An older recipe and an anniversary!

I did this recipe a while back, but it was just so good I couldn't NOT share it with you guys. I had been wanting to do a Southern dish with grits, however Matt doesn't like grits....he calls them GUTS. haha...but this recipe was good regardless! And it was unbelievably easy!

DEEP SOUTH SHRIMP AND SAUSAGE

Serves: 4 :)

Ingredients  
Cooking spray 
3/4 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp 
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning 
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
1 cup chopped tricolor bell pepper (red, green, and yellow)
1 (6.5-ounce) link smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices  
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup water

First thing I did was take the tails off the shrimpies and cut the sausage up.  

I then cut up the bellpepper and garlic. Prepping before cooking is always a good decision. Things go so much faster!! 

Then you heat a pan over medium heat and coat the pan with the cooking spray. Add your shrimp, Bay seasoning, and pepper. Toss to coat and cook about 3 minutes or until the shrimp is cooked. Once done, remove the shrimp and keep it warm. 

Next spray a bit more cooking spray in the pan if needed and add your bell pepper. Cook about two minutes and then add the sausage. Cook for about two minutes until the sausage is nicely browned.

Then add back your shrimp as well as the garlic. Cook about one minute. Add the 1/4 cup water, cooking 30 seconds and scraping the yummy bits at the bottom of the pan. Remember....they are flavor fairies!  

And that's it! Seriously!! It was that easy. I served this with rice and a salad...but as I'm writing, I'm seriously considering making this with grits the next time and rice for Matt. This recipe was so delicious and it's perfect for when you're wanting that down South yumminess! Matt and I both really enjoyed it. The best part? 142 calories per serving!!! Which is about 3/4 of a cup. Here is the recipe for it: Deep South Shrimp and Sausage

This week has so far dragged by for me. Matt is at NTC and I definitely miss him so very much. Today is our 2nd anniversary and he sent me flowers! They were so beautiful. I definitely was not expecting them so when he text to tell me not to be alarmed if someone rang the doorbell I was extremely excited. I had run to the commissary so by the time I had gotten back there they were! They remind me of my wedding bouquet. It had purple in it. I can't believe how fast two years has flown by. And so much has happened too. 

I didn't plan very well for this week of eating for one, so when I went to the store today this is what I came out with. Pretty much screams that I'm the only one who's eating in this house. Well real food and not animal food haha...I am trying desperately to find easy cooking for one recipes. But honestly, as I think about it, when Matt's not here, I don't feel like even cooking. I take so much joy in cooking for him and making him happy. Even when we eat leftovers during the weekend I dislike making the leftovers. I usually throw whatever protein over salad...and I've told Matt this many times, that I make it and then I'm not hungry anymore. It's just not exciting to not cook. So who knows what I'm going to do, since I'll get sick of these for the next however many weeks. But, I'll keep searching. 

I've been focusing on trying to get back up to 5 miles a day for running here. In Kansas I could go for 5+ miles and not even think about it. But here it's a little harder as far as my breathing goes. I really wish I had looked into getting an inhaler. Maybe I still should do it. BUT! I'm making progress, I am up to about 3 straight miles so that's at least a little better. Other than that nothing really has been going on. I'm excited it's fall because I just love the fall. I have some new decorations for Halloween and the fall in general and I just love everything. I am, however, on a continual obsessive treasure hunt for a witch my mom gave me last year. I seriously can not find it. And I just know I'll find it maybe during Christmas or something. I've searched in every box labeled basement. It's so annoying! I hate when I can't find something :) 

A couple of weeks ago I hosted our Brigade Coffee at D'Vine Wine. It went really well. I was nervous because I had never hosted one before at all, but it was just a lot of fun. Lots of laughs. Lots of yummy wine and funny "cheers" to accompany each tasting we had. I really am enjoying being apart of this brigade. The women are amazingly nice and easy to talk to. I know I can count on them for anything even if I have only known them for about 2-3 months. It's just been a great experience so far. D'Vine Wine is a really neat place too. It's in Manitou Springs. They are a very "green" winery and are small, but I haven't had a taste of anything that I didn't like! If you're ever in the area and want to go, I'll go with you! :) Manitou Springs is interesting in itself really. Great people watching. 

While Matt's been gone I've been watching random movies on Netflix. Last night I watched "Revenge of the Bridesmaids." Extremely CHEESY. But one of those movies that you can't stop watching. I have a list of "girly" movies that I am going to delve into while he's gone too. Stuff that he probably would gouge his eyes out if he were watching. :) I have been watching a lot of Frasier and re-watching The Tudors....a little Ghost Whisperer...Grey's. I have decided though that I want a dog like Niles has in Frasier. It cracks me up every time I see it. It's an Italian Greyhound. 

This episode had me rolling too. His bird clamped down on his head and wouldn't get off. So Niles has to entertain during a dinner party with the bird on his head. Ugh...that show is pretty funny to me. I have a lot of great laughs when watching it. :) 

Well I suppose I'll end here. I'll leave you with some pictures from our wedding day! We were married at one of the chapels on Fort Sam Houston. It was really pretty inside and as you'll see there were a lot of flags! Very military :)  My colors were chocolate brown and a light pink (not baby pink!) and cream. I had some great help with making the ceremony and reception flower arrangements. The only real flowers were the bouquets, the boutonnieres, and the cake topper. I had so much fun making a lot of things. The best accomplishment was the "trees" we made. I saw them at a wedding at our church that my dad was helping with the sound and I had to have them. I talked with the florist who did them and they were wanting an ungodly amount for them...so we made them ourselves! During the time it was a pain in the butt at some points...such as transporting them (I have a funny picture of Matt holding onto them in his truck) but they turned out so beautiful and I must say...I loved them! They had hydrangea bunches in pink and maroon, hanging crystals, and hanging candles that were lit during the ceremony. Very pretty!! :) My aunt married us too which was so cool! I know she enjoyed it and it was very special for all of us! :) :) :) 

I hope you enjoy the pictures! And you're welcome for not sharing the 1000s that I do have! :) haha!!!

Happy Anniversary Matthew :) I love you and look forward to many more years of FUN! with you!!!!!