Scampi Supper with Friends!

Scampi Supper With Friends!

Totally forgot about taking these photos...this dinner party with friends was the night before my sweet husband's heart attack.   Since then he is recovered, but Covid 19 has kept us from entertaining people in our home.  That is one of the things I miss during this quarantine time...but hopefully those days will come again.

This scampi dish is so simple ( find the entire recipe at the end of the post) and perfect for company because you can make it ahead of time and pop it in the oven when you are ready.

I make this in a 13x9 pan...and I love my Temptations cookware that I purchased at the QVC outlet.  I like this pan because it comes with a lid and a trivet to place it on when you take the pan out of the oven.  Just place the shrimp ( peeled and deveined) in the bottom of a pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

The original recipe I found on All Recipes did not call for cherry tomatoes, but I love it in this dish.  Just put any amount you would like - I put them in whole, but you could slice them if you wish.

In a saucepan mix together butter ( I use Smart Balance for cooking), mustard, lemon juice, garlic ( I use the jarred garlic), and parsley.

Heat in pan until melted and pour over shrimp and tomatoes...

Another ingredient that was not in the original recipe but I love is to sprinkle panko breadcrumbs over the entire mixture.

Pop in a 450 degree oven and bake for 15-18 minutes until the shrimp are pink and opaque.  So...I forgot to take a photo of the finished dish...and I also serve this over whole wheat spaghetti or linguine...with a salad and whole wheat bread.  

I did remember to take photos of the table setting - 

While I usually use cloth napkins, I found these napkins years ago in a kitchen store and thought they would be perfect for this meal.

My centerpiece was a cute, early Spring arrangement I found while shopping with my friends in nearby Lititz, PA.

It was a simple setting with my plain white dishes, monogrammed water glasses that were a wedding gift, and wine glasses I found at a thrift sale.

It was a great dinner and a lovely evening !  Here is the complete recipe:

Shrimp Scamp Bake

2/3 cup of butter ( I use Smart Balance )

1 heaping tablespoon of Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons of chopped garlic

2 teaspoons of chopped parsley...fresh if you have it

1 1/4 pounds of medium raw shrimp, peeled and de-veined.

Tomatoes and Panko bread crumbs, optional

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2.  In a small saucepan, over medium heat, combine butter, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley.  When butter has melted, remove from heat.

3.  Arrange shrimp in a shallow baking dish.  Top with tomatoes if desired.  Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp. Top with Panko crumbs if desired.

4.  Bake in pre-heated oven for 15-18 minutes until shrimp are pink and opaque.   

Serve over pasta and enjoy !

Thanks so much for stopping by Our New Vista!  Please leave a comment below and let me know if you have any easy but special recipes for company.  Stay safe, be healthy - and thanks for checking in!

Spring Souper Suppers

Spring Souper Suppers!

This Spring has been crazy  - in more ways than one.  Everyone is dealing with the Covid-19 quarantine and the weather has been cold and rainy.  Perfect weather for cozy soups as we all stay home to be safe.   I found both of these recipes while browsing the internet and looking at other blogs.  So read on to see how to make a White Bean and a Lentil Crock Pot Soup.  Thanks to Julie's Creative Lifestyle and  Eating on a Dime for sharing these great recipes.   I am especially enjoying these soups as beans/lentils are part of a "heart healthy" diet.  Thanks to all of you expressed prayers and good thoughts for my husband John after his recent heart attack.  He is doing great...on the road to recovery - and enjoying eating these healthy meals.

So...here we go - 

Crockpot White Bean Soup

Spray the crockpot with cooking spray then add beans,

carrots, and all the other ingredients -

Mix all ingredients together and then add the spinach on top -

Set crockpot to HIGH setting for about 6 hours.

That's it - and it is delicious!   Before serving I drizzle some olive oil on top and serve with some crusty whole wheat bread.

Here is the recipe - 

Crockpot White Bean Soup

4 cups spinach

1 pack dried beans...navy, white, etc. - rinse with water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 8 oz can tomato sauce

2 teaspoons minced garlic

4 cups chicken stock...I use vegetable

4 cups water

1/4 teaspoon of turmeric

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes ( I use less)

salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash to taste

Spray crock pot with cooking spray, Add everything, cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours.

You can can add sausage if you like, but we never do...it is plenty hearty without the sausage.

Next up is another favorite...Lentil Soup

Chop carrots and onions

Add carrots, onions, and lentils to a crockpot sprayed with non-stick spray

Add one can of diced, fire roasted tomatoes

garlic...and the broth.

Cover and cook on high for 5 hours or 7-8 hours on low.

I always forget to add the parsley before serving...but again, I drizzle olive oil over the top before I serve it.

Here is the entire recipe:

Crock Pot Lentil Soup

1 small onion, finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 16oz bag of brown lentils

1 15. 5 oz can of diced fire roasted tomatoes

8 cups of vegetable broth or water

1 teaspoon of minced garlic

1 teaspoon of salt ( I use less...)

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 tablespoon of fresh parsley

Add all ingredients to crockpot, except for parsley.

Cover and cook on High for 5 hours or Low on 7-8 hours

15 to 30 minutes before serving to stir in parsley.

Both of these soups freeze wonderfully...and it is so nice to have them ready to heat up on a cold, chilly Spring day.

The weather forecast is for beautiful, warm weather this weekend...so we will moving to fish and chicken and other good things on the grill while we enjoy the outdoors.  But it's nice to know that if a cool, rainy day pops up my freezer is stocked with some great soups.

Thanks again to Julie's Creative Lifestyle and Eating on a Dime  for sharing these wonderful recipes.  And thank you for stopping by Our New Vista today - please leave a comment below and let me know if you enjoy soup, or if you have any great recipes to share.  Until then, stay safe and healthy and enjoy!

 

 Making Pizza A Little Bit More Healthy

Hello Friends !  Since the last time I posted life has changed...for all of us with the Covid-19 Virus disrupting our lives, and for us personally.  In late February my WONDERFUL husband had a severe heart attack.  No health problems before, never smoked, eats healthy (most of the time), no medications other than an allergy pill and some eye drops, and good blood test results.  We were/are great walkers, love our new community where we have beautiful places to walk as well as great exercise classes and gym facilities...and each time we would go to the doctor for a check up he was told "well, your cholesterol is a little high, but that is because your GOOD numbers are so good.  Keep doing what you are doing.  Never expected this heart attack.   Luckily, we live in a great area with wonderful health care and he was whisked to the hospital where the cardiac team was waiting.  After three stents and damage to his heart we are home and learning to eat healthy ALL of the time.  And so grateful that he survived this "widow maker" heart attack.  So many don't and I am blessed to have him by my side.  

SO....how to make one of his favorite foods in a healthy way ?   For years we have had pizza each Friday night.  It is a tradition that started before we retired and made each Friday night so relaxing.   But, a few years ago I started thinking we should try to "healthy up" our pizza and began making it with a whole wheat crust, low fat cheese, lots of veggies.  Now I am making an effort to do that, and more...with more organic foods.   Here is my new pizza recipe - 

I found these pizza crusts at Whole Foods.  Not a Whole Foods shopper before, but it has become difficult to find whole wheat crusts.  Walmart used to carry a brand we liked, then discontinued.  Some crusts are whole wheat but loaded with other not so healthy ingredients.  I found these and they are pretty good.  No very thick at all, but healthy.

I use a pizza stone....this was a gift from a friend years ago and it is very discolored but it does a great job.   Since these photos I have started to put the stone in the oven at 450 degrees to heat up while I make the pizza, then transfer it to the stone to bake.

Upped my game with this organic sauce....I used to use whatever was on sale, but going for quality from now on.

Cheese !  I did a little research and found that mozzarella is pretty heart healthy...and I always choose the "part skim" reduced fat version.  I was thinking of going to the FAT FREE...but that seemed to have too many chemicals and not a great idea.

After I spread the sauce and cheese on the shell I put a layer of spinach.  I buy spinach when it is on sale, chop it , and then roll in plastic wrap in small amounts.  I always have a freezer bag of spinach in my freezer.  I use it for pizza, or to throw in other dishes.  This keeps me from finding spinach that is "past it's prime" in the back of the crisper drawer.

Also add mushrooms.  Whenever I am at Aldi I buy as many of these mushrooms as I can.  They are great in lots of recipes and Aldi has a great price.

I drain the mushrooms before putting them on the pizza so that the finished pizza is not too soggy.

Another topping is peppers.  I love to snack on these sweet little peppers and they are great on pizza.

I chop them into small pieces and make sure no seeds are left.

Once everything is on the pizza I slide it into the oven and bake for 

10-15 minutes.

The finished pizza is really tasty.  In full disclosure, my husband says

"it is delicious, but it is not pizza."   For now, it is!!!

Are you ready for Easter ?  What a strange Palm Sunday yesterday...and Easter is going to be just as strange.  No church ( except on Livestream), no family dinners, no egg hunts.   But we can do this and stay safe for future Easter holidays. I decided to decorate for Easter just to keep our home looking spring like and happy.  I did not put out all of our decorations - just enough to make it special.

A simple coffee table arrangement on a stray tray.  All of the silk tulips you see I bought many years ago on a great sale and love the way they look.

These are Ukrainian Easter Eggs, or pysanka.  These lovely eggs are made of wood and painted in these beautiful designs.  I treasure these.  They belonged to my mother-in-law who passed away shortly after we were married.  Everytime I put them out I think of here and know she is happy we are still enjoying them.

Some more eggs and flowers on the mantel.

I put this plate near a window to catch the sun through the colors.

A little picture of eggs in a nest on a side table.

This was a Christmas ornament from a dear friend...but since it has tulips on it I put it out for Easter and Spring.

Simple dining room decor...more eggs and tulips.

A little bit of color and inspiration in the foyer.

I love these chick salt and pepper shakers...from Hallmark, many years ago.

And this bunny perched near the wine rack....who looks like he is pondering what we will do when the wine runs out.  Here in our state the state run Wine and Spirit shops are closed .  You can purchase some wine and beer in some grocery stores, but supplies are running low.  

And last of all this cute little bunny dish I found at a charity sale last year.   Just made me smile.

Thank you so much for stopping by Our New Vista today.  How are you coping with the virus pandemic and are you staying inside and socially isolating ?  Any tips, tricks, or recipes to share ?  Please leave a comment below - I love hearing from people all over.  Until then, take care, be safe, and stay healthy !

 Sweetheart Salmon

Hello, Friends !   As we start the week of Valentine's Day I thought I would share a recipe that is red, good for your heart, and might be a dish to make for Valentine's Day dinner.  We do not go out to dinner on Valentine's Day...it has been just too crazy/busy in the past.   We prefer a quiet dinner at home - something easy to prepare.  Hope this gives you and idea your Valentine's Day ! 

 I keep all the recipes I have printed out or copied over the years in this binder.   Someday soon I will post about how I have my recipes organized...

Here is a copy of the recipe...it was from a 2004 Cooking Light magazine and was sent in by a reader to "Reader Recipes".   I have been making this dish on a regular basis since then and we really enjoy it.  It is perfect for Valentine's Day because it serves 2 ! I will put the full recipe at the end of this post.

Start with a small sheet pan. Cover with foil ( easy clean up ) and spray with nonstick spray.   Rinse two cups of cherry tomatoes and place on pan.  Now, the original recipe calls for fresh thyme, chopped garlic, and I don't use those.   I don't usually have fresh on hand and feel the dish is wonderful without the fresh ingredients. 

Sprinkle dried thyme over tomatoes...a nice amount...

Then I sprinkle with garlic powder...as much garlic as you like...

1/4 teaspoon of salt....

Freshly ground pepper....

Then 1 teaspoon of olive oil.  I use a bit more...

Put the pan in a 400 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile...I had one rather large salmon fillet from the frozen pack at Costco.  

Since it was on the large size I cut it into two pieces for easier serving.  If when I open the package of salmon the pieces are smaller, I use two.

After 15 minutes add the fish to the pan and

Bake for an additional 10 minutes more, or until the fish flakes easily. Sprinkle lemon juice over the fish.

Serve with the tomato mixture over the fish.

You can see that I serve with pasta.  I had some leftover angel hair pasta in the freezer...I just reheated it and spooned some of the tomato mixture over the noodles.   This is also good with brown rice!

Salmon with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

2 cups cherry tomatoes

1 and 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Cooking Spray

2 Salmon fillets

2 tablespoons fresh (if you have it ) lemon juice.

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2.  Combine first 6 ingredients on a pan coated with cooking spray, toss to coat tomatoes.

3.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

4.  Add fist to pan and bake for another 10 minutes or until fish flakes

5.  Serve with tomatoes over fish, sprinkle with lemon juice.

*Can be served as is or with pasta or rice.

Hope you enjoy this recipe.  What are your plans for Valentine's Day?  Do you celebrate the day ?  Thanks so much for stopping by Our New Vista - please leave a comment below !