DO OPPOSITES ATTRACT?
You’ve heard of the old adage that “Opposites Attract”? My husband and I definitely fit that adage perfectly! He talks less, (much less than I do), he’s methodical and logical in his thinking, he’s clear and concise all the time, and NEVER complains. Where me on the other hand, I talk a lot, I’m passionately expressive, I make some decisions on the feeling side of things, and I’m a hugger, showing emotions on my sleeve.
When we go to the local farm for ice cream, he gets vanilla (maybe vanilla fudge) and I get 3 different scoops like mocha chip, black raspberry and salted caramel! But somehow, we balance each other out! And it actually makes life so much more interesting!
DO YOU LIKE SWEET, OR SOUR, OR SWEET AND SOUR TOGETHER?
When I think about putting opposites together in food or décor (remember the color chart in school and looking at the wheel and what colors were opposite each other?), I forget that they can work beautifully together, and actually enhance the qualities of each! And the balance of beauty is amazing! Just like in this dish, Sweet and Sour Shrimp Stir Fry! The sweetness of the onions when they caramelize, the peppers when they begin to soften, and the pineapple juice which helps to sweeten the dish while the soy sauce and the salsa add that tang! But when blended, it’s magic!
And when you add in the shrimp, it’s juicy, succulent taste makes this dish so delicious! And I am just such a fan of Hoby’s Essentials Happy Paprika! I added this in at the last minute, and boy, did it make this recipe pop! Thank you, Hoby!
REMINDING MYSELF TO EMBRACE “OPPOSITES ATTRACT”!
So the next time I think about creating recipes and adding pops of color to my room, I will pause and think about the opposites tastes and colors on the color wheel and get creative! I encourage everyone to come out of your comfort zone and give this a try! If you are making a chicken dish that has a tomato base, throw in a little maple syrup or brown sugar! I do this in my Signature Chili and everyone LOVES it! And it’s not just sweet and sour, but sweet and salty, or spicy, too! Sprinkle some sea salt on top of your Chocolate Chip Cookies or a smidge of cayenne pepper in your hot chocolate! You’ll be amazed at the sensory experience you will have and how the balance really does work!
Until next time,
Let’s get cookin’ and balancin’
Madeline
Sweet and Sour Shrimp Stir Fry
Equipment
- 1 Large Stove Top Sauté Pan
- 1 9"x13" Aluminum Pan Used to roast your shrimp instead of sautéing the shrimp
Ingredients
- 2 tbsps Madeline's Blended Oil Seasoning (for the shrimp) You can substitute 2 tbsps avocado or vegetable oil, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp garlic powder.
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined (20 - 25 count)
- 1 ½ cups red, orange and/or yellow peppers, cut in 2-inch square pieces
- 1 ¼ cup white onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (reserving ½ cup of the juice)
- 2 tbsps avocado oil
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 2 tbsps tomato salsa or chili sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tsps Hoby's Essential's Happy Paprika You can substitute 2 tsps smoked or regular paprika
- 1 cup cashews or peanuts and fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° on convection roast (or bake if you don't have convection roast).
- Place shrimp in pan and toss with 2 tbsps of Madeline's Blended Oil Seasoning or the substitute oil blend. Lay the shrimp out flat in the pan.
- Cook shrimp for 6 minutes, remove from oven and set aside.
- In large sauté pan, begin heating 2 tbsps avocado oil on low-medium heat while adding the garlic, onions, and peppers, tossing to combine. Cook for 5 minutes, and add pineapple, sesame oil and soy sauce, tossing to blend the ingredients.
- Whisk the cornstarch into the pineapple juice until dissolved.
- Add pineapple juice and cornstarch mixture to the pan, stirring well, and cook for 5 more minutes. Add the shrimp and any juices into the pan along with the Happy Paprika (or substitute). Mix all together and cook an additional 5 minutes as everything thickens.
- Serve over rice, beans, or just by itself! Sprinkle cashews or peanuts over dish for garnish.
Notes
