recipe: becker bbq shrimp

for whatever reason, fasting makes me want to try new recipes.
i know, it makes NO sense whatsoever, but it's true.
i think it's mostly because i try out recipes that i wouldn't really want to eat.
i tend to cater more towards the hubs taste buds, or the treat him with 'less' healthy dishes.

i don't do spicy.
he favors savory, and doesn't do sweet dishes, like say... this hawaiian pineapple chicken dish i keep wanting to try.
the dude usually won't eat any vegetables & slathers his meat with ketchup, mustard, or ranch dressing.

makes dinner time LOTS of fun.
(hear the sarcasm?!)

i wanted to find something quick for dinner last night..
something that i hadn't made before
& that i had all the ingredients already on hand for.

i came across this becker bbq shrimp recipe on one of my pinterest boards
& decided to give it a try.

it's from the blog 'budget bytes' and as i've tried a few of her recipes already,
i knew it wouldn't disappoint.

rice, shrimp, garlic, butter, rosemary, oregano, red pepper flakes, paprika, salt, whole peppercorns, beer & chicken broth.

all ingredients i typically have on hand. although this time i didn't have rosemary or paprika, but a tone's pre-mix of rosemary & garlic, that had paprika in it.... so i nixed the paprika & just added the amount called for of rosemary.

i didn't really READ the part on budget bytes where it stated this was a spicy recipe... and i didn't think about the fact i was adding a teaspoon of red pepper flakes.. but it didn't really matter, because, like i said.. i'm fasting/juicing..

about 1/2 through his bowl the hubs was sighing & wiping his brow..
he said it was SPICY.
SPICY, but VERY good.
said it was full of flavor, and definitely got a thumbs up on the possibility of a repeat performance..
(although i may have to chill out on the red pepper flakes to handle it myself!)

if you haven't checked out 'budget bytes', you totally should.
she has some really great inexpensive meals on her blog.
she prices out each ingredient for you & how much each serving is, as well as the total meal.
and it's GOOD food.

what are you cooking these days?
any good food blogs you frequent?

happy tuesday!
xo-k

linking to:
i heart naptime
tatertots & jello

books: lost voices, the loom, dirty parts of the bible & fire burn & cauldron bubble.

today is a new day.
i'm pushing aside the negativity & trying to move forward.
i still can't talk about 'the situation' & don't know that i ever will be.
that's the reality of blogging.
some things are just not 'right' to share.
and i get that. just makes it difficult to blog when that's all that's on your mind.

i've struggled through the last two books i've read.
they've been good, don't get me wrong..
i just didn't get sucked in, like i do with most books.
they are STILL worth the read.
and since i haven't blogged the last four books i've read,
i figured i'd get 'em all in in one loong post :)

i should mention... these were ALL free books on kindle.
if i haven't mentioned it before, i recommend browsing the kindle free books EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
and don't discount books or authors you've never heard of.
some of my favorite books this year have been from unknowns.
and if i'm not mistaken, most of them have been from self-published authors.
the free section varies daily & often times you can get the first in a series free
(as i did with the last book on this list 'fire burn & cauldron bubble')
also, i'm not the literary police.
i do despise bad grammar, and poor spelling..
but if the story gets my attention, i pay little attention to the structure/character development.
if i like it, i say so.
if i don't, i say so.
i'm not handing out awards here people, just suggestions on books i like :)

lost voices by sarah porter
(this one got 2 stars)

An entirely new book concept for me. I've never read, nor had the desire to read about mermaids. This was one of those books I picked up for free on Kindle, and the description peaked my interest.

A story about a young girl named Luce who has essentially been dealt a crap card in life. Her mother dies when she is an infant, and she is raised by her criminal father, living a life on the run, until they move to a small Alaskan fishing village to stay with her Uncle. Her father cared for her deeply, and she is devastated by his death at sea, which happens prior to the books beginning. Upon his death she is left with her alcoholic uncle, who abuses her. Luce finds herself the target of her uncle's alcoholic rage one night, and it's then that her life changes forever.

It's then you find out that mermaids do exist, and that their transformation is a result of the treatment they received in life. Luce becomes a part of a tribe of mermaids, who sink ships full of humans for entertainment, and as a form of punishment to all of human kind for the way they treated these girls in their past life. But Luce has a hard time coming to terms with the the fact she is supposed to hate all humans now based on the actions of a few bad ones.

It was an interesting concept, but I felt like the story stalled out before it ended. I kept waiting for a climax, a turning point, something. You get snippets of how others come to be with the tribe after Luce, but you never get to know them, something I think would help the story along. There is a second book to this series, and although I haven't read it yet, I know I will, just to see what happens to Luce, who I came to respect & care for. I hate to say this.. but I almost feel like the story was dragged out, just to create a second book. It almost certainly could have been wrapped up in one book, but that's just my opinion.


the loom by shella gillus
(gets 5 stars)

This book was....sad. It was heartbreaking, and somehow still beautiful.

Shella Gillus crafts a tale that draws you in and holds you captive. Much like the individuals in the Loom Room, she weaves together words that take your breath away. Her descriptions are simple, yet so powerful, I found myself highlighting half of the book.

A story of a young slave girl, and how she finds love, and longs for freedom, "The Loom" is truly a story of how even those individuals who are 'free' are still bound by something. Definitely a thought-provoking read I would suggest to anyone who truly likes a good story, that will inspire you even in it's saddest moments.

the dirty parts of the bible by sam torode
(gets 3 stars)

I have to say, although it took me a bit longer to get through than most books, I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Dirty Parts of the Bible'. It is apparently a retelling of the Jewish tale of Tobias & Sarah, but I am not familiar with that story, and enjoyed this book just the same. I laughed out loud several times throughout the course of the book & found myself sympathizing with Tobias when he struggled to understand things he'd been taught about God & religion through the Bible.

With all this said, I'm not a particularly religious person, and I still very much enjoyed the story. The author certainly does a fabulous job of getting you into the mind & life of Tobias Henry. A must read for anyone who could enjoy a story maybe not like 'Water for Elephants', but in the same setting of the Depression Era, trains & hobos.

fire burn & cauldron bubble (jolie wilkins #1)  by hp mallory
(gets 4 stars)

After a succession of books about heavy subjects (child abuse, slavery, & religion) I needed to read something light and entertaining. I picked up 'fire burn & cauldron bubble' for free on kindle a few weeks back (it's still free as of yesterday), and decided it was the right time to read it.

I was immediately sucked into the story line. It's apparently considered a paranormal romance, although there wasn't much in the romance department in my opinion. (At least compared to other paranormal romances I've read) Jolie Wilkins owns a little shop where she capitalizes on her ability to see aura's & read tarot-cards. Now & then she has a vision or two, but as it's been something she's been able to do most of her life, she doesn't think much about it. Along with her friend Christa & her cat Plum, she lives a relatively mundane life until one evening a ghost shows up in her shop. She's never been able to see a ghost before, and now this one says he's been sent to visit her.

Shortly after her ghostly visit, a handsome man, with a delicious British accent appears in her store & asks to have her read him. She's instantly drawn to him, and into a world she never imagined before. She quickly learns that reading auras & having visions are just a small part of the magical abilities she possesses. Rand, the handsome British warlock takes her under his protection, and from their an entirely new life unfolds for Jolie.

The first of five books, I'm telling you, I just could not put it down. I'd describe it as a Sookie-esque series. Jolie is a blond, slightly curvy, self-doubting witch. She cracks jokes on her own behalf, and has an internal dialogue that makes her extremely likable. If you are down for a good paranormal read just for fun, I'd definitely recommend this one!

here's to good books & positive thinking.
happy monday!
xo-k

currents: 7.26.12

hi.
remember me?
i'm still here.
just plugging away at life.
i haven't felt up to blogging.. haven't felt up to much lately.. if i'm honest.
and my mama taught me if i didn't have anything nice to say, then i should keep my big mouth shut.

i have lots of things to be thankful for in my life..
but right now, i am struggling with happiness.
it affects my husband, my kids, and i'm trying my best to claw through it.
there are things going on that i can't talk about, and i think that makes it more difficult.
it seems like it always helps to get things off your chest.
and it also helps when people know what is going on so they don't make innocent remarks that just stab you in the heart.

ya. it's that heavy.

but i am HOPING that there will be a turn in the tides soon.

i'm putting this out there, not to beg for sympathy, or pity, or well wishes.
i'm putting it out there because i need you to understand how heavy my heart is...
i need you to understand, this is NOT about me...
because i can't change the situation...
and that's why i'm asking begging you, PLEASE pray/send positive thoughts our way.
i'm not one to reach out for these things, but since it's not for me specifically..
i'm asking you to help someone i love.. send healing positive thoughts.
PLEASE.  PLEASE. PLEASE.

and because i haven't blogged in a month..
and i have nothing really to blog about...
here's a new list of currents..

time: 1012am
location: hubs pc

watching: scooby doo & the monster of mexico. technically i guess i'm listening to it, and the kids are watching it. the babe is absolutely obsessed with 'dooby doo' & everyday he latches on to the dude's old mystery machine & scooby doo action figures & totes them around the house.

listening: the new maroon 5 album. i feel like it's a tad different from anything they've done before. it's totally sad, but totally good. maybe it's just speaking to me right now because of where my heart is. at any rate... i love it.

(i love that this method allows me to capture the somewhat 'insignificant'
moments of our week that would have gotten overlooked by me in 'traditional'
scrapbooking)

loving: project life. i get small pockets of time to work on it throughout the day, so i'm slow in catching up.. but i'm still enjoying the process, and LOVING that i don't have a mound of memorabilia in a file that hasn't made it into a scrapbook yet. when i get to the week, the pieces either go IN the album, or IN the trash. it's kind of refreshing to dump the clutter.

eating: nothing. i mean nothing. i'm on a water-fast. a detox. it's my second one this year. i've gotten over the hurdle, the first 3 days.. now hopefully it'll be a little less daunting. (i still need to blog about that whole experience)

reading: 'the dirty parts of the bible' sound strange right? it's fiction, so don't start throwing stuff at me. i couldn't help but pick it up free after reading the title & the reviews. most people hated it, which usually makes me want to read it, simply because i typically route for the underdog. that & the fact that it was described as being for people who liked 'water for elephants'. i LOVED water for elephants so i was sold. imagine jacob jankowski as the son of a preacher, and a little less worldly & you have tobias henry. with commentary on the bible.. but it's not preachy. it's actually pretty hilarious.

(our neighbors moved away in april, and we now have officially NO kids
in our neighborhood, it's been a LONG summer, and i can't seem to keep him
constantly entertained, poor kid)

anticipating: the dude entering third grade. i have a small amount of anxiety over what his teacher will be like. last year his teacher was such a patient & kind lady, he did so well under her instruction. we requested her on the advice of a former teacher... this year.. we are going back to letting the school dictate. it's nerve-wracking honestly.

(lots of swimming & hanging out at nana's this summer)

obsessing: over instagram. over pinterest. the hubs asked if i needed to be enrolled in a ten-step for my addiction. i am just addicted to visual candy right now.

pinning: healthy food choices. i'm constantly looking for ways to tweak my favorites into better choices. this year alone i've added tilapia, spaghetti squash & summer squash to my diet. i wouldn't have touched fish with a 10 foot pole before, and now we eat it once a week if not more. i have to make myself only buy one spaghetti squash every two weeks, or i'd eat it everyday.. and remembering how my mom used to try and force feed me summer squash as a kid and i gagged every time.. it's a surprise i even risked trying it. now, i'm totally glad the hubs planted it & i can't get enough.. we are eating more than we are growing!

feeling: i think we already covered that above...

craving: coffee. i just want a big HUGE enormous glass of mcdonald's vanilla iced coffee. i have yet to find a acceptable substitute for my previous homemade concoction of vanilla syrup using equal parts sugar & water boiled down, with vanilla extract added. i've tried coconut almond milk. adding almond milk & coconut sugar, and the addition of a a few tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder (which is actually not bad for you), coconut sugar & almond milk. i guess i just need to keep experimenting, or get used to less-sugary-sweet coffee!

contemplating: dip-dying my hair again once summer is over. i don't know if i'll do purple, or some other color.. but it definitely needs to happen AFTER our summer swimming sessions.

avoiding: sugar. gluten. school shopping (he's 8 now, and if last year was any indication, it's going to SO not be fun... boo on having his own opinion of clothes.. he's so damn picky!!)

here's to hoping the next blog isn't a month away :)

xo-k