The Golden Nugget Gourmet

By far, my favorite homemade recipe for grilled shrimp is Grilled Herb Shrimp  by Barefoot Contessa. I was tempted to hop in the car and run to Giant and grab what I needed to make the marinade, but why bother when I could save a trip and the prep time and use a bottle of To-Kill-A-Lime Tequila Sauce already in the pantry? I marinated the shrimp in a Ziploc bag for a few hours before firing up the grill.  They turned out wicked flavorful. I served them with Rice Pilaf by Lidl and a simple salad. I can't wait to use this "zesty Mexican-inspired" sauce as a marinade for steak and shrimp fajitas and fish tacos! I used the time it would have taken to make the marinade from scratch to catch this shot instead!  This time, I'm glad I took the easy route!

While out here on the Chesapeake Bay, my focus is on delicious no fuss food so we can maximize our time on the beach. This also means that I may not always have time to catch the perfect photo but  promise the flavor will not waiver.  Living in a bathing suit all summer inspires me to find SOME meals that are on the lighter side. This quick and easy No Bake Chocolate Avocado Pie recipe did not disappoint. It took less than 10 minutes to make with the help of a Keebler Chocolate Ready Crust and Reddi Wip whipped cream. Here came the true test. What would my very picky eater Morgan think? He didn't feel like posing for the picture, but his plate says it all! No kidding, when I looked over and saw him scarfing down the pie I ducked behind the breakfast bar and did a little dance. Score!  No Bake Chocolate Avocado Pie Ingredients 3 large ripened avocados 3/4 cup 100% maple syrup or agave  1/4 cup high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghiradelli) 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/4 t

Yesterday's forecast called for severe storms in the early evening. I wanted to prep a quick and easy dinner in the morning so we could have time to play in the bay before the storm hit. Now was the time to try the SHÉHÉRADE Shawarma Marinade by Lidl and make Shish Kabobs. I quickly cut up a package of chicken thighs and threw them in the fridge to marinate for the day. I also had on hand a box of Rice Pilaf by Lidl and while that was cooking, I made a crisp Indian Cucumber Salad (Kachumber)  via The Spruce Eats . The dressing was so simple. Freshly squeezed lemon juice, cumin, salt and pepper... that's it.  This creamy Lebanese Garlic Sauce inspired by  Jo Cooks  was a cinch to make. It took less than 5 minutes to whip together and is fricken delicious! Garlic Sauce 1 Cup Vegetable or Canola oil 1/3 Cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 6-8 peeled garlic cloves 1 egg white (optional) 1 tsp salt Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender, cover, and process until smooth.

Last Saturday we packed up and headed to our borrowed beach house for the summer.  Before heading out, I stocked up on a bunch of Lidl's Sauces and Marinades for quick and easy meals at the beach. Lidl has a great variety to choose from, and look at the prices!!! So far we have tried Ya Mon Jerk Style Marinade, To-Kill-A-Lime Sauce, Nashville Style Barbecue Sauce, and Bailando Habanero Mango Sauce. All have been bold and flavorful. Scott especially enjoys the Nashville Style Spicy Barbecue Sauce, which definitely has a kick to it.  On our first night I served up this grilled steak marinated in the To-Kill-A-Lime Sauce, with a refreshing Watermelon Cucumber Salad, and fresh grilled corn. So good!  The next night I used the Nashville Style Spicy Barbecue Sauce for BBQ Chicken.  This spicy BBQ chicken went great with grilled fingerling potatoes and a chilled Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad. The then I turned up the heat even more with the Bailando Habanero Mango Sauce. .  It reminds me