JGE 31 – Fiery Angel Hair Pasta

Good Day,

I wanted some spicy pasta for supper last night.

And I did not want to exert myself, and fret over a teaspoon of this, a cup of this, or 2 tablespoons of this. I wanted something that would taste good, look good, easy and fast to make… and did I say taste good?

Could I turn some left-overs into a completely re-purposed and somewhat appetizing meal? Hell yes. But of course, not left-over pasta – Angel Hair pasta.

Ingredients – Left-over Barbequed Chicken, Angel Hair Pasta, Onion, Garlic, Zucchini, Cherry Tomatoes, Thai Basil, Olive Oil, Water, Salt and Pepper, and Scotch Bonnet Relish.

My snacking at night is getting out of hand, I think. I could just clean out the kitchen of all the finger food and things but that is not necessarily going to help my self-control. My blood sugar count this morning was up to 121…and I most certainly want to blame the battery in the glucose monitor. But I measured my waist as well and it looks like my belly measurement is up 2 inches to 34”. Damn. I could blame the extra year I added 2 months ago.

And Jim's gotta eat.

Jim

JGE 30 – Cabbage Sausage Plus Boil/Soup/Stew

Good Day,

Hungry and needed something that would warm me up on a frigid Tampa, Florida nights.

Checked the refrigerator, checked, and thought - Cabbage and Sausage.

And I gathered up my ingredients –

Cabbage, Sausage, Potatoes, Carrots, Onion, Garlic, Beef Broth, Mesquite Seasoning, Water, Salt and Pepper.

I prepared everything and started layering all the ingredients into a large pot. I poured over the beef broth and water, added the seasonings and then turned on the burner to high.

Just before the brew started boiling I turned the heat down to low and covered the pot. I set the timer for 40 minutes and then took the dogs out for their evening walk.

I came back in about 30 minutes and then had an immediate for craving for Red Lobster Cheddar Cheese Biscuits. Of course, thanks JH, there were a mix box in my pantry. Took me a couple of minutes to prepare the biscuits and then throw them into the pre-heated oven.  I brushed all the biscuits with some melted butter.

Supper was served. Cabbage, Sausage, Potato, Carrot, Onion boil and my modified Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits …

And Jim's gotta eat.

Jim

JGE 29 – Sautéed Shrimp and Potatoes

Good Day,

What can I say? I know, Jim’s gotta eat…and sometimes I have to drag myself in the space of a about an hour to eat or I know I’m gonna order out.

Last night I decided that I wanted some Shrimp. And I knew that there were some Red Bliss Potatoes on my butcher’s block. Only two main ingredients and I didn’t want to think too, too hard.

Yup I entered the words “Shrimp” and “Potatoes” into Google Search and I found a link to Food.com http://www.food.com/ . I zeroed in on the title “Potatoes Sauteed With Shrimp” provided by MizzNezz.

Very simple set of ingredients – Shrimp, Red Bliss Potatoes, Garlic, Italian Parsley, Olive Oil, Red Chili Pepper, Butter.

Of course I had to have a side, so I added some Green Peas.

And a Salad with homemade Dijon Mustard Dressing.

Sautéed Shrimp and Potatoes.

For dessert I did create an Eclair Cake. Had a double helping and my blood sugar went up 5 points. Will take and post this one and images after my second attempt…

If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, please feel free to contact me at Jim's Gotta Eat.

Enjoy, and Jim’s gotta eat.

Jim

JGE 28 - Salad, Fried Flounder, and Roasted Vegetables

Good Day,

My blood sugar count dropped 20 points to 101 this morning. Supper last night was a fresh Salad, fried Flounder with baked Cauliflower, Japanese Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, and Turnips.

My ingredients included -

Assorted Lettuce, Shallots, Red Bell Pepper, Olive Oil, Vinegar, Salt and Pepper.

Flounder, Egg, Flour, Butter, Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper.

Cauliflower, Japanese Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, and Turnips, Truffle-infused Oil, Salt and Pepper

I used some Truffle-infused oil on the vegetables. They were great, but could someone please tell me whether I am missing something, or I really do not have a truffle-sensitive palate. I keep hearing and reading the stories about truffles but I certainly cannot cite an “extraordinary” difference. I must be gauche. Period.

Oh yeah, the majority of the fresh vegetables and produce were from Urban Oasis on West Linebaugh.

Did I mention that I will not ever be ordering take-out from China One on North Dale Mabry Highway again? Not complaining about the service, just about the food. It certainly cannot even hold a candle to an authentic American Chinese food preparation. Best two Chinese restaurants in the area, in my opinion and near my home, Yummy’s on Waters and Hillsborough and Hong Kong House on Fowler.

Enjoy and Jim's Gotta Eat.

Jim

JGE 27 – Garlicky Chicken Pasta

Good Day,

I was not in the mood to cook tonight, even though I knew that I should. I was not in the mood to go to a restaurant. My brain battled and settled. I opted to cook something quick, simple and easy.

Today I picked up my fresh produce from Urban Oasis. Included as a part of the pickup was a bunch of Arugula. In my freezer was half-a-pound of ground chicken. So looking for the one-plus-one answer, I entered the words “chicken” and “arugula” into Google search.

I immediately spotted a link to Chatelaine.com for a recipe of “Garlicky chicken pasta”.  I clicked the linked and read the ingredients. Well… A simple list, but I had no linguine or orecchiette pasta, no garlic butter, no boneless chicken breasts, no cherry tomatoes. I did have three of the seven ingredients – arugula, salt, and pepper.

I substituted Rigatoni for the pasta.

I decided to chop some fresh garlic and add it to butter. The chicken I had was ground. And there were whole vine-ripe tomatoes in the kitchen. I diced one tomato.

And yes I proceeded to create my version of Garlicky Chicken Pasta.

A great, simple, quick, easy dinner. Hell, Jim’s Gotta Eat.

Enjoy,

Jim

JGE 26 – Snow Crab and Shrimp Boil

Good Day,

Publix had Snow Crab Legs on special…and I, well you know me, I just got a craving for a crab boil. Oh did I tell you that I do a lot of the grocery shopping at Publix.

Oh yeah, Publix was ranked by The Daily Meal  as the 4th best supermarket chain in the country, based on national survey data this January 2015. (Number 1 was Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods number 2, and Costco 3.) Nice to know that I can, if I had to, walk to both Publix and Whole Foods.

My ingredients – Snow Crab Legs, Shrimp, Corn, Onion, Red Bliss Potatoes, Chicken Andouille Sausage, Old Bay Seasoning, Beer, Butter.

With everything in place; I think the phrase is “Ingrédients mis en place”, I began the boil. Water, Beer and a fair amount, about 1/3 of a cup of Old Bay Seasoning. Once the brew was boiling I added the Chicken Andouille Sausage, the Red Bliss Potatoes, the chopped Onion, and the Corn. I turned the burner down to about medium and let everything cook for about 15 +/- minutes until the potatoes were done to my liking. Of course, I had to taste.

Next I put in the Snow Crab legs and the frozen Shrimp. I turned the stove burner down to low, covered the pot, and melted the Butter in the microwave.

Damn was supper good.

Oh yeah. I had a Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownie for dessert. And my blood sugar count this morning dropped by 8 points to 96.

You know that Jim’s gotta eat…and I did.

Oh tonight, I think I am gonna try and make Bubble and Squeak.

Enjoy,

Jim