Home Made Breaded Fish Fillets

Hello! I apologize it's been awhile... I've been cooking, just not blogging.

Tonight we ate Breaded Tilapia, with rice and corn.

The rice and corn don't need any explanation - you can even choose any sides you would like to have with your fish. We chose rice and corn due to its speed. It does not take long at all to cook the fish (3 - 5 mins), so if your sides take awhile, get started on them ahead of time.

I love to batter my own fish... I find everyone likes it better than the store-bought pre-packaged fish sticks. We use Tilapia, since it is an easy fish to cook, and fairly cheap. You could also try cod, or another type of fish, as long as the fillets are "skinny".

Make sure the fish is thawed before cooking.

The trick is how you batter the fish. Most people will use an egg wash, and then bread crumbs. The missing ingredient is flour...

I use three dishes: 2 pie plates, and 1 bowl. In the bowl make your egg wash. I use 2 eggs and a splash of water - beat until, well... beated. In one pie plate, place enough flour to coat the number of fillets. In the second pie plate, place your bread crumbs (or substitute). We used a mix of cornflake crumbs and bran. We used the bran, because we didn't have many flakes left. Interesting mix that actually turned out quite well. (And the bran will keep you regular ;-) ).

We used coconut oil (but olive oil, or vegatable oil would work as well). Heat the oil over MED-HIGH heat in a pan. When the oil is heated, take your fillets, and "bread" them in the following order:

1) First, in the flour. Completely cover.

2) Then place in the egg wash, making sure to completely cover both sides again.

3) Then finally into the breadcrumb mix. I like to use my fingers to pack the breadcrumbs firmly onto the fish. This helps make sure it all sticks.

Then fry in the oil. It does not take long - 3 - 5 mins (2 mins per side). It depends on how well cooked you like your fish.

And that's all there is to it!

Enjoy!

Oven Roasted Stuffed Bell Peppers

The following recipe is one of my own creations. I made it up on the fly tonight, so I apologize if the instructions are a bit scattered.

As always - feel free to substitute certain ingredients (for example, try mushrooms in the filling...). Enjoy! And please comment with suggestions.

You will need:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 small yellow onion, diced

1/2 cup basmati rice (uncooked)

1 small zucchini, quartered and sliced into small peices.

2 carrots, skinny, sliced into dime-sized peices

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tbsp chinese 5 spice

2 tbsp of white wine

mozzarella cheese (we used goat)

~12 baby potatoes

bunch of asparagus

Directions:

1.) Cook the rice as per the directions. Pre-heat the oven to 350' F.

2.) While the rice is cooking, cut the tops off each of the bell peppers, forming a lid - similar to a pumpkin. Clean out the insides (seeds, etc.) to make bell pepper bowls!

3.) Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a non-stick pan. Slice the baby potatoes into "dollar" potatoes (do not make them too thick, or they will not cook through). Place the potatoes into the pan and begin to cook - stirring frequently.

4.) In another pan, place the remaining 1 tbsp of olive oil. Once heated, add the diced onion, curry powder and chinese 5 spice. Saute until translucent.

5.) You may add the seasoning salt to the potatoes at any time. Or experiment with your own spices - I have a home-made blackening spice I like to use. Unfortunately I can't remember

what I made it out of! The potatoes are done when they are starting to brown / go crispy on the outside.

6.) Now add the sliced carrots and zucchini to the pan with the onions. Continue to saute until everything is soft. Now add the splash of wine to deglaze the pan, and add a little extra flavor.

7.) Pour in the cooked rice to the pan with the onions, and mix it all together - now you have your stuffing!

8.) Now stuff each of your peppers with the mix. Grate some mozzarella cheese on top (as much as you like), place the lids back on, and place them on a cookie sheet, and into the oven. Place the asparagus on a slightly oiled pan/cooking sheet, flavor with a bit of salt and pepper, and place them into t

he oven as well. It usually only takes about 15 mins - the goal is to have roasted asparagus cooked so the tops are beginning to crisp, and well-heated peppers. Use your discretion, and cook things the way you like them.

9.) Place it all on a plate, serve and enjoy!