Shrimp with Feta and Tomatoes

I thought this one would be perfect since we have sooo many tomatoes right now. It turned out great! We had it on top of lettuce instead of brown rice.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
4 scallions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound large shrimp, pealed and divined
1/3 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup minced parsley
4 cups Hot cooked brown rice.

Directions:
1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add scallions and garlic. Cook until softened 2-3 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes, wine, lemon juice, oregano, and pepper. Stirring as needed, cook until the tomatoes are just softened about 2 minutes. Add the shrimp; reduce the heat and simmer until the shrimp turns pink 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the cheese and parsley. Serve the rice topped with the shrimp mixture.

Per serving: 395 calories, 7g Total Fat, 3g Saturated Fat, 150mg Cholesterol, 284mg Sodium, 53mg Total Carbohydrate, 5g Fiber, 27g Protein, 146mg Calcium.

WW Points Per Serving: 7

Got this from WW Cookbook " Simply the best"

Turkey Tortilla Casserole

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons oil
1 green bell pepper; seeded and chopped
1 onion, chopped
1/2 pound ground turkey
1 14 1/2 oz can Cajun-styled stewed tomatoes
1 cup refried beans
1 4oz can chopped green chiles rinsed and drained
6 6" corn tortillas quartered
1/3 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil, add the pepper and onion; cook stirring as needed until softened about 5 minutes.
3. Add the turkey and cook, stirring as needed until browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, beans and chiles; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered, until slightly thickened about 5 minutes.
4. Spoon 1/3 of the turkey mixture onto the bottom on a 10x6 baking pan. Arrange half the tortillas. Repeat the layering once more ending with the turkey mixture. Sprinkle evenly with the cheese. Bake, covered 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until heated through and golden about 10 minutes longer.

Per serving: 291 calories, 5g Total Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 42mg Cholesterol, 774mg Sodium, 28mg Total Carbohydrate, 6g Fiber, 24g Protein, 202mg Calcium.

WW Points Per Serving: 5
I got this from a Weight Watchers Cookbook - "Simply the Best"

I didn't put the beans in since R doesn't like them and it turned out great!

Cider-Dijon Chicken

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 4-ounce skinless boneless chicken breast
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup apple cider/juice
1/4 cup nonfat sour cream
1/4 cup minced parsley
4 Cups Hot cooked brown rice

Directions:
1. In large nonstick skillet, heat the oil. Add the garlic and cook until lightly browned.
2. Add the chicken, mushrooms, broth and mustard; bring to boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through, 8-10 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine the flour with enough of the cider to make a paste; then stir in the remaining cider. Add to the chicken mixture; cook, stirring constantly, until boils and thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in sour cream and parsley; cook about 1 minute. Serve over rice.

Per Serving: 421 Calories, 5g Total Fat, 1g Saturated Fat, 66mg Cholesterol, 291mg Sodium, 56g Total Carbohydrate, 4g Fiber, 24g Protein, 65mg Calcium
WW Points Per Serving: 8
From Weight Watchers "Simply the Best" cookbook

JACKPOT! We are going to ALASKA!!!

WHOHOOOOO!!! Its only 226 days away! :)

On our last cruise we pre-purchased a future cruise. You paid $100/person and they gave you a credit of $250 to use towards the deposit of your next cruise. Ever since we got back from that cruise in January we have been watching rates trying to find a good deal for a cruise we wanted to go on.

Today we hit the jackpot! Norwegian sent an email about a sale with an 8 category upgrade. I knew the sale was a bunch of crap since they seem to raise the prices when they do that, but I decided to check the rates and see whats out there.

I found an Alaskan cruise for $499 for an inside room. I have been debating if I really wanted an inside room or if I wanted to pay for the balcony. I looked at the excursions, I was hooked, screw the balcony we can get an inside room and use the extra money to go on AWESOME excursions!

So we booked it! Here's where we are going:

What makes it even better is it goes out of Vancouver and into Seattle. This way we can see both places. I'm hoping we can go up a day or two early and check out Vancouver and Victoria and then stay in Seattle for a night after.

Now I can't stop looking at excursions, but I will save those for a different post another day!

Day Dreaming!

I changed the background of this blog to fit my mood lately! I have had ZERO motivation and keep looking at travel websites and blogs dreaming about our next vacation! We do have a small vacation coming up. We are going to Disneyland for 2 days! As nice as it will be to get away I wish it was for longer. The major bummer will be if I get jury duty the Monday we come back! I'm crossing my fingers I don't get called, I really do not want to be in Martinez at 8am!

New Computer, new software!

Whohooo! We finally got a new home computer! When we moved we had 2 computers and a laptop. Within a month the first one died, a few months later the other one died. We were left with only out laptop which Russ uses for business every once in a while. We have been talking about getting a new computer for pictures, on Thursday Russ finally bought one. We ordered it on Thursday and it arrived yesterday! Damn Dell your awesome!! I didn't think it would come that fast!

Since we got a new computer we also go some software to play with pictures. We got Adobe Lightroom. I cant wait to play with it!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUSS!

Sunday was Russ's Birthday we took a drive and were going to go to Sand Harbor. We got there and found out it was $8/car for parking. We changed our minds and went back to a scenic lookout that we saw about a mile back. We hiked down the rocks and got closer to the lake.

After hanging out for a little bit, Falynn, Frankie and the kids took us out to lunch to celebrate. After lunch we went back to the house to hang out. We had a yummy dinner with, wings, brats, hamburgers, salad, zucchini. For dessert we had shots of tequila and carrot cake.

HAPPY 26th Birthday Russ! I love you!

Labor Day Weekend

The past couple years we have headed up to Tahoe for Labor Day. We go over to Reno one of the days and stuff our faces at the Rib Cook-off. This year was no exception.



Friday:

We headed out early in hopes of not hitting any traffic! We did really well until we got into the mountains. All of a sudden we stopped, and were stopped for 25 minutes. Turns out they had to close the rode because of an accident. We got to the house, my Dad, Shu-Jen and Larry were already there (drove up Thursday night). We started Russ's birthday celebrations early, dad took us to Conrads at the Biltimore for a nice steak dinner. After dinner we sat at the bar and played video poker and got free drinks. We stumbled out of the bar around 9:30 headed back to the house and started to pay Wii. We were all in bed by 11:30.

Saturday:

We headed to Reno for the Rib Cook-off! Tons of yummy food, beer, margaritas and rides for the kids. Falynn & Frankie met us in Reno with the kids. This year we got lucky, it wasn't as hot as it has been in the past! We also scored a table in the shade! After pigging out on ribs we walked around and let Lexi go on the rides. It started to get hot around 2 so we headed back to the house where we hung out, played Wii, and went in the hot tub.

Sunday:

I will leave for another post.

Grasshopper in the house

The other night I went to open the backdoor to grab something from outside and in jumps a grasshopper. I call Domino over so she can play with it. She was having fun, but would get frustrated because it didn't move enough for her. Here are a few pictures...

All done, and mad because I put the grasshopper back outside.

September? umm what?

It feels weird writing September. Where did the year go?? Seriously, I have no idea, it feels like yesterday it was March.

In 3 weeks we will be in Disneyland! Then its my birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas (in Wisconsin). Wow the rest of the year is going to go by fast too!!

I'm just amazed the year has gone by so fast! Okay back to your normal blogging. I'm off to post about Labor Day weekend!