What’s For Dinner?

Welcome to the Blog today, Friends.

I’m sitting on my back porch looking at the changing leaves and enjoying an absolutely wonderful autumn day. The temperature is perfect, and the brilliant colors I’m seeing add so much to the peace and beauty of the day. There is something about autumn that makes me want to slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy the simple pleasures around me. A comfortable temperature, colorful leaves, and a little time outdoors can certainly make an ordinary day feel special.

It’s been a long day around here! My husband and I taught an hour-and-a-half Italian class this morning. We teach three different classes each week, so our days can be pretty full. After our class, we decided to visit an estate sale and then stop at a thrift store a bit farther from home. You never know what little treasures might be waiting to come home with you!

By the time we returned home, the day had gotten away from me, and I found myself standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open, trying to figure out what we were going to have for dinner. Do you find yourself in that position sometimes? You look at everything inside, hoping something will suddenly inspire you. It’s funny how a refrigerator can be full of food and yet leave you wondering what in the world to make!

After a little thought and a look at what I had on hand, I came up with a simple dinner that sounded just right. Nothing too fussy or complicated—just a meal made with what was available. Sometimes those last-minute dinners turn out to be some of the best!

We enjoyed our meal on the back screened porch, taking in the lovely autumn colors and the peaceful feeling of the afternoon. It was a wonderful way to end a busy day.

So, if you’ve ever stood in front of your refrigerator waiting for dinner inspiration to strike, you’ll understand how this meal came about. Let me share what I put together!

One-Pan Shrimp and Rice with Tomato and Pesto

There is something so satisfying about putting together a delicious dinner in just one pan, especially after a busy day. This shrimp and rice dish brings together sweet tomatoes, tender rice, and succulent shrimp, with a little white wine and pesto to add flavor. Best of all, everything comes together right on the stovetop, leaving you with less cleanup and more time to enjoy your evening.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon pesto

3 tablespoons olive oil

⅔ cup chopped white onion

2 cloves garlic, smashed

12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

2 cups regular Uncle Ben’s rice

2 cups white wine

A pinch of salt

Large shrimp, thawed and shelled

¼ cup water

Optional garnishes: Fresh basil or parsley and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook the onion. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-low heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened and translucent.
2. Add the garlic. Stir in the smashed garlic cloves and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn.
3. Soften the tomatoes. Add the halved cherry or grape tomatoes and stir them into the onion and garlic mixture. Cook for 4–5 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to soften.
4. Stir in the rice. Add the rice and stir for about 1 minute, allowing it to mingle with the vegetables and olive oil.
5. Add the wine and cook the rice. Pour in the white wine and add a pinch of salt. Cover the pan tightly with a lid and bring the mixture to a low boil. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cook for about 20 minutes, or until the liquid has been absorbed by the rice.
6. Add the shrimp. Arrange the thawed, shelled shrimp in the pan and add ¼ cup of water. Replace the lid tightly and continue cooking over low heat for 3–5 minutes, until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
7. Finish with pesto. Stir in 1 tablespoon of pesto just before serving. It adds a lovely touch of flavor without changing the color of the dish very much.

Serving Suggestions

If you’d like to dress things up a bit, garnish the dish with fresh basil or parsley and a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Either makes a pretty finishing touch and adds a little extra flavor.

This is a simple, satisfying meal to serve straight from the pan. Pair it with a green salad or some crusty bread if you wish, and dinner is ready!

I love recipes like this that come together with ingredients you may already have in the kitchen. A little creativity, one pan, and a relaxed evening at home—what more could we ask for?

I served our shrimp and rice in a white pasta bowl with a broad rim, and it looked as lovely as it tasted. Sometimes a simple white dish is all you need to make a meal look a little special. The colors of the tomatoes and shrimp stood out beautifully against the white, making this humble dinner feel company-worthy, even though it was just the two of us enjoying a quiet meal on the porch.

The funny thing is, I didn’t have a recipe when I started cooking. But all you cooks out there know how it goes! After many years of preparing meals, you develop a pretty good idea of which ingredients work well together. A little onion and garlic, some tomatoes, rice, white wine, and shrimp sounded like a promising combination. The finishing touch of pesto brought everything together beautifully and I have enough for two nights. It can’t get better than that.

Sometimes the best recipes begin with what you have on hand and a willingness to experiment. You taste, you adjust, and you hope for the best—and every now and then, you come up with something worth sharing with friends!

It was lovely sitting on the porch, watching the evening light filter through the trees and the birds joining us for their evening meal. There was something so peaceful about the whole scene. After a busy day, it was a wonderful reminder that we don’t always need grand plans or special occasions to enjoy ourselves.

Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that make us stop and appreciate all that we have. A beautiful autumn evening, a delicious homemade dinner, and the pleasure of sharing it with those we love can be more than enough.

I hope you have a lovely, stress-free dinner this week, Friends. And remember, you don’t need a special recipe or a fancy meal to make an ordinary evening feel special. Sometimes all it takes is a little creativity, a place to sit and enjoy it, and a moment to be thankful.

Until next time, Friends, enjoy the little things!