5 seafood recipes to try this spring

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With spring approaching, the weather will soon turn warmer. And when it does, our palates will probably change. We’ll move away from heavy meats and root vegetable soups and over to seafood and salads. 

There are so many fabulous seafood recipes out there to explore, though, that it can be hard to whittle your list down to a few essentials. However, in this post, that’s what we try to do. Here you’ll find some of the best seafood recipes we’ve ever encountered. Check them out below. 

Aegean Fish Stew

The Aegean is the sea between Greece and Turkey, and is part of the Mediterranean. It’s famous for the quality of its fish and its local Mediterranean flavors. 

This stew’s main flavors are as follows: fresh dill, lemon and tomato. Once you have these basics, all you need to do is find some waxy potatoes, high quality fish and fish stock, and you’re ready to go. You can also make a vegetarian version of it by missing out the fish or replacing it with mushroom. 

Deviled Crab

We don’t eat enough crab in this country, and that’s a shame. It’s one of the most delicious items on the seafood menu. This deviled crab from Grits and Pinecones is a case in point. It’s morish, delicious and a definite party-pleaser. 

Fried Fish And Chips

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If you’ve ever been to England, you’ll know that it offers probably the best fried fish in the world. Over the last century or more, chip shops have been perfecting the frying technique, battering fish and then serving it with deep-fried chips and a local delicacy, mushy peas. 

To get it right, you’ll need to invest in a deep fat fryer and carefully follow the recipe for the batter. Remember, only choose the freshest fish. If you can get hold of beef fat, use that instead as it imparts a unique flavor to the ingredients. 

Easy Shrimp And Pasta

Sometimes you just want something easy. That’s where a simple shrimp and pasta dish can come in handy.

To make it, prepare the shrimp and then fry them in butter until cooked. Meanwhile, boil some spaghetti in a pan. While it is cooking, make a creamy cheese sauce. Combine cashew nuts, nutritional yeast and parmesan cheese with some water and whisk it up in a blender. Then mix it with the pasta and shrimp and serve with lemon wedges and chopped parsley. 

Salmon A La Pesto

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Baked salmon filets are great by themselves, but you can take them to the next level with a big dollop of zingy pesto. 

Making pesto from scratch is easier than you might think. Combine parsley, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil and salt in a food processor. Keep it running until it forms a paste. Then bake the salmon as usual and drizzle the pesto on top when it’s finished cooking. Serve with green beans and buttered potatoes for the ultimate evening entrée. 

So, which of these seafood recipes will you be trying this spring?

** This was a contributed post.

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make these: christmas gift ideas

burlap-tree-ornaments-7With Christmas being less than a week away, I’m sure some of you are still in need of one or two gifts (or maybe more) for those special people in your lives. I know that I am. Here are a few DIY gifts that I have featured over the years that will be sure to please come Christmas day!

Food:

shortbread6Shortbread Wedges

buttertarts10Pecan and Raisin Butter Tarts

dsc_8016-copyTreat-Filled Stocking

Crafts:

rustic-christmas-candle-diy-4Rustic Christmas Candles

burlap-tree-ornaments-6Burlap Tree Ornaments

Tell me, are you ready for Christmas this year?

<3

Emory

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a blogger’s dozen: emory’s chocolate chip banana bread (hello, scarlett)

IMG_1.jpgThis recipe is one that was given to me by my mum. I have tried a lot of different types of banana bread in my time, but this, by far, remains my favourite recipe. I sincerely hope that you will also try it out the next time that you decide to make a loaf. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

IMG_2.jpg Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 egg

1 cup bananas, mashed

1/2 cup soured milk

1 tbsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 bar dark chocolate

IMG_4.jpg IMG_5.jpgIn a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg, bananas, and vanilla. Add the remaining ingredients.

IMG_6.jpgBake at 350°F in a well-greased loaf pan for 1 hour, or until cooked entirely through. 

IMG_7.jpg IMG_8.jpgLet the loaf cool on a rack, then slice to serve. Lastly, grab a few pieces before it’s all gone. It won’t take long.

xoxo
Emory

IMG_9.jpgA Blogger’s Dozen is a new series that was launched in 2014. If you would like to be featured in a post, as well as have free advertisement for that month, please contact Emory at helloscarlettblog@outlook.com. Be sure to send any food-related ideas that you may have. Hello, awesomeness!

a healthy breakfast – quick egg sandwich

IMG_1.jpgHappy New Year! I don’t know if you’ve noticed this either, but it seems like almost every blogger or Instagrammer has posted a list of their New Year’s resolutions. Have you also made one? To be honest, I have not made any New Year’s goals in about three years. My reason for this is simply because my lists were so generic (amp up my exercise, eat healthier, clean the house more often), that I could not keep up with them for very long. While they were exciting in the beginning, in the end I would always feel as if I was setting myself up for failure. That was not a good feeling.

When I became a vegetarian three years ago, I chose not to make any other resolutions that year and to only concentrate on my new lifestyle. Months went by, and pretty soon, it became easy not to eat any meat (although my family would have horror stories when it came to accommodating my new diet). I would say that within the first month my whole body felt lighter and cleaner, and by the next month, I knew that becoming a vegetarian was one of the best decisions that I had made in some time. There was no turning back, I was hooked. That is not to say that I did not have days when I would feel completely exhausted. However, that was entirely my fault and over the next week I would make sure to overload on beans, spinach, eggs, etc. to compensate for my laziness. While being a vegetarian is not for everyone, I would highly recommend it for those of you who have food sensitivities, would like to be more health-conscious, have any sort of concern for animal welfare or the environment, or were just always curious about it. There are many different types of vegetarians (some don’t eat white meat or fish, while some do), and you can try whatever works best for you. If it only lasts a day, hey at least you tried! Although, I would say that the first month is probably the hardest, so if you can survive that, you will be golden. :-)))

That being said, I also think that we can all adopt a few minor changes to make eating healthier a life-long goal rather than just a New Year’s goal. This egg sandwich is a wonderful way to start your day. I have been making them for over nine years, and almost daily for the past three. However, what started out as a supermarket egg, cheese, and bagel sandwich, slowly turned into one with farm eggs, organic vegetables, and one slice of brown bread. Do you know what else? It is so much better in every way!

IMG_2-1.jpg10 Minute Egg Sandwich:

1 egg

1-2 slice(s) brown bread

green onion, chopped

tomato, chopped

spinach, shredded

cheese, chopped (optional)

meat, chopped (optional)

1/4 tsp oil

salt + pepper

water

IMG_3.jpgGather your vegetables, meat, and cheese together. Chop into small pieces.

Crack an egg into a microwave-safe bowl. Add the chopped vegetables, meat, cheese, oil, salt, pepper, and a splash of water. Whisk thoroughly. Cook on high for 2-3 minutes.

Meanwhile, put your bread in the toaster. This should finish around the same time as your egg.

IMG_4.jpgRemove egg from microwave. Let cool for 2 minutes. Using a fork, remove it from the bowl and gently place onto your toast. Voila!!

IMG_5 Remember that the key to eating right is all about moderation, and making sure that what you do eat serves a purpose other than to only taste good. Take a look at some of the benefits that these ingredients have:

eggs (a great source of protein and vitamins, including vitamin A, B, and potassium)

brown bread (high in complex carbohydrates, low in saturated fat, a source of protein, and a storehouse of nutrients and fiber)

green onions (good source of vitamins A, C, K, and phytochemicals)

tomatoes (almost too many to mention- vitamins A, B, C, E, K, iron, fiber, potassium, magnesium, protein, and more)

spinach (again, vitamins A, B, C, E, K, iron, fiber, potassium, magnesium, protein, and more)

cheese (vitamins A and B, calcium, phosphorous, protein, and more)

meat (depends on what type, but generally a high source of protein)

olive oil (many health benefits, helps fight viruses and diseases)

IMG_6.jpgSee you all on Monday! Have a wonderful and healthy weekend.

xxoo 

Emory

Christmas Recipes: 3 Cheese Spinach Pizza.

IMG.jpgI always, always look forward to every Friday the 13th. For some reason, these unlucky days usually bring some good luck my way. If only every month could have a Friday the 13th. Can we start a petition for that?

I couldn’t think of a better recipe to share today than this 3 Cheese Spinach Pizza.

You will need:

IMG_1.jpgPizza dough

IMG_2.jpgSpinach

Mushrooms

IMG_3.jpgCheese (Brie, Cheddar, and Mozzarella)

IMG_4.jpgSpanish Onions

IMG_5.jpgOlive Oil

(as well as)

Pepper

1. Lay out pizza dough on a greased pizza pan. Brush dough with oil.

IMG_6.jpg2. Sprinkle pepper, onions, mushrooms, spinach, and 3 cheeses onto dough.

IMG_1.jpg3. Place pizza into preheated oven at 425°F. Cook until pizza begins to brown.

IMG_8.jpg4. Remove pizza from oven, and enjoy!

Oh pizza dough, spinach, mushrooms, onions, and cheese, how I love thee. 

IMG_9.jpgDon’t forget your scary movie tonight. ;-))) Happy Friday the 13th, readers!

Sign-2013-5-18-12.20.12

  • Hello! My name is Emory. I am a wife, mother of four (three on earth in heaven). This is our life on the Canadian prairies.
    email: helloscarlettblog@outlook.com

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