My Meals are on Wheels

Fried Freshwater Shrimp w/ Roasted Butternut Squash and Roasted Asparagus

Today’s Menu: Fried Freshwater Shrimp w/ Roasted Butternut Squash and Roasted Asparagus

To start the day off I made some Simply Potatoes Shredded Hash Browns, Heated up some Meijer Diced Ham, fried an Egg Sunnyside Up, made a cup of Bigelow Decaf Green Tea. I made a bed of the Hashbrowns in a bowl and sprinkled some Sargento Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Next I put the Diced Ham over top the Hash Browns then put the Sunnyside Up Egg on to top it off. I love combinations of Potatoes, Ham, and Egg! Heavy rains this morning and cloudy all day out today. So I cleaned the house today, dusted and ran the sweeper. Scrubbed all the Kitchen Counters and cleaned out the Fridge. For Dinner tonight I prepared Fried Freshwater Shrimp w/ Roasted Butternut Squash and Roasted Asparagus.

We’re having Shrimp tonight, we could eat Shrimp and Seafood every day! While at Kroger yesterday I picked up some of the huge Freshwater Colossal Shrimp, I cleaned them and put them in the fridge until needed for Dinner tonight. I love these, they are so meaty. They don’t have that Ocean taste like Ocean Shrimp but they’re not bad. To prepare these I’m using McCormick Golden Dipt Cracker Meal Seafood Fry Mix.

Poured about 1 inch of Extra Light Olive Oil into large skillet. Heated the oil to 350°F on medium heat. I then took a 1/2 cup of the Cracker Meal Mix in a Hefty Zip Lock Plastic Bag. Take the peeled shrimp, 3 at a time and place them in the bag and shake until Shrimp had a nice coating on them. Had all the Shrimp coated I then began to fry them. Frying them about 3 minutes the shrimp, a few pieces at a time, in the hot oil until light golden brown turning after 1 1/2 minutes. Drain on paper towel lined plate . Love using the McCormick Cracker Meal Mix, nice light crust and seasoning.

For a side dish I prepared some Roasted Butternut Squash, easy recipe for some delicious Butternut Squash! I purchased 1 small package of Diced Butternut Squash at Kroger. They sell packages of it that they dice up. This is a lot easier than peeling and seeding one yourself, especially if you don’t have a good knife to cut it. I’ll need; 1 package of Diced Butternut Squash, Walnut Pieces, 1 tablespoon Extra Light Olive Oil, 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Grinder Sea Salt, and 1 teaspoon McCormick Grinder Peppercorn Medley.

To prepare it; Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the Squash on a sheet pan and drizzle with the Olive Oil, Salt, and Peppercorn and toss well. Arrange the squash in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the Squash is tender, turning once with a spatula. And done, very easy to prepare. With the small amount of Seasoning and Olive Oil, it really brings out the flavor of Butternut Squash! The Walnuts work perfect with the Squash.

For another side I prepared Roasted Asparagus. To prepare the Asparagus I just needed Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic (minced), Sea Salt, Freshly grated Black Pepper, Lemon Juice, and Shredded Parmesan Cheese. Rinse clean the asparagus. Break the tough ends off of the asparagus and discard. Lay the asparagus spears out in a single layer in a baking dish or a foil-covered roasting pan. Drizzle olive oil over the spears, roll the asparagus back and forth until they are all covered with a thin layer of olive oil. Sprinkle with minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Rub over the asparagus so that they are evenly seasoned. Place pan in oven and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes, depending on how thick your asparagus spears are, until tender when pierced with a fork. Drizzle with a little fresh lemon juice and shredded Parm Cheese before serving. For Dessert/Snack later a bowl of Skinny Pop – Pop Corn with a Diet Peach Snapple to drink.

McCormick Cracker Meal Seafood Fry Mix

Cracker Meal Seafood Fry Mix adds extra crunchiness to fried and baked foods. All ingredients have been specially selected to provide a superior coating that seals in natural juices for fish, seafood, poultry, meats and vegetables.

Ingredients
Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, And Folic Acid), Whey (Milk), Dextrose, And Soybean Oil.

Serving size
1/4 cup Mix (32g)
All You Need
1/2 cup Cracker Meal
1 lb. Fish or Seafood*
Water or Milk
Vegetable Oil
Directions
1. POUR Cracker Meal into shallow dish or large plastic bag. Moisten fish, cut into serving-size pieces, or seafood with water or milk. Shake off excess.
2. COAT fish, several pieces at a time, evenly with Cracker Meal. Let stand 5 minutes. Discard any remaining Cracker Meal. Fry as directed below. Serve with McCormick® Cocktail Sauce or Tartar Sauce. Use the entire package to coat 4 lbs. fish or seafood.

*Best with tilapia, trout, catfish, shrimp, or scallops. Also try with shucked oysters and clams, or soft-shell crabs (pierce several times before coating).

Pan Fry: Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 inch in a large skillet; heat to 350°F on medium heat. Fry fish, in batches, 2 to 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Drain on paper towels.

Oven Fry: Cover bottom of shallow baking pan with melted butter. Arrange fish or seafood in a single layer in pan; turn to coat with butter. Bake in preheated 425ºF oven 10 to 20 minutes until golden brown around edges and fish flakes easily with a fork.

Flavorful Tips:
• For a thicker coating, dip fish in a mixture of 3 tbsp. milk and 2 beaten eggs before coating with Cracker Meal.
• Coat boneless skinless chicken breast halves or chicken parts as directed. Bake in 400ºF oven 20 to 30 minutes for chicken breast halves or 45 to 50 minutes for chicken parts.
• Use Cracker Meal instead of bread crumbs when making meat loaf or meat balls.

http://www.mccormick.com/spices-and-flavors/seafood/breading-and-batters/cracker-meal-seafood-fry-mix