Just thought I would share some of our favorites meals. I love cooking and am thrilled there is a place here for us to share in that joy as well!

Italian-Style Garlic Shrimp with Cherry Tomatoes & Thins Spaghetti
(Rachael Ray)

1 pound thin spaghetti
1 pound small shrimp, deveined and peeled, tails removed
2 teaspoons lemon zest plus the juice of 1/4 lemon
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
4 scallions, thinly sliced on an angle
¼ cup white vermouth or 1/3 cup dry white wine
2 handfulls fresh flat – leaf parsley, chopped
20 fresh basil leaves, torn or shredded
Course black pepper


Heat a large pot of water for the pasta. When the water boils, salt it and cook the pasta al dente.

Heat a large non stick skillet over medium to medium high heat. Season the shrimp with the lemon zest, lemon juice and a little salt. Add EVOO to the hot pan and then add the shrimp. Cook for a minute, then add garlic, tomatoes and scallions and toss, cooking a minute or two until the shrimp are firm and pink. Add the white vermouth and the herbs. Turn off the heat. Drain the pasta well and add to the sauce. Toss and combine the sauce with the pasta and season with salt and black pepper.


Spicy Chicken and Sausage Soup

This soup is super easy...

1/2 stick butter
2 green bell peppers
1 large onion
3 cloves garlic
1 can diced tomatos
2 cups celery chopped
3 oz tomato paste
4-6 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped)
2-4 hot link sausages (chopped)
12 cups of Broth (made from Better Than Bullion)



Sautee butter, onion and peppers in pot until translucent. Add chopped garlic and celery, cook a few minutes.

Add, Tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed red pepper flakes, broth and chicken. Simmer for 1-2 hours.. Add sausage, simmer for another 30 minutes.

Now this is a bare bones recipe. I don't really have a written one. I usually wing it. You can add or subtract stuff. Sometimes I add rice or okra. It is also great served over rice. Sometimes I only simmer it for 30 minutes total if I am in a hurry. But the longer it simmers the better. You can add the sausage earlier too if you want it even spicier. Make it your own. It is great the next day too!!!

Your garlic shrimp and spaghetti recipe sounds similar to one I make---yummy. Thanks for sharing yours.

I am going to try this pasta recipe for dinner tomorrow night!!! It sounds soooo good!!! :D

Both recipes look so very good! Now I'm hungry. Think I'll try the chicken and sausage soup one first -- with mild sausage, though. Thanks for the dinner idea!

Oh...thanks for sharing! I'm going to try the pasta...maybe tonight!! Sounds yummy!!

I love new recipes! my other passion is cooking. although, i have been known to forget to cook dinner because I was quilting!
Rose Hall