Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce

I saw this recipe on Pinterest from Clean & Delicious and knew I had to try it. Not only did they look delicious, but they're healthy (only 132 calories per taco)! (and Gluten-Free for my family and friends who need that).  Beware, these are a little on the spicy side. I'm the girl who can only handle Del Taco's mild sauce, though haha. You can adjust the spice factor to your taste by omitting the cayenne pepper, but it does add that extra yummy kick!

SPICY SHRIMP TACOS WITH CILANTRO LIME SAUCE
Serves: 4
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 lb of frozen shrimp, defrosted, peeled and deveined
6 oz. fat free greek yogurt
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp. fresth lime juice
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
5 cups shredded cabbage
8 corn tortillas
4 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt & Pepper to taste (I used Garlic Salt and no pepper)

Directions
1 Mix yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, cayenne and salt in a bowl and set aside
2 Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a medium skillet and add cabbage. Cook for a few minutes until the cabbage is barely wilted and set aside.
3 Cut shrimp into thirds, so you have little bite size pieces. Saute in 2 tsp. olive oil and season with salt, pepper and a dash of cayenne over medium heat until just done. This only takes a few minutes, so be sure to keep your eye on it!
4 Heat tortillas over medium heat in a dry skillet until warm and starting to form small brown spots. Build your taco with the cabbage, shrimp and cilantro lime sauce... enjoy!

Sassy Chicken Won Ton Tacos

When I first read the recipe, I was a little skeptical. BBQ sauce, sesame ginger dressing, cilantro... the flavors just weren't something I'd think to put together. But, once you take the first bite and get all of the flavors combined- YUM! In fact, I inhaled 4 of them. The only thing I'd change for next time is to leave th cole slaw crispy instead of softening it in the microwave. Otherwise, these are a winner! They'd be a perfect appetizer at your next dinner party, too! I found the original recipe at Hungry-Girl.

SASSY CHICKEN WON TON TACOS
Serves: 8 mini tacos
Cook Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
8 small square wonton wrappers
1 cup dry coleslaw mix
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp. Lite Sesame Ginger Dressing ( I use Newman's Own)
4 oz. cooked skinless chicken breast (shredded or finely chopped)
2 Tbsp. barbecue sauce

Directions
1 Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2 Spray the inside and outside walls of a 9x13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly drape the won ton wrappers diagonally over the walls, making triangle shaped "shells". Bake until just crispy enough to hold their shape. (Approx. 3 minutes)
3 Remove pan from oven, but leave oven on. Carefully remove wontons and gently open to form "taco shells". Set aside.
4 In a microwave safe bowl, combine colesaw mix, cilantro and dressing. Mix well. Cover and microwave until slightly softened (Approx. 1 minute). Set aside.
5 In another bowl, mix chicken and bbq sauce together.
6 Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Evenly distribute the chicken among the shells, followed by the coleslaw mix. Lay the filled shells on their side on the baking sheet.
7 Spray the shells lightly with non-stick spray and bake for 5 minutes or until crunchy.

The Cove Waterpark

In our search for fun local activities, we came across a Groupon deal for The Cove Waterpark in Riverside. We have a few other water parks nearby, but decided to give this one a a try. Afterall, we couldn't beat the price that Groupon offered (50% off)! 

We went on a Monday and got there about 20 minutes after the park opened. The first thing I noticed was the parking lot is fairly small (especially since they are also doing swim lessons in the lap pool next door). But, it's free and we found a spot immediately.

The next thing I noticed is lack of seating areas. Every lounge chair surrounding the little kid's play area was already taken. There is additional seating in the cabanas, but if someone reserves that cabana, then you're out of luck.  There is more seating on the other side of the park near the tower of slides, but if you have a little one, you won't be in that area.

The kid's play area is very nice. It's structured similar to playground equipment and includes 3 slides, water cannons, a small cargo net and a big dump bucket.  LC loved it and even though I wasn't able to find a nearby seat, I was able to sit on the edge of the water and relax while keeping an eye on him. There are plenty of lifeguards in this area to ensure safety and enforce rules. That's one thing that really stood out. The lifeguards here made sure kids weren't running, cutting in line or doing anything that could hurt them. Same goes for the lifeguards stationed on the lazy river.

The only other area LC could use was the lazy river and he loved it. They had plenty of rafts and enforced that children under a certain height wear a life jacket.

As far as dining options, you are not allowed to bring in outside food or drink. They have you sign a waiver up front stating that you understand that rule, but they didn't check bags. I saw several people eating their own food. We opted for their on-site cafe, but was disappointed that they had ran out of chicken nuggets and straws. The line was long and the cafe ordering was indoors (with a slippery tile floor). When it came to sitting down to eat, again you just hoped a cabana was open with a table to sit at.

We spent 4 hours there and definately got our money worth. It's cheaper than the other local water parks, so if you have kids under 5 and are looking for something to do for a few hours, I do recommend it. But, get there early if you want a lounge chair (Or rent a cabana with a group of friends).

The Cove Waterpark

4310 Camino Real, Riverside

Admission: $18 adults, $14 Junior (37-48"), $9 Tots (30-36")

Parking: FREE

Hours: 11am-7pm

Good For Ages: 2 and up

Cowboy Casserole

This is not one of those fancy dishes you bust out for entertaining guests. This is one of those yummy, homemade, pure comfort food casseroles. The kind that kids eat second helpings of. Yes, it does kind of resemble dog food (as noted in "The Cutting Edge of Ordinary"), but we never have leftovers.

COWBOY CASSEROLE
Serves: 6-8
Cook Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef or turkey (sometimes I substitute 1/2lb. of meat for ground sausage)
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can (13.5oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup milk
4 Tbsp. sour cream (I use light sour cream)
1 bag (approx. 30oz.) frozen tater tots

Directions
1 Brown meat, onion and garlic in skillet. Drain and set aside.
2 In a small bowl, combine soup, milk and sour cream. Add to hamburger mixture and stir until combined.
3 Stir in corn and 1 cup cheddar cheese.
4 Spray 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Layer 1/2 of the the tater tots on the bottom, pour hamburger mixture on top, then the rest of the tater tots. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.
5 Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and crisp.

Family Fun: Pala Casino Review

Sorry for the long break between posts. LC has been enjoying his summer vacation and staying at different relatives houses for some lovely family bonding time. One thing we did do before sending him on his way was stay a couple of nights at Pala Casino in Southern California (San Diego County).

It's located about 90 minutes from home base and our extended family often enjoys casino excursions there. We spent most of our time pool side soaking up the sun (and LC learning to swim).

The Pros of the resort:
- If you have a single bed room, they'll bring up a roll-away for no additional cost
- The pool is only 4 feet deep- perfect for little ones
- If you forgot your swim rings or pool toys, they have some available for purchase
- The cabanas give ample room to lounge, enjoy poolside lunch & cocktails and spend time with the family. Definitely worth the rental! They even have a TV, fridge, separate changing area and ceiling fan for those who don't want to enter the water. non-alcoholic beverages and a fruit platter are also included.
- There is a big grass lawn that is used for concerts, but when one isn't taking place, it's a perfect place for the little ones to run around and play on. I saw one family playing football and we entertained the idea of throwing a frisbee around.
- The baths here are amazing! Huge and deep- perfect for bubble baths (and for relaxation for the adults)

The Cons of the resort:
- Nothing for the kids to do except the pool. No arcade.
- No kids channels on the TV (You have to pay for a Kid's Package that includes Disney, etc.)
- Movies are pricey at $16 a piece
- No kids menus at any of the restaurants. Which isn't a huge deal unless you want to head to an upscale restaurant or the buffet. $28 for a picky 5 year old isn't exactly what I had in mind. For adults, however, the buffet is AMAZING!!
- Nothing else to do in the area. It's surrounded by hills and farms. It's at least a 15 minute drive if you want to see anything else.
- You have to pay $10 for wi-fi

I recommend this resort if you're traveling with kids in the summer. At least they'll have the pool- which is where we spent most of our time and our trip was awesome! If it's winter time, I don't recommend a lengthy stay as they'll probably get bored pretty fast. If you're looking for an adults only trip- they have a wonderful spa, fitness facility, jacuzzi and of course, cocktails and gambling. Makes for a good night away!