Tropical Wave

Hello Friday....oh how I have missed you!  I realized earlier this week while driving to parent teacher conference that it had been a while since I had posted anything.  These last few weeks have just been a blur....not sure where the days have gone.

It was a crazy weather day here in the Pacific Northwest....all morning we had beautiful blue skies and farther north...snow and ice!  Holy cats...you gotta love spring around here.  For happy hour today I was thinking tropical...warm...coconut.  So....a Tropical Wave was the answer. 

It is a great blue green color....during football season we like to call these a Seahawk Blitz.  In my house football season can not come soon enough.

Tropical Wave

 

1oz vodka

1oz coconut rum

1/2oz blue curacao

1/2 cup pineapple juice

fresca or sprite

 

1.  Fill glass with ice

2.  Add vodka, rum, blue curacao and pineapple juice....stir.

3.  Fill with fresca.

 

 

I discovered Skky pineapple vodka....and I was pretty excited...but in the end I was a bit disappointed.  It has a wonderful pineapple smell...but the flavor didn't do it for me.   I did however use it in this drink and it was delish!

 

Cheers My Friends!  Enjoy!



 

 

 



Shrimp Po'Boy Sandwich

I think that I may have mentioned I am so ready for spring!  I have decided to get my spring cleaning started early.  The boys both have spotless rooms....outgrown clothes and toys donated....and I am headed out for paint next week.  Feeling pretty good about the progress so far.

After cleaning today I took a look in the freezer to see what might be good for dinner tonight.  I had totally forgotten about a bag of jumbo shrimp that I had picked up at Safeway for $5 Friday.  I tossed around a few ideas....pasta....Asian stir-fry....but in the end it was shrimp po'boys.

I grabbed a few fresh rolls and a bag of shredded cabbage....mmm...delish!  I do however wish that I could find a way to faux fry the shrimp and yet keep them crunchy and tender.

 

 

First mix up the sauce...combine mayo, water, Franks, minced garlic and red pepper flakes.



Peel and clean the shrimp.

Mix together flour and Cajun seasoning.  Beat an egg together with a little bit of cold water.

When I am coating anything to fry I will toss it in flour....egg wash...and then back into the flour.  Be sure to shake off excess flour before placing into the hot oil.

Place breaded shrimp into hot oil.  Fry for 1 1/2 minutes per side then remove from oil and place on paper towel to remove excess oil.

 

Slice open the roll and spread a bit of the sauce onto the inside of the bread.  Spread shredded cabbage on top of sauce and then lay on the cooked shrimp.  Drizzle more sauce on top if desired.  I didn't have a tomato....but my husband and I both thought that it might be a yummy addition.

Shrimp Po'Boy Sandwich

 

16 - 20 Jumbo Shrimp

4 soft rolls

shredded cabbage

2 cups flour

 1/8 cup Cajun seasoning

1 egg

water

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp milk

1/8 cup Franks hot sauce

1 tsp minced garlic

red pepper flakes to taste

 

1.  Whisk together mayonnaise and milk.  Add hot sauce, garlic and pepper flakes whisking until well combined.

 

2.  Peel and clean the shrimp.

 

3.  In shallow dish combine flour and Cajun seasoning mix.  In another bowl beat egg adding water.

 

4.  Add oil to large pan....enough to cover the bottom.

 

5.  Toss shrimp in flour...dip into egg wash and then toss again in flour.  Shaking gently to remove excess flour. 

 

6.  Place shrimp into hot oil....frying 1 1/2 minutes on each side.  Remove from oil and place on a paper towel to allow excess oil to drain off.

 

7.  Slice rolls open...spread on sauce...add cabbage and shrimp....drizzle extra sauce if desired.

 

 

Enjoy!  And remember Spring is right around the corner.



Flip Frame - Mini Book

It is a sick day at my house....poor Jakey is home with a bad cold.  I guess too much weekend fun finally caught up with him.  After getting him all cozy with a blanket and Sponge Bob I headed down stairs to my craft area.  Originally, I was only going to move and organize things a bit more.  I have to say that it is really starting to look like a fun workable space.  While I was going through a stack of scrapbook paper (which I have WAY to much of) I found some fun pink spring paper and thought I need to do something with this.   I had also found a plastic easel type frame that I bought for something and never used....something I do all to often.  Well...really...you never know when you might need it....like today.

So after pulling scraps and embellishments together that matched I started putting it all together.  I have to admit it turned too cute.  It will work as a great "girly" gift and I got the perfect girly in mind.

First, I cut the pages of the mini book out of chipboard and then covered them with coordinating paper.  After covering the pages I used my Bind-it-all to attach them. 

I embellished each page with flowers, washi tape banners and matting paper for pictures.

I made sure that I covered front and back of the pages so as you flip both sides will be filled with memories and pictures.  I also varied the size of the pages just for fun and also added a couple of tabs on the side to add more embellishments.  I added lots of ribbon, glitter and paper clips that have ribbon or washi tape on them.

Once all of the pages were complete I cut a piece of paper to fit inside the plastic frame....I made sure I had saved a coordinating piece that would be big enough.  And then I used hot glue to attach the mini book to the plastic frame.  Making sure to keep the wire O-ring above the top of the frame to allow the pages to flip over.

 

I really didn't have a plan....I just started putting things together adding more as I went along.  Don't you just love it when a plan comes together.

Grab some scraps and just go...don't think...just craft!

 

Happy Tuesday!

Asian Noodle Salad

My husband and I just got back from a weekend  at Great Wolf Lodge with 5 boys.  For Matt and Jacob's birthdays this year we told them they could each take a friend and we would take them for a weekend away.  Matt actually took 2 friends and Jacob took his best friend (which happens to be his cousin and neighbor). 

It is amazing to me how much teenage boys can eat!  We had that room packed with snacks and drinks for them....they definitely had their fill on junk food.  But...it was a fun birthday weekend so I probably went a little over the top.  So now that we are back I think we will go with a light dinner. 

This salad is a favorite in my house.  It is super easy and by adding grilled chicken to it you can make it a meal.  I got this salad recipe from my friend Chris.  She moved to Arizona a few years ago...and every time I make this salad I think of her.  Makes me miss her more...but I love remembering the fun we all had.

 

 

 

Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a bowl and whisk until well combined.

 

 

Chop cilantro and grate carrots





Toss noodles, carrots, cilantro, dressing and peanuts together.

 

 

Asian Noodle Salad

 

2 pkgs of Top Ramen

1/4 cup white vinegar

2 Tbsp lime juice

2 tsp sesame oil

2 Tbsp sugar

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1 carrot, grated

1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts

 

1.  Discard seasoning mix that comes with the noodles.  Boil noodles til tender, drain and rinse with cold water.

 

2.  In a bowl mix together vinegar, salt, sugar, oil, red pepper flakes, garlic and lime juice.  Whisk well to dissolve sugar.

 

3.  Place cold noodles in a large bowl.  Add cilantro, carrots, dressing and peanuts.  Toss and serve.

 

 

*Can add sesame seeds, red pepper and or grilled chicken.



*When I make this salad for my family I typically double it.  When I make it for a gathering I will use 10 pkgs of Ramen.  (that is 5x the posted amounts)

 

Enjoy!