Meal Planning with Connie

We all really liked our supper tonight! It was simple and quick, fairly inexpensive and healthy, and pretty tasty!! A winning combination around here!! Copycat Hard Rock Café Shrimp Fajitas and Easy Mexican Rice Copycat Hard Rock Café Shrimp Fajitas Copycat Hard Rock Café Shrimp Fajitas 2 lbs medium shrimp, shelled (I used a one pound bag of frozen shrimp.) 1 cup chopped cilantro (I used about a tablespoon of dried cilantro.) 3 minced garlic cloves (I used two.) 1/2 cup lime juice (I used the juice of one lime.) 8 (9 inch) flour tortillas (I used the 96% fat-free version.) 2 tablespoon olive oil 2 large bell peppers, thinly sliced (I used one.) 1 large onion, thinly sliced sour cream (I used fat-free.) Stir together shrimp, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, wrap tortillas in foil and place in oven that has been preheated to 250 degrees. Heat oil in a wide nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. A ca...

Easy Mexican Rice Easy Mexican Rice 1 cup rice 1 tablespoon olive oil 2-3 tablespoons salsa 2 cups chicken broth or water 1 cup whole kernel frozen corn Sauté rice in olive oil until lightly browned. Add salsa, stirring to coat rice. Cook until liquid from salsa has evaporated. Add broth and corn; turn the heat to low, cover, and simmer about  20 minutes, until the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

“Neighbors bring food with death and flowers with sickness and little things in between.” ~ Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird If you got a chance to listen to Jeanne Robertson's funny tale about her 7-Up Pound Cake, you heard her say that this cake is her traditional dish to carry to those in need. Most ladies down South have a particular "cradle-to-the-grave/bless your heart" dish that we take to our neighbors, friends, and relations to help them to celebrate the birth of a new baby, to recover from an illness, or to comfort them at times of loss. When you go into a home to deliver your food offering, you can almost always tell what other neighbors and friends have been there before you, just by glancing at the dining room table. It will be laden with familiar bowls and casserole dishes, filled with each community member's specialty. If you are new in town, be sure to come up with your own unique dish to carry on such occasions. There are two things a ...