Soba Noodles with spicy peanut sauce asparagus and shrimp

This one is so ridiculously easy, but you eat it, you'll think gourmet.  I think what I like most about my recipes is the "smoke and mirrors".  They seem so rich, yet are really simple in ingredients, prep and cost.  In my opinion, people spend way too much on going out to eat.  Not only do they overspend a food budget (which yes, most of us need to be on) but they take in copious amounts of sodium, fats, and calories.

Americans are fat and sick and in denial.  They go to the doctor for ailments they never should have in the first place, why, because they're fat!  Geez, it's not rocket science.  Lose weight.  And one way to do that is to stop eating out all the time.  There's a direct correlation between your eating out and your expanding waist line.  Get over it!

Commentary aside.....here's what I made.

I started with soba noodles that I paid $1.39 for at Ocean State Job Lots.  I used half the package.  They were boiled and drained.  In my large wok like pan I sauteed the shrimp with garlic and about a tablespoon of coconut oil.  To that I added the water chestnuts.  As that sauteed, I parboiled the asparagus mostly because I didn't want to dirty the steamer.  Next I added Trader Joe's Asian Style Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette.  At this point things seemed a little watery from the shrimp, so be mindful that your shrimp doesn't do that if frozen.  I did add some Teddy natural peanut butter to intensify the taste.  Finally the asparagus joined the mess and that-was a meal! 

I included the link in case you wanted to make your own vinaigrette.  Trader Joe's has primarily healthy choices on the shelves, but nothing is perfect.  If you know me, I worry double about quality of food and cost.  

Here is the cost break down:

Soba Noodles $1.39/2

Shrimp $ 6.99/2

Sauce  $ 3.49/2

Asparagus  $ 4.50

Water Chestnuts  $ 1.89

Total:  $12.30 divided by 4 servings =  @ $ 3.00 a serving!  

Do you really want me to do the calories?  I know you do, so here goes:

https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/edit/27492504  I hope the link works, if not, you'll have to trust that there are 404 calories per serving, 12 grams fat and 25 grams protein.  

Smoky Sweet Potato Tacos with Maple Cream

I admit, I have not yet tried these, but I was craving a black bean and sweet potato marriage and this seems to be the match made in heaven.  So here goes:

smoky-sweet-potato-tacos-with-maple-cream 

Here's something to brighten your day!

Ten Local Things to See (for not too much money)

The Ten

So what will I do with my ten weeks of summer?  I want to spend it well and feel rested yet accomplished.  Free time is a double edged sword for me.  I love that time all to me, yet I can flounder in the freedom.  Before I know it, a week has passed and what have I accomplished?  Me, being a lover of lists, thought why not make up some things to do?  And I think a little of this has to do with my staycation mentality and reality this year.  Because every summer I travel one place big:

2012       Vancouver, BC

2011       Chicago, IL

2010       Dallas, TX

2009       Charlotte, NC & Mervi came to visit (and we went to Niagara Falls and spent two days in NYC)

2008       Cape Cod, MA

2007       Brussels, Belgium

2006       San Francisco, CA

2005       Wells, ME

2004       West Palm Beach, FL

2003       Turku, Finland

Going back ten summers was an exercise in WOW!  Seriously, how lucky to have seen so many fantastic places!!!  I know that prior to 2003 there were about 5 weeklong stays in Maine, a trip to Virginia Beach, and a trip to Cancun, Mexico.  I do love to travel.

So to ease my need to “do”  I made a list of ten local things to do that shockingly….I have NEVER done!

1.            Hyde Park (Roosevelt home)  http://www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm

2.            West Point (that area of the Hudson to see scenic stuff)

3.            Cherry Hill (Albany)

4.            Ten Broeck House (Albany)

5.            Albany Planetarium (ok, I’ve done this one, but I want to go again)

6.            Olana   http://www.olana.org/visit_seasons.php

7.            Howe’s Caverns (yep, have never  been there)!

8.            Iroquois Indian Museum  http://www.iroquoismuseum.org/

9.            Wander Troy’s downtown area

10.          Go back to Mount Washburn over in Columbia county (near Lake Tagahanic)

It’ll be interesting to come back in two months and see if I succeeded at finding the local scene!

Early May Garden Tour

Yes, obviously this should have been posted a month ago, but I did not.  It was actually fun looking at these photos because everything has grown in so much in the last 4 weeks.  In fact, if it wasn't already dark I'd add some before and after shots.  Here it is at 9 PM and it is fully dark.  :(  That's too bad.  42 degrees north just isn't light enough sometimes!

Probably my favorite sequence of picture is my romance with the tree peony.  She promises so much during her spring pre-bloom.  She delivers, but her beauty is fleeting.  The tree peony's blooms are easily knocked down by wind and rain, both which came at the end of the month to take her away.  I think these were taken around May 15.

My other friend in the garden is the peach tree.  I consider her an adolescent who is not actually ready to carry the load of fruit she creates.  You can see in the picture her "strappings".  Those straps are all taunt at this stage and the peaches are the size of black plums.

This year will be a big fruit year I think.  In addition to peachy I recently planted a gooseberry bush taken from my mom's yard.  She was in blossom in May when I planted her and has fruit on her already!!!  I bought anti-bird nets and put them over the gooseberry and the blueberry bush.  In fact, look at that blueberry!!!!!  I have 4 plants and one has grown enormous.  It's been a long  struggle to get the blueberries to want to be here, but finally, I think something is working!  YES!

My veggies this year consist of 18 tomato plants that mom helped me put in on May 16.  I decided to do many because last year I realized it was easy to can and get a safe seal in the glass jar.  (I made jam).  I love salsa and so I plan to can some up.  May was hot and our last frost was in April at some point, but during Memorial Day weekend there was a scare as the temperature went to about 4 degrees Celsius!  Weird and oh so NY.   But we did not frost and the tomatoes are growing.  In fact, the cherry tomatoes have little ones already!

You can see that the lilac was in bloom at that time (it's in the back ground).  When it got cold I protected the hydrageas.  They are starting to really expand.  Just wait until the before and after picture!

More to come soon!