Last night's dinner was another salute to comfort food at its finest. Funny how winter seems to demand a different style of cooking - and us crazy people that live in the Southwest aren't immune from that requirement. It's been cold here too although I do realize that the term "cold" is relative. When spring temperatures are high 80's and 90's and summer's are triple digit, a high in the 40's is darn cold.
We happen to love shrimp and we love grits so putting them together in the same bowl is a great solution to a quick dinner. Unfortunately I'm still having a little trouble in the moderation department though - I kinda' loaded those darn grits with some herbed goat cheese last night so they weren't exactly the diet variety, but holy cow were they ever creamy. Topped with red and yellow bell pepper, onion, garlic, andouille sausage, tomatoes, lots of seasonings and of course lovely 16-20 size shrimp, dinner was ready in a flash and rather delectable I might add. This particular recipe is one of those throw it in the pot dinners, but I'll try and re-create it as best I can. Download Shrimp with Andouille Sausage For those of you that are "gritless" (Canada), it would be just as fine on a bed of rice, pasta or even some polenta.
So listen people, how 'bout a little feedback today. What, pray tell, was on your menu last night?
Shrimp/Andouille & Grits - hunny - you are speaking my language!!!!!! 16-20s is what I have in my freezer - got a great deal last year at $2.85/lb at The Shrimp Shed down the road - put up 80 lbs!(Yep - one of the advantages of living in the marsh of La!!!). And its time to just let our cousins up north in on the secret - grits and polenta are sorta the same thing - only different names hehehehehe. Had a Dr. appt in NOLA last evening, so I had an organic banana from Whole Foods to hold me until I got home (hour drive) to Popeye's Fried Chicken - one of my twice a year indulgences - wonderful!
Posted by: Lea | 01/26/2010 at 07:54 AM
Our menu for last night was way less ambitious than yours. We dined on leftover roast beef and (ummm) peanut M&m's.
Another delicious looking meal June!
Posted by: Mags | 01/26/2010 at 09:22 AM
We had your roasted cauliflower and it was quite tasty. My first experience with Pancetta and the deli guy was giving me weird looks.
Loved it, will cut back on the cheese part for next time and tonight we've got Chicken Butternut Tagine on the menu.
Posted by: Sophia | 01/26/2010 at 10:38 AM
Lea - Popeye's fried chicken sounds rather delish!
Mags - peanut M & M's. You brat! I'm jealous.
Sophia - so glad you tried the cauliflower - pancetta is just an Italian version of bacon. So good! I think you'll like the chicken butternut tagine at least we did. Can't wait to hear your review.
Posted by: June | 01/26/2010 at 10:55 AM
I wouldn't be able to stop myself from grit-loading either!!
Posted by: noble pig | 01/26/2010 at 06:52 PM
Cathy - I'm not sure they'd be a "moderation" item, even if one made them plain. LOL
Posted by: June | 01/27/2010 at 06:38 AM
Last night's dinner was pretty weird...I have a cold and so no desire to be in the kitchen, VERY unusual for me. I ended up using some leftover tomato-Italian sausage sauce and manicotti filling (ricotta and red pepper) to top a tortilla and bake it into a bizarre but tasty pizza.
Posted by: Sherylyn | 01/27/2010 at 02:27 PM
Sherylyn - sounds to me like you made a VERY tasty pizza. Yumm. Hope you're feeling better soon!
Posted by: June | 01/27/2010 at 03:27 PM