Monday, June 20, 2011

Shrimp Pasta

 
Days off from work are always fun, but being off on Monday is especially great. It's like I'm breaking the rules or something! My mother-in-law, Pat, has all sorts of tricks and helpful tips to making meal planning easier. One is that she usually keeps a frozen fish or crab package (the kind you buy at the grocery store) in the freezer. It's an easy go-to when you need to make dinner but do not want to run to the store to do so. We've started doing this, always keeping a small package of chicken (breasts, tenders, leg quarters, drumettes, whatever) or 1/2 pound shrimp in our freezer. I can't tell you how convenient this has been on so many occasions! (Plus, it lowers grocery bills on tight weeks.)

Shrimp pasta is one of those meals Matt and I never get sick of, it's pretty inexpensive, and we've never made it the same way twice.
shrimp pasta
20 minutes, serves 2-4

1/2 pound (8 oz) pasta (we used tomato basil)
3 TB cup olive oil 
1/2 pound of shrimp, thawed (peeled, rinsed, tails on or off)
1/3 green pepper, chopped
1 TB butter/margarine
2 TB water
Dash of oregano, basil, salt
1/3 t. black pepper
1 t. garlic powder
2 TB fresh chopped rosemary
1 TB capers
1 1/2 cups frozen broccoli, heated in microwave for 4 minutes 

1 In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Drop in pasta and cook according to package.

2 In a skillet or wok, pour in olive oil on medium high heat. Drop shrimp in and cook for 3 minutes. Add in green pepper and stir with wooden spoon. Next add in butter, water, and rest of spices and capers. Continue stirring and let cook for a few minutes. Add in broccoli.

3 Drain pasta and serve shrimp sauce over pasta.

This a light, flavorful pasta that is a meal by itself. If you have different veggies, throw those in, too.

Some variations:
Base:
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Chicken broth
White wine

Handful of spinach leaves
Bean sprouts
Snap peas
Asparagus
Yellow squash
Red bell pepper
Green onion
Zucchini
Green beans

Matt's birthday is Thursday, and I have some surprises in store that will be shared.

Happy Monday!

2 comments: