Leeky Linguine with Shrimp
you need:
1 lb of large shrimp (shelled & devined)
1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil (or EVOO as rachael calls it)
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
s & p
1 lb of fresh linguine
2 leeks – trimmed, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 cup of dry white wine
a generous handful of chopped flat-leaf parsley

steps:
1) toss shrimp, 2 tbsp of EVOO, lemon peel, garlic, and crushed red pepper in a bowl. season with s & p.
2) cook pasta in boiling water (about 5 minutes)
3) in large skillet, heat 2 tbsp of EVOO on medium-high heat. add leeks, season with s & p – cook until wilted (about 5 minutes)
4) push leeks to the side and add shrimp to the skillet. cook until pink and firm. add wine and stir. add pasta, season with s & p and toss with parsley.
5) eat and enjoy!

notes:
-if you don’t have linguine, use some other long noodle pasta, such as spaghetti.
-the shrimp i used were already cooked and fresh, but you probably could use uncooked or frozen, just make sure they get fully cooked until pink and firm.
-leeks are in the onion family. (i had never heard of them before) my grocery store had them labeled as pak choy. who knows? i had to confirm with the little produce picture book they had that these were the right things.

get these genius popsicle and ice-cream holders…

it’s been 9 months since i participated in the often fruitless tradition of declaring a new year’s resolution. truth be told – i’m not even sure i remember exactly what mine was for 2008.

but this year, i refuse to wait until after i stuff myself with holiday pies and turkey to make my resolution. i am starting now – i call it my labor day resolution.

i resolve to run at least twice a week. i know it’s kinda dinky. but, considering i never, literally never workout…i think it’s good – it’s measurable, attainable, and positive (the 3 keys to setting any goal).

with the help of my nifty nike+ sportsband, i have no doubt that i’ll be kicking up dust in no time. i highly recommend this little gadget. you don’t need a ipod nano, like the original nike+ and i cheated by buying this little sensor holder from nathan so to avoid buying $100 nike+ running shoes.

it’s that dreaded time of year again…time to book our flights home to visit my family in virginia for thanksgiving. don’t get me wrong, i’m looking forward to the trip – it’s just painful to drop so much cash on a set of long, uncomfortable, red-eye flights.

and this year it’s even worse.

looking back on our finances in quicken this is what we’ve spent per person in recent years:

2006 – $274.60 each on american airlines
2007 – $231.50 each on southwest airlines

however, this year it’s looking like it may cost closer to $324.00 per person. and that doesn’t include all the fun fees that airlines have added recently. according to this wonderful chart that kayak.com put together, we’ll be paying $15 each for our checked luggage and possibly $3/snack. boo!