Mexican Shrimp Stew

Although it is spring, you wouldn't know it if you looked outside here in North Idaho. It is 45 degrees and has been raining all day! It feels like a soup day! I made this soup for my sisters over the weekend, they both loved it and even had seconds! It is pretty spicy, if you don't like the heat you can omit the chipotle peppers.

Spicy Shrimp Stew

2 tsp. Olive oil

1 Onion

2 Stalks celery

4 Carrots

2-3 TBSP. Chipotle chile's in adobo (it is tricky to find these clean, but it can be done!)

2 tsp. Cumin

2 tsp. Chili powder

4 Cloves garlic

4 C. Chicken Stock

1 14.5 oz can Fire roasted tomatoes

1 Tbsp. Lime juice

Salt and Pepper

1 LB. Shrimp (I used medium raw)

Cilantro and avocado for garnish

Pre-chop all your veggies into even chunks. Heat the oil in a large pot, add the veggies, garlic, spices and chile's. Saute over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes or until the carrots just start to get soft. Add the tomatoes and stock. Cook until the veggies are soft, an additional 15-20 minutes.

Peel and rinse the shrimp and add them to the stew along with the lime juice. Cook for about 4 minutes until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.

Serve into bowls and top with cilantro leaves and avocado chunks.

Pork Thyme

I was in a rush and trying to use up some of the random stuff I had in my fridge. I knew I wanted to use the crock pot, but I didn't have all day in fact it was 3:00 I wanted to be eating by 6:30. So here's what I came up with. I have to say it was really good. I had my sister over for dinner and she loved it!

Crock pot Pork with Apples

1 Onion-diced

4 Cloves garlic- minced or pressed

2 Apples-diced

1 lb Pork loin or chops-cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 TBSP Dijon

1 C. Chicken stock

Salt and pepper

1 tsp Thyme

1/2 tsp Fennel seed

1 Head cauliflower- riced in food processor

Seer the outside of the pork in a little olive oil with onions and garlic in a saucepan. Don't worry about it being cooked all the way, just get a nice crust on the pork and bring out the flavor of the garlic. Put in the bottom of a crock pot.


Make a sauce by mixing the broth, spices, and mustard together. Pour over the Pork and onions that are in the crock pot. Cook on low for 2 hours. Add the apples and cook for 1 hour more.

Serve over the cauliflower rice.

Walnut Crusted Pork

Who doesn't love pork right? I prefer the loin, it doesn't seem nearly as fatty and can be used for so many things. I usually buy pork loin at Costco, they are between 7-8 lbs and can be priced as low as $1.99 a lb. Its not bad at all considering you can get several meals out of one. (note 2 pork recipes this week Hmmmm what did I buy???)

2 Lbs Pork loin trimmed of fat and cut into 1 in thick pieces or pork chops

Dijon mustard (most are clean just double check)

1/2 C Walnuts chopped finely

1/4 C Flax seed

1 Tbsp Olive oil

Mix together the walnuts and flax seed. Slather your pork in Dijon mustard and press into the walnut/flax mixture. Press it in pretty firmly so it stays in place. Heat a large skillet with olive oil, make sure it is really hot before you put the pork in ensuring a crispy crust. Cook 5 minutes on each side and test to 165 degrees with thermometer.