Spicy Shrimp Pasta Skillet...

Hey All!  How did I ever cook dinner before Pinterest?!



It's rare that I make a dish that my entire family likes. So it was a happy day in my house when I made this Spicy Shrimp Pasta Skillet. Usually I'm making two dishes for dinner. This child doesn't like beef. This child doesn't care for fish. This husband doesn't like asparagus, mushrooms, or brussel sprouts.  When I found this recipe on Pinterest and I saw that it was from my favorite foodie blogger, I just had to make it! This recipe is adapted from How Sweet It Is.  It's super easy.



I used white pasta instead of whole wheat pasta. I love whole wheat pasta, but other family members says it tastes like cardboard. Really? So you know what cardboard tastes like huh?  Short on time, I only marinated the shrimp for 30 minutes. It was so full of flavor! For the recipe, click on the above link to How Sweet It Is.



You can't serve pasta without garlic toast right?! Don't you just love red pepper flakes!




So... what's for dinner?

Lately on Instagram...

Hey All!  Had some technical difficulties earlier with a previous post. Sharing some recent Instagram pics. Follow me on IG @sydneyaustindesigns

 

Slowly driving everyone in my household crazy. Dealing with some hormonal issues. Stopped by Trader Joe's to buy myself some fresh flowers to cheer me up.

 

 

The prettiest blue. Lapis lazuli chips on hand hammered brass hoops. Love these. Available for purchase here.

 

One of my favorite gemstones, labradorite. Flashes of blue. Made these today. Available here

 

Love taking food pics! Made these fajitas for my family. Daughter is so mad that I make everyone wait so I can take a picture before we can eat.

 

Reading Gone Girl on the recommendation of a co-worker. Like my new paper straws? Got them on etsy. They do not get soggy. My new thing.... I love drinking out of a mason jar!

Guacamole Dip...

I hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend.  It's been awhile since I did a recipe post. One of my favorite snacks is tortilla chips with salsa or guacamole. My 15 year old daughter, Blake, makes delicious guacamole. Never will I buy guacamole from the grocery store.  She has agreed to share her recipe. She uses all fresh ingredients.

***Please remember to vote for me for Circle of Moms Top 25 Mompreneur Blogs. To vote just click on Circle of Moms button located on right side of blog.***

Ingredients:

• Cilantro (1/4 cup chopped)
• Red Onion ( 1-2 tablespoons diced)
• Avocados (3-4 ripe and firm)
• Jalapeno pepper (2 teaspoons)
• Course Salt (1/4 teaspoon)
• Lime (2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed juice)

Cut open 3-4 avocados, discard pit. Scoop out inside of avocado and put in mixing bowl. Combine remaining ingredients and mash avocados. Serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

All fresh ingredients

If you don't want it as spicy, remove the seeds from the jalapeno.

Jalapeno chopped without seeds.

Enjoy!


 

Lime Shrimp Caesar Salad

Yesterday I wanted to make something different for dinner for my family. I'm sure they are getting tired of the same dishes. I know I am. I wanted to do something with shrimp. My husband and I love Chili's lime grilled caesar salad. I googled a recipe for lime shrimp caesar salad. What I found out was Chili's salad has a whopping 900 calories per serving! Fitness Magazine's website had a low cal version of lime shrimp caesar salad for 400 cal per serving. I made it and it was a hit with everyone except...my son. He's picky. He did finish the salad but had to add more dressing which probably jacked his calorie serving up to about 700. Below are some pics I took. Happy Monday!




Saute' shrimp with lime juice and crushed garlic until pink (about 3 minutes).



Toss shrimp with romaine lettuce, low cal caesar dressing, parm cheese, and Texas toast croutons. Enjoy!

Trail Mix...

I love trail mix, but you have to be careful with the store packaged trail mixes. They are loaded with calories and fat. If you aren't careful, you will find yourself eating the whole bag in one sitting which really is about 4-6 servings. I decided to start making my own.

Tollhouse dark chocolate morsels (about 2 yrs ago, I hated dark chocolate)
Walnuts (no added salt)
Dried blueberry cranberries

I mixed them together in a ziploc bag (1 cup total). Its great portion control. I carry it in my purse for a great energy snack on the go.


Oh, I gave my blog a little face lift. I got rid of the black backgroud. I like the white space. Also changed the name from Hip Jewels to Sydney Austin Designs. It still needs a little tweeking.

Pick 4...

I am really trying to stay committed and blog regularly! Each week I will post a blog titled "Pick 4." It will be randomly selected moments, events, things, etc. that make me smile. Here is the first post.





View from the top of the Shenandoah Mountains before my mom and I started our morning hike while on vacation last week.

Martinis with 3 of my girlfriends on the patio of Bleu Restaurant in Winston Salem. Having girl talk. Mine was strawberry lemonade martini.

Having a delicious meal with friends. I rarely order steak, but my girlfriend Kim persuaded me to try it. Peppered steak, collard greens (under the steak), and oven baked mac-n-cheese. The beef was very tender, took half of it home.

Big Basketball Wives inspired hoops that I wore to Bleu. Sold a pair the next day on my etsy site to a high school classmate, Carmen! They have personality!