Sesame Ginger Grilled Shrimp

After going to the grocery store, I made the mistake of assuming I would have fresh ginger at home - I hate when that happens! So what follows here is the modified version using dried ginger instead of fresh. It still came out good though - loved the ginger and the grilled flavor, and I served it over rice. I also made the mistake of not informing my family that I had planned out dinner, so when I returned home from the grocery store there was a steak marinating, oops. Easy solution - Surf and Turf night!

Sesame Ginger Grilled Shrimp
with grilled steak, vegetables and brown rice

Sesame Ginger Marinade:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 TB lite soy sauce
2 tsp chopped garlic
1 TB toasted sesame seeds*
1 tsp ground ginger
1-2 tsp fresh cilantro, chopped

*Toasting sesame seeds: Use a nonstick pan over med heat, add just the sesame seeds - no oil or liquid, and toss the seeds pretty frequently until you notice them turning a light brown. Be careful to watch the seeds and stir them around a lot so the seeds don't burn, which will happen fast if you're not careful.

You'll like this dish even if you don't like Onions!

Growing up there was a Christmas parade near my Nana's house every December - all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, we all went to it and had a big family dinner afterwards. That dinner was always "Onion Sauce." I know, it sounds horrible, but I promise it's not. I didn't like onions until I was much older, but I always looked forward to this meal. It's great if you're hosting a big group of people because it easily makes a lot and once you get it on the stove in the morning, you don't have to worry about it until it's time to serve! This is also worked well for today's big snow storm - it's a great winter dish that we all enjoyed tonight!

Onion Sauce
Angus Beef Boneless Chuck Roast (mine was 3.33 lbs)
Lipton Onion Soup and Dip Mix (Two 2-oz. envelopes)
8 medium onions, peeled and quartered
Water
Salt and Pepper
Rigatoni Pasta (the ziti with the lines on it, it works best!)
Grated Parmigiana Cheese