Dijon Tilapia with Capers

You know what makes me feel terrible? I have tried new recipes and I can't remember to get on here and post them! Well, I guess working OT will do that to a person.

Tonight I didn't want chicken or ground beef. I saw the tilapia again... Yum. Ran out of cheese. Doesn't that put a damper on things? Typically, yes, but not today! My dish below I realized once I plated it was all white. However, you can tweak it, as always! My kiddos ate it, so I'm not complaining. The dijon mustard give it a nice flavor while the sour cream smooths it out.

If you don't know much about fish, or don't really eat it, you'll love tilapia. It is a VERY mild tasting fish. I say that because I like fish and tilapia doesn't taste like fish at all. It almost has no flavor. It's very bland and just cooking it with the pam give it a nice buttery flavor (I love butter). It is a wonderful fish to get to know and learn how to cook with.

3 Tilapia loins
Pam or some Butter
1/3 C Sour Cream
1 T Milk
1 T Dijon Mustard
2 t capers, drained

1 box scalloped potatoes, cooked according to pkg directions
2 C frozen broccoli and cauliflower, steamed

Spray a cookie sheet with pam. Place tilapia on the sheet. Spray fish with Pam. Bake at 450 deg for 4-6 minutes. Flip and cook another few minutes until cooked through if needed.

While your fish is cooking, mix sour cream, milk and mustard in a small pot over low heat. Do not bring to a boil! Add the capers once it's all mixed.

Plate your fish and pour (yes, it will be thick) the sauce over the fish. Serve with potatoes and veggies. *you could add more milk (careful here) to make it less viscous.

Casserole Surprise

I don't  know if I've posted this before, but I've learned that my kids do not like their dinner plate broken down into meat, veggie, starch, fruit. They pick at it. But.....if I make a casserole, it's gone in 5 minutes. Today's dish is created from a combination of my likes and the kid's likes. You got meat, starch and veggies all in one! Best part - NO ONE knew I put fish in this dish.......

8 oz of noodles - I used mini pinwheels
12 oz velveeta cheese
1/3 c skim milk
1 small frozen pkg of broccoli & cauliflower that you steam in the microwave
S&P to taste
3 tilapia loins
any seasoning you like (see below)
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C bread crumbs

Heat oven to 350 deg. Cook noodles according to package directions. While noodles are cooking pan sear (cook) tilapia in butter and any seasoning you like (garlic, dill, sage, basil, etc..) Shred tilapia, set aside. Microwave veggies and dice. Drain noodles, dump back in pot. Return the pot to the stove and add milk, cheese. Mix until melted. Add veggies and fish - mix well. Place mixture in rectangle baking dish.Top with cheese and bread crumbs. Bake for 15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Broccoli for Chinese Night

I have to have a veggie with dinner. And unless I do take on brown rice, I'm bored with having just a veggie. So, I tweaked my broccoli.

Cook broccoli according to package. Set aside.

Heat together:

1 t sugar

2 T apple cider vinegar

2 T vegetable oil

2 T soy sauce

If you want to bring it to a boil, then only do so for a minute. You really only have to heat it through then pour it over your broccoli. Toss to coat. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds or toasted almonds.

Cheesey Chicken with Broccoli

To my friend who also hates dry chicken! I am sorry - this one does take a lot of pans.....

Chicken breast - 1 for each person eating, let's say 4

1 C cooked rice

4 oz velveeta cheese

1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup

Broccoli - enough for 4 people

Seasonings - what do you like? Hopefully something with onion and garlic and herbs. I'll explain later...

Season your chicken the way you like it. You can cook it any way. BBQ on the grill, S&P pan fried... I have a couple different seasonings I use. I have this one from Pampered Chef that is a dill mix with onion, garlic, and other seasonings. I put butter in the pan and fry my seasoned chicken. A secret I have personally learned from a chef is that meats do not like to be touched while cooking. Put your chicken on the pan. LEAVE IT ALONE until you're ready to flip it to the other side. You want your pan to be hot before you put your chicken on. You want to seal in the flavor by searing it (not burning it). If you are fearful, sear it, then turn down the temp a little. May take some time, but try around medium heat. Flip to other side. I believe chicken is done when it's a little bouncy to the fork- not lots-a-bouncy though. You should flip your meat a max of 2 times. Cook the rest of the meal while the chicken is cooking:

Start the rice. 2 C water to a boil, add 1 C rice. Cover and simmer 20 minutes. Bam!

While that is cooking you can also start your broccoli. Bring some water to a boil - about an inch, add broccoli. Bring back to boil. Cover, simmer -eh - 10 min or however crunchy/soft you want your broccoli. (ask if you're confused) Or microwave the frozen bag.

In a pot add cream of chicken, cheese, and again - any seasoning to taste (a good few shakes!). If in doubt try a Mrs. Dash blend. I'm a garlic and onion mix with other herbs fan but you can try almost anything. See what's in your pantry. The cool thing about cooking is that you can try anything and add to taste - unlike baking. Mix this over medium heat. Your're going to have to stir almost constantly to keep it from sticking to the bottom. Most liquids say to stir constantly for this reason. The consistency you're looking for is smooth, creamy like. You want no lumps in it. This is the last to start because you're going to be stirring while everything else is cooking.

Time to plate! Place your chicken on the plate. Next to it a spoonful of rice. Next to (or even on top of) that your broccoli. Time for the cheese.....yum...... pour the cheese over the broccoli. I like the cheese so much I put the cheese mix over everything. I can't have enough. It also helps having the cheese over the chicken if you've over cooked your chicken and it came out a little dry. I LOVE sauces. They can help the meal sometimes if it didn't come out right.

I've written this one in a rush so I hope it came out right. If it didn't please let me know and I'll explain better.