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Instant Pot, Whole 30 Pot Roast-Fridge to Table in Under 2 Hours

By November 28, 2017 About, All Things Food, Recipes

I jumped on the Instant Pot bandwagon hard when, in a momentary lapse in judgement, I went out to Target. On Thanksgiving. At 11:30 PM. This is something I swore I’d never do, and now I was doing it just to save $20. I apologize to retail employees everywhere.

So….now that my conscience is clear, let me tell you how much I’m loving my new bae, Ingrid. Yes, I named her. So far, she has already made me two of my childhood favorites, mashed potatoes and pot roast, and in record time. What have YOU done for my lately? I rest my case.

On Saturday, I used this simple recipe to make mashed potatoes for a crowd. They were done in 25 minutes, and I didn’t have to peel a single potato! Yay for no skinned knuckles! Monday, I tried this pot roast recipe from this hunk over at The Domestic Man. Damn!

(Perhaps, my back-up bae?)

I was really pleasantly surprised with the flavor after the roast cooked for only 45 minutes. It tasted just as good as the ones I’ve slow-cooked all day. All three of my kids loved it too, which almost never happens! If you have an Instant Pot that you haven’t even taken out of the box, this is a great place to start! It’s Paleo-friendly too so you can feel good about this one.

MEEEEAAAAAAATTTT!!

Instant Pot, Whole-30 Pot Roast

Course Main Course
Cuisine Pressure Cooker
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs boneless roast
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp ghee, or butter if not doing Whole 30
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 1 T minced garlic
  • 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 10-12 mini potatoes any type, cut into bit-sized chunks
  • 1/2 pound brussel sprouts
  • 8 oz white mushrooms
  • 1 bunch of red or golden beets peel and cut beets into bite-sized pieces, wash and chop the beet greens
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Season the roast with salt and pepper. Add the ghee or butter to the Instant Pot and press the “Sauté” button; wait for it to heat up, about 2 minutes, then add the roast. Brown on one side, about 6 minutes, then flip and brown the other side, about 6 more minutes. Remove the roast and set aside on a plate or cutting board. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and tomato paste, and stir together until aromatic, about 30 seconds; add the broths, red wine vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer, then add the roast and any accumulated juices.


  2. Cover the Instant Pot. Press the “Stew/Meat” button, and set it on high pressure for 45 minutes. Next,use the quick-release valve on the lid to force-depressurize the rest. You do this by turning the valve on top of the lid to the "venting" setting. You may want to read the user manual before beginning this step to get a better understanding of what to expect. I got a little confused, but the recipe still turned out well.


  3. Remove the lid and transfer the roast to a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Add all of the veggies, including the greens to the Instant Pot, re-cover with the lid, and set to “Stew/Meat” on high pressure for 6 minutes. While the vegetables cook, place the roast in the oven on broil until the top of the roast is crispy and some of its fat renders, about 4 minutes. Remove the roast and transfer it to a cutting board; loosely tent with tin foil to keep warm. Once the vegetables are finished, use the quick-release valve on the lid to force-depressurize the Instant Pot. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to the baking sheet. Press the “Sauté” button on the Instant Pot to simmer, uncovered, and reduce the liquid; as that happens, place the vegetables in the oven and broil until browned, about 5 minutes, flipping and jostling the vegetables every couple of minutes.


  4. Slice the roast and place it on a platter; add the vegetables to the platter. Once the liquid has reduced by about half, taste it and add salt and pepper as needed, then pour some of it over the roast and vegetables. Serve immediately with the sauce as a gravy.


Recipe Notes

  • These recipe steps may seem a little complicated at first, but, to simplify, you're really just 1)sautéing the meat on each side 2)high pressure cooking the meat(45 min) and the veggies(6 min) in the IP 4) Roasting the meat(4 min) and veggies (5 min) under the oven broiler. 5) sautéing the remaining sauce so it reduces by half.
  • Feel free to substitute any vegetables with whatever your family likes. My kids won't eat carrots so I left those out, but I threw mushrooms that we all love.
  • On his site, The Domestic Man, Russ Crandall, details how to make this in a dutch oven on the stove and a slow cooker.

Be on the lookout for more Instant Pot recipes coming soon, as Ingrid and I get better acquainted. 😉

♥ Erin

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Deliciously Simple, Healthy-ish Pumpkin Pie

By November 20, 2017 About, All Things Food, Holidays, Recipes

Ok, I’ll admit it. I’ve always been a pumpkin pie hater. I think it’s because, historically, they’ve always had too much spice and not enough of the things that bring me joy, butter and sugar. Then, eight years ago, when I was pregnant with my son, I discovered this recipe full of all the things I love, and I was converted. This year, since I’m not pregnant, and never will be again (SWEET!), I adapted the recipe to make it a bit lighter. It still has my favorite things, just a bit less of them, and it’s still seriously tasty.

Simply Delicious, Healthy-ish Pumpkin Pie

Course Dessert
Cuisine Holiday
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1 15 oz can pumpkin, mashed
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 egg plus 2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
  • 1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger optional
  • 1 pre-made pie crust of your choice

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the filling ingredients until combined.

  3. Pour the filling into the pie crust and bake for 50 minutes, or until the center is set. Cool the pie to room temperature before serving.

Recipe Notes

Last time I used this graham cracker pie crust. I know pumpkin pie is traditionally made with a regular pie crust, but I just love a graham cracker crust.

If you're feeling really ambitious, unlike my lazy ass, and want to make your own pie crust, here are a few recipes I'd recommend:

Perfectly Flaky Pie Crust Recipe from Food Network Kitchen

Graham Cracker Crust Recipe from Allrecipes.com

And here's a video for those, like me, who need a little extra help: How To Make A Pumpkin Pie Crust


 

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

♥ Erin

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This Amazingly Delicious Lasagna Recipe Will Make You Forget The Turkey This Thanksgiving!

By November 17, 2017 All Things Food, Holidays, Recipes

I know, I know, lasagna isn’t exactly part of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but I’m half-Italian and my grandma (who came over from Italy when she was a kid) always made pasta for every holiday.  We also just had a big Italian feast yesterday for the staff at my big kids’ elementary school, so I have Italian food on the brain. We usually do a Thanksgiving themed lunch, but this year I thought it could be cool to change it up, and the teachers loved it! I made my all-time favorite lasagna that I adapted from this awesome recipe by John Chandler. If you feel like changing it up this Thanksgiving, please try this recipe. You won’t regret it!

The Greatest "Better than Turkey" Lasagna Recipe

Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 50 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 35 minutes
Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage
  • 1/2 cup minced onion
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 28 ounce can whole tomatoes
  • 2 6 ounce cans tomato paste
  • 2 6.5 ounce cans canned tomato sauce
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 2 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 4 tablespoons chopped fresh or dried parsley divided
  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese sliced
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned.
  2. Stir in crushed tomatoes, whole tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water.
  3. Season with 2 T sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp. fennel seeds, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1 T salt, pepper, and 2 T parsley.
  4. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
  5. When the sauce is almost done simmering, fill a 9x13 baking dish with hot water and add lasagna noodles. Let them sit in the hot water for 20 minutes to get them ready for the oven. You can use cooking spray in the water to keep the noodles from sticking together.
  6. Drain the baking dish and put the noodles on a plate until ready to use.
  7. In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with one egg, remaining 2 T of parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  8. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  9. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
  10. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  11. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
  12. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  13. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes.
  14. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Mangia Bene!

Erin

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Meal Plan Monday-5 Quick and Easy Dinners

By November 13, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

Good morning,

I don’t know about you all, but I’m getting excited for Thanksgiving. Who doesn’t love a holiday that’s all about stuffing our faces until we pass out in a turkey-induced coma? I love trying new recipes each year, so this week I decided, why wait until Thanksgiving? Here is my weekly meal plan, as well as five new recipes we’ll be taste-testing this week:

The Plan:

Monday Grandpa’s Sauerkraut and Kielbasa, Spinach Salad

TuesdayCrispy Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Zucchini

Wednesday– Fish Taco Bowls

ThursdayDate night, Spaghetti and Meatballs for the kids

FridayCreamy Coconut Lentil Curry

SaturdayLeftovers/Takeout

SundayRed, White and Bean Minestrone with Parmesan Crisps, Salad

 

Monday-Healthier Grandpa’s Sauerkraut and Kielbasa with spinach salad- This was always one of my favorite dinners when I was a kid. I’m lightening this recipe up by using turkey kielbasa, purple potatoes (which are even better for you than sweet potatoes) and subbing a tablespoon of olive oil for the 1/2 cup of butter.

 

 

 

 

Tuesday– This Crispy Parmesan Garlic Chicken with Zucchini looks really delicious, doesn’t it? The cheese and garlic combo is something my whole family will love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday– This Fish Taco Bowl recipe is a great way to enjoy the flavor of fish tacos in a healthier way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday– My husband and I have a regular, bi-weekly date night every Thursday, so I’ll be making the kids some spaghetti and meatballs. I’m making lasagna with this amazing recipe for a PTA event at their school, so the kids will actually get leftover homemade sauce instead of my usual Kroger brand.

 

 

 

 

Friday–  This Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry will be just perfect for this chilly November weather. My friend made this a few weeks ago and the flavor was on fleek: sweet, savory and delicious. Can on fleek describe food? Idk, but I’m old, so I’m sticking with it.

 

 

 

Saturday– When you have three picky eaters, there are bound to be lots of leftover food. I will most likely make my kids grilled cheese sandwiches while my husband and I eat all the food that grossed our kids out this week. Oh joy of joys.

 

SundayRed, White and Bean Minestrone is one of my mother-in-law’s recipes that she has been kind enough to share with me. It’s so full of flavor and can easily be adapted to your tastes.

 

 

Meal planning can be a real bitch, so I hope this helps! Happy (ugh) Monday!

Erin

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Meal Plan Monday- A Week’s Worth of Meals, Complete With Grocery List

By October 30, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

Good morning,

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to attend The Mama Retreat here in Richmond. It was an entire day just for moms. We were pampered and cared for, and I left feeling refreshed and inspired. It was the first event of its kind, but they are planning three more for 2018. Get more info here and read all about my experience during the event.

One of the hosts of the event was Alex Cenname, a Certified Health Coach, specializing in personal health coaching for expecting mamas as well as those trying to conceive and women postpartum. She is an expert at planning, prepping and preparing healthy meals and snacks. As one of the gifts from the retreat, Alex sent us a meal plan for a week of simple and delicious recipes, complete with shopping list. Lucky for all of you, she gave me the okay to share the plan here. Check it out!

Weekly Meal Plan

Customized by Alexandra Cenname, Founder of Mama In The Makin’ & Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

The Grocery List:

  • Produce

2 pounds Brussel sprouts

1 large sweet potato

1 granny smith apple

1 red onion

1 bulb garlic

1 bunch celery

1 small carrot bunch

1 white onion

2 pounds Brussel sprouts

1 spaghetti squash

2 lemons, or a small jar of lemon juice

2 cups frozen broccoli

1 pack fresh rosemary, or sub dry

2 apples, variety of your choice

 

  • Pantry staples needed

Cooking oil (olive, coconut, avocado)

Cinnamon

Chili powder

Turmeric powder

Maple syrup

Honey

Salt and pepper

 

  • Bulk

12oz raw cashews

2oz nutritional yeast- I like Bragg’s bought here.

16oz walnuts

20oz rolled oats

8oz rice

 

  • Refrigeration

4 chicken breasts

1 pound chicken breast

1 pound ground beef

1 pack bacon

20oz milk or nut milk of choice

10oz plain Greek yogurt

 

  • “Shelfie”

8oz elbow pasta

1  small can tomato paste

1 can coconut milk

1 bottle Dijon mustard

4oz raisins

1 bottle coconut aminos- like this one

1 bottle sriracha

The Food:

Sunday & Monday: The Best Vegan Mac n’ Cheese by Detoxinista– OMG was this good!

Tuesday & Wednesday: Sheet Pan Chicken with Sweet Potato, Apples and Brussel Sprouts by Well Plated– This dish made my kitchen smell delicious!

Thursday & Friday: Spaghetti Squash Bolognese by Balanced Bites– Adding coconut milk to the sauce is genius! For even more flavor, grab some mini balls of mozzarella, slice and melt them over the top.

Saturday: Leftovers! or Grab a bite out- I used the leftover bolognese sauce and made more pasta. I ate a small portion of the pasta with a giant salad.

Breakfasts: Easy Overnight Oats by Damn Delicious

Lunches: 5 ingredient Honey Sriracha Crockpot Chicken with Broccoli and Rice– The sriracha and honey make this dish so flavorful!

I loved this meal plan! Not only were the meals delicious and kid-friendly, but they were simple to prepare and I already had most of the ingredients on hand. I made all of the dinners and the lunch for my family last week and they loved them all too, without exception. I did sub real pasta for the spaghetti squash when making dinner for the kids, but, other than that, I stayed true to the recipes. My son raved about the sheet pan chicken, saying it was one of the best dinners he’d ever eaten. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Let’s be honest, we all know that most of us will be consuming just as much sugar as our kids this week. What better time to try out these healthy recipes? You’ll be able to steal those Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups from your kids after bedtime and still feel like a virtuous parent. Let me know how it goes in the comments! Happy Halloween!

Erin

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Plan a Ghoulishly Good Adult Halloween Party

By October 27, 2017 About, All Things Food, Holidays

Happy Halloween, y’all! Our annual Halloween celebration, October-faced is tomorrow night! Scouring the Pinterest world for the last few days has me feeling like a Martha Stewart reject, but I think I’ve found a few gems that even I can pull off. If I can do it, so can you! Here’s my plan for a fun and festive party:

The Food:

Siracha Queso with Parmesan Pretzel Crisps

 

Pumpkin Barf Guacamole and Tostitos Scoops

 

Caprese Salad Eyeballs

 

Caramel Apple Nachos

Googly Eye Brownies

Crockpot Meatballs – Classic chili sauce and jellied cranberry sauce combo.

Pizza- ’nuff said

The Drink:

Grave Digger Cocktail with Apple Shrunken Heads

Bloody Maria Syringe Shots

Keg- So we get to pretend we’re still young.

Games:

Beer pong and darts will be set up in the garage.

Photo Prop wall- Buy a door poster from the Dollar Tree, like this one, hang it as close to the front door as possible and take everyone’s photo as they arrive.

Tunes:

Here’s a mix of my current jams and my Halloween and old school favorites.

  1. Thriller-Michael Jackson…..duh
  2. Time Warp-Rocky Horror Picture Show
  3. I Want Candy-Bow Wow Wow
  4. Thunder-Imagine Dragons
  5. Gin and Juice-Snoop Dogg
  6. Insane in the Brain-Cypress Hill
  7. It Takes Two-DJ EZ Rock and Rob Base
  8. Feel it Still-Portugal, The Man
  9. Mi Gente(feat. Beyonce)- J Balvin and Willy William
  10. Murder She Wrote-Chaka Demus and Pliers
  11. Worth It- Fifth Harmony
  12. Sorry Not Sorry-Demi Lovato
  13. Willy Wonka-Macklemore
  14. Misbehaving-Labrinth
  15. Mr. Brightside-The Killers

 

Time to go get ready! Have a great weekend all!

Erin

 

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Crunchy Tangy Tuna Salad

By October 17, 2017 All Things Food, costumes, Recipes

So I just got back from my carb-filled, booze-fueled couples trip to Punta Cana, and I am in full detox mode. I’d seen this recipe on Pinterest a few weeks back and decided it was just the thing I needed to get back on the road to clean eating. It’s packed with leafy vegetables, fiber and iron, but the tuna salad mixed in still makes it creamy and delicious. My husband has already begged me to make another batch and my picky five-year-old told me it was the best salad she’s ever had. Score! Check it out below:

Only 10 ingredients and 10 minutes to crunchy, tangy glory!

Crunchy Tangy Tuna Salad

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 can tuna
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/3 of a medium red cabbage
  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1/2 green apple
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • juice of 1/2 a lemon

Instructions

  1. Drain the tuna.
  2. Mix the tuna, 1/4 cup mayo and 1/2 tsp. mustard together in a large bowl until smooth.
  3. Thinly slice cabbage then chop it up into small pieces.
  4. Roll up the spinach leaves tightly and slice thinly into ribbons.
  5. Chop the green apple into small pieces.
  6. Add the chopped cabbage, spinach and apple to the bowl with the tuna and mix.
  7. Add the 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder and 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar.
  8. Mix everything thoroughly, squeezing 1/2 a lemon over the top.

Recipe Notes

Recipe adapted from: Natashared.com

So deliciously easy, guys! Enjoy!

Erin

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Quickie Dinner Series: Chorizo Seitan Sheet Pan Supper

By October 3, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

It’s time for Chorizo Seitan Sheet Pan Supper. Dang, that’s a mouth-full isn’t it! #thatswhatshesaid. This is a delicious, vegan dinner that I put together at the last minute. I had planned to make crockpot chicken, but I was too lazy to wash the crockpot, and so this recipe was born. It is tangy, full of protein, includes healthy cultured veggies and is just a bit spicy. I got my seitan at Whole Foods, but my favorite vegan, Christy, told me it’s also available at Wegmans. Seitan, not to be confused with Satan, is sometimes called wheat meat and is made from rinsing and cooking wheat dough to remove the starch. It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but I promise you, it’s good. If you just can’t wrap your head around that, feel free to sub seitan for any kind of spicy sausage.

Chorizo Seitan Sheet Pan Supper

Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 package Upton's Naturals Chorizo Seitan
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 2 sliced plum tomatoes
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced or 1 tbsp. minced
  • 1/2 cup sauerkraut or other fermented veggie
  • 1/2 cup chick peas
  • 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 2 tsp seasoning blend-lemon pepper, season salt -Whatever you have on hand

Instructions

  1. Line a sheet pan with foil and preheat oven to 450 degrees.

  2. Crumble the chorizo seitan onto foil.

  3. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic and kraut. 

  4. In a small bowl, combine chick peas, lemon juice and smoked paprika and mix until combined.

  5. Add the chickpea mixture, the olive oil and the seasoning blend of your choice to the sheet pan and mix with a wooden spoon.

  6. Put the sheet pan into the oven for 20 minutes and then enjoy!

Recipe Notes

  • We ate this with a side of salad and green beans. 

I wasn’t sure if my kids would be down with the spicy chorizo flavored seitan, but my picky five year old said it was yummy “chicken” and my son asked if I would make this for his birthday in February. Victory! Hope you’re all having your own tiny victories so far this week!

♥ Erin

PS-Sorry, not sorry, for the that’s what she said hashtag. I’m a 37 year old mom with the sense of humor of a 15 year old boy.

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Quickie Dinner Series: Sauteed Italian Mahi Mahi with Pesto Zoodles

By September 29, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

I’ve been loving creating new recipes out of the giant bag of frozen mahi mahi I bought at Costco. Each piece is individually wrapped, so I only need to remember to take it out of the freezer, a feat in itself, and defrost it in the fridge the night before. This recipe has become a part of our weekly dinner rotation. It’s quick, full of lean protein, healthy fat and veggies.

Sauteed Italian Mahi Mahi with Pesto Zoodles

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 4 Mahi Mahi filets, or similar fish
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • 1 tsp. Italian Seasoning
  • 3 cups Zoodles-zucchini noodles
  • 1 tbsp Minced Garlic or 2 cloves, minced
  • 1/2 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 2 tbsp Pesto - store-bought or homemade
  • 1/2 dozen Cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1/2 cup Greens-spinach, kale, chard-sliced thin

Instructions

  1. Take out fish filets and pat them dry.

  2. Sprinkle both sides of filets with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

  3. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

  4. Sear filets for 3-4 minutes on each side and then cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove filets to a plate.

  5. To the same skillet, add the 1 tbsp. garlic and heat until fragrant, 30 seconds or so.

  6. Add the zoodles, cherry tomatoes, spinach, lemon juice and pesto to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes until just heated through. 

  7. Place 3/4 cups of zoodles and veggies on each plate and top with fish filet. 

Recipe Notes

  • Feel free to sub pasta for the zoodles, but this will add to the cooking time.
  • Be careful not to overcook the zoodles. They taste much better when they're still al dente and not a large mush.
  • It's optional, but the dish tastes even better when topped with a lemon slice and an extra dollop of pesto.

This dish is healthy, but the pesto makes it taste creamy and indulgent. Store-bought pesto is awesome, but I like to use this recipe and freeze it in ice cube trays for later. When I need it, I can just take it out and use it in dishes like this one. Don’t worry if you have to improvise the ingredients. Last night I ran out of pine nuts and realized I had no parmesan. I used some pistachios and shredded some sharp cheddar cheese, and no one could taste the difference. Score!

Happy eating!

♥ Erin

 

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Quickie Dinner Series: Twenty Minute Shrimp Scampi

By September 20, 2017 About, All Things Food, Meal planning, Recipes

This quickie is so easy, and requires almost zero prep and cleanup. Divide the butter, slice up the lemon, remove the shrimp from the freezer, and you’re good to go. You can serve the shrimp over anything you want, but I prefer angel hair pasta or zucchini noodles because they’re both ready to eat in five minutes or less. Each foil pack serves two. You can prepare a bunch of them, fold them up and then keep them in the freezer for up to two months. Go grab some foil and start cooking!

20 Minute Shrimp Scampi

Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound frozen uncooked large peeled and cleaned shrimp (21 to 25 count)
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter divided into 4 pieces
  • 1 lemon sliced
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic divided
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/3 cup dry white wine
  • 1 pound dry angel hair pasta or 3 cups zucchini noodles
  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves optional
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more as needed

Instructions

To Prepare the Shrimp Packets:

  1. Preheat the oven to 475°F.
  2. Tear 4 (16-inch-long) sheets of aluminum foil. Stack the first two sheets on top of each other, and do the same with the other two sheets. Divide the frozen shrimp evenly into the two foil packs, leaving space on the sides and the top.
  3. Place 2 pieces of butter on top of each pile of shrimp. Divide the lemon slices and garlic over the two packs, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold over the sides of the foil and then the top and bottom to completely cover the shrimp.
  4. Place the packets seam-side up and side-by-side on a rimmed baking sheet. Open up them up just enough to pour in the divided 1/3 cup of white wine and then close them again.
  5. Cook shrimp for 20 minutes, or until they are completely cooked through.

To Prepare the Angel Hair or Zucchini Noodles:

  1. To cook angel hair: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the pasta and return it to the pot.
  2. To cook zucchini noodles: Place a large skillet over medium heat and drizzle with 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Add the 3 cups of zucchini noodles and cook for around 3 minutes or until heated through.
  3. Carefully open the shrimp packets, and add the entire contents to the pasta or zucchini. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta water (if applicable), parsley, and 1 teaspoon of salt; season with pepper; and toss until combined.

To Freeze For Later:

  1. Complete the first two recipe steps, leaving out the white wine drizzle until you're ready to cook.
  2. Stack the packets on top of each other and slide them into a gallon freezer bag. Remove all air from the bag and seal. Freeze for up to 2 months.
  3. When ready to cook, complete remaining steps above.

Recipe Notes

Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Recipe adapted from thekitchn.com.

Check back later this week for more quick, tasty dinner recipes! Happy eating!

♥ Erin

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