Some subscribe to the "make everything from scratch" philosophy. We do not.Although it is possible for the home cook to make nearly everything from scratch, this affectation is at the cost of sanity for anyone with a full-time job, a growing family, an active social life, or any combination of those three time hogs.
There are products out there which offer busy folks time-saving, space-saving, cost-saving convenience without sacrificing quality or health. Healthy Solutions Spice Blends™ is one such product.
Each of the 16 spice blends are uniquely qualified to inspire even the most harried cook to whip up affordable, healthy, flavor-packed home-cooked meals in minutes. The blends come in sturdy resealable plastic pouches with recipe suggestions on the back. The packets are easily stored in your freezer or pantry, a real advantage in kitchens with limited storage and counter space.
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| Can't decide what to make for dinner? Choose one of these creative seafood spice blands from Healthy Solutions Spice Blends. |
When the Healthy Solutions Spice Blends 2016 Blogger Recipe Challenge was announced in January, I was intrigued. The themes of "No Salt/No Sugar", "Low Salt/Low Sugar" and "Blending Healthy with Great Taste" were right up my alley.
We opted to try something slightly out of our comfort zone: Lemon Pepper. A mid-century seafood workhorse, most commercial lemon pepper blends are lacking the vibrant zing and spicy floral aroma of freshly made lemon pepper. Healthy Solutions Spice Blends was no such animal.
The texture: Moist.
The aroma: Very lemony with bright peppery notes.
The taste: Quite frankly, delicious.
Our first impression was that this lovely blend would work well with nearly any meat, vegetable and egg (think devilled eggs) dish. Faced with an upcoming happy hour gathering, we whipped up a heart-healthy appetizer featuring shrimp and zucchini in less than 20 minutes.
The bonus challenge was making this video, accomplished with a little (well, quite a bit of) help from our friends. Mahalo!
Widely available in their home state of New Hampshire and some parts of New England, Healthy Solutions Spice Blends is dedicated to providing affordable, flavorful, and healthy seasoning alternatives for families seeking to make delicious home-cooked meals quickly.Zucchini Confetti Shrimp
Serves 4
An elegant, easy appetizer made with Healthy Solutions Spice Blends.
Pat shrimp dry with a paper towel. Toss shrimp with lemon and 1 tablespoon Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Lemon Pepper Scallops.
- 16-20 large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on
- 2 tablespoons Healthy Solutions Spice Blends Lemon Pepper Scallops, divided
- Juice of half a lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 medium zucchini, grated on the large holes of a box grater (about 3 cups)
- 3 scallions, trimmed, thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
- Crushed red pepper flakes, optional, for garnish
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat to shimmering. Sear shrimp on one side, flipping when edges become pink. Transfer to bowl.
Add garlic to same skillet over medium heat; cook for 30 seconds, then add zucchini and scallions, stirring occasionally, until softened but still retaining texture, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in remaining tablespoon spices and Pecorino Romano; toss until cheese is melted. Add red bell pepper; stir to combine. Remove from heat.
Transfer zucchini mixture to individual plates; top each with shrimp. Garnish with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes, if desired. Enjoy immediately with your best friends!
If the blends are not available in your area, you can easily order Healthy Solutions Spice Blends online. There is $2.95 Flat Rate shipping charge for orders under $15.00 and FREE SHIPPING for orders of $15.00 or more, so it's easy to stock up as I did. (They do not offer international shipping at the time of this post.)