Shrimp Ceviche

During the Summer months I love any dish that doesn't require me to turn on my stove or oven. It's just too hot already. Because of that salads are one of the perfect dishes for the hot months around here. Unfortunately, my kids and husband don't appreciate a beautiful head of iceberg or romaine lettuce quite as much as I do.  They do however love shrimp and tacos, so this seemed like a great compromise.

I thought that they would love it and they did.  I was right.  Of course.

To start with gather all your ingredients.  Salad shrimp (from the frozen section in the seafood department), limes, an orange, an avocado, cilantro, a red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes (really any tomato you have in the garden or lying around will work fine--just deseed the bigger varieties), a jalapeno, olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Also...tostadas...which I forgot to include in this picture...yep...that's about it.

Next juice the limes until you have about a cup and do the same with the orange.

Then place all the thawed shrimp in a large ziploc bag and cover with with the juice mix.  Let the little shrimp marinate for about 30 minutes.

While your shrimps are marinating chop up all the veggies and place in a big bowl.  Leave the seeds or deseed the jalapeno depending on how spicy you want it.  I was serving this to my kids...so I deseeded those little suckers. Also add the olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Once you're shrimp is done marinating toss those (along with the juice) into the bowl as well and toss to combine everything.

Finally place a tostada on your place and pile the ceviche on top.  Then munch away.  We never have any left over.  Every one loves it.  Seriously.  It's good.  Try it.

Here's the actual recipe:

Shrimp Ceviche

Serves 4-6

Cook Time: 0 minutes woohoo
Prep Time: About 45 including marinating the shrimp

Ingredients:
2 pounds frozen salad shrimp, thawed
1 Cup fresh Lime Juice
1 Cup fresh Orange Juice
1 Ripe Avocado, chopped
1 English Cucumber or Regular Cucumber, seeds removed, chopped
1 Jalapeno, seeds removed optional, diced
1 Cup Tomatoes, chopped
1 Cup Cilantro (more or less to taste), chopped
1 Cup Red Onion, chopped
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to Taste
Tostadas, 8-10

Combine Shrimp, Lime juice, and Orange Juice in a large baggie and marinate for 30 minutes.

While shrimp marinates combine all other ingredients except tostados in a large bowl.  Once shrimp is done marinating add to vegetable mixture and toss to combine.

Serve Ceviche over tostadas.

***We have never had any left over, so I can't speak to whether or not this will stay well in a fridge.  I would assume that it probably doesn't do well.***

Happy Independence Day!!!

I love my country.  Washington, D.C. is one of my absolute favorite places to visit because I love learning the history of my country.  Men and women who fight for freedom (in the past and present) have my utmost respect.  My brother-in-law is in the Army and he is a hero to me.

Because I love my country I also love Independence Day.  I had big plans to decorate.  If you check out my 4th of July Pinterest board you'll find lots of stellar ideas.  Unfortunately the past couple of weeks have been completely crazy.  We've had stuff going on almost every single day and night.

So instead of some big celebratory decor to show off my patriotism I have this small celebration going on, on my fireplace mantle.  By the way...this is my first home to ever have a fireplace and I am LOVING the heck out of having a mantle to decorate.

There are four vintage books, The Happy Hollisters, Four Little Blossoms at Oak Hill School, The Spirit of Democracy, and Essays: English and American.  There's also a vintage milk bottle and two jars that I decorated.  I made the jar with white lace and burlap for our St. Patrick's Day party, but it kind of goes with every holiday.  The other jar is wrapped in natural jute and then I used vintage rick rack that my mom gave me to do a red, white, and blue theme.

It's not anything fancy and it certainly doesn't shout "Happy 4th of July!" from the rooftops, but it still represents my love of my country and that makes me happy. 

Of course next year I promise no simplicity.  My house might be a patriotic spectacular that would rival the Griswald's Christmas.