Confetti Shrimp + Grits
in Honey Buttered Polenta
This one’s a winner!
I cooked dinner after lunch and then just reheated it around 4:45 to make for another less-stressful departure for school. It was QUITE hot cooking over the stove at 2pm on a 90* day. We hold off on air conditioning until mid-July because
1) We like the outdoor air
2) To reduce energy for the environment
3) To save money
I should just turn it on when it’s over 90* though. But in a tank top and shorts, I don’t mind being a little sweaty.
Anyways, here’s the basis for the shrimp + grits:
Serves 1, about 425 calories a serving.
Ingredients:
- 10-12 medium shrimp, peeled
- Small bunch of broccoli raab, or spinach, or collards, or other green
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1/2 a cup assorted bell peppers, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1-2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
- Sprinkle Chili powder
- 1/4 cup quick cooking polenta
- 1 tbsp buttery spread
- 1 tbsp parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp honey (secret ingredient!!)
Method:
- Add olive oil to pan and heat. Place shrimp one by one into pan and don’t touch until brown on one side. Flip and sear until crispy. Remove from pan.
- Add veggies to pan and sautee a few minutes. Stir in Old Bay and chili powder. Add 1/4 cup water to deglaze plan and steam veggies. Remove veggies from pan when tender.
- Add raab (or other greens) to pan. Sautee a few minutes until wilted. Add a splash of water to steam/deglaze, if needed.
- Meanwhile, cook polenta as package says (mine said to bring water to boil, add polenta and stir for 5 minutes).
- When polenta is thick, stir in 1 tbsp butter until melted. Then drizzle on tsp of honey.
- Add veggies and shrimp to polenta pot and stir together. Pour into bowl and top with shrimp and parmesan.
The combo of butter (y spread) and honey make the grits taste like a sweet cornbread . Or honey butter . Take your pick.
CHEM went OVER tonight by 5 minutes. Ugggg. It was so boring too.
Despite my filling and delicious dinner, I was hungry all evening. Maybe from the long run earlier today? I was definitely craving carbs. I ate Snack #1 at 7:00 and was still hungry at 9:30 when I got home so I had a Snack #2:
Snack #1: Mid-Solubility
The last fresh Morning Glory muffin ….
Snack #2: Home At Last
I had another quarter granola plank mixed with some of my homemade granola and greek yogurt when I got home.
Blog Story Of The Year
My friend Jessica , who I grew up with in Hillsborough and who attended our wedding last year, called me last night with this awesome story:
Jessica’s roommate, Karen, was rummaging through their spice cabinet while cooking and noticed something that looked familiar: the honey jar favor from our wedding that I posted on the blog on Monday.
Karen found Jessica in the shower and asked her: "Jessica, where did you get this honey jar?"
Jessica , from the shower: "At a wedding."
Karen : "Kath’s wedding?"
Jessica : "Yeah, why?"
Karen : "So you know Kath."
Jessica : "Yeah, I have known her for years. How do you know her?"
Karen : "I read her blog everyday!"
Turns out Jessica didn’t know about the blog and they verified I was the same Kath by sharing details about my life. What a coincidence !!! I gotta give a shout out to Karen in DC !!
Off to read Change of Heart on this warm summer night.
Kath says
Sorry Bev. What was yours like?
K
Bev says
I made the Morning Glory muffin …. and they didn’t turn out like yours 🙁
VeggieGirl says
Such a colorful meal!!
Haha!! What a coincidence, indeed!! :0)
Enjoy reading ‘Change of Heart,’ and happy Wednesday!!
Becca says
Haha, what a funny coincidence! Dinner looks like a great combination!
Meghan says
Now that we’ve done Costa Rica and NYC, does anyone have any recommendations for healthy (preferably vegan) options in Las Vegas? I am headed there this weekend!
Jenn says
That’s such a great story! Definitely blog story of the year 🙂
Kristie says
Hahah that’s such an awesome story, I love it. What a coincidence!
Korin says
This is one I will definitely be trying. I love shrimp and grits so much. Shrimp and scallops are the only animals I eat… I feel bad but I do what I can ya know?
Amy says
What a small world we live in!
Kiala says
I think I can make Dane eat polenta. Wish me luck.
Carynne says
Hey kath, I have a question for you: I’ve been eating oatmeal for breakfast all year, which I love, but it’s not as cozy in the summer when it’s hot. I’m about to start a new job, so I’m trying to think of a quick vegan summer breakfast that would be as easy and filling as oatmeal. Any suggestions? thanks 🙂
Melissa says
The confetti shrimp and grits look AMAZING! 2 quick questions – did you use fresh shrimp or frozen? And about how much spinach would you recommend? (I’m new to this whole cooking thing so I am not quite to the stage of guesstimating/throwing things in without measuring first!)
Heather says
Shrimp and grits are the BEST! Yours look delicious, too. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Jenni says
I have the same question as Carynne about what to eat in summer!!! I eat a cereal mix now, but I need my snack 3 hours later!
Kath says
Jessica ,
I don’t like freezing things – I’ve never thought frozen/defrosted things are as good, but I did freeze 2 of the morning glory muffins this time (and left the other 6 or so in the fridge and we ate them all over about a week’s time). I’ll have to see if they’re as good.
K
Kath says
Carynne and Jenni,
I just made a muesli page for you – cold oatmeal! I know it calls for yogurt, Carynne, but you use soy yogurt or pumpkin as your binder. Or just increase oats and reduce milk a bit. It’s great for a quick breakfast when you’re off to work because there’s no cleanup! (Congrats on the job, by the way 🙂 )
https://www.katheats.com/?page_id=3889
Kath
oatmeal says
Haha I love how you had polenta for dinner after I just made a huge batch of it yesterday! Now I can try our your combo for dinner today! The honey would be quite a nice touch 😀
And that story just shows what a small world this is! Love it when things like that happen!
hk says
LOVE polenta! the sweet twist sounds great 🙂 such a small world, too funny ha!
Jessica says
Hey Kath, do you freeze your muffins and scones and pull a couple out at a time? The shrimp and polenta looks killer and I love the blog story!!! :o)
Jessica says
Also, I wanted to share my two FAVORITE
muesli recipes – I eat it every day!
http://johnstonesvinblanc.blogspot.com/search?q=muesli
or with yogurt
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_146082,00.html
Sarah says
🙂 Smile for you, what a great feeling to know so many people care about you and are interested in your adventures. It IS a small world.
Kath, your shrimp dish looks really delicious. I really love shrimp, I shall remember the polenta combination with honey.
Have a nice Thursday!
Amy says
What else would you serve with polenta?
Kath says
Amy,
This recipe was FANTASTIC:
https://www.katheats.com/?p=2857
Kath