Single Girl Supper

Summer's at work for J are really busy. At times he is away for work a couple nights a week, and the other nights he doesn't get home until after 9. This really screws up my eating schedule (it's all about food for me). When I was single I was really good at cooking for one. I could whip up something nutritious and delicious and single serving without breaking a sweat. I seem to have lost that skill. It shouldn't be hard to fall back into it, right? I mean, it's just halving the recipes I make now or using my imagination when I look in the fridge. Most dinners when he's away consist of cheese. Just cheese. Sometime crackers, if we have them. This is after hours of procrastinating about what to make, dismissing everything as too much work or not what I want. If we happen to be out of cheese, I'll have ice cream. On a crazy night I'll have BOTH. It's terrible. I can usually convince Sarah to come over and eat with me (I lure her with seafood), so that helps, but since J and I seem to be in this for the long haul, I should probably make an effort to stop eating like a 15 year old every time he goes out of town.

Shrimp Caesar Salad

While this isn't a complicated or exciting recipe, it's simply delicious. Homemade dressing takes it a little beyond normal into amazing, and is totally customizable to your taste. You'll need...

• A hunk of day old good bread
• Garlic clove
• Olive Oil
• Small head of Romaine lettuce
• 7 jumbo shrimp
• Chipotle seasoning
• Parmesan cheese
• Caesar dressing (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into chunks- the smaller the chunks the crispier your croutons. Toss the bread with a crushed garlic clove and a tablespoon or so of oil. Turn onto a baking sheet, grate a little parmesan over them (if you are cheese inclined). Bake for about 15 minutes or until browned and crunchy. Keep an eye on them, the baking time with fluctuate with the size you cut your bread into.

While the croutons are cooking, toss your shrimp in olive oil and some Chipotle seasoning. I use this one. It's crazy good. Cook the shrimp over medium heat for about 5 minutes on both sides or until done. Set aside and let cool while you make the salad.

Add Romaine and croutons to a bowl. Toss with dressing. Grate parmesan and top with shrimp. Enjoy!

Dressing:

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/8 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon Sriracha

Add all ingredients to a bowl, whisk until smooth. I add everything to a jar and shake the heck out of it.

Here's the fun part- I add Sriracha because I love spicy. I normally add more that 1/4 teaspoon to be honest. You can add any flavors you like. More lemon juice, more garlic, less of anything. This makes a pretty thin dressing, so if you like yours thicker, try it with just 1 tablespoon of water and work your way up until it's the constancy you like.

** I promise my photos are going to get better! I'm practicing and stuff! **

Life Rules

I stumbled across this list of advice while roaming around on Tumblr. There's 100 little snippets of wisdom, but for your sanity and my own, I'm only going to highlight a few of my favorites...

• Never cancel dinner plans by text.
• Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
• Hold your heroes to a high standard.
• A handshake beats an autograph.
• If you chose to go in drag, don't sell yourself short.
• Never eat lunch at your desk if you can avoid it.
• Know when to ignore the camera.
• Never gloat.
• Invest in good luggage.
• Give credit. Take blame.
• Never be the last one in the pool.
• Be a good listener. Don't just wait for your turn to talk.
• You are what you do, not what you say.
• Never call before 9am or after 9pm.
• Smile at strangers.

There's loads of other good ones. I came up with a few of my own that I was either raised on or have learned through experience...

• Always know 3 great recipes by heart. I know my dad's pancake recipe, macaroni and cheese, and roasted chicken.
• Unless you're outside, use real dinnerware and flatware. Always. 
• Learn how to share without over sharing.
• Never get drunk at a company function or on company money. People will ALWAYS remember, even if you only do it once.
• There is never a justifiable reason for being rude. Never.

I don't follow them all the time, but I strive to. What are rules that you live by?

Sunday

This Sunday was for sleeping past 7, discovering a new yoga studio, catching up with a good friend over brunch, and recharging for the coming week on the couch with Downton Abbey, the new issue of Real Simple and a cup of tea. 

"Every person needs to take one day away. A day in which one consciously separates the past from the future... A day in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for."

Maya Angelou

Please allow me introduce myself....

Welcome! I'm Aimee.

I don't normally have a mustache.
I date this guy...

He's pretty great. He does have a mustache.
I own these two rascals...

 Guffy

Tucker

They'll introduce themselves at some point.

I'm a born and raised small town girl who works in the big city. I have the best of both worlds. I eat at amazing restaurants, get a dose of history walking down the street and hear great live music any night of the week. My life is pretty fun. I hoping to share with a little slice of it here and there- restaurant reviews, recipes, fun stories, and tips for traveling around New England (and more?). Hope you stick around!