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Garlic Shrimp and Zoodles
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Garlic Shrimp with Zoodles

Is anyone else watching what they eat because they over indulged during the holidays?  I’m in that boat right now!  I love this Garlic Shrimp with Zoodles recipe because it is healthy and low in calories.  This recipe is full of nutritious ingredients and packed with taste.  Zoodles (zucchini noodles) take on whatever flavors you add to them.  I love spice and in this recipe, there are chili flakes which is one of my favorites!

Spiralized Zucchini

If you don’t have a spiralizer highly recommend it.  They are reasonably priced and I have had mine for several years.  I may not use it every week but it’s great to have for recipes such as this. Let me know if you and your family try this recipe and what you think!

Zoodles and Garlic Shrimp

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Garlic Shrimp with Zoodles

Ingredients

  • 6 zucchini washed
  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoon chili flakes
  • 1 lemon, squeezed
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Using a spiral slicer, cut the zucchini into noodles and place them into a colander over a bowl or in the sink.

  2. Sprinkle the zucchini with salt and toss to combine. Let the zucchini sit for 15 minutes while the salt extracts the moisture.

  3. Meanwhile, combine garlic, paprika, chili flakes, lemon juice, and shrimp in a bowl and mix well.

  4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the pan is hot, add the shrimp and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the shrimp change color.

  5. Rinse the zucchini under running water to remove the salt and dry on paper towels.

  6. Add the zucchini noodles and parsley to the skillet, stir for 3-5 minutes until tender.  I like to add even some additional garlic powder.   Toss to coat and serve.

January 22, 2018 by
What's In My Bag
Lifestyle

What’s In My Bag?

The other day some of my family was discussing how they would never go through someone’s purse or bag except maybe their mothers to get some money out of it!  Lol!  It’s an unspoken rule to not dig in someone’s purse or bag just like you would not look in their medicine cabinet. Even if the owner says it is okay to fetch their keys out of their purse, there’s still a reluctance to move forward.  The mere fact that it is taboo is why it is fun to read “What’s in my bag” blog posts.  I felt it was my turn to share what is in my bag.

I should start by saying, totes are one of my favorite accessories and I switch them up more than I should admit.  For this post I am using my new favorite, a champagne colored Michael Kors bag.  It has a small latch at the top to keep things from falling out and it has a great side pocket for items like your sunglasses.  Here is a peek inside my bag that I am currently carrying.

1.) My notepad from Kate Spade is one of my favorites.  Of all the different styles I’ve tried, this is the best one that works for me.

2.) I have two different pouches for carrying different types of essentials.  One has all of my cold remedies and prevention.  My favorites are Zicam, Emergen-C supplements and Thieves spray. I love the spray, I use it on my hands, in my car and just about anywhere.  I admit I am a bit of a germaphobe this time of year!  The second pouch is from Katie Loxton and comes in tons of colors.  I also carry my mints, hand lotion, lipsticks and Soile Oil for my dry nails!  I also found these fabulous lint collectors the last time I was at Anthropology.

3.) I have a really great mirror, it’s a little larger but as my eyes age it is getting harder to see anything!  I just picked this one up recently from Brighton.

4.) You will never see me without water or food in my car or bag!  You would think that I’m terrified to miss a meal but I am pretty prone to getting hangry if I don’t eat snacks throughout the day!  Ask my co-workers and family and they will concur!  When I saw these hangry bags from Waiting On Martha they were too cute to pass up!

5.) Another, “don’t leave home without” are my sunglasses and phone.  I actually pooled my sunglasses last summer and I think I had around 10 pairs!  They are all over my house and my car and for most days I can’t find one!  It is very odd but it happens and it kind of reminds me of socks… I just lose them and then they all appear one day in a drawer.  Strange.

Because I keep all of these items in my bag, it makes it a little easier for me to run to the office, next appointment or car pool which in turn helps me take on the blogging world!  For a look at a couple of the items I keep in arm’s in the summer, check out my post about Gearing Up For The Beach.

 

January 18, 2018 by
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup Ingredients
Recipes

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup is a phenomenon in my world.  How is it that it always makes you feel better when you’re sick?  This past week I had a friend who was very sick with the flu and I happened to be making this soup.  I asked her if she wanted me to bring some of it to her.  I did and the next day she said she felt so much better. So, what is it about homemade chicken noodle soup that makes us feel better?  Well, it’s packed full of nutrients!  All of those diced carrots and onions that have anti-inflammatory effects.  The nutrients actually help clear nasal passages, thin out the mucus and the salt can sooth a sore throat.  It eases our symptoms such as a cough and a stuffy nose.  The ingredients are immune boosting and somehow have these special powers to make us feel better.

Since we are in the heart of the cold and flu season, I felt it was one of those recipes I needed to share with my readers.  No matter how hard we avoid those bugs we still can get sick. Besides the taste and nutritional reasons, I love this recipe because it is easy and can do its magic in the slow cooker.  The type of noodles is important to note because I have found anything but egg noodles get mushy.  It is also great for leftovers!

I am hoping, like my friend, that this soup will at least cure your cold and winter blues and make you feel better while it is blistery outside.  For some other ways to knockout a cold, check out my favorite cold remedies.  Bon Apetite!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

 

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Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast uncooked, cubed
  • 2 cups carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
  • 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Place cubed chicken breast, carrots, onion, celery, garlic, olive oil and thyme in slow cooker.

  2. Next add in chicken broth and water.

  3. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

  4. Cook on low heat 6-7 hours.

  5. Add in the egg noodles and parsley.  Cook the noodles 30 minutes or until they are tender.  If you would like a creamier version add one can of cream of chicken soup at the beginning of the recipe. 

January 11, 2018 by
Cold Remedies For A Fever
Lifestyle

Favorite Cold Remedies & Hot Toddy Recipe

This is the season of the common cold, I hate being sick so I really try hard to get through the winter unscathed!  In my circle of friends there have been so many people sick this past month, it’s been awful!  I’d like to share a couple of cold remedies I’ve learned over the years, I always try my best to use natural remedies to knock out a cold or prevent one.  My family teases me because I am kinda wacky about it.  I constantly wash my hands, take Vitamin C, and use my Young Living Essential Oils, especially Thieves.   My new favorite remedy though is the Hot Toddy, it’s pretty tasty and soothing! You can find the recipe at the bottom of this post.

The best reasons to make a hot toddy over traditional cold medicines is:

1.) Grandma used to swear by it so it has to be good for you.

2.) Relatively inexpensive.

3.) No expiration dates.

4.) Most kitchens have the ingredients.

5.) It tastes good!

6.) No chemicals/au naturalle.

Bundle Up With A Hot Toddy

Some of my other favorite natural remedies are Esberitox, Sambucus, and Throat Coat Tea.  If I can get by without using traditional medicine I will.  I would love to hear from you some of your creative ways of treating a cold.

Cold Remedies

And that my friends is how you “Knock Out A Cold”!

Knockout A Cold

 

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Hot Toddy

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Hot Water
  • 1 Tea Bag
  • 1 1/2 ounces Whiskey
  • 1 tablespoon Honey
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice

Instructions

  1. Heat water, add all ingredients and stir. 

 

 

 

 

January 8, 2018 by
Happy New Year
Lifestyle

New Year, New You!

Happy New Year 2018!   Are you ready?  I hope this message finds you feeling hopeful and excited about the new year ahead.  I sometimes feel apprehensive moving into the new year.  As I reflect back on past years,  I think of so many ways that I have been blessed and I keep pinching myself wondering,  “How can I have another great year?  How can I continue with so many blessings?”  Don’t get me wrong, I have had lots of struggles, especially the last few years trying to find my way through some difficult times.  However, I can always find something to be grateful for.

This year, 2018, I am particularily filled with optimism.  I want to stretch myself a little more and I think I am in a better place to do so.  I am a big believer in writing down your goals.  I have been doing it since high school.  I don’t always reach them and some have been on my “list” for 10-20 years!!!  I don’t let myself get discouraged because I don’t believe goals are black and white.  I set goals to keep me focused on what is important to me.  In years past I have found old scraps of paper with my goals written on them and realized that I did do it!  I did accomplish what I sought out to do!  For some reason I believe writing them down does wonders.  I have enclosed a worksheet to write down your goals for this new year.  Make it fun and stretch yourself.  I am excited to spend the new year with you so let’s get started with some inspiration!

 

January 1, 2018 by