Creamy Pasta with Shrimp and Peas

I made two versions of this dish this week – one with shrimp and one with chicken. Its super easy and I guarantee you have most of the ingredients already in your fridge. It is half based on a recipe that a co-worker gave me and half made up by “moi”.

 

Creamy pasta with shrimp and peas

 

Ingredients (made for two):

• Frozen cooked shrimp

• ½ cup frozen peas

• Linguini – I use about a half box for 2 servings (of course any shape pasta will do but for long pasta I always use linguini)

• 3 oz cream cheese

• 4 tbsp butter – one to sauté the shrimp in, the rest for the pasta

• 1 ½ cups Italian shredded cheese – I had a bag that was a mix of a few kinds - you’re going to put 1 cup in the pan and use another ½ cup to sprinkle over the dish before serving

• Basil – probably a tsp of dried basil, adjust to taste

• Fresh parsley – 1 tbsp – use most in the pan but save some to sprinkle on the top of the dish before serving

• Fresh Chives – 1-2 tsp

• Salt and Pepper to taste
   

Steps:

1. Cook pasta according to directions on box – since I’ll eventually add the pasta to the pan with all the other ingredients I don’t cook it all the way, more al dente (I almost wrote “noodles” – my sister says “noodles”. We were out to eat at Olive Garden once and she asked what shape noodle a dish came in. haha! who says noodles above the age of 10? She’s funny)

2. Melt 1 tbsp butter in pan and sauté shrimp

 

 

3. When pasta is cooked add to shrimp

4. Add everything else, stir slightly, cover and let the butter and cheeses melt

5. When all is melted plate and top with some more shredded cheese and some fresh parsley.

 

This dish is so easy to make, you can add or substitute other herbs depending on what you have available. Tonight for dinner I made a version of this only with chicken and broccoli instead of shrimp and peas. And instead of basil I used lemon zest (everything else was the same). The lemon zest gave it that extra punch of flavor. Yum!

 

Took this picture of Patches and Sister (who is finally healthy!) I have a new appreciation for people who have good pictures of two or more kids or pets. I think I took 10 shots of them before this one. They rarely sit this close together. Patches likes his space. Sister is the cuddle dog.

 
 

My husband has two work trips this week so I’ll be baking and cleaning the house every night. If I can get motivated enough I’ll get some more posts up this week too. We’ll see!

 

Easter



So, again, I’m behind on my posts. Here is my Easter post – just slightly late.

For Easter Sunday this year we went to my oldest sister’s house. She and her husband do the best job hosting people. They make sure everyone has what they need at all times. They have tons of food and drinks!!!

For brunch we stuffed ourselves with:

·        2 egg bakes – one with sausage and bacon and the second with spinach and mushrooms,

·        2 kinds of potatoes – cheesy hash brown potatoes (made by my other older sister—sooo good!!!) and roasted red potatoes with parmesan cheese,

·        Apple french toast bake,

·        Sausage corn bread muffins,

·        Sausage patties,

·        Ham,

·        Fresh fruit platter and

 

 the Garbage Salad that I brought…

So the week before we had an Oscar party at work (yup, I won for best treats – of course!) and one co-worker brought this amazing salad! I named it the Garbage Salad because you can basically throw in whatever you want or whatever you happen to have in the fridge.

 

What I included this time:

1.      A very mixed variety of greens – spinach, romaine, mixed spring greens

2.      Shredded carrots

3.      Broccoli

4.      Cherry tomatoes

5.      Sliced strawberries

6.      Red onion – thinly sliced

7.      Blue cheese crumbles

8.      Toasted slivered almonds (spread on a baking sheet and bake at 375 for 3-5 minutes)

 

For the dressing I made balsamic vinaigrette. Mix the following to taste using mostly olive oil.

·        Dijon mustard

·        Olive oil

·        Balsamic vinegar

 

Peep Cupcakes 

 

 

I also made cupcakes for the occasion. Boxed (Duncan Hines of course!) devil’s food, chocolate frosting (I usually buy the generic frosting if I’m not being fancy or just making them quickly– Cub or Target brands are both fine). I frosted them completely first, then using the frosting knife I lightly touch the top of the cupcake and lift quickly and repeat --- makes little peaks of frosting to appear as a nest.

Then I melted some semi-sweet Bakers chocolate squares (2?) and dipped peeps into the melted chocolate, placed on parchment paper on a baking sheet and let set in the freezer for a few minutes. Then I put a chick on the top of each cupcake.

 

So simple but looks fun for Easter!

 

 

Other than all the delicious food we ate we got the best Easter baskets! An Easter lily, wine (x2), beef jerky (x2), Doritos, chips, squeaky toy for the dogs, chocolate eggs and Mister Clean Magic Erasers! (I love the magic eraser – I spent Easter afternoon using them to clean my shoes – got to have the whitest shoes – and erasing all the random marks on my walls! Only ever use Mister Clean Magic Eraser – never generic for that!)

 

Oh- almost forgot about the yummy drinks my sister and I had ---Dole mango,orange pineapple juice and pear vodka. Served over ice. Perfect blend for a fruity drink but not too sweet.