What's for Dinner? Wednesday!

Do you know what day it is? Go ahead and check your calendar (or just look up one line). Yup! It's Wednesday! Here at Fit Armadillo Wednesdays have a special place in our and our husband's hearts because it means we're cooking up one of our favorite recipes!  This week's "What's for dinner? Wednesday" meal is a southern favorite: grits! We've added shrimp to get in some protein and peppers for some veggie power. Sometimes we've made this and thrown in corn. Tonight, we might add in tomatoes (the food wasting police have been on us to use them and we don't want to get arrested/hate being nagged). Feel free to get creative! If you subscribe to our newsletter, you are one of the most awesome people in the world AND you already got the grocery list for tonight.  If you don't subscribe, CLICK HERE to change that and check out the list of items you'll need below:

Shrimp and Grits Grocery List   - Serves Four

Shrimp: 
Olive oil cooking spray
1 medium red bell pepper
12 oz medium raw peeled shrimp
1 tbsp safflower oil
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 medium scallions

Grits:
1/2 Cup Quick-Cook Grits
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/8 tsp group pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 oz shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Ready to get cooking? So are we! But, we'll finish typing up the recipe instructions first.  God knows we've already wasted enough time watching and re-watching all of the Zesty Guy commercials on YouTube.  Did you miss our Facebook post to help you find a beautiful pepper? Don't worry, we got you! Zesty Guy's showing off the most beautiful pepper he's ever held here.  Watch the video for inspiration ;)

OK back to business! Total time is only 20 minutes and total hands on time is only 10 minutes (so save inviting Zesty Guy over via twitter for another meal or make a salad with your grits).

UNO: Whip up those grits, y'all!  Haven't made grits before? Don't worry, we're here to help.  Pour 2 cups of water into a medium-sized pan.  Bring your water to a boil and then add in your 1/2 cup of grits.  Let the water to return to boil.  Bubbling? Good! Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover your pan.  It should take about 5 minutes for your grits to cook. Once they're all done (the grits have absorbed the water), remove the pan from the heat, stir in your garlic powder + Worcestershire + pepper + salt.  Put the cover back on and put your pan off to the side.

DOS: Pepper time!  Make sure you have a good pepper by checking here. While you're watching the video, heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high.  Coat the skillet with cooking spray, add your red pepper (unless you determined that it's no good....If it's not good, tweet @TheZestyGuy and see if he's really at our culinary service) and coat your pepper with some cooking spray.  Keep stirring your pepper for about 4 minutes so that it's lightly brown on the edges. Done? Set that pepper aside.

TRES: In a medium bowl, combine your shrimp and all other ingredients except for your scallions and cheese (save the best for last)!  Add this mixture to your skillet and cook on medium-high for 2 minutes without stirring.  After those first two minutes, go ahead and stir it up for two additional minutes.  Once your shrimp is opaque you can remove it from the stove.  Stir in your red pepper and scallions.  

CUATRO: Divide your masterpiece between four plates.  Sprinkle the cheddar cheese on top. Before adding extra cheese, try it like this! We think you'll like it just fine.  Plus, if The Zesty Guy pays you a visit, you'll want to save room for that salad.  Have a dinner guest who you think might try to use up all your cheddar? Kindly, remind them they'll never have abs like The Zesty Guy if they OD on cheese.

Did you try this meal? What did you think? Share your comments with us in the space below: