My unhealthy obsession with all things Reality TV and GRC Week 9: Coconut Shrimp & Spicy Mango Sauce

While watching Jeopardy last week, I was asked what category I would do really well in.  The first thing to come to mind, which will not surprise anyone who knows me, is Reality TV.  It may come as a surprise, but my first encounter with reality television came just five years ago when I was living with a couple of friends while I was training for a new job during the summer months between leaving Nova Scotia and moving to Toronto.  I think it all started with Biggest Loser, Big Brother (three times a week!) and then came The Bachelor.  It was Jake's season when poor Ali had to pick between her career or a douchey pilot who eventually picked a super weirdo backwoods headcase (Vienna of course).  It's as though the reality gods were calling to me.  Since then, I've never looked back.

I'm not picky when it comes to content or budget in my shows.  I've watched, and gotten completely hooked on, tons of different shows.  I can spell Kardashian backwards (in English and Armenian), I know every rich housewife in America (and Vancouver), I side with Olivia in Jerseylicious, I'm part of a Survivor pool run by T's family and I've cheered along with Conveyor Belt of Love (which was on for about two days between a Bachelor/ette season and The Bachelor Pad).  OMG- don't get me started on Real World, The Challenge, Buckwild and the Teen Mom series.  What is WRONG with Jennelle??  Barbara, you're a saint!  I find Food Network and food competition shows are getting a bit old but that won't stop me from tuning in to Hell's Kitchen every week to see what names Ramsey will come up with to call his contestants.  Who will be known as "Big Boy" this season?

I struggle with trying to figure out if I would take up the opportunity to be on a reality show.  I dont' think I would be overly exciting as I don't have a funny accent, I hate confrontation, I'm not very competitive, I'm not a pregnant teenage high school drop out and I'm in a serious relationship.  I'm a complete entertainment dud.

I knew my big break would come in the form of emailing for tickets to be in the Big Brother Canada studio audience.  I got a response back that tickets were not available but I was welcome to join a rush line which consisted of me showing up at the Big Brother house, waiting in a room void of furniture for over three hours and finding out five minutes before taping that two tickets were available and we would get seats.  This was great except for the fact that T was driving from work and trying to get there on time while getting lost on the way and having three security guards try to close the studio doors as T was running toward them trying to get in on time.  We made it by the skin of our teeth while the crowd was going wild and Arisa's hair was being fluffed.  Pheeeewwwww.

If you ever have the opportunity to be in the studio audience of a show, I would recommend it.  It was really cool to see a little bit of the behind-the-scenes; especially of a show that is so hush-hush production-wise.  Because I've watched lots of live shows like this before, I knew that the only way to get on camera was for T and I to react really dramatically to everything that takes place.  We weren't allowed to take any pics during of after taping so I found a pretty good example of one our signature reactions:

Poor Danielle.

It was also The Bachelor finale which ended well with Whiny McWhinerson (Lindsay) heading home and Catherine receiving the final rose.  My friend Kelly and I try to get together as often as we can to watch "The Bach" so, for such a special episode, we made a little wine and dinner date out of it.  I got to see her new house and hang out with her super adorable baby, Cooper.  It would be rude of me to show up empty handed so I tackled a neeeeeewwwwww recipeeeeeee for GRC Week 8.

Perhaps it's the growing anticipation of our upcoming Jamaican vacation, but I tried my hand at whipping up some Coconut Shrimp & Spicy Mango Sauce from a really great gluten-free website called Simply Gluten-Free (go figure!).

Coconut Shrimp & Spicy Mango Sauce

This tasty appetizer was surprisingly super easy, and relatively mess-free, to make.  As I live in Canada and it's March, I didn't exactly have access to good quality fresh mango so I bought a bag of frozen mango like the recipe suggests.  I had prepared and half baked everything before I left the house which I wouldn't recommend doing with shrimp.  It seemed to make the shrimp a bit soggy and then they over-baked when I went to warm them up again.  They only take about 10 mins to cook so just prepare and cook everything at the same time instead.  Very refreshing and yummy for shrimp lovers.

Keep the comments and recipe ideas coming!  Thanks for reading.  Comment below or tweet me your thoughts and food ideas @darbyvt.

I think Taylor Swift was at my 23rd Birthday... My Favorite Things about February and GRC Week 8: Baked Grapefruit

Well, it's Justin Bieber's birthday which can only mean one thing...  February is oooova!!!  I am welcoming March with open arms.  Not only do the winter months turn me into a total hermit but the past month has been stacked with appointments, wires, bandages and overall gloom.  I'm certainly looking forward to longer days, better weather and (hopefully!) far fewer doctors.

February wasn't all bad though as I got to spend some time some time in the kitchen, organize some finances (am I the only one who likes doing taxes?!) and catch up on some books and music.

Here are a few of my favoriiiiiiiiiite thiiiiiiiiings from the past few weeks:

Favorite pre-made food item:  Organic Creamy Butternut Squash Soup by Imagine

This soup is just souper (get it?!).  It comes in an easy-to-pour carton (kind of like a giant juice box)
and is yummy yummy yummy.  I found it a bit bland my first couple of tries but I now add curry powder, ground nutmeg, fresh ground pepper and cinnamon when the soup is starting to get hot and that does the trick.  Most of their soups are also dairy free, gluten free and kosher!  I've only been able to find this brand at Metro but I'm sure the company would be more than happy to tell you where else they sell.  This soup is really thick and would be delicious to use as a sauce for veggies or proteins.  

Favorite album:  Red by Taylor Swift

Don't judge!!  Taylor Swift is friggin' awesome.  I don't care if you think her Grammy speeches are annoying or if you're still mad about the whole John Mayer break up.  This girl can write one heck of a song.  I've been weeping over this new album for the past two weeks.  If you don't love her Top 40 songs, take a listen to some of her other tunes because she's such a great storyteller.  I wish T-Swift hadn't have been in elementary school when I was starting high school or else I would have learned so much from her precautionary tales and probably begged my parents to send me to an all girls' school if those would have existed where I'm from.

Some of my favorite non-Top 40 tracks- "22", "Treacherous" and the real on-the-floor-in-fetal-position-crying-my-eyes-out-flashbacks-to-my-23rd-birthday kicker "The Moment I Knew" which is found on the bonus disc 2.  

Favorite Cosmetics product:  Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer by Cover FX 

Wait... what?!  A cosmetics product?!  I know, I know.  I'm certainly no beauty expert and my typical make up routine consists of eye liner, mascara and some powder.  But that's only if I'm going to a public place where sweat pants are not appropriate (obviously the grocery store and McD's are places I do not wear make up).  I asked the advice of my lovely and talented esthetician friend, Kendra on how to cover up some scar action.  She recommended the Conceal FX and it's awesome.  It not only completely hides my scars but it helps with general redness and dark under-eye circles.  They sell the Cover FX line at Shopper's which is super convenient.  The worst part?  I had to buy Xtra Light.  I need a vacation...

Favorite (healthy) snack:  Baked Grapefruit (GRC Week #7)
When I saw a friend's Instagram pic of a baked grapefruit, I was intrigued.  I've had baked apples and dried fruit but had never considered heating up the oven and popping a citrus fruit inside.  I hadn't had grapefruit since I was a little kid so I decided to give it a go.  Initially, after a quick google search, I topped the grapefruit with honey and cinnamon before baking.  I didn't love the consistency of the honey on the finished product.  After consulting with my friend, she told me she uses brown sugar.  Ding ding ding.  We have a wiiiiinnnnner.  Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar and cinnamon on this puppy. Put it in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes and you've got yourself a tasty, refreshing and healthy treat.




Do you have any recipes or favorite products that you want the rest of the world to know about?  Comment in the section below or tweet me @darbyvt.