Lightened Up Gumbo!

Happy Fat Tuesday!  Wow, is it really Tuesday?  Jake and I had a wonderful weekend and I enjoyed an extra day off yesterday, which made it hard to hit the grind stone today!

Doesn't this face just melt your heart?  Meet Donzi - my in-laws 8 week old puppy!  Jake and I spent Saturday babysitting this high-energy ball of fur! We can't wait until we get to do it again!

Since we spent all day at home on Saturday, we were itching to get out and about on Sunday! We jumped at the opportunity to enjoy the sunshine and beautiful weather.  Can you guess where we went?  Here are some clues.

We took a trip Lauritzen Gardens to check out their "Wicked Plants" exhibit!  I learned just enough about poisonous plants and their effects to almost be dangerous - hehe!

Jake and I decided to venture around the gardens for some exercise and even though there was not much growing, I found peace in the surroundings and comfort in my company. 

With my day off yesterday, I had time to prep all our meals for the week! Breakfast, Lunches and all - sigh!  Tonight for dinner I whipped up a lighter version of Gumbo to celebrate Fat Tuesday!  The fact that I served it in a mini bread bowl does not help the light part!  Hey it's Fat Tuesday! Nothing beats the Mmm's that poured from our mouths as we slurped up this spicy, hearty goodness!

                                     Shrimp Gumbo
adapted from Skinny Taste

Ingredients
1 cup chopped Okra
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can low sodium chicken broth
1 cup white wine
1 can diced tomatoes (with juices)
2 bay leaves
Dash of Cayenne Pepper
Dash of Creole Seasoning
Dash of Thyme
Dash of Red Pepper Flakes
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Peeled and Devained Shrimp

Preparation
1. Spray non-stick pan with cooking spray and saute on medium high okra, onion, pepper, and garlic until soft.
2. Remove from pan and set aside.
3.  Pour chicken broth, wine, and spices into the pan.  Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
4.  Add in tomatoes and simmer for 5 minutes.
5.  Return vegetables to pan and allow to simmer so flavors mix.
6.  Add in shrimp and cook for 2-3 more minutes or until shrimp is cooked.
7.  Serve in a bowl or over rice!


How are you celebrating your Fat Tuesday?