This past Saturday, I set out on a weekend shopping and errand expedition. While I was expecting to see all the back to school frenzy, I was not prepared for all of the Halloween costumes and decorations already making their way to shelf. Wow! Is it just me or are we rushing through the current season just so we can start planning for the next one? Why can’t we just enjoy the month we are in?

I actually like back to school time. Now don’t get me wrong, summer is great for a whole host of reasons: relaxed schedules, warm sunny days and family vacations. However by August, I am ready for a structured routine and a little less heat and humidity. One of the customs that returns to many households is regularly scheduled family dinner time. And by “routine” I mean trying to squeeze in a delicious, wholesome, family meal at the table … in between all the other fall activities like after school activities, kids sporting events and homework.

To help me ease back into the family dinner routine I like to pick an easy family favorite that won’t keep me in the kitchen all evening preparing it. I also like to make dinner special to celebrate the start of school. This year I am kicking off the new school year by making Popcorn Shrimp Dippers, some steam-in-the-bag broccoli and, as my last tribute to summer, watermelon wedges.

I love Popcorn Shrimp because I can just pop them on a baking sheet and let them cook while I am getting the family settled, checking backpacks for notes from the teachers etc. To make it really special, I like to pair Popcorn Shrimp with a dipping sauce. Below is a super simple Tex-Mex sauce which is great for the shrimp and is pretty tasty with the broccoli too. It is one of my signature “go-to” dipping sauces because it is tasty and kid-friendly. It only takes about 2 minutes to put the sauce together and you can even make it the day before and just store it in the fridge for added convenience.

Enjoy the recipe, and relish this fall season and all that it brings along with it!

Tex-Mex Popcorn Dippers
Prep time: 2 minutes Cooking time: 11 minutes Servings: 4-5

1 (20 oz) package SeaPak® Popcorn Shrimp
8 oz low fat sour cream
1 oz packet ranch dressing mix
1.25 oz packet taco seasoning

BAKE shrimp according to package directions.

COMBINE sour cream and ranch dressing seasoning mix in a small bowl. Add taco seasoning to taste. (If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can add a little milk until the sauce is the desired consistency.) Refrigerate sauce until ready to serve.

This month’s “Coastal Dish” comes from Jenn over at Five Dollar Shake.  Jenn is an amazing wife, mother of two girls and a fabulous entertainer – something I think we all aspire to be!  Check out her entry for great tips for entertaining frugally and with flair!

My family is blessed with an amazing group of close friends. So amazing that we all make a point of getting together every few months. Taking turns hosting has really worked for us as a group and I always look forward to our turn as the hosts. Hosting a party for twenty or thirty people can be quite costly. With our income not being what it once was, like most families today, I have learned how to plan ahead, use coupons and practice frugal shopping to throw an unforgettable party on a tight budget.

My advice for this approach is to start with knowing your budget. Set an amount you are comfortable spending and stick to it. Next make a detailed list that includes decorations, entertainment and food that will fit within that amount you have set. Making these decisions early can give you time to shop for weekly sale prices. Don’t forget to check those clearance aisles. I often acquire fun party decorations and supplies that have been marked on clearance for less than half the original price!

Before you spend any of your budgeted money on decorations take a good long look around your house. Something as simple as gathering and placing a group of candles together in the center of your table can really dress the room up if your party is at night. Get creative with napkin folds. It may seem like a waste of time (since guests simply pick them up and plop them down on their lap), but learning how to do a whimsical napkin fold is a detail that makes a statement and impresses guests. There are endless small details you can apply that will add class and personality to your party without even dipping in to your budget. Also, don’t forget when looking around a room that could use a little color “flowers are always in style!”

Now, let’s move on to the most important part of throwing a party – the menu. When it comes to the menu and shopping for food, clipping coupons and matching them with sale prices can really stretch your budget. With great products like SeaPak’s Artichoke Pesto Tilapia and Seasoned Ahi Tuna Steaks, I have been able to serve elegant and gourmet meals with out spending a gourmet price. For a more casual and relaxed party try SeaPak’s Fiesta Shrimp Tacos, a recipe that is sure to wow your guests and not break your budget or keep you in the kitchen all day. Serving delicious SeaPak shrimp and seafood products is a great way to cut corners without cutting quality or taste. Cutting corners without losing quality is always a win-win situation. Remember, it’s your party, you deserve to relax and enjoy it just as much as your guests because when it comes down to it, the most important part of your party being unforgettable is YOU!

In the summer I love socializing with family and friends with lots of cookouts and outdoor events. But by August I am usually getting pretty tired of the typical cookout cuisine. So this weekend I am going to mix it up a bit and throw a Spanish-style tapas party instead.

Tapas are a Spanish tradition of small plates of food served in between the main meals of the day (in Spain that would be a late lunch around 2 p.m. and an even later dinner around 9 or 10 p.m.). These delicious tapas dishes can be served hot or cold. In the U.S., plates of tapas are typically shared among several people and are often eaten as a light meal rather than just a between-meal snack, making this style of cuisine a perfect theme for a social event!

A tapas-style party typically works best if you invite only as many people as will fit around your table (so four to ten people). I am hosting my tapas party outside to minimize clean up before and after dinner, but you could easily have it indoors depending on the heat and the bugs in your region this time of year. I like to serve dishes on festive platters placed right in the middle of the table. You will want to make sure you have a stack of brightly colored smaller plates for everyone to load their tapas on. You may also want to provide plenty of toothpicks in case guests are a little hesitant about using their hands. A traditional, ceramic sangria pitcher adds the final dash of flair and your tapas party is ready to go!

Below is my menu for this weekend. Spanish and Mediterranean foods typically use a lot of seafood so I have chosen two simple seafood dishes for my main dishes and then added some easy items like cheese and olives to round out the menu. You could add more dishes (Shrimp Paella or the Butterfly Brushetta work well here too) if you want more food at your event.

• Spanish Shrimp over Yellow Rice
• Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Garlic Aioli
• Chunks of Manchego cheese and slices of Serrano ham served with thin crackers or toasted bread
• Black and green olives
• A pitcher (or two) of sangria

So if you are looking for an alternative to the traditional summer cookout, give a tapas party a try. And let me know how it goes.

Spanish Shrimp over Yellow Rice

Prep Time: 4 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Makes: 2-3 servings

1 (1 lb.) package or 2 (12 oz.) packages SeaPak® Shrimp Scampi (frozen)
1 – 5 oz package of Saffron Yellow Rice
1/2 red bell pepper, julienned
1 – 8.5 oz can of small sweet peas, well drained
1/4 tsp smoked paprika

COOK rice according to package directions.

PREHEAT large skillet on medium high for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium and add frozen shrimp. Sauté shrimp for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add red bell peppers to pan. Sauté shrimp with red bell peppers for 6 minutes, stirring regularly.Add peas and paprika to pan and stir to incorporate. Sauté mixture 1 minute or until shrimp are fully cooked.

SPOON rice onto serving plates, top with shrimp mixture and serve.