Orzo & Brown Rice Salad with Shrimp, Basil, & Cherry Tomatoes

I've been on a rice salad streak lately. It started with a Mango-Cucumber concoction and now brings us to this combo of orzo and brown rice. (I've even got another rice recipe for later this week!) While grocery shopping a few days ago, I came across a bag of brown basmati and suddenly felt the urge to bring one home. This was weird for two reasons: 1) We don't eat brown rice often in my house...like...ever. And 2) That's because the Filipino in me will always crave white rice.

However, I find myself thoroughly enjoying the balanced flavor and texture of brown basmati rice. It's not as coarse or chewy, but still nutty and has a hearty bite. The fragrant flavor expected of basmati is also there. Paired with orzo pasta, it's the perfect foundation for a rice salad! This one is loaded with shrimp, fresh basil, and sweet cherry tomatoes!

Pineapple Fried Rice (With Shrimp & Mushrooms)

My mom can make fried rice out of anything.

Egg, peas, and carrots? Of course. Diced up Spam? Throw it in the wok! Oh, there's leftover adobo, you say? FRIED RICE.

From simple garlic to the more complex kimchi, my mom can make fried rice out of anything. This is why, whenever I find myself griping about how there's not much left in my pantry or refrigerator, I must remember...whatever it is, it can always be turned into fried rice. This has saved me many a late night...got home late, starving, exhausted...It's a quick-fix, complete meal in a bowl.

Fried rice is a well-known Asian dish, seen in but not limited to Chinese, Thai, and Filipino cuisine. It can be put together almost instantly, and it's a perfect method for using up leftovers. Of all the different versions in the world, Pineapple Fried Rice is definitely in my top 5. (Yes, you can have a Top 5 Fried Rice List.) It's got sweet, salty, and spice...a combination that never fails to wake up the taste buds.

Coconut Shrimp Tacos with Roasted Pineapple Salsa

During Lent, you are not supposed to eat meat on Fridays. But you know what I had in my refrigerator last Friday?

Leftover beef patties from when I made cheeseburgers with paprika, smoked mozzarella, and spicy aioli (which were so good that they might have to make an appearance on the blog)...Nilaga, a Filipino soup made with beef shank and vegetables...

Beef. Meat.

I needed to come up with a meat-free dish, and I needed to figure something out soon. (It was 11:30 in the morning, I hadn't eaten anything yet, and I was hungry.) I looked in my freezer to see what I had and found a package of shrimp. Perfect. My pantry was also stocked with plenty of tortillas after I made quesadillas earlier this week. (That recipe would actually make a great no-meat solution as well!) After grabbing a few more items, I had everything that I needed to make lunch: Coconut Shrimp Tacos with Roasted Pineapple Salsa! Here's how to make it!