Colorful Romaine Salad with Summer Fruits & Goat Cheese| Grilled Citrus Shrimp | Grilled Sweet Corn | Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is officially August. Something else that’s hard to believe is that I kind of wish summer would slow down a bit. I’m usually the first one to scream “can it be fall already?” but this is the first time in a long time that I’m truly loving summertime. Even though the weather is hot, summer is been good around here. I love my early morning walks, my afternoon swims, all of the flowers, and sitting out on the patio with my coffee and book. I’m not ready for the cooler weather just yet.
These past few weeks, we’ve been enjoying our dinners outside on the patio. Last night, we made the most delicious summer salad with grilled shrimp and washed it down with fluffy pink cupcakes. I hope our dinner gives you an idea for one of your weekend meals. I’ve been trying to share more “what’s for dinner” style posts on the blog to help switch up the menu. I always get inspiration from others. I kept seeing, Natasha, our boot camp instructor, post her shrimp salads, and that’s what inspired this dinner night!
Everything about dinner was delicious.
First, I wrapped the shrimp in tin foil, added a lemon vinaigrette dressing, salt, pepper, and threw it on the grill to cook for ten minutes. I wanted to cook the shrimp first so it would cool by the time dinner was ready. I’m not a big fan of adding hot proteins to a salad.
After I took the grilled shrimp off, I added the sweet corn. I seasoned it with avocado oil, black pepper, and onion salt from Trader Joes. I let the corn cook for about 6 minutes on each side (corn has four sides, right? 😉)
The salad had multi-colored romaine, diced mango, raspberries, cherry plums, cucumbers, avocado, red onion, and goat cheese. We used the lemon vinaigrette dressing (same one as the shrimp) for the top.
Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
- 1 cup avocado oil
- juice of 2 lemons
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried chives
- 1 tsp garlic (or onion salt)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
If you’ve never had a cherry plum, you need to head to the grocery store and find them. I raved about them late last summer, and I’ll be eating them for the next few weeks since they’re in season right now. They are the sweetest little fruits ever!
And of course, the highlight of the meal was the fluffy gluten-free cupcakes with strawberry frosting.
I used the Simple Mills vanilla cupcake mix and added the Simple Mills vanilla frosting mixed with strawberries and lemon for the top. I sprinkled a dash of powdered sugar on top for a little bit of extraness.
The cupcakes were so good. I can’t wait to have the leftover salad and cupcake for lunch today. 
You all will have to let me know if you like these “what’s for dinner?” posts! If you missed the last one, we had amazing Caesar salads with glazed angel food cake.
While I’m here, I thought I’d also throw in something I’ve been loving lately. A few days ago, I finished the book I was reading, The Dilemma. It’s by one of my favorite Authors, B.A. Paris. Kyle and I have been doing this new thing for the past few weeks where we turn the T.V. off downstairs and head up to read an hour before bed around 8:30. We don’t have a t.v. in the bedroom anymore, which has really helped me get more sleep, and we’ve replaced that time with reading. I think it’s truly helped with stress and better sleeping habits. Anyways, my point, I started reading Where The Crawdads Sing, and WOW. It’s such a beautiful book and I’m so deep into the story right now. I have a feeling I’ll finish this book before the weekend is up. It’s not my normal genre of books, but I think I’ll start reading outside of my go-to for a while because this book is so wonderful. If you haven’t read it yet, please do! And if you have any more book suggestions, feel free to drop them below!
I hope you all enjoyed this blog and I can’t wait to catch up with you! xo
Questions for you!
- Book recommendations?
- What would you like to see on my “what’s for dinner?” menu next!?
- Any weekend plans/projects you have?
I need to make this – looks so refreshing! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks, Charmaine! 💜
Your blog post appeared in my Google feed this AM and that pic of the shrimp salad caught my eye. Loved everything about your post! Yummy recipe with delicious photography. I enjoyed all of the wonderful ways you bring beauty and joy into the little things of daily life. Take Joy!
Aww thank you!! ♥️ Such a sweet comment.
If you love where the crawdads sing, you need to read The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah! I couldn’t put either down!
Adding it to my list!
Agree! Wonderful book. I suggest The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani.
I heard that’s good!
Totally agree!
Adding that book to my list!
This salad (and the cupcakes) looks delicious!
Also, what is on the side (besides the corn)? Are those croissants?!?
1) Book recommendations?
Just read City of Girls – so good!
2) What would you like to see on my “what’s for dinner?” menu next!?
Would love to see some more grilling recipes!
3) Any weekend plans/projects you have?
Hiking, biking, and grilling out!
Thanks, Mary! 😊
I’ll add that book to my list!
Hi Taralynn!!
B.A. Paris is one of my favorite authors too. I will be starting The Dilemma next week. Super excited!! A few recommendations: Something in the Water, Darling Rose Gold, The Grace Year, Beach Read, 28 Summers and anything by Lisa Jewell. Enjoy!!
Thanks for all of those!!
The Great Alone & The Nightingale but Kristin Hannah are both great! I’m currently reading Something in the Water but Catherine Steadman and it’s amazing! Also I’ve been loving summer for the salads, I have been obsessed with the Lemony Arugula kit from Trader Joes, and I have been adding avocado, pear and there Everything But the Bagel smoked salmon, it’s the BEST combo! Jealous you found cherry plums@ I can’t find them anywhere in southern California.
I have the Great Alone on its way! I can’t wait to read it.
Ohh I need to try that salad kit!
I second the vote for k Hannah’s books though they can be traumatic (warning to sensitive readers). Along the same vein I enjoy Jodi picoult and Christina bohjalian
Also I love this whole meal idea and the spotlight on these meals as separate posts
No fun weekend plans-hospital work!
My friend, Meighan, LOVES Jodi P.
Hope your weekend goes smoothly! ♥️
CHRIS BOHJALIAN NOT sure why my phone autocorrected to Christina 😠
Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate! I’m in a (virtual) Summer book club with girlfriends and Where The Crawdads Sing was our June book and Before We Were Yours was July’s – we all LOVED both!! Also, totally enjoying the “What’s for Dinner” posts 💗 i like that you even include dessert!
I’ll add that to my list!! Thank you!
That’s one of my favorite books I’ve read in a while. Heard a rumor that it might be turned into a movie which I so look forward to.
Reading before bed is such an essential for me. How is it being in bed when it’s still so bright outside?
AHHHH That would make me so happy! I’m glad I read it first because I can’t imagine how they’ll make the marsh as magical and alive!
Books: Untamed by Glennon Doyle (I’m reading it now) and Born A Crime by Trevor Noah (loved it, have so much respect for him, it’s a quick read). What’s for dinner, anything gluten free (everything you make looks awesome). Plans for the weekend, lots of R & R in the sun, beach and reading.
Thanks, Casey!
Enjoy your weekend!!
I came to recommend Kristin Hannah to see she has already been mentioned a few times! The Alice Network by Kate Quinn is also a really interesting read and Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen.
I have the Great Alone sitting in front of me! Can’t wait to read!
This salad looks beautiful and delicious!! I’ve heard such good things about the book, as well, it’s on my reading list!
Make Life Marvelous
Aw thanks girl!
I am loving all these healthy recipes! My boyfriend and I have been really challenging ourselves to eat more healthy and fresh meals and honestly, it’s so great to come on here, read a recipe and then try it later on in the day! I’m a big book lover as well and one that has always stuck with me is a book called Consequences by Penelope Lively. The story crosses over 3 generations beginning, I believe during WW2 London. Each woman has her own story to tell and without saying much more (no spoilers!) its beautifully written!
Manda
Thanks, Manda!
I’ll look into those books! Thank you!
Love seeing what’s for dinner! I also started this book recently and I sort of wondered whether I would be able to get into it but so far, so good! Tate has just left for college and I’m devastated for Kya. Can’t wait to see how things pan out!
Wish I could read it again for the first time!
♥️