Friday, January 11, 2013

Firday Recipe Returns!

I thought it would be a good thing if I got back into posting my recipes. I have been cooking still. And I have been finding quite a few yummy recipes. This weeks recipe I have made twice. It is really really yummy and the spice level can be ramped up or down depending on your taste. I like it hot so when I made it the second time I amped up the spice. Please read my notes at the bottom.

Cajun Shrimp and Rice
Stolen from Here
estimated fat content: about 3-5 grams per serving
this makes about 6 servings

Ingredients:
  • 1 lb large shrimp, frozen, peeled, deveined, tail-on
  • 2 c low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 c instant brown rice
  • 1 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 carrot, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1/2 yellow onion, diced
  • 1 green pepper, diced
  • 1 tbs minced garlic
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • Salt/pepper
  • 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
  • Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Directions:
To thaw the shrimp, run under cold water in a colander until thawed. Drain well and move to a cutting board. Remove the tails, and cut each shrimp in half. Set aside.

Meanwhile, cook 1 cup of brown rice in 2 cups of chicken broth. Cook according to package directions. Set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, and coat with oil. Add the carrot, celery, onion, and green pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds, stirring constantly.

Add in the Cajun seasoning, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir to thoroughly combine.

Add in the chopped tomatoes and stir to combine. Add in the shrimp, and stir to combine and heat through, about 1 minute.

Stir in the rice, heat through for 1 minute, and garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes:
For the shrimp I found a bag of shrimp that were precooked and tail off (because I hate taking the tails off) that was completely fat free! Also I am not a fan of brown rice so I use jasmine rice instead. and rather than using an entire tablespoon of olive oil I use my handy dandy Misto and spray a few seconds worth... the veggies will produce their own juice which help to keep them from sticking to the pan and they will saute correctly. and like I said earlier in the sconde batch I made I added about double the Cajun spice and the chili powder. Also I hate parsley as a garnish so I did not even bother to buy any.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Company Lunches

The new company does this thing they call "First Friday". All the employees come to the main office on the first Friday of each month and are treated to a catered lunch paid for by the company. It is very very cool. I have never worked for a company that is so damned employee oriented... They want you to be happy!

I attended my first one this past friday... Turns out they had the lunch catered by a slider truck.. burgers and fries... I miss burgers and fries.

I felt like a complete tool walking up to a fucking slider truck and asking them if they had a low fat option. COME ON!!! its a damned slider struck!!! everything is supposed to be dripping in grease and yummly fat...

Its really disheartening to watch everyone smilingly put down handfuls of fries. Its torture to watch them absentmindedly lap up the grease that is slowly sliding down their hands and forearms. Its a complete nightmare to hear them ALL to the last baby child say, "MMMM, that was the best damn slider I have ever had."

fuck you people

Really I am not mad at them. Really I am mad at my seriously dysfunctional gallbladder and the terrible healthcare system in America that makes a simple outpatient procedure so damned expensive that I have to jump through more hoops than a Barnum and Bailey Tiger just to find out if I can even have it done.

When I asked for a low fat option I could see the sneer behind the ladies eyes.... the look that says "well good for you fatty for finally making a choice to slim down" I know it well. I see it often. Its another one of the reasons I hate going out to eat. I want so much to shout "I AM NOT ON A DIET YOU FUCKING IDIOT. I am forced to eat like this because my gallbladder is fucked six ways to Sunday and there isn't anything I can do about. I LIKE BEING FAT!!!"

Sigh....

So I was given some chicken thing... all I heard was spicy and chicken.... It came to me in a little Styrofoam container. I moseyed on over to my seat opened up my container and what did my eyes behold... two tiny itty bitty little buns over flowing with lettuce, a few tiny pieces of chicken, a drizzle of hot sauce, and a few gallons of some cream sauce. My gallbladder actually cramped when I saw all that cream sauce... And to top it all off its not like it was just spread on the bun... no... it looks more like the top of the dispenser bottle for this sauce fell off and my little chicken sandwiches went swimming in it. There was absolutely no way to just scrape it off.

I teared up. I had to take a few minutes to compose myself. The very last thing I want is 80 people to get the first impression that food makes the fat girl cry. I bowed my head and closed my eyes and started chanting in my head "do not cry" I am sure it just looked like I was praying... fine let them think that I am some sort of uber faithful person.

Then I steeled my reserve and I ate the damn things. My Boss who is not fooled by my being pious and was sitting right next to me. Asked me if I was going to be ok... I told her, "Well in 15-20 minutes I'll either be begging you to take me to the hospital or I'll be shitting my brains out. Either way the rest of today is going to suck."

Turns out I didn't go to the hospital. I did however require a few doses of extra strength Tylenol and many many many trips to the restroom.

I fucking hate my life right now