Soup for the soul

Well it is nice and chilly out in Austin, Texas! This weather is rare here. Most Texans hate the cold but we love it in our home! Our little pup Bobby despises this weather too…

Here is the little booger! He refuses to leave our bed…

This warm weather calls for some delicious and healthy soup! My hubby to be loves soup and he loves my Caldo! For those that are unfamiliar with Caldo must try it! It is a Spanish chicken and veggie soup. I make arroz (Spanish rice) on the side and soak it in my bowl of soup.  Hopefully I can write-up a recipe soon! This soup is very easy but it does take some time.  I do not recommend frozen or canned ingredients either.  This soup must be made fresh!  It can be made con pollo (chicken) or de res (with meat).

Check out those fresh and colorful veggies!!!

Here is the finished product!!

Stay warm out there friends!!!

Cheers!

~Nancy Rae 🙂

Red Chili Pepper Shrimp

Mmmmmmmmm…..

I love shrimp and I love spice! Why not put them together?
This is one of my favorite dishes.  My fiancé is always asking me to make “that chili pepper shrimp stuff” all the time.

The main ingredient is the red chili pepper.  You can find it in the jelly section at your local grocery store.  I was lucky to find a giant jar for under $10 at Costco!! I highly recommend reading the ingredients to make sure you don’t find any nasty additives.

Here is the recipe!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10-15 minutes
Serves 3-4 people (depending on how hungry you are!)

Ingredients
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
3 table spoons Red chili pepper
2 dozen shrimp (defrosted)
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1) Warm up a frying man on medium heat and coat it with the olive oil.

2)Season the shrimp with a sprinkle of black pepper and cayenne pepper.  The more you coat the shrimp, the spicier it will be!

3) Place shrimp on the pan and cook for about 4 minutes on each side with a lid on the pan.  The lid will lock in more moisture and steam so the shrimp will cook thoroughly.  No one likes dry shrimp!

4) Once the shrimp cooks on both sides, add 3 tablespoons of the Red Chili Pepper.  Mix the jelly around to coat the shrimp.  Cover the pan again for another 3 minutes or until the jelly has dissolved.

5) Serve over quinoa pasta, your favorite rice or veggies!! Enjoy!

 

**Tip**
You can use the same recipe for fish!! I made mine with Talapia!! Yummmy!!

Cheers!

~Nancy Rae

Easy Peasy Cleanse Drink

Have some bloating?
Ate a lot of crap during the weekend?
Have allergies?
Can’t properly digest certain foods you know you shouldn’t have eaten but your stomach keeps rumbling??
Need a drink to keep you warm and toasty this holiday season?

Try this easy drink! I have heard of its wonders when you drink a cup first thing every morning and it’s delicious!

All you need is 3 ingredients.
1 cup of warm water
1/2 of a fresh lemon
1-2 teaspoons of local honey

Warm your water, squeeze in the fresh lemon juice and stir in the honey.

Your belly will be so happy! Enjoy!

Cheers!

~Nancy Rae

Austin’s Awesome Coffee Shops and Cafés!

I LOVE Austin! Austin has been my home since I moved here in 2004 to attend The University of Texas at Austin. (Hook’em!)
This beautiful and lively city has some great local coffee shops and cafés.  My fiancé and I like to try out new coffee shops and compare the coffee and atmosphere.  Finding a great 24hour coffee shop or café is also

Here is a list of some local coffee shops that have hit the spot!

Vintage Heart Coffee

24 Hour Diner

Austin’s Awesome Coffee Shops and Cafés!

I LOVE Austin! Austin has been my home since I moved here in 2004 to attend The University of Texas at Austin. (Hook’em!)
This beautiful and lively city has some great local coffee shops and cafés.  My fiancé and I like to try out new coffee shops and compare the coffee and atmosphere.  Finding a great 24hour coffee shop or café is also

Here is a list of some local coffee shops that have hit the spot! Click on each one and find out about their location and delicious eats and drinks!

Vintage Heart Coffee

24 Hour Diner

 

I will update them with reviews as I go!

Cleansing Green Juice

I LOVE juicing especially after having a cheat meal… or 4. ha!  I try to juice on the weekends so my body can have a chance to relax and get rid of all the toxins in my body.  It helps relieve bloating and helps me regain lost energy.

You will need a juicer and not a blender for this recipe.  I am not a big fan of blended juices because of the texture.  A Vitamix or a Ninja blender would not work either as they mostly purée the vegetables.  In order to make a juice with those appliances, you will need to use cheese cloth.  It is a pain in the rear to strain puréed foods with a cheese cloth!!
My brand of juicer is the Jack La Lanne Ultimate Power Juicer. It was purchased from Costco for about $89.99.

Ingredients
1/4 of a cucumber
Handful of fresh kale without stems
2 large sticks of celery
1 green apple chopped
Handful of fresh parsley
2 handfuls of fresh spinach
Small piece of ginger about the size of a quarter

Make sure to rinse all produce thoroughly.  I have found a few bugs hiding in my organic spinach and kale…  The best way to get the most out of your ingredients is to run the less juicy veggies through the juicer followed by a juicy veggie such as a cucumber.  I noticed that the dry produce would get stuck in the juicer if I did not chase it with something that is easier to liquefy.

This is the order I follow:
1) Kale
2) Celery
3) Spinach
4) Apple
5) Parsley and ginger
6) Cucumber

Pour your juice in a glass with ice and stir. Enjoy the refreshing green juice!

Cheers!

~Nancy Rae