Random food and recipe thoughts

Hey, I had some of that yesterday at Mings!

Something else that I love and incorportates veggies is what my mama calls "pickled shrimp" although its less of a "pickle" either American or Indian and more of a vinaigretted!

So - Shrimp, I get them presteamed with Old Bay on them, because I am not particularly sensitive to sodium.
Stoplight Bells, cut into smallish bits, but not diced.
Celery
Fresh Mushrooms
Mozzarella Pearls, you know the tiny mozz balls?  they are tiny like your pinkie nail?
Your Favorite Italian/Vinegrette dressing (for this, for fast, I tend to use Newman's Own Dressing, the oil and vinegar).

So, peel shrimp and I cut it up into bitsized bits too and add the rest of the bits and dressing and let sit overnight. Yum!  This is also good if you take a wrap or a tortilla or a crepe!  and smear a bit of smooth creamy cheese (I have one in my mind, but my mind is not firing on all cylindars it seems) and then put the pickled shrimpity bits on top and roll them up!  Or on bruschetta bits.  Or with your fingers.  :}


This is my MOST FAVORITE savory meat and veggie marinade/salad dressing, sandwich drizzle, broth maker

Not Holly's Marinade (because I heard from it from my friend Holly, but its not her recipe, she kept telling me when I would brag on her)
Say 1 cup is a batch
1/2 cup of oil (I use the already flavored dipping oils, I tend to use Zesty Italian, you could add your own spices though, if you cared to.
1/4 cup of red wine vinegar (original recipe calls for red wine, I am a balsamic gal - and I even tend to use balsamic glaze for this.  Sometimes the fig/balsamic glaze I make when the figs have gone crazy producing)
1/4 cup LOW SODIUM Tamari sauce.  I use Bragg's Aminos.
Googobs of garlic, crushed and put in there.

Meats - I like this best on beef as a meat marinade.
For chicken and pork I really like using light margarita mix (light has no sugar, so you can cook it on the grill and it will not turn into some science "dont"), some Chicago Steak Seasoning and marinate overnight.  This REALLY is good. and if you add Rotel to this (tomatos and green chile) then it makes for sweet and spicy deliciousness.

The marinade also, if you get googobs of veggies and cut them up nicely.  Marinate as long as you like, then roast them.  I like lightly roasted, but if you seriously roast them until they caramelize and there is caramelized gooberdeedoo on the pan, then when you take the veggies out, you can put a broth in there to get the caramelized deliciousness off of the pan, and it makes a really deep, rich broth that's like a french onion soup broth. 

Durn TJs.  I might have to take a trip there this weekend and see what the fun is I am missing!  :} 

Sorry I didn't get right back to you about this, I was off line most of the day yesterday.  The seaweed is Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack.  I can't find the name of the type of sewed it is.  It is black and comes in sheets.  It is crunchy and a little salty and nutty in flavor.  It really helps when I am craving a crunchy, salty snack like potato chips.  This only has 60 cals. in the whole box and 40% of vitamin C.  Total Carbs, 2 and fiber 2 and protein 2.  Sodium is 100 mg.  Not bad at all for a snack.  I bought 20 of them the last time I went to TJ's because my kids love them as much as I do.  I know there is no TJ's around you, so maybe the next time you are in our area, you should try one in the store, and if you like it, buy the place out.  Yeah, they are that good.  (although some people can't stand them, so you should really check first.)

When I want to get veggies in, I tend to eat a smaller amount of dense protein, like 2-2.5 ounces of the meat. I like my veggies, but I don't think that I get enough of them.

I make a yummy chicken salad and put it on cucumber slices to get in some more veggies... I really need to squeeze more fruits and veggies into my day!  Can't wait for "summer fruit"!!

Ok, whats the seaweed that you like? Is it the obo or ogo or whatever that word is? I want to look for some and while I may not find it in our rural area, we do have a number of asian markets and hippie health food coops that have unusual things. So what does it look like and what do I ask for?

Regarding veggies, I have been feeling like I don't get enough though every dinner I make a protein item and a veggie. Last night was chicken and asparagus and the night before a tofu stir fry with asian flavors. But when I get 3 or 4 ounces of dense protein in I only have room for a few bites of veggies and I am sure not getting the 5 servings a day. Sleevie seems to prefer cooked veggies which is fine with me.

So what are some strategies to get more veggies in?  I think Dr. C made me a super tiny sleeve for which i am grateful but it means not much room for other stuff. Maybe I will ask him this week as we have our group Sunday.     Diane