Monday Mash-Up With a Cajun Flair

It's Monday, y'all.   As if you needed a reminder.  I really can't complain.  I started out my morning outside with this view.  

Our outdoor living area is currently undergoing a makeover.   Nothing like the pressure of entertaining and hosting guests to get our rear in gear!  I *think* we finally have an idea of what we want to do out there.  Of course, I'm a huge fan of the farmhouse look for interior decor.  Mr. Spouse loves the style as well, but for the outdoors...his "man cave"... he wants something a little more apropos to his stylistic preference (aka: any and everything Jimmy Buffett-esque).  Needless to say, I have my work cut out.

We had a great little weekend.  A baseball game for my husband and our oldest while I took the littlest to a birthday party.  While we were enjoying all the cake and ice cream, I decided it would be the perfect day for a long overdue date night with the spouse.  I love our "us" time and we need MORE of it!!!  I planned a *surprise* night of fun (meaning I planned dinner & drinks) and mom and dad kept the kids.  Best babysitters ever!!!

If you're in the Houston area, I HIGHLY recommend Holley's Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar!  SO AMAZING!!!!  Right next to pasta, any and all seafood is my most favorite fare.  

 We started with a round of oysters and their Benne Seed Parkerhouse Rolls (a MUST !!!}  I got the blackened grouper and Adam ordered the Crispy Redfish.  Both excellent.  We finished off our meal with the Apple Pie Bread Pudding and ohmiword...to.die.for!  My mom's most favorite dessert is coconut cream pie or coconut cake, so we ordered her the Down South Coconut Cake as a little surprise "thank you!" for keeping the boys.  I had a few bites when we got back to the house and the reviews were spot on...one of the best coconut cakes I've ever tasted!  

After dinner, we headed to Julep.  We're big bourbon fans in this household and a friend of mine suggested we visit this bar to sample some of their bourbon cocktails.  This was the neatest little dive.  We loved every little bit of it.  I was especially fond of the decor and the bartender's uniforms.  Everything had a Southern flair.    We were hoping to score a seat at the bar or in one of their cozy little booths, but it was slammed so we headed to the patio.  I had my very first Mint Julep (amazing!) and Adam made sure to purchase the cup in which it was poured so that we could commemorate the occasion :) We had to stand as we enjoyed our spirits, but we had the best time.   That is until I realized I wasn't carded.  Every single person walking in was carded...except for me & my husband.  Shoo.  

#imgettingold #imissbeingcarded #istillfeellikeilooklikeim21

Sunday Funday found us at church and then enjoying a little Tex-Mex for lunch followed by a trip to Lowe's.  Family fun at it's finest :)

Now it's Monday and I'm getting things ready for Easter.  I'm hosting again this year and this place is not clean. Not clean at.all.  Before I head off to do some damage control, I want to share one of my favorite pasta recipes with you (have you noticed that all of my pasta recipes are my favorite?!).

We love meals with a cajun flair and this one is so very, very delicious!!!

PASTALAYA

via Plain Chicken

1 lb. of Farfalle/Bow Tie pasta

16 oz. smoked sausage link, sliced

1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled & deveined

1 tsp. olive oil

1 Cup heavy whipping cream

2 TBSP. minced garlic

1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped

4 TBSP. tomato sauce

1/2 Cup chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp. cajun seasoning (we always use Tony Chachere's!)

1 1/2 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Go ahead and cook the pasta according to package directions.  While your pasta is cooking, let's get everything else ready, shall we?!

Heat the olive oil over medium/high heat and toss in the sausage to brown.  Brown the sausage and add in the onions.  Saute for a couple of minutes and then add the minced garlic. 

Saute until fragrant...about 2 minutes...and then pour in the chicken broth.  Give the broth time to reduce by about half (2 minutes, give or take).   Mix in the tomato sauce, cajun seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper.  

Stir until ingredients are well combined and then add the shrimp and heavy whipping cream. 

 Heat until boiling and then reduce the temp to low heat. Simmer for about 5 minutes and continue to stir the mixture.  When shrimp are cooked through, remove from heat and pour over drained pasta.

Topped with shredded parmesan cheese and enjoy!!!

I love that this dish had a little kick and combined lots of my favorite flavors.  Sausage, shrimp, pasta...you can't go wrong!!!!  This is a great dish to make when company comes over, too.  Ours absolutely LOVED it!!! If you're a fan of cajun style cookin', I highly suggest this delectable dish!