Fighting Boredom with Healthy Food + Creative Living
Being a mom is incredibly rewarding, however, there comes a time when you must rediscover and dedicate time to yourself. Many parents put their dreams and aspirations on the backburner when little ones come along, however, the joy and sense of self that comes with…
The folks behind Clevr are definitely on to something. I love my morning coffee, but let’s be honest, I only dig it for the caffeine boost that gives me the will to get ready for the day. However, Clevr has crafted together a magical blend…
I am a shrimp and grits super fan! My most favorite thing to do is try different versions of shrimp and grits when we travel throughout the South. It’s so fun to see how many different variations there are out there! Some versions are tomato based and are more hearty with smoked sausage and pepper flavors, which to me feel more like comfort food. My Spicy Watermelon & Jicama Shrimp and Grits recipe is lightened up for the summer months and give of *vacation vibes* with Sam’s Watermelon Jicama Salsa.
Sam’s Fresh Salsa has no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and additive free. It’s just pure fresh salsa like you would get if you went out to a Mexican restaurant and it was prepared fresh for the day. They also make traditional cantina style salsas such as Cantina Medium Salsa and Salsa Verde.
Although this dish brings big spicy tropical inspired flavors, it’s really easy to make. True grits fans will shake their heads at the Quick Grits listed in my recipe, but I find that I’m always short on time, so Quick Grits it is! If you have the time to make hearty stone ground grits, please by all means use that instead.
Prep Time: 40 Minutes
Serves: 4
Take one tub of Sam’s Watermelon Jicama Salsa out from the refrigerator and let it warm up to room temperature (for about an hour) prior to cooking the grits and shrimp.
I use Quick Grits because they are so much faster to cook, but if you have time, stoneground chunky grits are a fun option. For Quick Grits, boil 2-1/2 cups water with 1 tsp of salt in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat.
Add grits to the water and stir constantly for about a minute. Optional: If you want your grits to be ‘cheesy grits’ with extra creaminess, stir in the grated cheese. The grits will start to thicken and you may add water (about 1/4 cup at a time) as you cook to keep the grits from being dry and cooked through. Add the butter and stir occasionally to keep mixture loose. Add salt to taste. When you turn off the heat, the grits will thicken even more, so I always add about 1/4 cup of water before shutting off the heat.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil on medium heat and add onions. Stir until onions soften.
In a bowl, toss shrimp with garlic powder and red pepper powder. Add Shrimp to skillet and cook for about 2 minutes and then flip over gently and cook until they are pink and cooked through (about another 2 minutes). Squeeze fresh lime juice on top of the shrimp and onions.
Stir the grits and if they are too thick, add a little more warm water to make them loose again.
Fill a shallow bowl with grits (about 3/4 cup cooked grits) and top with about 8 cooked shrimp and onions mixture.
Spoon the Sam’s Spicy Watermelon & Jicama Salsa over the shrimp and grits. The spicy watermelon juices are so good when mixed in with the grits while eating!
Top with fresh diced cilantro. Optional: Add a few slices of fresh avocado!
Make sure to grab some Sam’s Fresh Salsas near you! Available at Fresh Market, ACME, Shaws, ShopRite, Morton Williams, Boyer’s and McCaffrey’s
Not only are they super tasty, but I love that they employ sustainable farming practices. Their composting operation delivers over 30 million pounds of self-generated fruit and vegetable waste each year, such as the peels, cores, seeds, scraps, and material with decay back into our soil. They also save water as they have installed subsurface water seepage pits and rapid infiltration basins to replenish the aquifers with water used in our vegetable and fruit processing operations.
#freshnotfake, #samssalsarecipechallenge, #salsalove
This recipe is an entry to the Sam’s Salsa Recipe Challenge!
Using a tortilla as the bowl for this tofu taco salad makes this dish extra fun to serve. This is a great recipe for kids to help out with, as they will be excited to help fill each tortilla bowl with the healthy ingredients.
Preparing to build a new home can be an exciting time, yet it may feel overwhelming. Here’s a handy guide of steps to review before starting the process.
After walking around Colonial Williamsburg admiring garden after garden, surrounded by trees in full-bloom, it’s no wonder my daughter and I were both slammed with seasonal allergies. At first we thought we may have picked up a cold (or Covid! Eek!) while traveling, but as the days went on (and precautionary Covid tests negative), we realized that the non-stop sneezing, itchy eyes and nasal congestion was indeed a result of nature’s irritant – pollen. (more…)
Most food needs some degree of processing, and not all processed foods are bad for the body. However, chemically processed foods, also called ultra-processed foods, tend to be high in sugar, artificial ingredients, refined carbohydrates, and trans fats. Because of this, processed foods are a…
I’ve been growing my own salad greens with hydroponic farm stands and I’m finding the best way to enjoy them is to keep it simple! Using high-quality olive oil, spices, herbs, and vinegar, I can create the most delicious salad without the need for a…
Growing up in the 80’s meant we did a lot with friends in person as there was no internet or cell phone to be a time suck. Looking back at my childhood, I’m so thankful for that as we had a lot of backyard parties, movie nights or just played pool on the giant pool table in my living room. Even today when traveling, if I see a pool table at a hotel rec room or restaurant, I can’t resist shooting a game of two of pool. Although I have loved the timeless game, I’ve never really had an appreciation for how pool tables are actually made. There’s so much that goes into a quality table! (more…)
Divorces are hard for families and everyone else involved. Divorced parents have to formulate new ways of interacting with each other as well as the best ways to parent their kids. Children are greatly affected by divorces in different ways, with some accepting the divorce…
Did you know that swimming can increase children’s physical, emotional and mental strength?
Want a delicious, beautiful breakfast that’s low in sugar? Never fear! Here are some nutritious yet easy ideas from my #SugarFreeChallenge Week that you may enjoy! (more…)
