Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Flatbread

"Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul." - Dorothy Day

Whenever I want to whip something up super quickly, a naan flatbread dish is my go to! You can throw on ground beef, chicken, or shrimp and build an amazing meal. I love experimenting with new recipes and branching out to try different things.

Today, I'm sharing my favorite grilled shrimp naan flatbread. It is super filling and so delicious. Also, it completely curbs my pizza cravings! 

What you'll need:

  • Naan
  • Cilantro
  • Uncooked & Raw Shrimp
  • Cucumber 
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning
  • Butter
  • Tomato
  • Avocado
  • Uncured Bacon (optional)
  • Olive Oil

Step 1: Grill your naan flatbread, or put it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prep your veggies. Chop up your cilantro, slice up some cucumber, and dice your tomatoes. Also, if you love avocado - you can mash it up on the flatbread as a base. If not, feel free to add a basil pesto or cilantro lime sauce!

Step 3: Now, it is time for the shrimp! Begin to heat up the pan to medium heat. Add butter and a teaspoon of olive oil to the pan. Once the pan is heated add the shrimp and sprinkle in lemon pepper seasoning. Sear the shrimp for approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. 

Tip: If you want to add a little pizzazz, feel free to slice up some bacon and it to the flatbread!

Step 4: Plate, serve, and enjoy!

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Recipe: Salmon Tacos

"Tacos are the perfect food." - Sophia Bush

Today I am sharing my favorite salmon taco recipe! They are so light and fresh, perfect for the warmer months ahead!

What You'll Need

  • Atlantic Salmon Filet 
  • Olive Oil
  • Corn Tortillas
  • Arugula or Shredded Lettuce
  • Cilantro
  • Corn
  • Red Cabbage
  • Lemon
  • Tomato
  • Avocado
  • Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Step 1: Prepare all of the veggies! Dice your tomatoes, chop your cilantro, red cabbage, and lettuce, and cut a few wedges of lemon or lime for added flavor. Also, you can grill your corn or prepare it on the stove top.

Tip: Slice up an avocado and throw that on your taco too!

Step 2: Heat your skillet for your salmon filet. Put the pan on medium to high heat, and add olive oil to the skillet. Place the salmon skin side down into the skillet, and add a little bit of lemon pepper seasoning (to taste). This will take about 5-7 minutes per side. Once the fish is cooked to your preference, remove the filet from the skillet and let it cool on a plate. Then, begin shredding and cutting up the salmon for the tacos.

Tip: You can also, oven bake your salmon. Turn your oven to 450 degrees. Please your filet skin side down and cook for 12-15 minutes.

Step 3: Now for the tortillas! In a heated skillet, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and begin placing in the corn tortillas. Keep the tortillas in the skillet for about 30-60 seconds until browned. 

Step 4: It is time to build you tacos! Grab a tortilla, and put your veggies on the bottom, starting with the lettuce or arugula. Then add tomatoes, cilantro, corn, red cabbage, avocado, shredded salmon, and desired sauce. Drizzle some lemon juice on top too!

Tip: A cilantro lime sauce is always my go to for this yummy dish.

Step 5: Enjoy!

XO, Analise

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Home Sweet Home

"What I love most about my home is who I share it with." — Tad Carpenter

G and I purchased our home almost three years ago. Many of our friends and co-workers ask about our home buying experience, as well as how we've adjusted to being homeowners. The hubby and I both rented before we decided to have our dream home built in Summer 2015. The journey was great for both of us. While it hasn't been super easy, owning a home is something we both really wanted and absolutely love to this day. One of our favorite day dates is to go up and down the aisles of Home Goods, then to our favorite wine shop to do a tasting afterwards.

Today I am sharing a few tips we learned during the home buying process, as well as several of our favorite decor items.

  1. Save, save, save. This was a biggie! G and I ended up getting new construction and opted out of a home that was already built. We didn't want to go through the hassle of doing upgrades out of the gate. Make sure you have a solid savings account to prepare for the home buying process. You'll need to provide the bank a statement to prove that you have the sufficient funds in acquiring the house. Also, it will come in handy as you begin furnishing your new home. It is also key that you have money stowed away just in case you need to fix or upgrade items once you move in. Money is very important, but make sure you check your credit as well, and keep tabs on it throughout the home buying process.
  2. Location is everything. It is so important to determine the area you want to live. We knew the exact location in which we needed to build our house. Our home is close to both of our families, in a fantastic school district, and a growing area. Building our home in a neighborhood in which the resale value would increase was very important. Ultimately, G and I knew that this area would be home for 5-10 years. Also, if we did outgrow our home, it would be a fantastic rental property.
  3. It's an investment. Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you'll make. Make sure when you purchase your home you don't end up house poor. Our bank granted us a massive loan - way more than we felt comfortable with. G and I decided to review our finances, and agreed on a monthly mortgage that we'd both be comfortable with. With that we knew certain home upgrades we'd pass on upfront and acquire later down the line. Also, the main objective was to be able to live comfortably and happily in our home. Make sure that whatever you purchase makes sense for your lifestyle and doesn't drain your budget. Your home should enhance your wealth and most importantly add value.
  4. Take it one step at a time. Once you move in, make sure to take one room at a time. Do not rush to furnish your home in the first month. Like I mentioned before, we had our own places before moving in. The majority of our home encompassed furniture from our previous places. One amazing tip we were given, is to purchase some big items before moving into the house. A few months before G and I closed on our home, we bought some key pieces that were absolutely needed. We had those items delivered on move-in day, and they were already paid for!

What are some things you learned during the home buying process? Also, are you looking to buy a new home?

Happy house hunting!

XO, Analise

Book Club

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." - Joseph Addison

I absolutely enjoy reading! Diving into a new book is something that I truly love. Give me a glass of red wine, nice comfy blanket, good book, and I'm one happy lady. 

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite books and a lesson they each taught me. Also, I promise to not give away too much of the stories! :)

Gabrielle's book is amazing! Being able to read about her life and main lessons were great. I've been a huge fan of Gabrielle for years - from her movies to NY&C clothing line, she is fantastic. Her book of essays were so extremely honest and personal. From her sharing her horrid experience of being raped at her job when she was 19, to the racial experiences growing up and now raising sons. The book was a honest and transparent look into her life. I absolutely loved how vulnerable she was and spoke up on many life situations one may typically shy away from.

Chip and Joanna are one of my favorite couples. I love their show Fixer Upper, and watching how well they work together. This book offers a super detailed look into their lives and marriage. The story begins with their first "fixer upper", and how they evolved personally as well as a couple. There are so many twists and turns in their story that ultimately show how they get to where they are today. Their love story is super inspiring and motivated me in so many ways within my marriage.

Charlamagne is absolutely hilarious, and every morning I listen to him on The Breakfast Club. When I found out he would be releasing a book, it was a must-have. Charlamagne shares his success story, and how all of the many things he ensured shaped his perspective and career today. Combining his personal story with advice, Charlamagne's brutal honesty hits home to readers while providing comical anecdotes. I'm really looking forward to his follow-up book later on this year.

What are some of your favorite books?

Enjoy!

XO, Analise

The A-List

"The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us." - Ashley Montagu

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous lately! It's wonderful to see the beautiful new blooms in our neighborhood. Since the weather has been so lovely, we have been spending time grilling and getting some new plants for the yard. We cannot wait to enjoy the weather some more this upcoming season!

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite moments from the past week.

Beautiful blooms that we were amazed by during our stroll in the neighborhood.

Beautiful blooms that we were amazed by during our stroll in the neighborhood.

Stunning bouquet of white roses on our dining room table.

Stunning bouquet of white roses on our dining room table.

Waffles and bacon for breakfast on a wonderful Sunday morning.

Waffles and bacon for breakfast on a wonderful Sunday morning.

New coffee table book and an amazingly scented candle.

New coffee table book and an amazingly scented candle.

Dinner for two, and a delicious red wine from Rosemont Vineyards to pair with our meal.

Dinner for two, and a delicious red wine from Rosemont Vineyards to pair with our meal.

Lemon pepper shrimp, garlic and herb broccolini.

Lemon pepper shrimp, garlic and herb broccolini.