 4, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Dinner, Exercise, Food, Health, Motivation, strength training.
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After a day long meeting, all I wanted to do was go the Y.

So, I did… with two fantastic gym buddies I might add! Some elliptical, stair stepper, and weights later, I felt so much better! Nothing combats the ‘sitting-in-a-meeting-itchiness’ better than raising your heart rate and feeling muscles you had forgotten that you have. Delightful.

When I got home, it was just about dinner time.

I had cilantro.

I had shrimp.

I had asparagus.

And, I had an idea… a delicious idea.

Shrimp and Asparagus Spaghetti with Cilantro Pesto. Fantastic.

The Recipe:

  1. Cilantro Pesto:
  • 1 bunch of cilantro
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/3 cup of olive oil
  • 1/2  tsp salt (or less to taste)
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/4 cup walnuts
  • Mix all of the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Easy peasy.

2. 8 shrimp

3. 1 cup of asparagus broken into 1″ pieces

4. Whole Grain Spaghetti

Make the cilantro pesto. As you are making it, cook the pasta. Steam the asparagus. I used frozen shrimp, so I boiled them for 3 minutes. When everything is ready, toss them in a bowl and coat with the pesto.

Anything with cilantro is good in my book. Something about the smell makes me drool. And the fresh taste that you get, like fireworks on your taste buds.  Mmmmmm. Delightful!

As a complete and random side note… I was watching Top Gear this evening (greatest show ever) and Boris Becker was the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. Becker was my all-time favorite tennis player. Known for his full out dives, youngest player ever to win Wimbledon and one of the many reasons why I wanted to play tennis in the first place. Definitely made my night.

Really, what is there not to love???

Sometime You Feel Like Coconut February 1, 2011

Posted by cirellih in Food, Health, Motivation, Weight Watchers.
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Each Weight Watchers meeting we are given a booklet that has some helpful hints that pertain to the topic of discussion. For example, this week’s meeting was about being more active, so the booklet was about walking plans. They also contain some glorious recipes!

I give you Coconut Shrimp!!!

The recipe is ridiculously easy. It doesn’t take long, and the result it delectable!

The Recipe:

  • 8 small shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 splashes of skim milk
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup coconut
  • 1/4 cup panko crumbs
  1. Preheat the oven to 450*
  2. Mix 1tbsp of flour, salt and milk together.
  3. Drag shrimp through the remaining flour, shaking off any excess.
  4. Dip the shrimp into the milk batter.
  5. Mix the coconut and panko crumbs together. Press the shrimp into the mixture.
  6. Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil.
  7. Place the shrimp on the baking sheet. Lightly spray the shrimp with cooking spray.
  8. Bake for 12 minutes until the shrimp is pink on the inside.

I decided to serve this with spinach and pepper pasta. Not a particularly conventional pairing, but it hit the spot.