Friday, March 6, 2009

No Appetizer or Salad... But there's Dessert!

Hosted by "Designs by Gollum"

It's Friday once again and that means potluck!!! Thanks Michael Lee for hosting another grand potluck that our eyes can feast on. I'm sure the others are just as excited!

So here's my contribution to this "always delicious" potluck.

I love watching Giada de Laurentiis on Food Network. Her pasta dishes are always so fresh and yummy looking. Well curiosity got the best of me and I actually tried a few of them. This is my rendition of one her "quick-sauced" pasta dishes.
I actually made this last Monday night for our weekly "Family Home Evening" (It's our together time with the kids, and it could be about anything. This night was just about eating together. My kids love pasta, so this dish was an instant hit!)

"SS LINGUINE"


Did you figure out what the "SS" means?
I used my "Snowfall Splendor Gold" from Target on a gold charger from LNT

Here's a closer look. Want seconds?

Here's the recipe:
2 lbs. fresh frozen shrimp 31/40, deveined; shelled
2 lbs. linguine
2 cups chopped frozen spinach (thawed) or fresh
salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp butter or margarine
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
parsley
parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions.
Toss warm pasta with 1 tbsp. of olive oil, parsley and parmesan cheese.

Marinate the shelled shrimp in olive oil, salt, black pepper and garlic for 10 minutes.
Heat up margarine and add in shrimp and marinade.
Saute until lightly pink then add in spinach.
Sprinkle lemon juice and continue to saute until all pink but not overcooked.

Scoop some shrimp and spinach and place on top of pasta.
Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese if desired.

Ok, that was great, wasn't it? But dessert was promised so here's a great way to follow a great pasta dish:

With some sponge cake cups, juicy raspberries, strawberries and cookies & cream ice cream. Oh yeah, don't forget the chocolate bar shavings! (My 9-year old's idea!) Let me tell you, it is better than powdered cocoa, 100 times! You pile them on top of the sponge cake and you're set for two great bites! (Ok, you can be dainty and take three bites... )
Here's what my hubby and I came up with for some photo-ops!


Here's a photo (below) how juicy looking the raspberries are... mmmm...
I used my Corelle "Shadow Iris" saucers to showcase these tiny dynamos.

So delish!



Don't want to use your hands? No problem, here's your piece on a cute plastic martini glass! Grab a fork and enjoy!


Did you like everything? I'm glad you stopped by and enjoyed some with me. Now let's take a peek at what others' brought to the potluck! I can't wait!

29 comments:

  1. Love your recipe for the pasta and that dessert looks awesome!

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  2. Simply elegant and Yummy Chandy !

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  3. Yum...now that looks good! I love the way your family played with the dessert to help you out on your blog!!! lol Have a great weekend...Debbie

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  4. I =really= like your blog. I think I can do that shrimp and pasta dish, and gluten-free, too. Thanks for sharing.

    You were over at my blog, Pressing On, the other day, and were the fourth person to post. You win a book, all I need is your snail mail address. I think you get my email from this comment.

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  5. Oh, yes, I believe I will have another helping. This looks so tempting and delicious. Bandwith has started watching cooking shows, and he is gaga over Giada.

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  6. Morning, Carolyn! Oh, this looks so delicious! I would love a bowl of that tasty looking pasta! The desserts are beautiful and I'm sure they were wonderful, too!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  7. You are awesome ladies! Thank you so much and love you all that you had generous helpings!

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  8. Your meal sure looks a whole lot better than what we're having tonight. When I asked my husband what he'd like for dinner, he replied, "I'm hungry for a grilled cheese sandwich on rye". LOL Oh well, at least I don't have to spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen tonight.

    'D'

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  9. D: I'd love to have it that simple sometimes! Thanks for visiting again!

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  10. Pasta dish looks scrumptious and the dessert....delish!!Can't believe it's a plastic martini glass

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  11. Muna: Hello and welcome! It was very delish and the dessert was a great ending!

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  13. That looks delicious...And the dishes are just beautiful, Chandy!

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  14. Kathleen: Thanks! I enjoyed making them!

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  15. Yummy looking...thanks for the recipe, hubby loves pasta.. I'll take the fruit.. your photos are simply stellar girl.. totally over the top gorgeous..hugs ~lynne~

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  16. Lynne: Thank you so so much! They do taste as good as they look!

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  17. What a delicious meal! I will definitely try your linguine!! To substitute for the wine in Chicken Marsala I would try 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar and more 1/2 cup more beef stock.

    I love your tablescape below also! Don't know how I missed it on Thursday. Your crystal candleholders and the red carnations make a stunning centerpiece! :D Jewel

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  18. Jewel: Hello back! And thank you for the recipe substitution. I would so make it now! I can't wait!

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  19. Yumalicious! Thank you for sharing :)
    Robin Rane'
    All Things Heart and Home

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  20. Sal: Welcome and thank you!

    Susan: So true, so true! Thanks!

    Robin: Thanks and welcome!

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  21. WE MAKE A SHRIMP SCAMPI THAT IS KIND OF SIMILIAR.
    I LIKE THE IDEA OF ADDING THE SPINACH AND LINGUINE.
    IT SOUNDS DIVINE!
    THANK YOUR VERY MUCH FOR SHARING. ;)

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  22. Melissa: Thank you! I guess it's a lighter version since it's not swimming in any heavy sauce.

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  23. Everything looks great and I like how you presented it! :0)
    Have a fabulous weekend!!

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  24. Ellen: Thank you! It was great doing the food in nice ways like that!

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  25. Oh this looks just YUMMY..I love pasta so will have to try this one...loved all your china...thanks Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  26. Gloria: Hello and welcome to my blog!

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  27. Please forgive me. The pasta looked great, but I went straight to dessert when I saw what you were serving! You're also giving me a very bad case of dish envy! :) Nancy

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