Joshua enjoyed his 19th Birthday dinner! I know that he likes Surf and Turf dishes so I’ve made his favorites!
I was planning to make a casual dinner for my family and actually wrote a small menu plan as you can see below. But once I start cooking I feel like my wings pick me up and move me around the kitchen. I get completely absorbed in cooking.
Life has taught me that one of the most important things is to have a good and positive attitude and to enjoy what you do, then everything will turn out better!
I cook with a smile since I know my family will enjoy these dishes!
19th Birthday Menu:
- Spanakopita (Costco)
- Garlic bread
- Salad
- Chicken Potstickers with onions and peppers (Costco’s LingLing Potstickers with Chicken and Vegetable)
- Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini
- Shrimp Tempura (Costco)
- Garlic/Parmesan shrimp with broccoli (Costco’s Wild Argentine Red Shrimp)
- Lobsters
- NY Strip steaks with potatoes
- Carvel Ice Cream cake
- Fruit bowl
Actually the best prices on Lobsters (for Florida folks) we found at the Winn-Dixie supermarket.
They are fully cooked. I just reboil them before serving. The price is usually $10 each on sale or $12, regular. Which is not that bad considering you will pay $40+ for one at the restaurant.
Walmart supermarket used to sell 2 cooked lobsters for $18 which we enjoyed as well.
Click here for the Broiled Teriyaki Salmon recipe
I often cook with what I have on hand. We had a frozen Wild Argentine Red Shrimp pack from Costco and fresh broccoli. In no time we had this tasty dish which you can serve on its own or with pasta, rice, couscous, polenta, potatoes…
How to make Garlic Parmesan Shrimp and Broccoli
Ingredients
- Defrosted shrimp
- Broccoli (or any other veggies you have on hand)
- Garlic
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Italian seasoning (or your favorite)
- Freshly squeezed lemon
- pepper to taste
Heat olive oil and butter in a heavy skillet over high heat.
Place shrimp in an even layer on the bottom of the pan and cook for 1 minute without stirring.
Cook and stir until shrimp begin to turn pink.
Stir in garlic and broccoli.
Season with Parmesan cheese, Italian spices, pepper, and lemon juice.
Serve and enjoy! Garnish with fresh herbs. I’ve used homegrown oregano.
This is the ultimate weeknight dinner – easy, fast, and delicious!
If you look at my previous tables you will see how much we love PANKO BREADED SHRIMP from Costco. Not long ago, we discovered a new favorite: Kirkland Signature Tempura Shrimp
You can make your own Shrimp Tempura and I have the recipe here. but it’s so convenient to have a package ready in your freezer. I love serving them with Edamame!
During summer Joshua has asked me to give him cooking lessons so he can cook on his own. Obviously, we cooked a lot when he was a kid and you will find his smiling happy face in many of my older recipes. He always loved cooking with me. But now he wants to cook without my supervision.
#1 in Cooking is Safety!
NY Strip steaks with potatoes
We went to Outback Steakhouse recently, funny that they call themselves a “Steakhouse” when their steak is like rubber, you can’t swallow it after 10 minutes of chewing it, lol.
Click here for the NY Strip Steak Recipe
I boiled small potatoes and then pan-fried them in the leftover steak juices. So delicious!
Chicken Potstickers with onions and peppers (Costco’s LingLing Potstickers with Chicken and Vegetable)
These potstickers are super tasty and great to have in your freezer for when you have company over and need a quick meal.
All you need to do is caramelize onions and add mushrooms, peppers, or whatever you have on hand. I’ve added garlic and fresh dill for the flavor.
Happy 19th Birthday to our smart, sweet, kind, and handsome young man!
We had a very difficult time getting pregnant (those who know our story). It took us 10 years of very painful physically and emotionally procedures, not counting how costly it is going through all these infertility treatments. But in the end, it’s all worth it! We had our much loved and long-awaited boy!
We can’t be more proud and happy for all of his accomplishments!
Joshua just finished his first year in college with a 4.0 GPA! You know that it takes really hard work to get such amazing grades!
I hope years from now, Joshua will find this post and it will bring happy memories for him as it does for us, his parents!

Joshua's 19th Birthday Dinner
Easy and Delicious recipes from Joshua's birthday dinner!
Notes
19th Birthday Menu:
- Spanakopita (Costco)
- Garlic bread
- Salad
- Chicken Potstickers with onions and peppers (Costco’s LingLing Potstickers with Chicken and Vegetable)
- Buitoni Three Cheese Tortellini
- Shrimp Tempura (Costco)
- Garlic/Parmesan shrimp with broccoli (Costco’s Wild Argentine Red Shrimp)
- Lobsters
- NY Strip steaks with potatoes
- Carvel Ice Cream cake
- Fruit bowl
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