Since I’ve had this blog over two and a half years, I am constantly finding new blogs to read and then quickly add them to my blog roll so I know where to find them again. Yes, I am still one of those people who has yet to set up Google Reader – so my blog roll is a quick and easy way for me to check up on you.
Well, I’ve been doing some spring cleaning – I’ve deleted ones I never go to anymore for whatever reason, updated names of blogs that have changed and finally have gotten around to updating your links . . . (Sorry Kitchen Witch – she moved her blog to a new URL last JUNE and I am just now updating it!). I am still in the process of housekeeping, and if you are one of the links I dropped, no hard feelings, okay? š
How do you stand on blog rolls? If someone has you on theirs, do you automatically add them to yours? Curious where you all stand on this.
Worst pet peeve of mine, and I’ve done it a few times, is I put my camera away in the “on” position and it is d.e.a.d. when I try to use it in the morning. No worries – I just ate the second half of my spinach and goat cheese quiche from yesterday and had a piece of toast with butter – 10 points.
I had a whole apple before our walk at lunch yesterday. I don’t know what it is but I’ve been feeling hungry a lot, so I’ve been eating more fruit. I don’t want to add unnecessary points and it does help fill in the gaps.
The inspiration for today’s lunch came from Savour the Senses Chili Basil Shrimp with Edamame. I tweaked the recipe a bit to serve 3 people, and I threw in chopped zucchini for more bulk. Each serving comes in at 7 PointsPlus (2/3 cup rice, 6 shrimp, 1/3 cup edamame and about 2 tablespoons of sauce).
Biz’s Version of Chili Basil Shrimp with Edamame
- 18 medium shrimp
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili sauce (see picture below)
- 1/2 cup canned chicken broth (next time I would double the sauce)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
- 1 cup edamame, shelled
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 cups cooked white rice
Mix together the shrimp and corn starch and let sit for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil. Add frozen edamame to the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. When cool, shell the beans and set aside.
Heat a non-stick skillet and saute the zucchini with Pam, just until slightly cooked but still crisp (some of mine got really cooked though when I wasn’t paying attention!). Rinse out skillet and add olive oil. Add the shrimp and saute for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and basil and using a wooden spoon, scrape any of the bits from the bottom of the pan and the corn starch will start to thicken the sauce.
I made these at home and had three separate containers – first I put the zucchini, then the shrimp, then the edamame and then the rice on top. We just reheated it at lunch and put it in a bowl. This is on the spicy side – but luckily my co-workers are used to the heat. My one friend said that even if I made her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, even that would be hot. Which would be true because I have jalapeno peanut butter! š
I forget how much I love edamame. This is the first time I’ve cooked them in the shell, but it could not have been easier. While lunch was delicious, I had to eat some more fruit in the afternoon to get me through – maybe add more protein to my dishes??
Tony wasn’t terribly hungry last night, so it was just me since Hannah was at work. I bought chicken legs because they were only .59 cents a pound – nice! I went on Tastespotting and searched “chicken legs” and found this recipe. While they simmered their chicken in this sauce, I grilled my chicken and then finished it off with this sauce.
My sauce didn’t look anything like the recipe, it was thick like a bbq sauce, so I am going to call it:
Five-Spice Barbecue Sauce
(8 points for whole recipe – about 1 point per leg)
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 5 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 ablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 4 cloves arlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon five-spice powder
- 2 tsp. cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
Put everything but corn starch and water in a sauce pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Mix cornstarch and water together and add into sauce – cook for 2 more minutes. Use as you would any bbq sauce.
While I loved the barbecue sauce, turns out I am not that big of a fan of grilled chicken legs. I love fried chicken legs, but for some reason, this didn’t work for me tonight – although I can’t wait to try this bbq sauce on wings. š So I made a cheese/cracker/apple plate for Tony and I later in the evening – all told, dinner comes in at 11 Points.
Stats for the Day:
- 36 points (including wine)
- 29 flex points remaining
- 20 activity points earned
- 45 minute walk with 4 pound weights
- average blood sugar 117
Right now I have a broccoli bacon quiche in the oven for our lunch. It’s crustless, but this Whole Foods recipe called for 1/4 cup of flour to the recipe to thicken it up – I chose rye flour so it could be interesting – come back tomorrow for the recipe – 1/4 of the whole quiche is only 6 WW points! š
Only two more days til the weekend, only two more days til the weekend. . . that will be my mantra today. š
You know, it’s been a while since I’ve checked out anyone’s blogroll, let alone mine! I think when I first started blogging, it was reassurance that someone liked my blog, but now I realize it’s not a popularity contest. If people like your blog, they’ll read it, blogroll or not.
I have to say, I love seeing all the things you cook and eat daily. I’m so glad you eat real, every-day foods that actually LOOK appetizing and happen to fit in great with WW. š
I use google reader. Love it. The best thing is that when someone publishes a new post it pops up in the reader, no matter the frequency. So I don’t need to visit any blogs, they come to me:) So to speak. And not long ago I learned some more advanced aspects of google readers like how to categorize blogs. I did not understand one of the earlier comments about google friends since in my experience that does NOT add a blog to the reader.
I actually love getting my favorite blogs in my email. It’s so much easier for me to see them that way. Take this one for instance, I just was going through my inbox and I must have missed this post. Normally, I don’t feel the NEED to comment on every one but you posed an interesting question about blog rolls. I MIGHT have time to scroll through a few of my reader blogs but I know I don’t see every one. Plus, I LIKE to comment and it’s impossible to comment on each one. I haven’t updated in awhile later. I used to automatically “follow” if someone else followed but I don’t now. I will certainly visit them and comment but if the content just doesn’t interest me, it doesn’t make sense to follow. Way too busy for all the thousands of blogs out there! I wish I DID have more time though. Oh well, you do what you can do. š
i keep telling myself i need to get a brush like that for marinades but then i rationalize and say…”that’s what fingers are for.” i’m cheap. haha!
and i don’t really pay attention to my blog roll because i’m always changing what blogs i read all the time. Some of them also fade in and out so i wait until i read blogs for a really long time before adding them, unless they ask, then i might.
I find it a little bit annoying (although very understandable) that so many sites don’t update their blogrolls ever, so it ends up with tons of blogs that haven’t been updated in months or even years. (And I’m completely guilty of being one of those bloggers that went months without updating, so I do understand.) I usually find new blogs to read by clicking on the links if I find a comment interesting or insightful.
I am terrible at updating my blog roll. The funny thing is that in my early blogging days, I said that would be something I would be diligent in insuring was always updated. š
The food looks absolutely outstanding, as always!
Homemade BBQ is the best š The shrimp look amazing, Biz!
Honestly, I got rid of my blog roll because I felt like I was choosing favorites and I read a TON of blogs. I am very flattered when I am on people’s blog roll’s, though. š But I don’t think it’s necessary to add them if they add you. š
Happy weekend!
I don’t understand google reader, i’m too much of a technotard for it LOL! I put everything on my blogroll.
I only add people to my blog roll that I love and regularly read.
I don’t like asking to be put on people’s blogrolls (like when people require it for a giveaway entry) and I’ve never added somebody to mine for that reason either. For some reason I just feel like it’s “cheating” and not coming about it honestly. I’m weird like that. haha
i have been thinking for the last few weeks that i really to update my blogroll. i don’t expect reciprocation, i just like to add blogs that i’ve connected with.
that bbq sauce looks so good! i think homemade sauce is way better then the bottled stuff.
Gosh, I need to update my blogroll SO BAD. I need to do a complete update of my blog period. Luckily I use Google reader so I don’t have to rely on my blogroll! š
I love chicken legs in all forms. š I’ll take yours. š
If someone follows me, I try to make sure to follow them on my google reader. As for my blog roll, it doesn’t get updated as often as I’d like. I probably need to do some spring cleaning too!
I love shrimp and this looks amazing! I’m also definitely going to have to try that barbeque sauce! It sounds amazing!
My camera is constantly dead because I forget to turn it off. Or some little people in the house decide they are going to play with it!
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY – love the look of this shrimp edamame dish – I will definitely try it. Great question on the blog rolling – I clean mine up, change it up and focus on the ones I’m reading the most. I too hope I haven’t hurt feelings. And I have no doubt there are people on my list whose lists i’m not on – i’m okay with that! Maybe I just get more out of theirs than them mine? I like you don’t do google reader – I just keep up the blog roll and comment from there!
My parents never turn the camera off! It’s a huge pet peeve of mine- when we travel, they just walk around with the camera on, and when I want to take a picture of something, it’s dead! Arghhhh. Thankfully they have their own camera now š
My blogroll was nuts when I first started to blog but now I only list who I truly read and then I have my settings to show the 10 latest posts on my main screen…if someone wants to see the rest, they can click on the tab.
I am always appreciative to those that add my blog to their blogroll…its a good way to get new readers and exposure…as for mine, I would venture to say most of them do not have me on their blogrolls, but I enjoy looking and reading their blogs…I think right now, I am trying to limit it to food blogs, I have a few bookmarked in other ways to and I follow some that I dont have on my blogroll with blogger follow…
I just bought some five spice powder ( at my daughter’s college market of all places…trying to use up that end of the year food allowance balance! ) so this bbq sauce is def something I will try. BTW…made those NY bagels the other day, and posted about it, if you haven’t seen! They were fantastic! Here is the link:
http://mykitchenadventures1.blogspot.com/2011/04/homemade-new-york-style-bagles-with-low.html
Thanks Renee! And yours is one of the blogs I need to add to my blog roll! š Will do that soon.