SHRIMP AND POLENTA

SHRIMP AND POLENTA

DINNER AT HOME 

Trying to mix it up a bit and try new things.  We don't eat Polenta much so we went with a recipe from the Food Network that combined it with  shrimp.  I think if you are used to eating grits you may like this dish.  We are rice and pasta eaters so will stick to that next time.

SHRIMP AND POLENTA 

BROWNED CANADIAN BACON SET ASIDE

SAUTE ONION, BELL PEPPER AND GARLIC

HEATED POLENTA IN CAST IRON SKILLET

ADDED ONCE CAN OF DICED TOMATOES, GREEK YOGURT,
WHITE WINE AND HOT SAUCE

ADDED BOILING WATER TO POLENTA AND COOKED
USING DOUBLE BOILER.  GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
AND A LITTLE BUTTER ADDED ALONG WITH SALT

ADDED PEELED SHRIMP TO SAUCE

COOKED SHRIMP IN SAUCE FOR A FEW MINUTES 

KIRKLAND FIRE ROASTED VEGETABLE BLEND

KIRKLAND FIRE ROASTED

VEGETABLE BLEND

WITH BALSAMIC BUTTER SAUCE

The Kirkland Fire Roasted Vegetable Blend looked so good in the photo on the bag at Costco.  Healthy vegetables in a Balsamic Butter Sauce sounded really good.  Verdict on this one is don't buy this bag.  Buy fresh vegetables instead.  The vegetables did not have the fresh taste and there was way too much Balsamic Butter Sauce. The vegetables come out drenched in the tangy sauce.  We have two bags left so next time I will remove most of the sauce that is frozen in clumps with the vegetables.

KIRKLAND FIRE ROASTED VEGETABLE BLEND

FIRE ROASTED VEGETABLE BLEND FROM COSTCO

VEGETABLES LOOK AND TASTED PRETTY BAD

(3) LB BAG SERVINGS

FROZEN OUT OF THE BAG AND INTO THE SKILLET

SAUTE FOR AROUND 6 MINUTES
LOTS OF BALSAMIC BUTTER SAUCE

SERVED VEGETABLES WITH SLICED HAM
AND SMALL SALAD

TRIED THESE VEGETABLES AGAIN AND REMOVED 90% OF THE BALSAMIC WHEN FROZEN.
THE VEGETABLES LOOKED AND TASTED TERRIBLE.  ENTIRE FAMILY DID NOT LIKE.
WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THESE VEGETABLES.

ALA MOANA FOOD COURT - SENOR PEPE' AND SBARRO

ALA MOANA FOOD COURT

SENOR PEPE' FRESH

MEXICAN GRILLE AND

SBARRO ITALIAN 

Pleased that the wife wanted tacos while shopping at the Ala Moana Shopping Center.  We went to the Makai Market Food Court where you can find all of Hawaii's ethnic foods.  There is Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Philippines, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, Italian, Mexican, American restaurants plus a steak house, sandwich shop, panini shop and more.  I like Señor Pepe Fresh Mexican Grille.  Hawaii really doesn't have any good Mexican joints so Señor Pepe shines.  I always order tacos.  Fish, Shredded Beef and the Street Tacos are my favorites here.  Two tacos and your choice of three side dishes runs around $9.  I went for the Carne Asada (steak) Street Style Tacos.  Double corn tortillas filed with seasoned and grilled steak.  Topped with onions and cilantro.  Pretty simple but so good.  I had the Chipotle Cole Slaw, Jicama and Cucumber Salad and beans as sides.  My wife enjoyed one Fish Taco and a Carne Asada Taco with beans, rice and a fresh vegetable salad with garbanzo beans.  The Boss went for the Sbarro Pizza.  She chose the thick crust because it looked so good on the counter.  You can get a large slice of pizza and choice of a side and drink for around $8 at Sbarro.

SENOR PEPE'

MAKAI MARKET FOOD COURT AT ALA MOANA 

DOZENS OF FOOD CHOICES IN ONE ROOM

SENOR PEPE' FRESH MEXICAN GRILLE
ONE OF OAHU'S FEW CHOICES
FOR DECENT MEXICAN FOOD

LARGE COLORFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF MOST DISHES

MEXICAN STYLE STREET TACOS CAUGHT MY EYE.
ALSO HAVE SOFT TACOS AND CRUNCH TACOS

COMBO MEAL INCLUDES THREE CHOICES OF SIDES.
LOTS OF FRESH VEGETABLE CHOICES

YOUR CHOICES ALSO INCLUDE TWO TYPES OF BEANS, RICE
AND MEXICAN POTATOES

SBARRO ITALIAN IS ALWAYS A GOOD CHOICE

CHOOSE FROM SEVERAL TYPES OF PIZZA, PASTA,
CALZONES AND SALADS

DEEP DISH, THICK CRUST OR NEW YORK STYLE THIN CRUST.
THIS IS THE THICK CRUST WITH SAUSAGE AND PEPPERONI.

LOTS OF PIZZA CHOICES PLUS STUFFED PIZZA TOO!

PASTA AND LASAGNE DISHES

THE BOSS WENT FOR THICK CRUST

LARGE SLICES

THIS IS THE THICK CRUST.   I ALWAYS GO FOR
THE NEW YORK THIN CRUST.

ONE CARNE ASADA TACO AND ONE FISH TACO
WITH BEAN, RICE AND GARBANZO BEAN SALAD

TWO CARNE ASADA STREET TACOS WITH BEANS,
COLE SLAW AND SLICED JICAMA WITH CUCUMBERS

STREET TACOS ARE SERVED WITH TWO TORTILLAS
PER TACO.  I ONLY ATE ONE AND HAD NO PROBLEM WITH
THE TACO FALLING APART

VEAL SCALLOPS WITH MUSHROOM HERB SAUCE

VEAL SCALLOPS WITH

MUSHROOM CREME SAUCE 

DINNER AT HOME

Cooked up a easy and fast dinner using some thinly sliced Veal that was on sale at the market.  Started with some shallots and garlic.  Did not have enough shallots so I used Maui Onions too.  Added mushrooms and cooked until tender.  Deglazed the pan with some white wine and reduced.  Added some chicken stock and reduced again then put in 1/4 cup of heavy creme.  Added some fresh Thyme and cooked until thickened.  Dredged the Veal in flour and sautéed for one minute on each side.  Served up with some pasta.  Entire family enjoyed this dish.  The Veal was under $10 so the entire meal for three came in just over $25.

MIXED PASTA WITH THE MUSHROOM CREME SAUCE IN
THE PAN AND THEN TOPPED WITH VEAL

SAUTE SHALLOTS, ONIONS,  GARLIC AND SAGE IN OLIVE OIL

ADD SLICED MUSHROOMS

COOK MUSHROOMS UNTIL TENDER

DEGLAZE WITH WHITE WINE AND REDUCE

ADD CHICKEN STOCK - REDUCE AND THEN ADD CREME
AND FRESH THYME.  ADD SALT AND PEPPR TO TASTE.
SIMMER SAUCE UNTIL THICKENED

THINLY SLICED VEAL SCALLOPS WERE ON SALE

DREDGE THE VEAL IN FLOUR SEASONED WITH SALT AND PEPPER

SAUTE VEAL IN OLIVE OIL FOR ABOUT 1 MINUTE ON EACH SIDE 

BACON, LETTUCE AND TOMATO ON A BAGEL

BACON, LETTUCE AND TOMATO ON A BAGEL 
LUNCH AT HOME

I just had to write something about Hormel Fully Cooked Bacon from Sam's Club.  This bacon is a huge time saver and eliminates most of the grease associated with cooking bacon.  I was surprised to find the bacon in a non-refrigerated section of Sam's Club.  The bacon does not need to be refrigerated until after you open the package.  When you need bacon, just place the strips on a paper towel and microwave for 15 seconds.  Thats it!  15 seconds and you have cooked bacon that is not greasy.  This is really the only bacon we buy now.  For $11 you get 72 slices of bacon.  That comes out to around 15 cents per slice.  Not a bad deal plus you don't have anything to clean up.  The bacon is great for a quick BLT.  I used a bagel since we did not have any bread in the house.  The Bagel BLT was delicious.

BACON, LETTUCE AND TOMATO ON A BAGEL

HORMEL FULLY COOKED BACON
IS NOT REFRIGERATED WHEN YOU BUY IT

FULLY COOKED RIGHT OUT OF THE BAG

15 SECONDS IN THE MICROWAVE AND YOU HAVE
GREAT BACON WITHOUT COOKING AND GREASE

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH RISOTTO - DINNER AT HOME

SEARED SCALLOPS

WITH RISOTTO

DINNER AT HOME 

Had to use up some Basil and Tomato so I bought some freshly made Mozzarella Cheese and an Avocado.  Made a little stack and served it with a rich Balsamic Vinegar.  Very fresh, light and delicious.  I made some Risotto and added bacon and grated Parmesan Cheese.  Seared Scallops in butter and olive oil.  Scallops were sweet but my Risotto was a little mushy.  Need to work on that.  This was a light and tasty meal that was under $20 for three people.

SEARED SCALLOPS WITH RISOTTO,
BACON AND PARMESAN CHEESE

TOMATO, BASIL, MOZZARELLA, AVOCADO, RED ONION
AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR