Hello!
Ben and I have been busy kicking our errands in the face today.
Walmart: Blammo.
Costco: never saw us coming.
Bed Bath & Beyond: take my coupon.
Trader Joe’s & Hyvee: we showed them who’s boss!
We’re several hundred dollars poorer at this point (have you ever left Walmart or Costco – or Target for that matter – without spending at least $50 bucks?) but it feels great to have everything checked off the list. 
We came home starving (Costco samples were pretty B-squad today) so I cooked up the same lunch I made yesterday. It was that good!
Chili, Lemon & Basil Shrimp with Israeli CousCous
Serves 2
Adapted from The Kitchn.
Ingredients:
For the couscous:
Olive oil
1 cup Israeli couscous
1/2 lemon
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
For the shrimp:
Olive oil
1/2 large shallot, chopped
Salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes, to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large handfuls baby spinach
12-14 cooked shrimp, patted dry
1/2 lemon
3-4 leaves basil, chopped
Directions:
- Heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add Israeli CousCous and fry until the pearls become golden brown. Add in the juice of half a lemon and stir to coat the couscous. Add the chicken broth to the pan, place a lid on top and cook until all the liquid has been absorbed and couscous is tender.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium low heat and sauté shallots with salt & pepper until tender. Add in red pepper flakes and garlic, then continue to cook until garlic is golden brown.
- Add in spinach and toss to coat. Cook until spinach is mostly wilted, then add in shrimp and the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Cook until shrimp is heated through.
Toss the shrimp and couscous together, or plate the shrimp on top and add basil.
I’m telling you – 15 minutes TOPS to make this dish. Plus, I pretty much always have all these ingredients on hand – the only thing I’d have to run out for would be a lemon. Throw in a bottle of white wine and I’d call this entertaining worthy!
For dessert, I snagged a few of these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups MINIS.
MINIS, people!!! All the flavor of my #1 all time favorite chocolate candy,
but in a teeny tiny poppable package. Couldn’t you just?! SO good!
In other news, my body is hurting from yesterday’s 5 minute climb treadmill routine. My hips, buns and ankles are killing me! You know you’re getting old when your ankles hurt from running to fast. Ay yi yi! 
It feels good to be sore, because it means I worked my body hard, but it’s more of an “I’m old” sore than an “my muscles are killing me” sore. Actually it’s both. I’m kind of a mess!
Off to go re-coop on the couch with some football. Ben and I are making homemade pizzas tonight. Be back with details!
that lunch is lovely looking! To my shame, I’ve yet to try Israeli cous cous…I must give this a try soon.
cheers,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
yum!! I saw those mini reeses in the store and I need to buy them ASAP! Would be absolutely amazing in ice cream!! Glad to see that you liked them. Also, that shrimp and cous cous looks right up my alley!
i’ve been seeing those mini reese’s at the store… so cute
Those Mini Reese Cups look a-mazing!
We showed those errands who was boss as well today.
After purchasing a new Le Creuset dutch oven, we’re poorer too. However, we got a discontinued William Sonoma color for a steal at their outlet!
I love homemade pizza night, we did that last night!
I am dyinggg to try Israeli couscous! I’ve been seeing it a lot lately on blogs but have never seen it in the store :\
I wish we had a Costco around here – but my wallet is probably better off with the fact that we don’t
I can’t find it in my area either, wonder what we could use as a substitute?
You could use Acini di pepe pasta. It’s really similar in shape and size!
I was just at Walmart and saw those mini Reese’s Cups. Adorable! I basically love all things mini (i.e. everything in the travel-sized item aisle). They’re the best!
we are no longer allowed to go to any of those stores unless we have a list…because we could spend WAAAAAAAY too much money there! i love those little mini cups…so cute and oh so dangerous
Ugh. My ankles hurt from my runs this week too! Treadmill runs. Not the other kind.
I made homemade pizza last night! Thanks to YOU, I bought Trader Joes whole wheat pizza dough for the first time. You were right…it was great! I cannot believe that it costs less than a dollar. Plus, I felt seriously Italian while making it. My grandfather would have been proud.
Love Israeli couscous. I can’t wait to make this dish!
Have you discovered the tiny, tiny peanut butter cups at TJ’s yet? I swear they’re about the size of chocolate chip…okay, maybe slightly bigger. They’re delish alone, but I bet they’d be great in cookies!
And no, I had to ban myself from stores like Walmart, Kmart, and Target cuz I never could get out of there for less than $50.
Yes! They are so adorable! I feel like they don’t have enought PB in them though, which is why I’m loving these!
I LOVE peanut butter cups..now I’m craving one. I need one STAT:)
Slash anything miniature is a hit in my books. I have a deck of itty bitty playing cards!
Wha? Just when I think they thought of it all…and then Reese’s minis appears!
[...] actually the recipe I use in my Chili, Lemon & Basil Shrimp with Israeli CousCous, and the flavors went perfect with the [...]
Can i start by saying you are hilarious! That starter part about the different stores.. too good haha and b-squad samples hehe lets be real that’s part of the reason we go there lol On top of that this recipe looks so good! cant wait to try it
Thanks for sharing!