Shout Outs: Happy Birthday to Me!

Monday, February 10, 2014 Shout Outs:

I have just sat down with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and my husband snapped a picture of me pre-dive-in.

My Shout Outs go to: Me! I exercised patience, persistence and peace when my plans for a birthday lunch fell through. I found a way to stay in the flow of life and to remain in alignment with my Greater Self, which is a birthday gift in and of itself. I did not allow my present circumstances to knock me off course or take my peace and happiness away.

I planned a birthday lunch for myself at one of my favorite crab eateries with my parents, sister, niece, daughter, son, husband and a couple of girl friends.
A rain storm blew in, so my husband and daughter stayed home.
My dad called in sick and my mom wasn’t going to get out in the storm.
My sister wanted to still go, but no sense in having her drive 30 minutes to the south side of town.
I went on my own to church and fantasized about crab all through the sermon. I left church and headed to The Boiling Crab, for a take out order.
I got to the counter, and realized my wallet was not with me.
I forgot my wallet when I changed purses (wondered why my purse was so light!).
The cashier and the manager refused to have my son text me a picture of my driver’s license or to call in an order over the phone – something to do with a lot of fraud in the area, etc.
I had my mouth and heart set on some crab. The old, younger me, would have raised holy hell. The newer, wiser, older me, was determined not to get out of my flow.
I went home, regrouped, ate a delicious sandwich, loaded up my iPod with my favorite radio host’s podcast and headed back to Boiling Crab.
I got my spicy sauced crab and shrimp (the Whole Shebang-mild flavor is to die for!).
I headed home, but first dropped off some crab to my dad’s and swung by the grocery store for a bottle of wine.
I set up my collection of crab eating utensils and toasted the occasion.
I ate until I burst.
I watched the season premier of Walking Dead. I fell asleep a happy woman.
With the exception of the blue and black crab cutters from The Boiling Crab, the rest of my utensils are from Crate and Barrel.

Here’s to my newer, more patient and happier self.

The spiciest, yummiest snow crab legs!

Sacramento’s Boiling Crab. This is how good this crab is: I knew all I wanted to do for my birthday was eat crab from The Boiling Crab.

~Your Curator of all things Inspirational, Kimberly Jo Cooley

I Love my Friends Very much Lunch

Pictured above is my dining room table, with the following: bowls of jambalaya and rice, almond crusted tilapia, sliced lemons for the tilapia, a garden salad, and mimosas in wine glasses.

It feels like I never get to spend much time with my friends as of late, so anytime I get to spend time with them is golden. This past September, I hosted a small end of summer, party of six, lunch for my good friends. I cooked all the food and delighted attending to their every need. We ate good, gossiped and had a great time. It was my little gift to my friends to let them know I appreciate them and am so glad we get to break bread together.

Here are the recipes I used for the lunch, all courtesy of the awesome Allrecipes.com website:

Jambalaya

Courtesy of allrecipes.com Colleen’s Slow Cooker Jambalaya

Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 8 Hours Ready In: 8 Hours 20 Minutes Servings: 12

“Shrimp and chicken simmer with classic jambalaya ingredients in this easy slow cooker meal.”

Ingredients:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cut into 1 inch cubes
1 pound andouille sausage, sliced 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chicken broth
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 pound frozen cooked shrimp without tails

Directions:

1. In a slow cooker, mix the chicken, sausage, tomatoes with juice, onion, green bell pepper, celery, and broth. Season with oregano, parsley, Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, and thyme.
2. Cover, and cook 7 to 8 hours on Low, or 3 to 4 hours on High. Stir in the shrimp during the last 30 minutes of cook time.

Almond-Crusted Tilapia

Courtesy of allrecipes.com Almond Crusted Tilapia Recipe

Prep Time: 20 Minutes Cook Time: 10 Minutes Ready In: 30 Minutes Servings: 8

“Tilapia is coated with ground almonds and Parmesan cheese in this delicious dish.”

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic pepper
1 cup ground almonds
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
8 (6 ounce) tilapia fillets
1/4 cup all-purpose flour for dusting
6 tablespoons butter salt to taste
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
8 sprigs parsley 8 lemon wedges

Directions:

1. Beat the eggs with the lemon pepper and garlic pepper until blended; set aside. Stir together ground almonds with 1 cup of Parmesan cheese in a shallow dish until combined; set aside. Dust the tilapia fillets with flour, and shake off excess. Dip the tilapia in egg, then press into the almond mixture.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook tilapia in melted butter until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Reduce heat to medium, and season fillets with salt if desired. Sprinkle the tilapia with the remaining Parmesan cheese, cover, and continue cooking until the Parmesan cheese has melted, about 5 minutes.
3. Transfer the tilapia to a serving dish, and garnish with parsley springs and lemon wedges to serve.