Spicy Lime Shrimp and Rice

Just like 80% of the U.S. did last week, we made a New Year's resolution to eat healthier, lose weight, and get back in shape. Just like last year, and the year before that... but this time we mean it! So you can expect lots of healthy recipes including lean meats, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. While we aren't going on a diet in a traditional fad diet type way, we are going to make an all-over effort to clean up our eating habits, cutting back on refined carbohydrates, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc. but without cutting out flavor and variety. We are also implementing a get fit plan by rejoining the gym and trying to work out before going to work in the morning since it seems to be the only consistent routine we can have.

Spicy Lime Shrimp and Rice

About 24 large shrimp, shelled and de-veined
1 T olive oil
2 T lime juice
1 tsp Garlic Salt (I use Lawry's)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 cup brown rice
1 small can Rotel Original tomatoes
1 cup water
1/2 cup corn (I used shoepeg corn because I already had it open but yellow corn works just fine)
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed and drained

Season shrimp with cayenne pepper and garlic salt, and 1 T lime juice over shrimp, lightly toss and refrigerate about 20 minutes.

Heat tomatoes and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add rice and stir occasionally until boiling. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low. Continue cooking until rice softens and most of liquid is gone. (I used Uncle Ben's quick-cooking brown rice so it was about 15 minutes.) Stir in black beans and corn, cover and cook on low for about 3 more minutes.

When rice is almost done, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and when hot, add shrimp, cook about 1 minute and turn over, cook another minute or so until shrimp are opaque. Remove to a plate and toss with remaining lime juice. Serve with rice.

This recipe serves about 4 people serving 6 shrimp per person which is the suggested serving size, but we don't have any shrimp left over and there were only 2 of us eating but at least shrimp are low in calories and that's a pretty good indication that this meal didn't taste like diet food!