Caramelized Onion Seafood Pasta

 

I first saw the caramelized onion pasta on Instagram just last week. It is a viral recipe that apparently has been making the rounds for a while now. I am a little late to the game BUT I am glad I stumbled upon it. 

It is super easy, super flavorful, and inexpensive. We added our own twist by putting in some seafood and fresh herbs - the original recipe does not have any meat so feel free to leave it out OR I feel like this would also be delicious with a shredded rotisserie chicken if you want the extra protein.

We used spaghettini, but you can use whichever pasta you prefer. It's a pretty easy recipe to adapt. 

Also - we used the fresh herbs we had available from our garden but you can switch them up for dried or leave them out or change them up to what you have on hand. 

Caramelized Onion Seafood Pasta 

Ingredients

3 large onions, sliced

1 head garlic, top cut off

1 jar of sundried tomatoes, with oil (about 1/2 cup)

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup fresh basil

1/4 cup fresh parsley

2 Tbsp fresh chives

4 cups cooked pasta

2 cups scallops, cooked

2 cups prawns, cooked

Garnish

parmesan cheese, grated

garlic chili oil (or similar)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400. 

Place sliced onions in a 9 X 13 pan. Place the head of garlic in the middle of the pan. Spread the sundried tomatoes over the onions, making sure the oil is drizzled evenly. Drizzle the olive oil over the garlic and onions. 

Cover with tin foil and place in 400 degree oven for one hour - stirring half way. 

After an hour, add in the herbs and stir again. Shut oven off and place covered onions back in while you cook the pasta. 

If onions are not caramelized at the one hour mark, add the herbs, remove the tinfoil and place back in oven while you prepare the pasta. Do not shut the oven off. 

Prepare pasta by boiling according to package directions. Drain and set aside. 

Remove onions from oven. Squeeze out the roasted garlic into the onion mixture and stir. 

Toss pasta into the onion mixture. 

Add your cooked seafood or chicken, if using. Toss well. 

Pop back into oven for about 10 minutes to make sure everything is heated through. 

Serve immediately. 

You can enjoy like this...

Or you can top with parmesan cheese or chili garlic oil (or crispy chili oil) if you'd like to spice it up a bit.

I love the addition of fresh herbs like basil and parsley, but they aren't in the original viral recipe, nor is the added protein.  I am adding this to my "make again" list. For how flavorful it is, it is really quite easy to whip up. 

**You can make the pasta ahead of time if you want; it is easy enough to reheat when you toss it with the onions. 

Preparing for Emergencies

 

Being prepared for emergencies ahead of time can help ease anxiety. Speaking from experience - if I have things ready to go and on hand then I definitely am able to relax a bit. 

In Lillooet, where I live, the smoke is terrible in the summers from forest fires. The air purifier pictured here helps everyone in the house breathe better! A great investment if you live in areas where certain seasons are going to be smokey. 

LINK HERE - AIR PURIFIER 

A well stocked first aid kit comes in handy in a huge variety of situations. This one is easy to grab and throw in the car too. 

LINK HERE - FIRST AID KIT

This pill keeper is great for everyday use OR for keeping an emergency supply of pills in your "go bag". It keeps things well organized and ensures you have enough meds for at least a week on you if you have to leave home quickly. 

LINK HERE - PILL ORGANIZER

Keeping all your important papers in one place is always a good idea. This DocSafe bag is fireproof and waterproof, ensuring your documents stay safe! 

LINK HERE - IMPORTANT PAPERS BAG

We've had fires in our kitchen, and it is scary. Sometimes trying to operate a fire extinguisher can be a daunting task - these fire blankets are so much easier to use. You get 4 in this pack so you can throw one in the car too. Also - these make fabulous gifts!

LINK HERE - FIRE BLANKET

No home should be without smoke and CO2 detectors. This one is easy to install and detects smoke and CO2 in one machine to help keep your family safe. 

LINK HERE - SMOKE/CO2 DETECTOR 

Water leak detectors are great for warning you of water leaks so you can stop them before they do too much damage. 

LINK HERE - WATER LEAK ALARM

We are members of the Amazon Affiliate Program and, as such, are eligible to earn when you make a purchase from one of the links we provide. 

Thank you for your support! 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars

 

I've been wanting to post this recipe for a while now but I never seem to be able to get any photos of the finished product. It's usually eaten up before I get the chance! This is a fairly simple bar to put together, even though there are three layers to it. Totally worth the few dishes you will have to clean up, IMO. 

You can cheat a bit and use a roll of Pillsbury chocolate chip cookie dough for the top layer if you don't want to make your own. 

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bar

Ingredients

Bottom Layer

1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

Cheesecake Layer

2 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup sour cream

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Cookie Dough Layer

1/2 cup butter, softened (can use margarine)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 egg

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

pinch salt

1 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9 X 13 pan with parchment paper, set aside. 

Bottom layer - Mix together graham crackers, butter, and brown sugar. Press evenly into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 for 5 - 8 minutes, until lightly browned. Remove from heat and set aside. 

Cheesecake layer - beat cream cheese until smooth, scraping bowl as needed. Beat in sugar, sour cream, egg, and vanilla. Spread over crumb layer in pan. 

Cookie dough layer - Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 3 - 4 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add in flour, salt, and chocolate chips. Beat until stiff dough forms. Evenly crumble the dough over the cheesecake layer. It's okay if a bit of the cheesecake shows through in places. 

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes, rotate pan, then bake another 10 - 15 minutes, until top is lightly golden brown and bar appears set. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before attempting to cut. You can also let it chill in the fridge before cutting. 

This bar has so many flavors and textures that combine in the most amazing way. The buttery, caramelly crust, the smooth cream cheese middle, and the chocolatey cookie top are an unbeatable combo. 

Store them in the fridge after they have cooled. They also freeze very well if you want to make them ahead of time. They might look like a simple square but they are SO FLIPPIN' GOOD!!. 

After school snack or fancy dessert after dinner? 

This can be both, and so much more! 

Treat Your Pet With These Useful Tools and Toys

 

We've compiled a little list of some of our favourite Amazon finds for pets. 

Whether you have dogs, cats, fish, or something else entirely, we hope you find something on this list useful! 

We are members of the Amazon affiliate program and, as such, if you make a purchase using one of the links posted on our blog, we make a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Our first pick is a bit pricey but what an amazing enclosure. 

Above is a 19.9 X 19.7 X 8.9 outdoor kennel. A huge outdoor space for your puppy to run in (or to keep your cats from going to far! LINK HERE 

These are one of the handiest things EVER! We keep one in the car for cleaning up all the hair from my partner's dogs. They work like a charm and they are under $20.00 

Pet Hair Removal Glove - LINK HERE 

 

This compact pet grooming kit is a great deal. It doesn't take up too much room and it is very effective at helping pets stay well groomed. 

Pet Grooming Kit - LINK HERE 

These are the cutest accessories to help decorate your lizard or snake's tank. 

Tank accessories - LINK HERE 

Speaking of tank decorations....

How about these fun and funky fish tank accessories? I'm in love with the colors!

4 piece fish tank decorations - LINK HERE 

Automatic pet food dispensers are super handy when you are away from home, working or travelling for a day. These ones are super stylish too! (Small through large sizes available)

Auto Feeder - LINK HERE 

My partner has one of these in his vehicle, and it has kept his trunk space carpet free from all things puppy-related. It also helps keep things clean if you throw your tools and things in the trunk. A great tool for keeping your vehicle clean from pets and other things!

Cargo Liner - LINK HERE

If you are a cat owner, then you know how much cats LOVE climbing. What I love about this cat condo is that it also houses the litter box so it is hidden! 

Cat Tree with Hidden Litter Box Enclosure - LINK HERE 

I could make this list 100 items long - there are so many fun (and useful) things out there for pets. What is something you use all the time that made caring for your pet easier? We'd love to add it to our list! 

We are members of the Amazon affiliate program and, as such, if you make a purchase using one of the links posted on our blog, we make a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Protein Crab Dip

 

Sometimes Sue has brilliant ideas. *Sometimes* 

Just don't tell her I said that. 

She was the one who came up with this crab dip. I was a little skeptical at first because the texture looked a little sketchy. I have trouble with foods that are lumpy. Honestly though, this hits.

It's tangy, hearty, and, despite how it looks, doesn't actually feel lumpy when you eat it. It feels much smoother. Looking for a dip to eat with veggies or crackers or bread that has a little more protein? Look no further. 

Protein Crab Dip

Ingredients

1 750 gr tub low fat cottage cheese (about 3 cups), drained

2 Tbsp garlic plus (link HERE)

1/2 cup light sour cream

1/2 cup light mayo (link HERE)

1/3 cup kewpie mayo (link HERE)

2 - 3 cups imitation crab

1 pkg ranch dressing powder (link HERE)

Directions

Drain cottage cheese well. Place in blender and pulse until smooth. Add in remaining ingredients and pulse until desired consistency is reached. You can leave crab a bit chunky or blend it until is is quite smooth - whichever you prefer. 

Chill until ready to serve. 

That's it. From start to finish in a few minutes. 

Serve with veggies, crackers, baguettes, or mix it into a salad. Sue used "light" sour cream, mayo, and cottage cheese but you can use regular if you prefer. Just make sure you drain the cottage cheese really well so the dip isn't watery. 

Also - ranch dip can be a bit salty so you can always start with half a package and go from there. 

Sue measures like our dad used to..... "I used a bit of this and a bit of that" type of measuring, so I have done my best to recreate the recipe using *actual* measurements. That being said - feel free to change things up. 

Decorative tray for serving dips - Link HERE.

We belong to the Amazon Affiliate Program and, as such, we earn a small amount if you make a purchase using one of the links on our blog. Thank you for your support! 

Tortilla Kebabs in the Oven

 

I have a couple of different accounts on Instagram for different things. @joandsue for the blog, @keto_jowolf2 for keto and weight loss related things, @jo_vanderwolf for writing and personal posts, and @thenextadventure123 for travel and couple related things. (Would love it if you follow BTW)

Anyway...

Sonora Tortillas (#CanadianMade) (Website link HERE) contacted my keto account and asked if I'd like to try their zero net tortillas and their protein tortillas. Obviously I said yes (I'm always up to try new keto related products and the fact they are made in Canada is an extra bonus!)

I have been seeing delicious looking tortilla kebabs going viral on Tik Tok and Pinterest and decided I would make my own keto friendly version of them.  FYI, this post is not sponsored by Sonora but they did send me free product to experiment with. All opinions mentioned here are my own. 

Tortilla Kebabs in the Oven

Ingredients

1 pack zero net tortillas (Link HERE for Sonora Brand) 

1 lb lean ground beef (or your favorite ground protein)

1/4 cup onion, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp dried cilantro

salt & pepper

Sauce

1 cup of your favorite sauce 

(From BBQ to curry to sweet chili, anything you would baste on a regular kebab would work)

(I used a keto Mango Curry Sauce but you can use any sauce you like)

1 bottle hot sauce, for garnish

(I used True Value toasted chili and garlic sauce)

Fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, set aside. 

In a bowl, combine ground meat, onion, garlic, spices. 

Trim the edges of the tortillas so the tortillas are square and not round. Divide the ground beef into 5 pieces and then press them to cover 5 of the 6 tortillas right to the edges. Meat will be spread VERY thin. 

Stack the tortillas on top of one another with the empty tortilla on top. Press down slightly to make sure they are firmly stuck together. Cut the tortillas into 4 even strips. (Yes, I realize the photo below only show 3 cuts. I took the photo before I was finished cutting.)

Turn the strips on their side so the cut side is facing up.

Place skewers al the way through the stack at even intervals - I got 4 kebabs. 

NOTE - photo shows 5 kebabs because the first time I made this I only had short skewers so had to peel off a section from each kebab to make a 5th so they would fit on the skewers. IF you have longer skewers, you will get 4 large kebabs)

Place on prepared cookie sheet and cook at 350 for 2 minutes on each side, rotating with tongs. Meat will cook quickly! After 8 minutes, brush with your favorite sauce, making sure you coat all sides. Place back in oven for about 4 - 5 minutes to ensure crispy edges on the tortillas and that meat is cooked through. 

You can serve as is OR drizzle with a little toasted chili and garlic sauce (or hot sauce, or your favorite sauce), and sprinkle with a little cilantro (or parsley). 

To keep things keto friendly I served it with a green salad but this would also be delicious with fries or nacho chips or rice. 

There are so many ways to change this up:

BBQ sauce to baste it served with a little garlic aioli.

Taco seasoned kebabs with enchilada sauce to baste it and serve with salsa and sour cream.

Teriyaki sauce to baste it and serve with some sweet chili sauce.

Greek spiced kebabs drizzled with tzatziki.

I highly recommend the Sonora Net Zero Tortillas if you are following a low carb or keto eating plan. With 13 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and only 70 calories per tortilla, they are hearty, healthy, and filling way to make these yummy kebabs. You can, of course, use whichever tortillas you like!

These are super fun and surprisingly easy to make . You can use any ground protein you like, any seasonings you prefer, and any sauce you want. You can grill them, air fry them, or cook them in the oven.  

I had one kebab leftover and reheated it the next day - it was still good but definitely softens up a bit when stored in the fridge overnight. These are best eaten the day they are made.