Sunday, January 22

Fish Tacos

Tilapia Fish Tacos to DIE for <3
I love love love these tacos... one of my many favorite dishes! (OK, I say that alot... I like to eat) I made these last month.. Enjoy.
This is a family recipe.. not sure of its origin.. LOL

RECIPE:
1 to 1 1/2 lb. of Tilapia
Salt & Pepper

I cut the tilapia into strips.. because each strip with then be a perfect serving for the tacos.. You get about 4 strips per tilapia steak. Season fish with salt & pepper.


Beer Batter RECIPE:
3/4 cup beer (YOUR CHOICE)
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. Mustard
1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Mix ingredients together to form a thick batter, almost like a pancake batter. Dip individual strips & Fry about 4-6 mins per side. Drain on a paper towel.



To make the Avocado salsa..
pretty much I combined diced avocado, tomato, onion, cilantro, a splash of lime
& seasoned w/ salt & pepper.


Other toppings: Shredded Cabbage, spicy salsa & cream sauce...

Click link below for Mexican slaw recipe, that also compliments these tacos!
Cream Sauce:
1 1/2 tbsp plain yogurt
1 1/2 tbsp mayonnaise
Salt & Pepper


Warm tortillas, add a layer of cream sauce, top with a strip of fish & garnish w/ other toppings...



ENJOY!!!!

Saturday, January 21

Easy Lentil Soup

Lentils pack great nutritional value & many health benefits... great for you & the whole family!
Store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. An additional tip: when my daughter was a baby, I stored lentil soup in mini glass containers in the freezer.. why?? Who has time to make something healthy 24/7 & it's a better option then store bought baby food. Below is my mom's recipe.

RECIPE:
2 Roma Tomatoes
1/4 chopped onion
1 minced garlic clove
1 cup of Dry Lentils
1 1/2 Tb of Salt 

Chop all ingredients...


Saute Garlic & Onion (2 mins.)

Add in chopped tomato & cook down until simmers..

Smash everything down with a potato smasher... Season with salt & add lentils..

Fill your pot 3/4 the way up.. Remember Lentils expand & absorb water..
Cook for 45 mins. on a low simmer..


Taste & maybe adjust seasonings.. add a splash of Lime juice!


ENJOY!

Hard Shell Turkey Taco's

A healthier alternative to my favorite fast food... TACO BELL!
Picked up Ground Turkey, Whole wheat hard shells & made a fresh salsa.

RECIPE:
1 lb. ground Turkey meat
8 Hard shells (whole wheat)
1 pk. Taco Seasoning (less sodium)
Your favorite fresh salsa
Ice burg lettuce (chopped)
Cheddar Cheese


Brown the ground turkey in a large skillet, add the taco seasoning & water (instructions on package)..


make a simple salsa or Pico de Gallo..
add an Habanero pepper for a KICK!!!!

Assemble the tacos.. meat, lettuce (not pictured) , cheese & top with fresh salsa!
Easy enough...
After he <3 ate his tacos.. I told him it was turkey & whole wheat shells.. haha! He said it was good!

ENJOY!!!

Monday, January 16

Roasted (no oil) Chicken Breasts

Something different... I'm on a health craze & began P90X... so I'll try to share some of my "healthy" dishes I prepare or what I consider to be healthy ;)
 
RECIPE:

3-4 Bone-in/ Chicken Breasts
1 cup (low sodium) Chicken Stock
1 Lemon (sliced)
6-7 Garlic cloves
Seasoning Salt
1 Tb dried Rosemary



Place chicken breast (bone side) down. Sprinkle seasoning salt all over.
With a small pairing knife stab each breast in slide in a whole garlic clove. Sprinkle with dried rosemary and place lemon slice on top. Pour chicken broth into dish, cover & roast for 45mins.

(Apparently it was so tasty I forgot to photograph the finished product) haha!
ENJOY!!

Zucchini Rice

Recipe:
1 cup Jasmine Rice
1 3/4 Water
1 Tb Salt
1 clove of garlic (minced)
1 zucchini (grated)

PreHeat your favorite rice pan, add a bit of oil & saute garlic for about a minute. 
Add water & salt.. cover and bring to a boil.
Add rice & zucchini, cover. Cook for 15mins.



Enjoy!!

Monday, January 9

Brown Rice w/ Edamame (& Orange Chicken)

& Trader Joe's Frozen Orange Chicken....
 which is to die for! LOVE IT!

RECIPE:

1 cup of Brown Rice
1 garlic clove (minced)
1 cup frozen Edamame


Cook orange chicken according to packaged directions. (I cut the pieces in half).. I also made sure to brown the chicken pieces well.. for a crunchy bite.


For the rice. In your favorite rice pan.. heat up olive oil, add garlic & saute for 2 mins, add water (amount depending on rice, the bag usually states amounts), 1 TB salt. When water comes to a boil add rice, cover, cook for 35 mins.. open & pour in edamame (incorporate with a fork) cover & cook for remaining 10 mins. Rice should cook for a total of 45 mins.


SERVE...



ENJOY!!

Sunday, January 8

Steak yup, STEAK Empanadas

It had been well over a year since I last made empanadas.. so just imagine how excited I was. My soon-to-be sister in law was my helper for the night, thankfully! If you ever attempt this recipe, its a good idea to have someone there :-)
OK here we go.....

RECIPE:
(For the sauce) 6 Dried Pasilla, 2 roma tomato's, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp salt, 1 garlic clove, slice onion!
Cook the chiles & tomatoes in a small pot with water for 15mins. Transfer to a blender without the cooking liquids, add garlic, onion, cumin & salt.. blend until smooth! Set aside!

1 lb. of Carne Ranchera (flap meat) chopped
1 large idaho potato (small dice)

Saute meat until browned, add in potato & chile sauce. Cook for 20 mins until potato is cooked through. Turn off. Meanwhile assemble the dough.


I used Maseca, which is a ready made flour (add water & salt).
So I followed the instructions on the back & prepared my dough.
Excuse my almost empty Corona bottle,
how else do you think I managed to get through this meal!


SO.. unless you have a tortilla maker... use 2 plates & a large ziplock bag (cut thru sides). Make golf size balls & squeeze them slightly into palm size circles... This will allow you to create an even circle. Press down until circle is about (ummmm.. like a thick tortilla) until you feel the meat mixture won't break through.


Add about 2-3 Tablespoons of the meat mixture to half the dough, grabbing both ends of the plastic bag fold the dough in half, press down on edges.. With a fork slightly pressed down on the edges for an even seal & some design.


Heat up some Grape seed oil or Canola & fry (as many as you can fit) until each side is golden brown. 

Drain well & allow to slightly cool before serving.


Serve with fresh chopped iceberg lettuce, your favorite spicy sauce & some sour cream.. *optional

ENJOY!!

Friday, January 6

1st Indoor Fancy Nancy Party

First of all Happy New Years!
I've been dying to share our most recent extravaganza... my daughter turned 7!
We decide on 12 guest of her choice <3
As always I go above & beyond for her.. here are a few pictures documenting the fun & all the fabulous decor that took place indoors! Yes, indoors...& it all worked out!


Jewelry Buffet


Above: Chocolate Pretzel Rods & I made her a personal mini "Fancy Nancy" cake!

Story Time!

The beautiful Birthday Girl!

Now this is a food blog after all... so last but not least the food!
Below: Pink Lemonade (which they enjoyed in plastic wine cups), a veggie platter, tea sandwiches (turkey, ham & cucumber), Mixed green salad, Shrimp Orzo Salad (for the moms, made by my sister), Pigs in a blanket, Chips & a enormous tray of Lasagna!!
The assortment of FOOD


ENJOY!!