I want to start this post by lowering your expectations. There is nothing elegant, interesting, or new here. There will be no special silverware or fancy plating. This is simply where the Southerner deep inside of you will come out to play. Or rodeo. Whichever.

Oddly enough, it was a conversation with a guy from Nevada that inspired this. He kept talking about this meal like it was the Holy Grail of dinners. Like, if he was on death row, shrimp and grits would be on the menu. The love ran that deep.
Anywho, it got me curious. In short, I get it. It was hearty without making you feel stuffed and can definitely be healthy with a few minor detours (which I just couldn’t bring myself to take!).

Shrimp & White Chedder Grits
Here’s what you need:
1 lb raw shrimp, deveined and peeled
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
olive oil
2 medium zucchini, chopped roughly
1/2 bag frozen roasted bell peppers (totally optional)
1/4 c chopped chives
2 c grits (you can use quinoa, too! I bet that’d be tasty!)
3 T butter (here’s where you can swap for something lighter)
2 greedy fistfulls dainty cups white cheddar
salt and pepper

For grits: Bring 3 c water to a boil with a pinch of salt. Stir in grits once it’s boiling then reduce heat to simmer for about 10 minutes. Once it’s cooked, stir in cheese until melty and glorious.

In the meantime, sautee shrimp with lemon juice, garlic, chives, salt and pepper with a bit of olive oil. Remove from pan and sautee veggies until tender and cooked through. Put shrimp back in pan to heat. Plate together and dig in.

So give me your best “You might be a redneck if…” joke and saddle up for the best gosh darn dinner of your week. Yee-haw.

Is officially a contributor for MindBodyGreen!! Great news to hear today!

And…
Taught an amazing class! I get so deliriously happy after I teach I can hardly contain myself! It’s just inspiring Need some post yoga hydration? Coconut water has all the essential electrolytes your body craves after a super sweaty workout. This stuff has more of them in one serving than the same amount of Gatorade and only about 30 calories. And I lllove the taste – win win! 
Made some Asian-style burgers:
1 lb lean ground turkey
1/4 c chopped cilantro
2 T low sodium soy sauce
1 egg
1 T ground ginger
1 T black pepper
2 minced garlic cloves
1/4 t salt
1/4 c very finely minced chives

Combine all ingredients and mix until well-combined and shape into burgers. Heat a pan over medium heat and cook burgers until done, or about 6 minutes each side.
And while they were cookin’ up we sipped on some lemony water which hit the spot.
And of course I had to have a proper sampling…
 We had our burgers with a salad drizzled with a Creamy Balsamic Dressing:
3 T mayo
1 T dijon mustard
sprinkle dry basil
salt & pepper to taste
squeeze of lemon juice
pinch crushed red pepper
1/8 c balsamic vinegar
1/3 c olive oil

Whisk together everything except the oil and vinegar. Then slowly mix in the vinegar followed by the oil. It should come out to be a dark champagne color.
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Here’s a question! What to do? It’s time for a new car! I should have sprung for a new one at least 2 years ago, but I’m trigger shy when it comes to making big important purchases. So today I drove home in a torrential downpour and felt like I was driving in an empty can being pelted with marbles. Goodbye, insulation! Also, some time last year I bid adieu to 3 of my 4 speakers, so now the only one that works is on the passenger side door panel. “What’s that, Rihanna?! I can hardly hear you!” So! I’m thinking either a Mini Cooper (cute but the novelty might wear off, but amazingly low car insurance prices on that), a Hyundai Elantra (lots of bang for your buck, but insurance is CRAZY high on those, if you can believe it!), or one of those new Kia Optimas (2012 – those look nice. Saw one the other day and thought it was an Infiniti! Also, lots of options, low price, but high insurance premiums). Any recommendations?