Doin' Some Cooking... Tilapia Piccata

A traditional Italian dish that I can't say no to is anything Piccata. The lemon butter with briny capers is absolutely crave worthy and quite easy to make.

This piccata recipe calls for tilapia but you can substitute for any flaky white fish, veal, or the usual suspect, chicken. The tilapia is a great choice because of it's mild flavor which really brings out the lemony brightness of the caper sauce and any time I can incorporate seafood into our diets is a win.

The whole dish start to finish takes about 20 minutes to prepare which makes it a perfect weeknight meal and I think I like the tilapia version the best.

Tilapia Piccata

Adapted From: MyRecipes.com

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 8 oz uncooked orzo
• 2 tomatoes, seeded and cut into bite sized pieces
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• dried parsley, to taste
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 4 (6 oz) tilapia fillets
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp dried capers

And Action:

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain. Stir in the tomatoes, 1/4 tsp sea salt, parsley, and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Set aside and keep warm.

Combine remaining 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper, and flour in a shallow dish. Dredge fish in flour mix. Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add fish to the pan and cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side. Remove fish from the pan and tent with foil to keep warm.

Add wine, lemon juice, and capers to the pan, cook for 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Add remaining 2 tbsp butter to pan and stir until melted. Serve fish with sauce and pasta.  

Livin' It Up... Boss Bitch, Iggy Azalea

"Walk a mile in these Louboutins... " - Iggy Azalea (from the song "Work" on the album "The New Classic").

While I can't justify a pair of Louboutins at this time, I could walk a mile in this tank.

(Get yours here)

Songs of hers I've had on repeat lately:

* Black Widow
* Change Your Life
* Work
* No Medicore
* Fancy
* Beg For It

Other boss bitches:

Tove Lo: Talking Body
EchoSmith: Cool Kids
Christina Aguilera: I Hate Boys
M.I.A.: Bad Girls
Nicki Minaj: Anaconda
Jennifer Lopez: Girls
Jennifer Lopez: A.K.A.
Lily Allen: Hard Out Here
Miley Cyrus: Do My Thang
Bridget Mendler: Hurricane
Ariana Grande: Break Free
Ariana Grande: The Way
Ariana Grande: Problem
Ariana Grande: Only 1
Ariana Grande: Break Your Heart Right Back
Taylor Swift: Shake It Off
Demi Lovato: Really Don't Care
Marina and the Diamonds: Oh No!
Lana Del Rey: Radio
Lana Del Rey: F**ked My Way Up To The Top
Rihanna: Man Down
Rihanna: Pour It Up
Tinashe: 2 On
Jessie J: Domino
Fifth Harmony: Better Together
Sia: Chandelier
Ciara: Like A Boy
Ciara: Ride
Khia: My Neck, My Back
Clean Bandit: Rather Be
Katy Perry: Dark Horse
Fergie: L.A. Love
Britney Spears: Work Bitch
Niykee Heaton: Bad Intentions
Selena Gomez: The Heart Wants What It Wants
Bebe Rexha: I Can't Stop Drinking About You

Doin' Some Cookin'... Green Bean Casserole, Hashbrown Casserole, and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

I've been out of my mom's house for 10+ years, I've been a mom for 6 years, and in that time I haven't been responsible for making Christmas dinner. For the holidays we would travel to Ohio for two weeks. Being a houseguest meant I wasn't expected in the kitchen. These were women who ran their kitchens with no other hands stirring the pot but expected you to pull up a girl and stir the pot with you mouth and join in the gossip. But... times have changed and now it's spent at home in Texas, and somewhat alone since I have to share Little Man. Don't feel bad for me though. I'm in the middle of enjoying 11 days of an empty nest with 6 of those being working days and two back to back 4 day weekends. The 4 day weekends was a gift enough to help recharge my batteries... definitely experienced burnout by the end of the year.

Little Man was set to be picked up around noon by his dad and wanting to do the traditional Christmas festivities I made sure we would cover everything.

On Christmas Eve we got into our cozy clothes, drove around town checking out the Christmas lights, watched Christmas movies, made hot chocolate, and tracked Santa's flight. Once he made it to New York Little Man knew that meant it was time to fall asleep before Santa's arrival at our place.

Christmas morning we opened presents, had biscuits and gravy for breakfast, played with his new toys, and then had our Christmas dinner before he had to go.

There are some dishes we've come to expect for Christmas: Smoked Ham, Green Bean Casserole, Hashbrown Casserole, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and rolls.

Slapping myself a high five here! I recreated the Christmas classics in under an hour. It wasn't perfect and I will need to continue searching for the right recipes but it was still delicious. Part of that was me rushing to get dinner on the table in time and not following directions correctly. I didn't realize the green beans needed to be cooked ahead of time so they had a slight crunch, I enjoyed it this way surprisingly but not what I was expecting, the store was out of the french fried onions, ugh! the part I crave, and my mashed potatoes were not as creamy as we prefer.

The one recipe that will appear on the menu next year is the Hashbrown Casserole but may add bacon and some diced jalapeño peppers to spice things up. This was exactly what I was craving for Christmas dinner and the perfect comfort food dish.

Looking forward to continue setting certain expectations for Little Man and making the holidays super special for him.

Green Bean Casserole

Adapted From: Campbell's Kitchen

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• dash of black pepper
• 4 cups green beans

And Action:

Stir the soup, milk, soy sauce, black pepper, and green beans in a casserole dish. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Enjoy!

Hashbrown Casserole

Adapted From: The Loveless Cafe

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 (30 oz) bag shredded hash browns
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 (8 oz) bag shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 (16 oz) container sour cream
• salt and pepper, to taste

And Action:

Mix all ingredients well in a well greased casserole dish covered with foil. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove cover and return to oven for 30 minutes until brown. Enjoy!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Adapted From: Martha Stewart

Makes 8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 4 lbs red skinned potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters
• garlic powder, to taste
• sea salt, to taste
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup butter

And Action:

In a large pot boil water, add the potatoes, and add 1 tbsp salt. 

Return to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 25-30 minutes. 

Drain the potatoes and return to the pot to dry them out about 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add the milk, butter, garlic powder, and salt. Mash until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Herb Salted Garlic Parmesan French Fries and Roast Beef Dip Sandwich with Herbed Garlic Au Jus

Holy hell! This dinner was quite ambitious for a Monday night, especially after an exhausting day at work. Note to self, make this on a weekend and preferably when your patience levels are high.

The potatoes get double fried and believe me it is totally worth it. Then they are tossed in a garlic parmesan herb salt.

This meal is carb heavy... and wine heavy... as in, I drank the bottle of wine after using the splash of it  to make the au jus. At least now I'll be able to sleep off the carb overload.

Herb Salted Garlic Parmesan French Fries

Adapted from : How Sweet It Is

Makes 2 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 russet potatoes, thinly sliced, like french fries
• 1 qt canola oil
• 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
• 1/2 tbsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/3 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese

And Action:

Add potatoes to a bowl of ice water and let sit for 30 minutes. Place two layers worth of paper towels on a baking sheet and remove the potatoes from the water. Take more paper towels and pat dry the potatoes. 

Add oil to a large pot and heat over medium high heat until the temperature reaches 350 degrees (use a candy thermometer). Add the potatoes in batches and fry for 2-3 minutes. Remove and place on paper towels to drain the oil. 

Let the potatoes cool, about 10 minutes.

Make the garlic parmesan herb salt using the rest of the ingredients.  

Fry the potatoes again until browned and crispy. Toss with the garlic parmesan herb salt. 

Roast Beef Dip Sandwich with Herbed Garlic Au Jus

Adapted From: Food.com

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/4 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth
• 1 french baguette, cut into 4 portions and split in half
• 1 (4 oz) package garlic and herb goat cheese
• 1 lb thinly sliced peppered roast beef

And Action:

To make the au jus: In a medium saucepan heat oil, then add onion powder, garlic, and the other dried herbs. Stir often for 1 minute. The add red wine and soy sauce. Increase the heat, bring to a simmer and let the sauce reduce by half. Add beef broth and simmer for 5 minutes. 

To make the sandwiches: Spread the cheese evenly on both sides of the baguette. Divide roast beef among the sandwiches. Close the sandwiches, place on a baking sheet, and bake at 450 degrees for about 3 minutes. Serve with small cups of the au jus for dipping. 

Livin' It Up... Lone Star Flight Museum

If you're looking for a "Houston" area day trip idea... head to Galveston and check out The Lone Star Flight Museum.

The Lone Star Flight Museum is home to to one of the finest collections of restored aircraft and aviation exhibits. The collection includes WWII Fighters and Bombers. This is a self guided tour with placards providing significant historical information about each aircraft and takes less than an hour to walk through and cost $8 for adults, $5 for children.

After the museum we decided to head to the most eastern part of the island and check out East Beach. It was the first time we've ever had the beach to ourselves but we wrapped this activity up quickly since it was really cold out and we were hungry. Because we were so chilled we decided to cut out riding our bikes along the seawall, going miniature golfing, or riding the ferry this trip.

We ended our trip with dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co before driving back home.

Movin' It... Gorman Falls at Colorado Bend State Park

The thing I love most about hiking is that it doesn't feel like exercise but an adventure and it is an instant mood boost. You need to constantly concentrate on the terrain scanning for footholds and avoiding hazards so you can't let your mind wander until you reach your destination or take a break from the trail.

Not that I recommend it, but if you decide to hike alone make sure that you always tell someone where you are and use the restroom before you head out.

Last weekend we woke up Saturday morning and on a whim decided to pack our bags for a road trip through the Hill Country with Gorman Falls at the Colorado Bend State Park as our end goal. A flat tire a couple of years ago while driving to the State Park derailed the visit completely. The thought of going back was always an idea I'd throw around.

Saturday night after driving for 4 hours with a stop along the way for lunch we ended up staying at this hidden gem, Canyon of the Eagles Resort. Thank you Yelp for the recommendation. Be warned though, this isn't resort as in amenities, but glamping (glamorous camping)... as in... no TV or Internet connection, rock hard beds, concrete floor, and wood furniture everything.

No distractions meant an opportunity to get outside. We ended up ripping off all of the bedding and filling the bed of the truck to stargaze. Oh my! I can't even begin to tell you how many shooting stars we saw. Another cool attraction is the Eagle Eye Observatory with an on site astronomer who will answer every question and laser pointer the constellations... and it's all included. Make sure you keep an eye on the dew point time if you think you have plans of sleeping under the stars. You don't want to wake up wet.

Sunday morning we woke up in time to watch the sunrise from our porch on these amazing rocking chairs before we headed to the restaurant, The Overlook, at the resort for a breakfast buffet. This was highly disappointing as they served cold coffee, wait staff with shitty attitudes, and overpriced. The bill came to $40. Ouch! Next time I'll pack a cooler and bring food instead.

The drive from the resort to the Colorado Bend State Park took about an hour and a half. It cost $5 a person which you pay via an "honor bag". Make sure you pay as the park rangers do patrol the area checking your tag to the payment. You don't need to drive the extra six miles to the ranger station, you can pay at the trail head of Gorman Falls. You're welcome for that tip, wish I would have known ahead of time.

The hike to Gorman Falls is a 1.5 mile trail with the last 100 yards being a rocky descent down a steep path. Thankfully this part of the path has a thick gauged wire railing to help support your footing. It is not recommended to bring small children, however, my son is 6 and did just fine. Also saw another couple with what appeared to be a 3ish year old. Once you make it down the rocky path the change in scenery is sudden and extreme. Greenery all around and the falls have a fern-draped grotto which is absolutely beautiful. 

The trail is pretty well marked, except at one point the path cuts off in multiple ways. Read the sign because someone was kind enough to etch in the direction to Gorman Falls. We found ourselves scanning the trail for "shortcuts" and being careful to avoid all of the cactus that lined both sides of the trail.

It was somewhat disappointing to arrive at the falls and to see more of a sputter of water and not a roaring waterfall thanks to the drought the area is experiencing. There was bench sitting at the foot of the waterfall where we spent about an hour just listening to the water rushing by from the Colorado River (my favorite part!!!), taking pictures, and people watching before we made the trek back for our ride home. 

Next time I'm hoping we can plan better to make a pit stop in Brenham to check out the Blue Bell Creamery.

Here's what I packed for the 3 hour hike:

- Hiking pants, moisture wicking Nike workout tee, Nike sports bra
- Hiking shoes with moisture wicking socks... You'll need a heftier shoe with added foot and ankle support.
- Sunscreen
- Lots of water
- Clif Mojo Bar in Dark Chocolate Cherry
- Lowfat Chocolate Milk... Makes for a delicious recovery drink.
- Bug spray/tick repellent
- Lip balm... Lips get dry when breathing out of your mouth. I especially love the EOS brand in Lemon Drop which has added SPF.
- First Aid Kit
- Phone with an armband and a preset playlist. My playlist titled, "Take A Hike", is full of folk/indie music... being outdoors is that kinda vibe. Here's what's on my playlist:

* Fitz and the Tantrums: The Walker
* Eddie Vedder: Hard Sun
* Of Monsters and Men: Mountain Sound
* nonono: Pumpin' Blood
* Passion Pit: Take a Walk
* Ingrid Michaelson: Girls Chase Boys
* Lenny Kravitz: American Woman
* Kansas: Carry on Wayward Son
* The Beatles: I'm Looking Through You
* The Beatles: Here Comes the Sun
* Opus Orange: Almost There
* Now, Now: Dead Oaks
* Trevor Hall: The Mountain
* The Barefoot Truth: Changes in the Weather
* Colbie Caillat: Brighter Than the Sun
*needtobreathe: The Outsiders
* needtobreathe: The Heart
* The Decemberists: Down by the Water
* Various Cruelties: Great Unknown
* Panic at the Disco: That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
* Coldplay: Paradise
* Milo Greene: 1957
* Johnny Cash: Further Up on the Road
* Blitzen Trapper: Black River Killer
* Zedd: Clarity
* Keane: Somewhere Only We Know
* Good Old War: Better Weather
* Calvin Harris: Thinking About You
* Red Hot Chili Peppers: Especially in Michigan
* Portugal the Man: The Sun
* Journey: Don't Stop Believing
* Jukebox the Ghost: The Great Unknown
* Creedence Clearwater: Walk on the Water
* Imagine Dragons: On Top of the World

Doin' Some Cookin'... Rigatoni with Pumpkin, Sausage, and Spinach

It's the tail end of Fall and I'm just now jumping on the pumpkin bandwagon. Remember that Pumpkin Spice Latte I made recently? 

Monday night I needed a recipe that was quick, easy and perfect for Game Night and great for hungry tummies. I also had a can of pumpkin puree that was about to expire and no idea what to do with it. 

I follow the blog, The Larson Lingo, and was excited when an Internet search returned her blog with this recipe. I had everything on hand except the cheese and mushrooms. I also did not have the time to bake this dish another 25 minutes since it was already a late night and well past Little Man's bedtime, so I adapted it and just used it as inspiration.

This dish was delicious and the pumpkin cream sauce was lick-the-bowl worthy. I didn't mention to Little Man what was in this pasta dish so score one for this mom in tricking her kid into eating his veggies. 

The only thing that would have made this dish even better would have been a Blue Moon Pumpkin Ale, or two.

Using the entire box of pasta will yield plenty of leftovers. I froze about half of this dish for easy weeknight meals on those work nights when I can come up with a hundred excuses not to cook. 

Rigatoni with Pumpkin, Sausage, and Spinach

Adapted From: The Larson Lingo

Makes 8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 (1 lb) box rigatoni
• 1 lb ground mild Italian sausage
• 1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
• 4 handfuls of fresh spinach
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 12  oz can evaporated milk

And Action:

Cook pasta according to package directions. 

Cook sausage and season with onion powder. 

After sausage is fully cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, over medium heat add the can of pumpkin, garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper. 

Stir well to incorporate.

Then add the can of evaporated milk.

Stir until smooth, 2-3 minutes, or until mixture begins to thicken slightly. 

Add the sausage back to the pan. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Mix in the pasta and spinach making sure to toss ingredients together to coat well.  Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin... Pumpkin Spice Latte

2 things...

1) I know it's time for Christmas brain and

2) No one is thinking about pumpkin after November but...

I saved a recipe for a Pumpkin Spice Latte but never got around to making it during the appropriate season. You know how best of intentions go and how sleep is more important. So I settled for Starbucks saving the recipe for another time.

I fall for it every time at least once a Fall season... a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. After getting to the bottom of my Venti I remember why I only get it once. It's too sweet and getting seasonal favorites from Starbucks Skinny or nonfat is just no fun... and yes, I know, I've heard and read the countless stories floating around on the Internet about steering clear since there is no "pumpkin" anything in their version. 

My version is spicy, actually contains pumpkin, and is topped with a healthy dose of real whipped cream. Don't expect this to taste anywhere close to what Starbucks produces but have piece of mind you will taste the pumpkin and know exactly what's in your PSL. 

Pumpkin Spice Latte

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 1 cup brewed black coffee
• 1 cup 2% milk
• 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
• pumpkin pie spice, to taste
• dash of cayenne pepper

And Action:

Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and heat to desired temperature. Make sure to continuously whisk to keep the milk from burning on the bottom of the pan. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Miso Salmon

Because of the success I saw last month while following the 30-Day Meal Plan with just diet alone I decided to start over again. I lost a total of 5.3 lbs. This time around I'll be incorporating exercise into my daily routine as well. 

This Asian-inspired fish dish is perfect for a work night. Miso is versatile and keeps for months in the refrigerator and sesame seeds can be bought already toasted to save even more time. Not to mention salmon serves up a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids and pairs nicely with a side of roasted broccoli.

Just a heads up... Miso is salty, perfect for someone with a salt tooth like me, so keep that glass of water nearby. The saltiness is cut by the sweetness of mirin and soy sauce and creates a thick glaze on top of the salmon. 

Miso Salmon
Women's Health Magazine

Makes 4 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 3 tbsp white miso
• 1 tbsp mirin
• 8 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp canola oil
• 4 (6 oz) salmon fillets, about 1 1/4 inch thick
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

And Action:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Whisk miso, mirin, and soy sauce in a small bowl until well blended. 

Add oil to a large nonstick ovenproof skillet over medium high heat. Add salmon, skin side up, and cook until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. 

Flip fish over, brush salmon with the miso blend and place skillet in the oven. Roast salmon until it reaches desired degree of doneness, 6 to 8 minutes.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds and scallions (optional). 

Livin' It Up... Handsome Little Liar

My son lied to me tonight. 

It was the first time in his 6 years that he elaborated a story that made it sound as though his safety was in jeopardy while in someone else's care. That someone being his dad... we share custody following a loosey goosey standard order of possession. On a side note, with all that we are dealing with I don't have anything bad to say about his dad and would have no reason to question his judgment with our son. Onto the lie... 

My son told me that while out at a restaurant his dad ran to the bathroom and left him sitting in a booth when a man with a beard wearing a skeleton shirt came over and started picking at my son's finger nails. He stated that he did what I had taught him by yelling "stranger danger" but no one could hear him. He claimed his dad came out of the bathroom, ran over after seeing the man there, and scooped him up to take him to another part of the restaurant. 

Upon hearing the story I sent his dad a text message to address the issue. He called me back immediately but requested to talk to our son. My son admitted he lied and then burst into tears. He was very apologetic for lying and understood that he told the lie and that lying is wrong. 

I was relieved the story wasn't true but was upset about him lying. The lie felt like a reflection on my parenting.

My parents would have made me write 100 sentences of "I will not lie.", send me to my room for a week, and absolutely no privileges. What I hated most was writing those sentences. I can still feel the cramp in my hand and have the callous on my finger as a constant reminder of that lesson.

What works as punishment for one kid doesn't necessarily work for another. It's not that I don't think writing sentences would be effective but his imagination is running wild right now and actually writes stories in his free time. The stories aren't based on any reality I know to be true. He has a very vivid imagination. I don't want him to hate writing which has become his positive and creative outlet. 

Instead it was made clear that lying will not be tolerated and going forward if he lies he will lose privileges and punishment will be in the form of restitution. 

After the first time he has to scrub the baseboards clean I'm sure he'll remember the quote to "Keep it simple. Keep it honest. Keep it real."

... now how do I explain a white lie? Sigh. Parenting is a tough gig.