My husband bugged me for months to try fish tacos, but I hesitated because it sounded so.....fishy. I looked at a couple of recipes on the internet, but none caught my eye (mostly because they all seemed so fatty and unhealthy.) One day, he opened his Muscle & Fitness magazine (whole other post, I know!!), and said, "We are making these tomorrow!" So, I tried the recipe, tweaked it a little, and now we have a family fave! I'm going to try not to comment, and just give you the recipe straight. Here goes:
Ingredients:
6-8 frozen tilapia filets
salt & pepper
1 avacado
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup cilantro
1 Tbsp sambol or Sri Racha
1 cup shredded cabbage
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
Flour or whole wheat tortillas
Thaw the fish, and cut into 6 inch pieces. Salt & pepper, and place in a non-stick baking pan. Cook for 10-12 minutes in a 350 degree oven.
While the fish is cooking, mix the avacado, tomatoes, cilantro, and Sri Racha. Blend together until creamy.
Once the fish is cooked, place it on warmed tortillas. Top with cabbage, spicy guacamole, and sliced onions. No cheese necessary, but you can add it if you like (along with sour cream or salsa, if you prefer.) We love these without the added cheese and sour cream. Oh, so yummy, and healthy too!!
Disclaimer: The photo is the original photo from the Sept 2011 issue of M & F. I take horrible food photos, and I ate all the fish tacos before I could even attempt a picture today. The original recipe (before my tweaking) was from Chef Robert Irvine. Now, you can return to your scheduled programming.
A friend of mine is having a frugal recipe contest on her blog, Coupon Newbie. I remember a lot of things that my Mom used to cook for us, Roast & Potatoes (yummy!!), Breakfast for Dinner (my fave!) and Hot Dogs (always my birthday pick!). Being the kid I was, I didn't know when she was serving a "frugal" meal, though. I just knew what I liked and what I didn't.
So, I called her to find out what she fixed when money was a little tight. This is the one I remember and am going to start feeding my family (even if money isn't tight.) It's that yummy!
I'm adding in prices so you can see just how much little it costs.
1 pkg. smoked sausage ($2.50-$3.00)
1 lb. lentils ($1)
Start cooking lentils according to package. When lentils are almost done, cut smoked sausage on a diagonal and cook for just a few minutes in a skillet. Drain on paper towels. Add to the lentils. Salt and pepper to taste. (You can experiment with different seasonings to fit your family's taste. My husband loves to spice it up with peppers & Tabasco; I prefer it with just some seasoning salt and onion.)
You can fix this with potatoes ($3.00/5 lb.) or pita bread ($2/8) or a tossed salad. Even if you fixed all of this (which would feed 6-8 people), you would probably have a meal for about $11. Definitely frugal fare!!
Yum! Now I'm hungry, and I know what we're having for dinner!
Someone who read my first blog post told me that I hadn't really introduced myself (& that it wasn't very good.) I am choosing to listen to the first part and ignore the second part! While you can read a little about me in the "About Me" section, if you are really going to get to know me, I had better let you all in on some of the finer points of my life. I don't really like to post about myself, but I'd really like you all to get to know me so I can get to know you. Where shall I begin.......?
ME: My name is Sarah, and I'm rapidly approaching 35 years of age (which scares me more than I'd like to admit.) I love to cook, garden, scrapbook, read, run, and do a whole bunch of other stuff that I never have time to do. I am a work-at-home mom with an in-home daycare. I am constantly surrounded by children, and sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. That's when I escape for a few hours to be alone--grocery shopping. Don't be overwhelmed by the excitement of my life just yet, there's more!
MY FAMILY: I married a man almost 11 years ago that I never would have picked for me, but he turned out to be the greatest catch EVER! I love him with all my heart, and he is my hero in every way, even though he doesn't have a romantic bone in his body! We have four wonderful children that are the source of great joy and extreme frustration. We live next door to my in-laws which could be a very sticky situation, but it turned out to be a wonderful arrangement. My parents are just a few miles away which seems unbelievably different than how I planned my life to be. I think it went something like, "I'm moving as far away from here as I possibly can, and I'm going to travel all over the world." Um, not so much! Thankfully, we all get along and family holidays, birthdays and outings are literally "one, big, happy family".
MY FOOD: Because I do have a large family, and my work brings even more mouths into the house, I often find myself in the kitchen. Some days, it's a blessing; some days, it's a curse. Three meals a day and snacks too! Since I'm caring for other people's children as well as my own, I feel this added pressure to eat healthy. I don't always succeed, especially when I'm crunched for time or just plain worn out, but I do try! I love to share my menus and recipes with any and all who take the time to ask. I also have friends and family with medical issues (diabetes, Celiac, asthma, etc.) so I try to add a few modified recipes in the mix for when we have guests. I bake my kids birthday cakes, and absolutely LOVE church potluck dinners! Guess you could say I'm a jack of all trades (but master of none) when it comes to the kitchen!
MY FAITH: I don't think any summary of my life would be complete without a mention of my faith. I am a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. I am a Baptist by conviction. I try not to preach my faith to those around me, but I will--especially if someone else starts the conversation. I try better to live it through my words and actions. I very often fail at being a good light in my world, and I'm not always the best one to point others to Christ; but I wake up each morning with that goal in mind. My faith is what sustains me and gives me peace and joy in my heart. Public debate about what I believe is not what I am after. If I post something about my faith, it is only to share a part of my life with you. Arguing is not my intention, and if "discussion" arises, I'd rather it be one-on-one than in a public forum.
That's a more in-depth "about me", although I'd like to share more of my story with you as this blog continues. Sometimes, my life is a little boring, and sometimes there are stories that are great to share. I'll try to share them all as I get to know you a little more. Enjoy!
