Pan -"Grilled" Fish

Frozen tilapia fillets are one thing I keep in my deep freezer for those days when I need a quick meal and don't have time to go to the store. I usually just pan-sear the fillets with just a little bit of seasoning (s&p, lemon, etc.) to keep it light and healthy (especially in the summer). I had the same box of bread crumbs I used in this recipe left over, so I decided to add a little to the fish. What I thought was just a thrown-together super fast meal got rave reviews at my house (and with fish, that's a big deal), so I thought I would share it.

You can use tilapia or any white flaky fish.

I made this on the stove in my grill pan, which was one of my best investments ever. If you cook a lot and don't have one, you might look into it! I got mine on special at Williams-Sonoma after Christmas a few years ago - similar to this and this.

Ingredients:
4-6 tilapia fillets
Italian bread crumbs
"I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray
Black pepper
Seasoned Salt
Garlic Powder

Instructions:
Heat about 2 Tbsp olive oil in grill pan or skillet on Med/High heat. Sprinkle pepper, salt, garlic powder over fish fillets, spray with butter, dip in bread crumbs for a light coating, transfer to pan/skillet. I cook them about 5 minutes, then flip, and cook an additional 3-4 minutes. 


I know this is pretty elementary, but I always enjoy learning how people customarily cook their food, so I thought I would share it.

Project Post 25: House Number Plaque

On a few occasions, my UPS and FedEX guys have commented that I'm suppose to have house numbers visible on my house. They are very visible on both sides of my mailbox, which is right next to what is unquestionably my driveway, but apparently they are suppose to be on my house too. So when I saw this post, I knew that's what I wanted to make. Here is my version:

{Wood plaque from Home Depot - Minwax Dark Walnut stain}

{House numbers from Home Depot}

{I applied one coat of stain, and blotted some off with a damp rag. After it dried, I applied a coat of polyurethane to keep it looking decent out in the elements.}

I painted the numbers a mustard color that I had leftover from this project. I put a little screw-in eye hook that I had on hand in the bottom to hang wreaths, signs, etc. on it. I like how this turned out! Mission accomplished.

The Beach III

Seaside

When we went to the beach we stayed in my aunt's condo. She graciously allows our family to use her condo, and it is one of my very favorite places in this world to be. When we're down there, we always enjoy driving down to Seaside. Seaside is a neat little planned community, and it is the place where The Truman Show was filmed. If you ever find yourself in the Destin/Pensacola Florida area, I highly recommend driving down to spend some time in this neat little place. Here are some pictures we snapped in Seaside:

{Trying out the timer for the first time...didn't quite get it:)}

{A pretty little alley we had not discovered before}

{Out on the town square - each of the little trailers are different restaurants}

{People gathering on the knoll before a concert. You couldn't even see any grass when it was time to start}

{We walked to see the house from The Truman Show - it was about a half mile from the town square}




Annoyingly Patriotic

I believe in patriotism. I am proud to be an American and I love my country. I believe in wearing my "Sunday best" for church because I think church demands respect. Likewise (in my eyes), I enjoy dressing for holidays. I realize this is weird and aggravating to some (Tyler) and that the world through my eyes it not the same world that everyone else sees. To each his own :)

Happy Independence Day! Here are some flashbacks for you to enjoy make fun of :)

Gratitude

Yesterday during Sunday School we heard that a sweet one-year old baby girl who goes to our church was rushed to the emergency room because she wasn't breathing. At the end of the service our pastor got word that she had passed away. She was born with some brain damage and her parents knew that this might eventually happen, but nothing can prepare you for that day, especially when she was so much a part of their lives already. We closed the service in prayer for her sweet, grieving family.

Several months ago, a friend I graduated high school with lost his 3-month-old baby boy to SIDS. It hit me so close to home, that I couldn't go to the funeral, I just baked a ham and giant casserole and took it to his house for the family's meal after the service.

It seemed like during Levi's first year, I heard about more acquaintances/friends/classmates who lost children than I had heard about in the previous 26 years of my life.

We've got some minor developmental/health things going on with Levi right now. Compared to these families who have lost their babies or are dealing with major health issues or cancer, it is so minor. Even though it's still scary to us and we are being pretty aggressive with doctor appointments and therapies, I am overwhelmingly thankful for his health. He is healthy and happy and I'm so thankful that God is allowing me to be his mother. My heart is burdened for these families, but it is so heavy with gratitude.

{thanks to Amy Dale for this photo}

Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. 1 Corinthians 7:17

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Chicken Tortilla Casserole

This is a very basic chicken casserole. My recipe was inspired by this one that I found on Pinterest. I made it last night because I had all the ingredients on hand and it was too hot for a trip to the store with a tired toddler. It would be great served with sour cream and salsa on top with a Mexican-themed meal. I had some fresh local sweet corn and okra to make so that is what we had with it. It's a great, tasty little casserole.

It calls for 3 cups of cooked chicken, and I had two large boneless skinless breasts in the freezer, so I cooked those and shredded them. In a pinch, or for a really fast meal, you could use canned chicken.

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked chicken

12 corn tortillas, cut into little pieces

2 cans of cream of chicken soup

1 can or rotel

2 cups (about) shredded cheese, cheedar or mexican variety

1 can of black olives (optional)

Instructions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix soups, rotel, olives in a bowl. Layer 1/3 of the tortilla pieces in the bottom of a 3-qt. baking dish. Layer 1/2 of the chicken over that. Pour 1/2 the soup mixture over chicken and spread evenly. Layer another 1/3 of the tortillas. Spread remaining chicken and then soup mixture. Top with remaining tortilla pieces. Bake for 40 minutes. Sprinkle cheese on top, bake for 5-10 additional minutes to melt cheese.

The Beach II

Here is part two from our trip. I'll probably do one more post after this one, so I'll apologize now if you're getting sick of vacation pictures. :)

One night we planned to go to Stinky's Fish Camp. We had driven by the place (unbeknownst to me) several times on previous trips, but had never really paid attention. Luckily, I read about it here, on a blog I follow, and they gave it rave reviews. It was a really neat place. Extremely busy, on a week night, early. It is mandatory valet parking (complementary). We only had to wait about 15 minutes, and we sat on an upper screened-in porch that overlooked a marsh/pond area, which was neat. The weather was perfect, and the seafood even better, so we had a great time there!

I ordered this mainly for Tyler - he is BIG on seafood and I wasn't extremely hungry. This was called "Taste of Stinky's" and it included their famous crab cake, spicy crawfish pie, fried fish, and the side was homemade shells and cheese (left to right). I sampled it all, and it was all excellent.

{Something was evidently really funny - he was being a goober}

{I tried these oysters for Tyler...not my thing but at least I tried!}