Almond Crusted Tilapia

Easy, Delicious, and healthy!
8 Tilapia Fillets

1/4 cup flour - dust each fillet

2 eggs & 1/4 cup water - dip each floured fillet in egg mixture

Cover fillets in almond mixture:
1 cup ground almonds (I put mine in a food processor)
1 cup parmesan Cheese
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp garlic pepper

Place on baking sheet (covered with Tinfoil) bake for 30 minutes @ 375.

You can top with additional freshly grated parmesan cheese.  Remember the lemon garnish!

Fiesta- Cactus

I wanted a backdrop to take pictures at our daddy-daughter Fiesta.  I found a tan sheet at Savers then looked around for some cactus to add.  Styrofoam is ridiculously expensive for this project.  My brilliant sister suggested SWIM NOODLES!  ($7 at walmart for 1 big & 1 little) 

Supplies: 

2 green swim noodles

black spray paint

duct tape

2 hangers

50-100 toothpicks

When we started putting them together the hangers we used to shape them kept poking through.  My genius husband suggested doubling the hanger (not sure why this works, but it does!).   We also put duct tape along the hangers then put them in the noodles and bent them to shape. 

I left a little hanger showing so that it would stick into the base.  I had to shape the ends a little so they'd wrap around the base, then used hot glue to keep them in place.   For cutting the noodles, just a regular bread knife worked. 

Finally, I spray painted toothpicks black. 

*Note- the paint blows the toothpicks all over the place.  After the fact, my husband suggested putting the toothpick tips along a piece of tape and taping them to the newspaper. 

We used full toothpicks along the base and cut the toothpicks in half for the "arms".   We only put toothpicks on one side.  It was a great suggestion by my sister because it made them easier to transport. 

Fun Fiesta prop-  but it's a dangerously prickly weapon!   



Cheeseburger rice----Easy!

I love this recipe because it takes about 15 minutes and it's a good fix when you're craving a hamburger!

1 lb ground hamburger
1 chopped onion
Brown together until done.

Add:
1 Tb prepared mustard
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup ketchup
Salt & Pepper
Bring to a boil. 
Add 1 1/2 cups instant rice (uncooked).
Take off heat, cover, let sit for 5 minutes.

Fluff with a fork, add:
1 cup Cheese (cheddar or mozarella), cover again until melted.  (Sometimes I put it back on the burner for a minute or two.)

That's it, your done!  Easy!

Beef Tip Gravy

I'm always looking for recipes to use Stew meat in.   This recipe called for 90 mins of simmering, I did simmered about 10-15 mins on the stove and the meat turned out great. (A steak texture rather than falling apart stew meat.) So, take your pick according to how much time you have. If I were to actually simmer the 90 mins. I'd change this to a crockpot recipe and let it sit at low for a few hours. 

1/2 onion chopped
1 pound cubed beef stew meat
2 Tb oil
Cook about 3-5 minutes, until meat is browned and oinions are translucent. 
2 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp garlic powder
Bring to a boil and simmer.  (90 mins= stew meat, 10-15 mins = steak)

Combine :
1 cup water & 1 packet dry brown gravy mix. 
Add into the meat mixture.  Bring  to a boil until slightly thickened. 

I served it over potatoes that had been cubed, boiled, and slightly mashed with a fork. 
Great hometown meal!

Acorn Squash w/ craisins & apples

1 Acorn squash
1 apple (yellow or red)
1/2 tsp orange rind
1/4 cup craisins
2 Tb butter
1/2 cup brown sugar

Cut squash and clean out seeds.  Fill center with diced apple and craisins. 
Sprinkle orange rind and brown sugar, including on top edge.  Drizzle melted butter and bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

BBQ Chicken Pizza (French Bread)

I found a new bread at Walmart - the Italian Loaf.  It's shorter and wider than a regular loaf of French bread and worked perfect for this.  

1 Italian Loaf
2 chicken breasts
1/4 cup red onion
BBQ sauce
2 cups Mozarella cheese


2 chicken breasts.  Sliced thin - about the size of a domino. 
Cook chicken and towards the end add 1/4 cup of diced red onion.  Cook together just long enough to soften the onion a little.  

Cut Italian Loaf in half (top and bottom).  Spread chicken and onion across. 
Drizzle your favorite BBQ sauce over - don't get it too thick. 
Top with Mozarella cheese and bake in the oven at 375 for about 10 minutes.  

I'm positive it's healthier than regular pizza! 

Chicken Stirfry

2 chicken breasts, diced and cooked

Veggies of your choice. Cook with 1/2 cup water, covver and steam. 
I used:
Broccoli, Zuchinni, Carrots, & Green peppers

Sauce: 
2 TB Cornstarch
3 Tb Brown sugar
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup Karo syrup
1/2 cup soy sauce (or less)
2 TB white vinegar
1 TB sesame oil
1 Tb rice vinegar
3/4 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp garlic
Boil for 1 minute, plus 1-2 more to thicken.  Pour over ckn & veggies and serve over rice.  

PS.  If you've never cooked with sesame oil..... get some!   I love the smell and it really adds a lot of flavor.