Shrimp Crostini with Saffron Aioli (+Saffron Giveaway)

This is a recipe that combines two of my favorite ingredients: shrimp and saffron. Specifically, I made a shrimp crostini with saffron aïoli. I flavored the mayonnaise with garlic and freshly ground saffron threads. I placed the shrimp on a bed of toasted bread to create a nice contrast of texture. The taste of the saffron is so intense in the aïoli sauce that it feels almost sinful.

Today's giveaway is an awesome combination of pure saffron threads & vanilla from Saffron.com. There are few things in this world as fragrant, exotic or luxurious as saffron. I love using it in drinks, savory and sweet dishes. It's as versatile as it is unique. Quality can vary greatly, and the saffron from Saffron.com is some of the best I've had, which is a tribute to the passion of the owner, Juan. For a chance to win, just enter on our 25 Days of Giveaways page.

We’re in the home stretch of the giveaways, and we have some really special ones in store for you, including a Zojirushi rice cooker, some very fine chocolates from John Kelly Chocolates, and a huge assortment of AMAZING goat dairy products from Redwood Hill Farms. Don’t forget to enter!

Make sure you're a fan of PhamFatale Facebook fan page or follow @Phamfatalecom and tweet about this giveaway. To make it easy, you can just copy and paste this tweet if you’d like: "Win Saffron and Vanilla #Giveaway from @Phamfatalecom: http://bit.ly/sp4V7y".

How to Make an Omelet

Whenever my husband's little 7-year-old nephew comes over, he always asks for my special omelet. His mom Sara asked me to teach her because he keeps asking for Auntie Jackie's eggs! My trick is to add very little besan (which is chickpea flour) and cream (or milk), and top it with a little cheese. The omelet can be whipped up in no time and served with salsa on the side.

Whether it's for breakfast or a light meal, omelets are a simple, versatile option. The ingredients can be adapted to suit the time of day and what you have on hand. You could make them plain with a little cheese or add cold cuts, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach or even fish sauce. What’s not to love?