For the last 4 days we've had a house guest - "Randy" (I've changed his name for HIS protection...and to his mom, if you're reading this, it's all pretend...) "Randy" is 13 going on 40...he's very well-mannered, very smart and a bit cagey...he's an expert at evasive maneuvers, as in what time curfew actually is, and he had me totally charmed/snowed for 4 days...he'll make an excellent politician. The first thing he wanted to do was go buy fireworks at the local stand...so I figured what could that hurt? A few sparklers and he'll have fun...but the fire-bug bit him badly and the next thing I know The Boy is driving "Randy" and 3 of his friends to the Indian reservation to buy the GOOD stuff! Stuff that can obliterate a hand or put an eye out in a nano second! Bottle rockets, Roman candles, cherry bombs, M-80's...things that alert the cops to illegal activities...but he promised to not light any until his parents came home. And I believed him. When I took him to his house to pick up a few things I noticed there seemed to be an inordinate amount of "debris" in the back forty...at first I thought the wind had blown some trash around - but we've had no wind! The little rascal had been blowing things up with the help of his idiot sidekicks - no hose, no precautions, no supervision...yes, yes, I was supposed to be watching him but like I said, he had me fooled thinking he was at his friends basket weaving or reading scriptures!
The best thing about "Randy" was his appetite...he can put away a lot of food and that's something that just melts my heart! Half-way thru this meal "Randy" said, "Thank you so much for making this, it's delicious!" Melted my heart. I would have bought him an atom-bomb right then and there.
Fettuccine with Shrimp And Summer Veggies - ME
1 lb. Fettuccine noodles, cooked according to package directions
2 zucchini, sliced
1/2 of a large red onion, chopped
2 large tomatoes, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 slices lemon, seeds removed
1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasonings
salt and pepper to taste
40 to 50 shrimp (I used cooked, tail on shrimp)
shredded Parmesan cheese for serving
In a large skillet melt butter and olive oil, add in all the veggies and cook for about 8 minutes or until the onion is tender. Stir in the seasonings, salt and pepper to taste. Add the shrimp and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Stir in the cooked fettuccine noodles, tossing to coat evening. Serve with shredded Parmesan cheese. Serves 6.
"Be pretty if you can, be witty if you must, but be gracious if it kills you." ~ Elsie de Wolfe