Marvelous Mezze

Hey there, All!

One thing is for certain about me when it comes to me and eating is I like to pick more than sit down and eat. At the moment I am very busy with work and kiddos and have very little time for anything let alone eating. So, what I’ve been doing is putting a 15-minute Mediterranean Mezze board on my counter and pick at it as I want it and have time.

But wait. What is a Mezze board? By definition it is:

Mezze (or meze) is an assortment of small dishes eaten as appetizers or a light meal. Its contents vary by region, but the concept of grazing on a board filled with savory goodies remains the same.

Simple, right?

Picture it. Do laundry, have a bite, clean a room, have a bite. Honestly as a stay-at-home mom and running a business this is the way to do it. I never sit and I run around all day. Yes, there’s something to be said for making yourself sit and enjoy your food. However, this current week is go, go, go and there’s no time for that. So, let’s take a few minutes and make it. Here is how I made mine…

what you need:

• Pita

• Baguette

• Olives

• Artichokes

• Hummus

• Tzatziki

• A meat, I used sopressata

• Feta

• Roasted red pepper

• Cucumber

• Cherry tomatoes

  The beauty of throwing this together is there is no specific formula. I had most of this already in my house.

Believe me when I say this is a fast appetizer or light meal to throw together because I didn’t have much time to do so. I do recommend having olives, artichoke, and roasted red peppers in your cabinet ready to pull out for such an occasion. Mediterranean and Greek food is my favorite, so I usually always have things like feta, pita, and cucumbers. But feel free to make this board your own. Especially if you are a little board (pun intended) of charcuterie. Even though it isn’t that far off, still a little different.

Have a wonderful Wednesday, Friends!

Weeknight Simplicity

Hello, Friends!

Unlike last week I’m going to actually publish this post. I swear in the ten years I’ve been blogging, I’ve never done that. Anyway, here is another easy, 30 minute meal to make on a busy weeknight.

1. Cut your asparagus into two pieces, bring a saucepan half way full of water to a boil and toss in your asparagus. Boil it for five minutes, drain, and set aside.

2. In the same saucepan, add two cups broth or water and boil orzo covered for 10 minutes covered. Keep stirring it to make sure it doesn’t stick to the bottom. It’s cooked when all the water is absorbed.

3. Add your shrimp to a skillet with oil and sprinkle with your red pepper flakes, Italian and salt.

4. In the same skillet where you cooked the shrimp, add in your wine, lemon juice, garlic and let it reduce. Once it does, add in the butter once it’s off the heat.

5. Toss in asparagus, orzo, shrimp, and capers. Stir to combine the lemon sauce. Here is where I added a little more red pepper flakes and salt.

6. Reheat everything on very low heat, sprinkle with a few more capers and enjoy!

   The Mediterranean cuisine has always been my favorite to cook and eat. This recipe is absolutely going into my rotation. Not only is it packed with protein, but it’s also such a refreshing dish.

I hope you give this delicious dish a try! It’s worth it!

Happy Wednesday and thanks for stopping by!

Weeknight Elegance

Well. Here is busy mom life for you. I never hit post on January 31st! Anyway, here is the recipe that I posted. *shakes head*

Hey, hey!

This recipe is one of my quick and easy, yet still elegant weekday meals. Surly a way to elevate a weeknight meal.

Here’s why this is one of my go to dishes. I always have a crescent dough sheet in my fridge. This is a huge tip I can give you. Grab a couple the next time you’re at the store. The possibilities with one of these are endless.

I had some mushrooms and asparagus that I needed to use before they went bad. This is a great way to use up veggies that are on their way out. I was also craving seafood (which is always in my freezer).

So here’s what you do:

Roll out the dough and cook on 350 degrees for about eight minutes or so. Then pull it out and let cool for a couple. You can use anything here but I mixed vegan sour cream and dairy free plain yogurt as the base and I added garlic, oregano, and basil. Then, throw whatever else you want on there! I used scallops, squid, shrimp, and some shallots. I made sure everything was cooked, added it to my crust and threw it back in the oven for a few minutes until the crust is golden brown.

Like I said the possibilities are endless here. Make a regular pizza, or throw a bunch of veggies on it. Perfect for a weeknight when you don’t have a lot left in ya.

Believe it or not today is finally the last day of January. So thank goodness for that and a more exciting month to come. Have a wonderful day!!