We watched Raiders of the Lost Ark last night.
When I got home I found Leo curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, watching tv. Uh oh. Yup....he's getting sick. Owen's got a cold and bad cough as well. I suggested we all just watch a movie together and Owen said he and Leo had been wanting to see Raiders of the Lost Ark again.
So while Owen gave Monkey and Mario a bath I fixed dinner. I made salt and pepper shrimp with asparagus with sesame oil and ginger, along with sesame noodles. I gotta say...it was pretty wonderful. The salt and pepper marinade is actually from a recipe for pork chops but worked nicely with the shrimp. I'd probably up the pepper a bit next time.
Salt and Pepper Pork Chops Taiwanese Style
Nancy McDermott's Quick and Easy Chinese 2008
3 T soy sauce
2 T cornstarch
1 T sugar
1/4 t salt
1 T freshly ground pepper
1 1/4 lb boneless thinkcut pork loin chops
2 T vegetable oil
Mix the first five ingredients into a smooth sauce and pour it over pork. Marinate up to one day, cook briefly in hot pan using vegetable oil.
I picked up this cookbook because I had liked her Thai cookbook and at first I wasn't thrilled with this but in hindsight it's a nice basis for simple Americanized Chinese flavors---which is what I wanted last night. I was short green onions but otherwise had everything and it was perfect for a rainy movie night.
We started out with a big platter of asparagus but nibbled it down as we prepared the rest. Why does it always taste best when you steal a piece? We get our first local asparagus on Thursday from our favorite farmers' market guy! Can't wait!
And speaking of asparagus....our purple asparagus is up! We're holding off on harvesting it because it needs some time to establish itself but might sneak a spear or two.
So the boys curled up together like little puppies on the couch and we ate while we watched the movie. Owen helpfully held a pillow up to block the screen for me whenever there were snakes. When they slithered loudly he would also attempt to cover my ears and pat my arm saying, "it's o.k. Mom, it's o.k." Every so often Leo would pipe up and comment on events and Owen would helpfully jump up and hit the pause on the DVD player whenever someone had to go to the bathroom as God knows where the remote is. We turned off all the lights, as required by the guys when we watch a movie. Halfway through the movie, it began to rain.
All in all....a lovely evening.
I love my sweet peas. All three of them.