Dinner at the Bar
Are ya’ll getting tired of the same old dinners? Welcome to the Blog today, I’m so happy you’re here. In the summer, especially, I look for meals that can be prepared in 45 minutes or less including prep time and table set-up. It’s also great if they are nutritious and tasty. Let me share one with you now.
The table was easy to put together. I started with a round, woven placemat. A simple “Heath” plate serves as the dinner plate. Next I added a colorful napkin held in a porcelain napkin ring. Fiddlehead flatware from Pottery Barn a few years ago serves as the flatware. It’s one of my everyday flatware sets.
Here you see the two place settings with a water glass by Mikasa in the “Park Lane” pattern. Grocery store flowers are used for the centerpiece. I used a summer pitcher to hold the flowers.
The main course is rice with shrimp and green beans. I use long grain rice and it is first added to a splash of heated vegetable oil to coat the rice and prevent it from sticking. The I added a cup of water to one cup of rice, placed a lid on it and turned the heat down low. the rice will simmer for about 20 minutes until it is fluffy and the water is gone. I use equal parts rice and water.
The shrimp is cooked in a medium saucepan. 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup vinegar are brought to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of Old Bay seasoning and stir. Lower the heat to medium low. Add the shrimp and cook for 2-5 minutes. When the shrimp turn pink they are done. Remove it from the saucepan and add it to the cooked rice. Toss. I use six or seven large shrimp per person. You can add some. parsley for a little color or garnish. Serve with your favorite vegetable. I used green beans for color and flavor.
My Husband made Margaritas as a special treat. They were very good with this meal.
Here’s a close-up of the centerpiece. I didn’t have any greens so used some witch hazel branches that I had just pruned from the bush. They worked great.
The table is set, the food is cooked and you have a very tasty meal.
You can see the pinks and greens picked-up in the living area in the background. Hope you give this a try. It’s a wonderful weeknight meal or dressy enough for company. Enjoy!
It looks so good! Not only a pretty table setting but yummy food! Thanks for sharing. I’m going to try this. We love Old Bay. XO- MaryJo
Old Bay is such a great spice with seafood. We discovered it when we lived in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay area is loaded with seafood and Old Bay is a staple. thanks for stopping by and sharing. Enjoy the shrimp.
Lynne
I am always on the lookout for a new recipe that quick and easy! This ones sounds perfect. I will have to give it a try! Thanks, Lynne!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Hope you do, Marsha, it is really tasty and so quick. Have a good one!
Lynne
What does Old Bay taste like? I don’t remember seeing it in southern Ontario, but, will keep ‘ an eye for it’. Food looks delicious, have never heard of using vinegar to cook shrimp, how does it affect them? Kim
Old Bay has been used around the Chesapeake Bay Area to flavor seafood for a long time. It has a spicy flavor that enhances the milder seafood and provides a slight kick. It has paprika, red pepper and black pepper predominantly. Very hard to describe as it is unique. The vinegar is used with the Old Bay seasoning to cook the seafood. If not using Old Bay, I don’t use vinegar. They kind of go together. The shrimp are not changed in terms of texture or cooking time. Thanks for asking and I hope you can find some in Ontario. Have a lovely week.
Lynne
Old Bay can be found all along the seaboard/gulf states. We’ve used it for decades. We’re waiting for our counter stools to arrive (using 2 bar stools at the moment which are too tall but we manage). Only using 1 set of placemats but when everything gets normalized, will have regular change ups of meal settings! Thanks for sharing, Lynne.
Sounds like you are making progress. I’m sure it will be lovely when you are fully unpacked and settled. Old bay is one of my favorite spices to keep on hand and use. Good luck with the br stools and have a lovely week.
Lynne
Wow, Marsha, thank you so much. I am really honored to be featured. Love your Blog and getting to know you a bit. Have a wonderful week.
Lynne
Lynne, your flower centerpiece is beautiful—so colorful and lovely! Thank you for sharing your recipe. I’ll have to give it a try, and I may also make a margarita this weekend. Thank you for being part of the Crazy Little Lovebirds link party and sharing at party #48. ♡
My pleasure, Steph, you always have such great things on your Blog. Hope you try the recipe, it’s tasty. Have a great week.
Lynne