Sunday, August 22, 2010

Wahoo for Season 2: ABC's Shark Tank is Back!

They're back! Love 'em or hate 'em I can't get enough! Barbara Corcoran, Real Estate Mogul, Daymond John "The Godfather of Urban Fashion", Kevin Harrington "The Original Infomercial King", Kevin O'Leary, self proclaimed "Eco-Preneur" (aka Mean Kevin), and Robert Herjavec, Technology Wiz, are circling and ready to bite - hungry for the next big thing.

As I watch the entrepreneurs take the precarious walk down what seems like a very long hallway, through the estate-sized double doors and into shark infested waters...um, I mean the big conference room aptly named the "Shark Tank" - I hold my breath for a moment. You can cut the tension with a knife and, of course, through the magic of television, and just the right amount of daunting music, I am sucked in. My fellow inventor friends and other fans of the show are all aTwitter, and sometimes we are even chatting with the entrepreneurs being featured. We root for them and wonder which of the Sharks will bite - do they have a winner or will they be reduced to mere chum by Kevin O'Leary channeling his inner Simon Cowell (I just have to believe he's a teddy bear behind the scenes)?

I don't know about you, but there are several entrepreneurs who I would love to see a follow-up on - a "Where Are They Now" segment of the show. I posted the topic on the ST message boards http://abc.go.com/shows/shark-tank/discuss?cat=276719&tsn=-1 and hope the powers that be will take notice.

How about you? Who are the three entreprenuers you would most like to see a follow-up on?

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Accidental Alfredo


The name of this simple, kid-friendly dish is fitting because it's true. This quick dinner, which took approximately 15 minutes total time from stovetop to table...and not much longer from table to tummies, was one of those things that just sort of happened.

As a harried mom with two young girls at home - one of whom has a very fickle palate the moment - my dinner choices for this day were limited. It was either going to be grilled chicken, tater-tots and applesauce or the ever popular pasta w/garlic butter & cheese. Pasta won.

The tri-colored shells were brought back from Italy by my husband on his last detachment with the Navy (along with some good wine & olive oil) and needed to be used. As I sauteed a bit of garlic w/butter I thought about how I could jazz it up a little but not so much that no one would eat it. Here's what I came up with...

As always, I hope you'll give it a whirl and love it too!

INGREDIENTS

1 lb./box tri-colored shells (any fun shape will do!)
3 tbsp. butter
1 clove garlic chopped
1/3 cup lowfat half and half
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesean cheese
couple cracks of black pepper
sprinkle of kosher/sea salt

METHOD

Bring big pot of salted water to rolling boil
Add pasta, give a stir and let boil for 8 or 9 min.
Drain pasta (sometimes I rinse, sometimes I don't)
In sauce pan (or same pot you cooked pasta in) saute garlic w/butter
Add half and half and let simmer for a minute
Add pasta and parmesean cheese, salt & pepper
Stir over low heat until well incorporated

I served family style and topped with some fresh grated Parmesean.

Enjoy!