foodtvandme.com is the unofficial food network fansite with news, reviews, and my attempts at those great recipes you see on tv.

You all know that I love Sandra, but even I couldn’t get on board with the tablescape that I saw today.  She was doing a Tuscan-themed dinner, which looked pretty good.  The cocktail was pretty (and strong, of course.)  I was enjoying things thoroughly.  Until the tablescape portion came.  Oh the tablescape.  The camera pans out on a very elaborate table with…

…a CHAIR on top of the table.  She then decorated it with silk flowers, like the flowers would hide the fact that she put a chair on the table as a centerpiece.

I almost had the same reaction to the tablescape that I had when I watched Britney Spears last night on the Video Music Awards.  Oh my, what have you done now.

Sandra.  Please.  Hear my plea.  I stand up for you through the sauce packets, the alcohol drenched cocktails, and even the matchy matchiness, but please.  Chairs, and all other furniture, belong on the floor.  Don’t ever do anything again to make me compare you to Britney Spears.

During this blistering heat wave in Orange County, it was just too hot to cook inside.  It was also too hot to cook anything that took a long time.  I saw this recipe on good old FoodNetwork.com that seemed perfect.

Weekly Recipe Attempt:  Ginger-Soy-Lime Marinaded Shrimp

I usually chicken out when it comes to shrimp.  I’ve always used pre-cooked shrimp, which works great for shrimp cocktail, but ends up making grilled shrimp that tastes like leather.  I decied to try cooking the shrimp from raw shrimp.  And boy did I make the right decision.

This dish was incredible.  No leather taste here.  And, believe it or not, I even used the left overs in a salad for lunch the next day. 

It was quick and easy.  It was light in flavor and calories.  It was perfect for the heat, and will be perfect for any last, end-of-the-summer barbeques that you plan on throwing.

I give this recipe a 9 out of ten.