Lunch time ZINNNGG!

This morning, outside, it's sort of a chill day in Oregon. It's overcast and has been raining for the last two days. A soup sounds like the perfect antidote to the outside weather, but I just don't want soup today. I want something spicy with some ZING that's going to make the top of my head tingle as I eat it. :) If you aren't interested in that sort of meal, I don't suggest this next recipe to you.

Some days, though, you just need a ZINNNGGer!

Shrimp ZINNNGG (90 calories)

100g shrimp

1T Braggs' Liquid Aminos

1t wasabi powder, split in half

2T water

1/2t Furikake

MORE wasabi, if you really want a zinnger (we added a whole tablespoon for a serious zinnngg!)

In the middle of an 8" foil, lay the shrimp out and set aside for a moment. In very small bowl, mix Braggs' and 1/2t wasabi together. Add water. Now spread the wasabi mixture over the shrimp, trying to coat them evenly. (If you don't get them all, though, don't fret - the oven will do it for you, too.) Sprinkle Furikake over the shrimp next. Close the foil into a small packet and place the toaster (or conventional) oven for 15-20 minutes. Place on your plate and either dust with more wasabi powder or mix the wasabi up into the traditional paste and dip your shrimp in it. YUM!

I used an unusual spice for most kitchens today, Furikake. Basically, it's a seaweed seasoning. Sometimes there's sesame seeds, sometimes pieces of dried fish, but always it's a seaweed base. You should be able to find it in the oriental section of Safeway or some other store, but we buy it at the Oriental stores in the city closest to us. We buy quite a bit of oriental foods, really. Years ago, we invited some Japanese exchange students into our home and they, of course, brought all kinds of new and different sorts of food with them. They'd eat, straight from the can, sheets of nori (seaweed), and their candies weren't sweet sweet like in the US. It was a nice change, even for me when I was still in high school. They shared some of the delights of sushi with us (though the raw shark just didn't set well in my stomach at 17). But, more importantly, we all shared a little of who we all are and what we enjoyed. It was a great experience that I recommend to everyone.

We decided to pair this ZINNNGGer with a veggie to cool it down a little; steamed zucchini. It makes for a really inexpensive calorie meal, since the zucchini has only 20 calories per cup. So, we decided that it was the perfect day to enjoy two cups of veggies with our breadstick and shrimp. It brings us to a total calorie intake of just 150, leaving LOTS of calories for dinner and our fruits. :)

If you tried this recipe and liked it, please let me know in the comments! If you have some experience with Oriental cooking and found something worked better, please let me know that, too!