Mandie’s Tilapia

Mandie Says: White rice goes well as a side dish.

Mandie's Tilapia
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Seafood
Ingredients
  • 2-3 tilapia fillets
  • Extra Virgin olive oil
  • Chipotle Tabasco Sauce
  • minced onion
  • minced garlic
  • 3-4 pinches cilantro
  • pearl onions
  • salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. All of the above ingredients are to taste. Wrap all the ingredients into tin foil. Bake at 356° F.

Photo Courtesy of Nate Steiner on Flickr

Jen’s Breakfast Sausage Gravy

Jen Says: We like the Jimmy Dean brand of sausage and prefer Pillsbury Buttermilk Biscuits.  If the gravy ends up too thick, add more milk.

Jen Goode blogs about creativity in every direction at 100Directions.com.  She wrote more about her Breakfast Sausage Gravy there!

Jen's Breakfast Sausage Gravy
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 lb. maple sausage
  • 5 c. milk
  • 1 tbsp beef bouillon
  • 1 tsp seasoned pepper
  • Dash of garlic herb seasoning
  • Flour
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet, brown the sausage. Drain the grease. Put it in a food processor & chop to fine pieces. Set aside.
  2. Add 4 c. of milk to the skillet, stirring in the beef bouillon, seasoned pepper, and garlic herb seasoning. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Stir in sausage, add the remaining milk, & simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
  3. In a separate bowl, mix 1 c. of warm water with 1 tbsp of flour. Stir until well mixed. Continue to add flour, 1 tbsp at a time, until the consistency of the mixture is that of a thick cake batter. Pour the flour/water mixture into the skillet & stir thoroughly until the gravy begins to thicken.
  4. Remove from the heat & pour generously over freshly baked biscuits. Serve.

 

Fig & Olive Tapenade

Fig & Olive Tapenade
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 1 c. dried figs, chopped
  • ½ c. water
  • ⅔ c. Kalamata olives, chopped
  • ⅓ c. toasted walnuts, chopped
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Combine figs & water in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil & cook until tender, and liquid has reduced.
  2. Remove from heat & stir in the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, thyme, & cayenne.
  3. Add olives & garlic, & mix well. Season with salt & pepper to taste.
  4. Cover & refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow flavors to blend.
  5. Unwrap cream cheese block & place on a serving platter. Spoon tapenade over cheese, & sprinkle with walnuts. Serve with slices of French bread or crackers.

Photo Courtesy of Meal Makeover Moms on Flickr

Mashed Cauliflower

Crystal & Nicole Say: The original recipe was from the South Beach diet and called for 1 oz. I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! spray & 1 oz. Land ‘O Lakes Gourmet Fat-Free Half & Half.  We tweaked it to what we had & our tastes.

Mashed Cauliflower
 
Author: 
Nutrition Information
  • Serves: 4
  • Serving size: 1
  • Calories: 81
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated fat: 2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5 g
  • Sodium: 82 mg
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 4 mg
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 c. cauliflower florets
  • 3 tbsp light "fake" butter
  • ¼ c. skim milk
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft.
  2. Puree in a food processor, adding the milk & butter to taste.
  3. Season with salt & pepper.

 

McMurphy’s Kickass Homefries

McMurphy's Kickass Homefries
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 2 Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes
  • ½ green bell pepper
  • ½ onion
  • 2 strips bacon, roughly chopped
  • butter
  • salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Make sure your potatoes are washed & diced. Leave the skin on.
  2. Put the potatoes in a pot of water, approximately 3 qts, with 1 tbsp of kosher salt on the stove. Turn hear on high & bring to a boil until potatoes are fork tender.
  3. Dice the onion & bell pepper. In a cast iron skillet, render the bacon with the onions & peppers on medium heat.
  4. Strain potatoes & throw into the cast iron skillet with the peppers & onions & a pat of butter.
  5. Really mash down with the weight of another skillet, & set on medium-medium low heat until you finish cooling the rest of your breakfast, about 5-10 minutes. The bottom should form a nice crust on it.
  6. Salt & pepper to taste. Add a dash of hot sauce if you like.