Tilapia with Lemon-Butter Sauce

I mentioned previously that one of our resolutions for this year was to focus on getting healthier.  They say that happiness can make you fat and it has!  I am extremely happy (happier than I've ever been) but I've also packed on a few extra pounds.  I have a little frame so it's very noticeable when I do gain a little weight.  I still fit into my clothes, but they're definitely getting tight and that is a sure sign that something needs to be done!

I didn't want to diet though.  I've tried zillions of diets over the years only to be left discouraged and giving up, ahem, after a couple of weeks.  I've heard time and time again that being healthy should be a lifestyle and not considered a "diet."  Let's face it, dieting doesn't work.  We needed to adopt a healthier approach to eating and staying fit.  And it needs to become a way of life, not a punishment that most "diets" feel like. 

I've always tried to take a somewhat healthy approach to my cooking....I don't use a lot of salt, I make a lot of my own seasonings, I try to avoid most processed foods, etc.  We always had fruit and veggies on-hand, but not enough to get the proper nutrition we needed.  So we decided that we're going to incorporate more healthy foods into our life...more fish, more poultry, more fruit, more veggies, more water, etc.  Since doing so, we've felt a noticeable difference in how we feel!

Yes, we do have the occasional bag of potato chips or homemade cookies, but we don't devour it's entire contents in 1 or 2 days!  We eat in moderation.  We still go out to dinner on the weekends and while sometimes we choose healthier options (as healthy as you can get going out), sometimes I just want a big, juicy cheeseburger!  Or a slice of pizza!  And that's okay, because I do it in moderation and I don't pig out until I'm miserable. 

I made this fish last night and it was unbelievably good!  The fish, alone, was really tasty but after adding the lemon-butter sauce, it was phenomenal!  And so simple to make!  It took, maybe, 15 minutes at the most to throw together.  The fish was light and flavorful and the sauce wasn't too heavy...just a nice balance of flavor.  The sauce would dually be good on chicken as well!  This little guy is definitely going to make it's way into our regular rotation of favorites!


Tilapia with Lemon-Butter Sauce

Ingredients
1 lb. Tilapia or any type of hearty, white fish
3 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter, divided
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
1 Tsp. Flour
1 Garlic Clove, minced
1/4 cup Chicken Stock
2 Tsp. Lemon Juice
1 Med. Tomato, diced


Directions
Pat dry the fillets and season both sides with salt and pepper.

In a large pan, heat 2 Tbsp. butter over med-high heat.  Add in the fillets and sear 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through.  Remove the fillets from the pan and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, heat the remaining 1 Tbsp. butter over med-high heat.  Add in the garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).  Stir in the flour and cook for an additional minute.  Gradually add in the chicken stock, followed by the lemon juice, stirring constantly until a smooth consistency forms.  If the sauce thickens, add in more stock to get the consistency you prefer.

Spoon the sauce over the fillets and top with the diced tomatoes.  Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 Servings
Source: Adapted from Confections of a Foodie Bride

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Cumin Dusted Fish with Black Bean & Avocado Salad

Words cannot describe how elated I am about the beautiful weather we are having! I realize that I'm in the South now and that's to be expected, but this is my first Spring here and coming from Michigan, March is typically a yo-yo month. From year to year, you never know if it's going to be nice and sunny with Spring-like weather or really, really crappy with blustery winds and blizzard conditions. It's just one of those things that I don't miss!

But there is something about a 65 degree day with sun that really brings your spirits up and gets you in the mood for Summer, which is hopefully just around the corner. Thoughts of grilling out, sipping cocktails outside with friends, going to the beach, and laying in the sun gives me the warm and fuzzies! And this nice weather definitely tells me that it's time to put away those recipes for chili and casseroles and bring out the dishes filled with fresh veggies, fruit and meat!

With the beautiful weather we're having, light dishes come to mind, especially those of fish. Served with a fresh and rustic salad of tomatoes, avocados, cilantro and black beans, you can feel your waist shrinking and getting ready for bikini season! At least in my mind, I feel like I'm doing something good by eating this dish!

I used catfish as it was what we had on-hand; it's also a nice mild and tender fish to use and really absorbs the cumin flavor. But really, you could other types as well: salmon, mahi-mahi, tilapia, or white fish would be excellent substitutions. The marriage of flavors is a great combination and you can adjust the intensity of them however you please!

Cumin Dusted Fish with Black Bean Avocado Salad

Ingredients - Fish
1 lb. Fish Fillets (fresh or frozen)
4 Tbsp. Ground Cumin
1 Tbsp. Salt
2 Tbsp. Pepper
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Ingredients - Salad
2 Avocados, chopped roughly
1 large Tomato, chopped roughly
1-15oz. can Black Beans, drained and rinsed
1 small Jalapeno, seeded and diced finely
1/4 small Red Onion, diced finely
1 Lime
Salt
Pepper
2 Tbsp. Fresh Cilantro, chopped roughly

Directions
In a small bowl, mix together the cumin, salt and pepper. Preheat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Generously season one side of the fish with cumin mixture and place in skillet (seasoned side down). Season the other side facing up and cook until no longer opaque (about 2-3 minutes per side). Remove fish from pan and let sit on a plate covered with paper towels to let any excessive oil leave.

In a medium bowl, combine avocado, tomato, black beans, jalapeno and red onion; stir to mix together. Squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the mixture and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add in cilantro and lightly stir to combine.

Spoon over fish and serve immediately.

Note: With the salad, you can add and/or omit any of the ingredients listed as well as adjust the amounts. These are the amounts we prefer for our taste, but they can easily be adapted to yours as well!

Yield: 4 Servings
Source: With a Cherry on Top

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Honey Lime Salmon

Do you ever have those days where it's geting close to dinner time and you know you have to cook, but you have absolutely no idea what to make because you A). didn't plan out your weekly menu like you were supposed to, B). didn't go to the grocery store because you didn't plan out your weekly menu and C). didn't take anything out of the freezer because you, yep, didn't plan out your weekly menu?!  Moral of the story: PLAN OUT YOUR WEEKLY MENU!!!  As you know, we've been trying to eat a bit more healthier in our house, so we have a freezer stocked with an assortment of seafood; in trying to use up the meat and seafood we have, I decided to wing it on dinner and pulled out some salmon since it's usually pretty easy to prepare and always well-liked.

Now that I had solved the first problem of figuring out what to have for dinner, I had to move onto the next of how I was going to prepare it.  Not wanting to run out to the grocery store for a few ingredients, I once again, had to tap into that creative side and work with what I had.  I rummaged through the cupboards and the fridge and came up with a couple of ingredients that I thought may work well together: honey and limes.  I like the sweetness of honey combined with citrus flavors...top that off with a little heat from some red pepper flakes and voila, you have Honey Lime Salmon!

To my delight, this dish was delectable!  The salmon wore the flavors well; it was a light dish but with various depths of flavor blended together to really make it a meal.  Plus, it's something that can be made all year long and the leftovers go great on top of a nice, crunchy salad...yum!

Honey Lime Salmon
Print This Recipe

Ingredients
6 Salmon Fillets
1/2 cup Honey
1 Lime
2 Tbsp. Cilantro, minced
1 Tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
Salt
Pepper

Directions
In a small bowl, combine honey, the zest of 1 lime and the juice of 1 lime; mix well and alter ingredients according to taste.  Mix in cilantro, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste.  - Alter the red pepper flakes according to your like/dislike of heat in foods.

Place salmon in a dish and pour honey lime marinade on top; refrigerate for about 15 minutes to let flavors soak through.  - Do not marinate fish longer than 15 minutes prior to cooking as it will become mushy.

Preheat grill (indoor or outdoor) on Medium heat.  Grill salmon 4-5 minutes on each side and serve immediately.

Source: With a Cherry on Top

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Parmesan Tilapia

Go Fish!  While the once popular children's game would come to mind for most, I'm actually referring to the theme that has been (or is going to be) common amongst our kitchen.  In the spirit of "going healthy" and in light of preparing for the ultimate gorging over the holidays, we are trying really hard to eat more fish and seafood.  One of my favorites (although some may find it boring) is Tilapia!  I don't find it boring at all and actually prefer it's mildness and meaty substance because it can take on so many different flavors and be used in a variety of ways! 

This recipe is one of my own and has to be one of the easiest and most inexpensive meals I know how to make (aside from popping in a frozen dinner or making it out of a box)!  The Tilapia, itself, is initially cooked with simplicity using a little olive oil, salt and pepper.  Later on, it is coated with a creamy parmesan sauce that has a hint of lemon and a richness that isn't overpowering.  And if you're like me and are the one that eats the burnt cheese crusted on the sides of the homemade mac and cheese, you'll especially love this one because after sitting under the broiler, the parmesan gets slightly overdone and makes this dish uberly delightful!

Parmesan Tilapia
Printable Recipe

Ingredients
6 Tilapia Fillets
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

Directions
Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Place fillets on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.  Drizzle olive oil over fillets and season with salt and pepper.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until no longer translucent. 

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, cheese and lemon juice.  Spread mixture over each fillet generously.  Turn oven off and turn on broiler; broil fish for 3-5 minutes or until topping becomes bubbly and brown.  Remove and serve immediately.

Source: With a Cherry on Top original

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