Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream

Guilty of buying another kitchen gadget; after downsizing and heave hoeing a ton of kitchen stuff in 2016. Anyway, bought the stainless steel taco holders on Amazon and look how pretty the tacos look! Just a 1/2 pound of wild caught white shrimp was plenty for Rob and I. Whole Foods had mango/pineapple salsa and it was a perfect topping for the shrimp. The sour cream turned into Greek yogurt cream and I used the full amount of spice rub (except the salt) on the 1/2 pound shrimp; as Rob and I like spicy. I do not care for cayenne pepper and used pepper flakes instead. The Chipotle Rice (blog: 4/10/13 label: rice) and a Bibb lettuce salad and dinner is served...

Ingredients for Shrimp:

• 1 pound medium prawns, peeled and deveined
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil 
•  corn tortillas

Ingredients for Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream:

• 1 small container Greek yogurt (original recipe calls for 1/4 cup sour cream)
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• juice and zest from one lime
• salt to taste

Directions for Shrimp:

In a bowl whisk together olive oil, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt. Add the shrimp and toss to coat completely. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Using a marinate brush, lightly coat each side of the tortillas and cook tortillas one at a time, until soft, about 30 seconds on each side. Place on paper towels to absorb any oil.

Cook shrimp in a skillet on medium heat until pink and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Directions for Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream:

Stir all ingredients together in a bowl.

To serve: I highly recommend the taco holder! 

Ginger Carrot Soup

This recipe is off of foodnetwork.com by Guy Fieri. At first I tried what Guy suggested; and use a hand-held immersion blender. The carrot soup did not turn out as smooth as I would like. After using my food processor, it was better. Next time I will use the food processor from the get-go. The recipe makes quite a bit of soup; and as a result I tried other toppings. Chopped jalapenos was good and also chopped, toasted pecans. So experiment. I did use chicken broth and would add a tad more fresh ginger.

Ingredients: 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup sweet onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon or more garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon or more fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
• 1 medium russet potato, peeled and chopped
• 2 pounds carrots, peeled and chopped
• 6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1 1/3 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Soup:

Combine the olive oil and onion in a Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 10 minutes, until just starting to caramelize.

Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, 2 more minutes, being careful not to burn the mixture.

Stir in the carrots, potato and broth of choice. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until carrots and potato are very tender, 15-18 minutes.

Puree the soup until smooth. Do so, in small batches and be careful not to splatter.

Directions for Yogurt:

I used one carton of yogurt, so amount was not exact to recipe. Place yogurt in a small bowl and add honey and thyme. Combine well.

To serve: garnish with a dollup of yogurt and pine nuts.

Flavor is better after several days.

Boston

Rob and I celebrated our 36th anniversary with a week long get away to Boston.

We rented a studio apartment in Beacon Hill. Labeled "The Nest"; this quaint home away from was 3 steep floors up, but was worth the trek! Great, central location.

We used Lift from the Boston airport, coming and going for about $24.00.

Once we checked out the apartment, we walked down the hill to Whole Foods (181 Cambridge, Charles River Plaza and Jobi Liquors (170 Cambridge).

Dinner reservations was at 8:00 at Grotto, 37 Bowdoyn St., 617.227.3434. Charming, small restaurant that was excellent. Great way to kick off our stay.

After dinner we walked around Beacon Hill a bit to the Massachusetts State House (24 Beacon St.) ending at Cheers (84 Beacon St.) for a nightcap and purchase of Cheers beer mugs.

We woke up to our first full day to sunny skies and walked to our Duck Tour (www.bostonducktours.com 617.267.3825). Tour departed from the Museum of Science (Charles River Dam, West End). This was about a 30 minute walk.

The tour was great thanks to an animated tour guide dressed in super hero attire.

Next up was lunch at Parish Cafe (361 Boylston St.) at recommendation of the Duck Tour guide. It was YUM!

Once we were fed and watered; we set off for the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a 2.4- mile red brick trail that winds its way past 16 sites. The trail begins at the 50-acre Boston Common, which is one of the country's oldest public park. I never dreamed we would complete the entire trail in an afternoon; but we did!

Below are pictures of another garden which adjoins the Boston Common, Public Garden. We walked through this botanical garden many times in our week's stay.  A statue of George Washington greets you at the entrance. Dogwood, azaleas, cherry trees, redbuds and tulips everywhere!

Next up along the Freedom Trail was the Old State House, Boston's oldest surviving public building. Best known for its balcony where the Declaration of Independence was first read in 1776. The cobblestone circle marks the site of the Boston Massacre.

Continuing on the Freedom Trail; statue of Samuel Adams, Holocaust Memorial, must needed break for chocolate chip cannoli at Mike's Pastry (300 Hanover St.), a tour of Paul Revere's house, the 294-step climb up Bunker Hill Monument for a panorama of the city, harbour and North Shore and finally to the Charlestown Navy Yard, home of the world's oldest commissioned warship, the USS Constitution. Whew, we were exhausted! Dinner at Seoul Restaurant (156 Cambridge St.); just down the hill from our apartment. Great sushi and sake!

Day 2, we woke up to yet another lovely day in Boston. In the morning we set off for Cambridge Island to Harvard. This was a little over an hour walk. Below is a view of the city on the bridge over to Cambridge.

We took a free, student-led historical tour which departed from the Smith Campus Center on an hourly basis from 10-3, Monday through Saturday. Not too many students around, as all were studying for finals. After the tour we sought out a light lunch and beer. We bought Harvard hats for the grands; then we spotted Mike's Pastry (11 Dunster Street)! 

With cannoli in hand, we set out for the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (280 Fenway). This was quite the trek, about 1 1/2 hour walk. Before entering the museum; we fortified with the cannoli.

As you can see, the museum is a Venetian-style palazzo with almost 2000 priceless objects. We were able to get in earlier to our dinner reservations at Giacomo (431 Columbus Ave., South End). We had a wonderful Italian style meal. The restaurant was packed with locals. (Clery's Bar (113 Dartmouth) was our back-up if we did not get into the restaurant early.)

Day 3 was promised to be rainy, so we took the T to Samuel Adams brewery (30 Germania St.). The tour was not extensive; as most of the brewing is done elsewhere. So, we had tastings at 10:00 in the morning! Not a bad way to start your day!

Skies were really threatening by now, so we hopped on the T once again; and off to buy tickets to the Fenway Park tour (4 Yawkey Way). The tour departs at the top of the hour from 9-4. Buy your tickets at the Gate D ticket booth. This tour is not to be missed! Loved it even in pouring rain! Such history, an organic roof-top garden, and we got to go in the press box and where the players dress... From Fenway we headed towards our dinner reservations at the Union Oyster House (41 Union St.). We stopped in at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market; which was not too exciting. Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in America. Fantastic oysters and real Bostonians waiting your table. Rain stopped, so we walked to our apartment, up Beacon Hill and up 3 flights to a hot shower and resting of feet!

Day 4 was our free day and the sun was out! After breakfast at Beacon Hill Bistro (25 Charles St.), we walked through Public Garden to get a photo of Nancy Schon's Make Way for Ducklings Sculpture. Meet Mrs. Mallard and Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Quack, Pack and Quack!

We stopped in at the Church of the Covenant ( 67 Newbury St.). Sancturay interior is by Tiffany Glass. We have been into a lot of churches; but the stained glass is amazing! Do not miss this! Picture does not do it justice.

We made our way down high-end shopping Newbury St. to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. This was incredible and overwhelming. We decided to visit the special exhibits of Matisse and Botticelli.

Needing a break, we watched the Kentucky Derby in the apartment. Then onto the Tip Tap Room (138 Cambridge St.) for drinks; complete with your very own bouncer! Dinner reservations was at Tresca (233 Hanover St.). Appetizers, salad and Rob's entree were good, but my dish was not. The chef did take my entree off the bill and we got free dessert.

Day 5 we caught the train to Salem at the Boston North Station. After having brunch at Scratch (245 Derby St.) complete with sake bloody Mary's; we walked around the town. Salem was a bit a tourist trap, but it was a beautiful day! Did visit the House of the Seven Gables (115 Derby St.) made famous by the American author Nathaniel Hawthorn. Enjoyed the tour and grounds. Dinner reservations at Mare (3 Mechanic St. in the North End). This was recommended by the owner of our apartment. If you go to Boston; you must eat here!! You need reservations; as the restaurant was packed! YUMMY ending to a wonderful vacation!