One Meal; Twice as Nice

I just got back from seeing Lars and the Real Girl again. People, this is the real deal. It is funny and sad and enduring all at the same time. I would see this one again for sure. At the movie I ate popcorn and M&Ms and a cherry coke! Things I rarely do, because I don't really eat popcorn a whole lot, nor do I drink soda. But because it was December 2, and it was a good day... I treated myself. Sometimes you just need to relax and be kind to yourself, and indulge. All in moderation my dear, all in moderation. Before Lars, I showed Ellen a bit of Linden Hills. What a great time of year in LH, with the lights and the decorations. The only down side was that my camera died! So many good photo ops, and no way to take them. I even drove by my favorite house that has the best Christmas lights. They are over the top, but in a very beautifully simplistic way, if that is possible. I also had a chance to stop in and see my cousin Chad who was in town from Denver. We met at the Great Wall Chinese restaurant. So fun to see him and the fam, and of course, no camera to capture the moment... Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat!
Yesterday was the perfect day to have a snow day and snuggle down in my little home. I had plans to go out last night with some friends... but with the roads and the snow on the roads, we quickly put an end to that idea. So I watched another Christmas movie on my list, Elf. And no Jaime, I was not watching an episode of ALF. For dinner, I looked in my freezer and there were some shrimp and haricot verts (french green beans). This meal was so good when I made it the first time, I had to make it again for lunch. I tried to make it as spicy as I could, but if you can't handle the heat, try smoked paprika instead and omit the chili powder, crushed red pepper flakes and chili paste. This is also a much lighter version then having sesame shrimp at a Chinese restaurant with all that breading. Even though that breading makes it oh so good!

Spicy Sesame Shrimp with Haricot Verts

1 Handful of frozen french cut green beans (haricot verts) 1 Handful of already cooked frozen jumbo shrimp (thawed), olive oil, salt\pepper, 1 minced garlic, 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp chili paste, 1 Tbls soy sauce, 1 tbls rice wine vinegar, toasted sesame seeds and crushed red pepper flakes

Drizzle oil in a saute pan, add green beans, salt\pepper. Saute a minute or two until slightly cooked. Add garlic, shrimp, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, chili paste, and chili powder. Saute shrimp and green beans until shrimp are done and sauce has thickened. Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes and toasted sesame seeds. indulge.