What's cooking?: Zucchini squash-pecan muffins

I distinctly remember when I had my first Zucchini bread. It was at Starbucks, a few years ago, with a friend, and was looking to try something different. OMG! it was amazing. It was not overly sweet, just the right amount of spice, just the right amount of every thing. I wanted to make it on my own and I found a recipe on the world wide web. I made a few changes to it. I reduced the amount of sugar to 1 cup and added about   1/4 cup of honey and added pecans for nuts. Also, I made them in a muffin tin instead of making a bread. This reduces the baking time to about 25 minutes.Eventually, I will probably master it by changing a few proportions, but as of now, it tastes pretty darn good! Perfect for breakfast or for a snack with tea.

Here is the link to the recipe:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Bread/zucchinibrd.htm

Also, I found out that Zucchini and Zucchini squash are two different things and the closest kroger does not sell zucchini yet. Next time, I am going to make it with zucchini and not zucchini squash.

Try it and let me know if you don't fall in love!

Outfit: High-low.

Spring is here and so are all the music festivals. I did not get to go to "Coachella" or other popular music festivals, but we have our own Jazz festival in Denton. Chocolate dipped cheesecake, a little bit of shopping and lots of music. What's not to love?

Sunnies: Versace; necklace: Borrowed from my sister

Dress, camisole, earrings and boots: JCP; watch: Micheal Kors; bracelet: Limited

Denim Jacket: Izod (gift)

What's cooking: Shrimp noodles

Well, you can see that I have been on a shrimp kick lately. I tried this recipe when I went to see my sister in New Jersey. We  just put together a few ingredients and this happened. Loved it!! So, went ahead and made it again.
Ingredients:
1. 1lb peeled, deveined and cleaned.
2. 1 yellow pepper
3. 1 red pepper
4. 3 garlic cloves
5. 3 tbsp soy sauce
6. 3 tbsp chili vinegar
7. 1/2 onion
8. 5 tbsp garlic chili sauce
9. salt to taste
10. chili flakes (depending on how hot you want it)
11. one packet chow-mein noodles.

Marinate the shrimp in the garlic chili sauce, soy sauce, grated garlic, chili vinegar for about 30 min. Mean while, cook the onion, peppers with some salt in one vessel. After the onions and peppers and cooked, add the shrimp till it is cooked for about 7 minutes. Cook the chow-mein till done and then mix the shrimp and the peppers. Add the red pepper flakes , mix and serve hot.

What's Cooking: Garlic Shrimp with Couscous

 Today's recipes is a quick one. I did not want to go through too much trouble. So here it is. I made Garlic Shrimp with Couscous.

Ingredients:
1. 1lb Shrimp; fresh or frozen, peeled and deviened.
2. few cloves of garlic. (depending on how garlicky you want it.)
3. salt and pepper to taste
4. cumin powder 1/2 tbsp
5. 2 green chillies.
6. 1/2 cup green peppers, yellow and red peppers.
7. 2 tbsp olive oil.
8. 1/2 cup couscous.
9. 1/2 onion.
10. juice of 1 lemon.

Procedure:

In a saute pan, heat the oil and cook the onions, green chillies, garlic and the peppers with the shrimp until done. Add the salt, lemon juice
and cumin powder and stir until mixed.
In another vessel, cook the couscous in hot  water or stock until cooked but al-dente.
Serve hot couscous with shrimp on top. Garnish with cilantro and finish with a fresh squeeze of lemon.

DIY: Studded shoes

This past month for me has been busy. I have cooked, travelled, met friends, did all the things that you are supposed to do, but did not blog. This month, I hope to be diligent about that. This DIY is courtesy my sister. The idea was mine, but the work she put in to it gave us a very good "after". I love this. I hope you all love it too.

What you will need:
1.Pair of cheap loafers
2. Studs.
3. Nail Cutter.

We decided that we wanted to do something very simple. So, we just studded the outline of the shoe. Not too crazy. My sister did not use any major equipment, just a nail cutter, but a lot of strength and patience.:)

Here are the pictures!