Shrimp Ceviche...and Easter Sunday!

Hi everyone...in order to keep this staggering food blog of mine going, I must be honest with you, and mostly with myself; that I'm never gonna make the Top 9 on Foodbuzz!...Foodbuzz?...oh, how sad!...there is no more Foobuzz, so I don't have to worry about the Top 9!

Although we all remember how nice it was to be part of that 'fun' circle, meeting each other way back about 4 years ago, buzzing each others' posts...and actually even meet each other in person, at the Foodbuzz Festival events, in San Francisco! Great memories...but that's all in the past!

This post may seem out of place...or I'm out of touch; but this amazing and refreshing...all fresh veggies, and the most delicious fresh Florida shrimp marinated in fresh Florida lime juice, and the freshest chopped cilantro, also Florida product, like everything else fresh Florida grown products.
As for every holiday you may well know that not only in our immediate family do we celebrate both holidays...for Passover (no photo)...and Easter, but we always celebrate with our wonderful and best friends, who also celebrate both holidays!...so you see; we all get along, and still believe in one GOD!

I watched both the Ten Commandments movies...the Hollywood fancy version with Charleston Heston, and the most recent one on the UP channel, and the recent one was quite intriguing...realistic, and more accurate. Unlike in the old one where Charleston Heston came down from Mt. Sinai with totally white hair and beard; in the more recent one...he still had the brown hair and beard!
Also, with the Passover movie...I was very shocked to see the 1960's version of Jesus with a short straight hair...only covering his ears; and the 'blue eyes'...that was a shocker to me with the Middle Eastern Jew...could not understand the part at the Last Supper...only 8 disciples?...what happened to the other 4?...guess they didn't fit into the picture screen?...also I watched the Book of Ruth movie...that was another Hollywood glamorous festive movie...among some of the others. So, I spent an entire week of 'reconnecting' with the biblical people!

I feel bad for having to post these quick photos that I took...just didn't have a chance to take time to stage my photos; but I must admit that this shrimp ceviche...which I cam up with at the last hour of desperate attempt, to bring something to the Eastern celebration!

Maria's beautiful home...we started out with my Shrimp Ceviche...

A few of us started out early, as usual, it's always a 'feast' at holiday; Easter is one of the biggest holiday for Italians and it is such a joyous tradition!

Such a sweet and gracious lovely hostess...Maria

Nonno Sal, (Maria's husband...carving the lamb roast, which was specially purchased from an Italian meat market. It was perfectly done...medium, rare, to medium. Lamb is a very traditional Easter treat especially in Italy and Greece!

A typical festive Italian holiday table setting; can't leave out the kids' table!

Great company, fantastic foods, we are so blessed to have great friends who are like 'family' to us!

My daughter Lora's traditional Easter wreath that she makes every year! Isn't it gorgeous?...almost too pretty to eat!

Lora's Italian Ricotta Pie...so flaky and delicious with the ricotta, and chocolate chunks filling...yumm!

Thank you for all your good wishes; Hope all of you had a blessed and Happy Easter!

Shrimp Ceviche

recipe by; Elisabeth

2 cups grape, or cherry tomatoes diced

2 cups English seedless cucumbers diced

1 cup scallions sliced thin, including the green part

1/2 cup tomato juice

about 1 or 2 Serrano chili, sliced thin (optional)

juice of 2 limes

1/2 cup tomato juice

a handful of finely chopped scallion

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, add sea salt and pepper to taste.

For the Shrimp ingredients

2 lbs of large shrimp peeled, deveined, and chopped

juice of 4 fresh limes

Marinate shrimp and lime juice for 30 minutes. Add shrimp to the ceviche, and serve with fresh tortilla chips.

Serves 12

HAPPY EASTER!

photos, courtesy of PINTEREST

WISHING YOU AND THOSE YOU LOVE...

THE BLESSINGS OF A GLORIOUS EASTER:)

HAPPY EASTER! 

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#Palm Beach Love

I must admit, this is not a 'wordless Wednesday'...or a 'silent Sunday'...I tried to upload my latest photos of my amazing Avocado Bruschetta; but my upload is just not happening...something went wrong, so I'm sharing this beautiful photos of my evening walks on our beautiful location...on the island of Palm Beach...where I reside!

A quiet evening, just a few cars passing through!

I've been walking all week this week for 2 miles...and I must admit it really is quite enjoyable with the weather we've been having here...totally spring temperatures, sunshine just about every day; and instead of walking on the beach, I decided to walk on the road that is called South Ocean Boulevard...the most famous road in Palm Beach!

This is the famous Palm Beach golf course...you can see the reflection of the sunset...beautiful crisp fresh air, with the most perfect tropical breeze!

How can you not enjoy the marvel of 'mother nature' when its right in front of you?...this is the golf  course, just when the sun was setting, and I could not resist taking the photos. We all need to 'count our blessings'...there is beauty all around us; we just have to capture the moment!

A one hour walk in nature, refreshes the soul, and spirit; it gives you a new 'outlook on life'...knowing that it is helpful for your health, and makes you feel all new and refreshed. It sure is the most inexpensive exercise  in your life, to make a difference!

There is so much beauty all around us...we just miss it when we are  so occupied in our lives, and miss all the God-given nature that should put joy in our lives...we miss out so much in life that does not cost anything; just giving thanks to our Creator!

Every evening, the sky is different...giving off the most beautiful radiant, magical lights that you can imagine! This is jus 1 mile perimeter of my early evening walk; just about at sunset!

So, the evening ends...my walk is ended for this day...a new day begins, and I'm feeling blessed to have all my friends to share moments like this; wish you were here to take this lovely walk with me! Hugs,
Elisabeth
 

Spaghetti Carbonara

I have made Spaghetti Carbonara lots of times, and even have a vegetarian version posted on my blog...Vegetarian Pasta Carbonara... but none compares to this easy version with less eggs, and not spicy, so the little ones could eat it without having to worry that the chilly pepper flakes burns their tongue and mouth.
Just can't seem to put down the food Network magazine; the Bacon issue, and keep finding some interesting and delicious things to make!

I even bought some outrageously good bacon...Boar's Head brand, which is mad in Canada. The price is a little more expensive, but the way it cooks up so crispy, and super crunchy delicious. Even the smell when cooking it was so much nicer than the ordinary brand. I highly recommend it! I haven't cooked much this past week, we had company...from Ohio; my nephew, wife and two little boys. Ate out, a couple times, which was easier on both me and my daughter.

Getting off the subject...I was going to post on April 1st. about 'April's fools day'...but I realized I cannot come up with things that would not be so funny, and maybe offensive. Just heard on AOL news about a woman who called her daughter and announced about a 'school shooting' happening and the daughter called 911. Imagine all the police cars storming the high school building, and turns out to be 'false alarm' April Fool's prank! Well, she ended up in jail; no doubt scaring everyone! This is a very dangerous kind of joke...what was she thinking?

 SPAGHETTI CARBONARA
from: Food Network magazine

Ingredients

• Kosher salt
• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
• 2 red jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup cognac or brandy (optional)
• 12 ounces spaghetti
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish
• 1/2 cup freshly grated pecorino romano cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• Freshly ground pepper

  Directions

  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Combine the bacon, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, jalapenos and 1/4 cup water in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the water evaporates and the bacon crisps, about 12 minutes. Discard the garlic. Add the cognac, if desired, and cook until it evaporates. Remove from the heat and set aside 1/4 cup bacon mixture for garnish.
  Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in the boiling water as the label directs. Mix the eggs, cheeses, parsley and 1 teaspoon pepper in a bowl. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water.
  Return the skillet to medium-high heat. Add the pasta and toss until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Whisk the reserved pasta water into the egg mixture, then quickly pour over the pasta and toss to gently cook the eggs and make a creamy sauce. Garnish with the reserved bacon mixture and more parmesan.
  Per serving: Calories 888; Fat 50 g (Saturated 18 g); Cholesterol 219 mg; Sodium 1,223 mg; Carbohydrate 65 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 35 g