About Me

Hi! My name is Donna. I am a transplant from Louisiana to Tyler Texas and my husband Johnny and I have four children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. I have been a papercrafter, scrapbooker and currently a mixed media artist for dozens if years. I am excited for being a Close To My Heart Consultant and sharing the amazing world of memory keeping. Whether you are a beginner or have been creating scrapbooks for a while, my goal is to open up new and interesting ways to use quality products and easy to follow instructions and have you preserving your memories. I also have great ideas for making gifts, party decorations, school projects, cards and banners and much, much more!

Monday, January 3, 2011

New beginnings....

Hello 2011!
I've been waiting for you.
Let's get busy!

It is my intention to do this "blog thing" right this time.
I have alot more time on my hands now than I had when I ended my last blog entry, and lots, lots, lots has been going on since then.

First, I am not falling off the face of the earth. I have ended my catering career, but that doesn't mean I don't have plans. I just want to rest a while and take in all my options.

My love for people and for food is still very much a focus for me as I scout out new possiblities. FOOD will never be a stranger to this girl.

In fact, here's a little tutorial on a favorite dish at our house! I make it atleast once a month and always try to make it with fresh shrimp when I can get them.

First, I wanted to tell you where the recipe came from. Years, (many, and too many) ago, JJ and I went to Amelia Island, just off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida for a week of beach combing, sightseeing and eating!

There was a small restaurant on Fernadina Beach which I can't remember the name of, but the food was all fresh seafood and I ordered a dish with pasta, shrimp, peppers, onions, and a strange thing to add, hot Italian sausage! I also tasted wine in the creamy sauce. I told JJ that I thought I could make this dish when we got home.

So, when we finally got settled back home, I went to the grocery store and bought anything and everything I could remember about the delicious dish I had eaten. I had the best time putting the ingredients together, having to sample as I went, and whoala! I thing by George I got it!

Since then, I haven't changed a thing about the dish. It really is simple and can actually be made in less than an hour as long as the shrimp are cleaned and ready to go.

So, here it is. I hope you try it and give me some feedback on how it went for you. I bet even if you don't like Italian sausage, you will appreciate the taste it offers this dish. You can, of course, use mild in place of hot, but I hope you atleast try the hot sausage the first time.

Spicy Shrimp and Sausage Pasta

2 pounds of fresh large shrimp, washed, deheaded and tails off
1 pound Hot Italian Sausage, crumbled and browned
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 fist full of fetticini, cooked al dente, and drained
1 pint half and half
2 tbsp. of flour
1/2 cup of good white wine, (not cooking wine)
5 tbsp. of butter (not margarine)
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup of parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Romano cheese
1 can chicken broth
Creole seasoning to taste

     In a large skillet or dutch oven, add butter, bell pepper and onions and saute over medium heat until soft. Add the cooked and drained sausage and stir well. Add the flour and stir to combine. Pour in the half and half and continue stirring until mixture thickens slightly. Add chicken broth, salt and pepper, Creole seasoning and the cheeses. Continue cooking until mixture is smooth and creamy. Add wine and stir.

Add the shrimp and pasta and toss until noodles are coated and taste for seasoning.

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