Garlic Lemon Tilapia

I don't have a lot of experience cooking or eating fish, but I've realized that if I want my kids to have familiarity with seafood, it's my responsibility to give them opportunity and exposure. I decided to be brave and add in one "Fish Day" to our 3 week summer meal rotation and plan to keep it for fall as well. 

My favorite seafood experience I've ever had was eating a bowl of mussels, clams, and scallops at a little seafood restaurant overlooking the ocean on the coast of Oregon. Oh, tied with favorite is eating shrimp in Hawaii with my mom and Grandma (I also had an amazing piece of MahiMahi in Hawaii). This isn't anywhere close to any of those - but I hope that by adding in one day of fish each month my kids will have experiences with seafood that will lead to a well rounded and healthy life. 




Garlic Lemon Tilapia

Source: Diethood

Ingredients
4 tilapia fillets
Salt and freshly ground black pepper,, to taste
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried oregano
4 tablespoons butter,, melted
4 cloves garlic,, minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ teaspoon lemon zest
1 lemon,, sliced into rounds, for garnish
Red pepper flakes,, for garnish
Chopped fresh parsley,, for garnish
Lemon slices, for garnish

(Serve with our favorite garlic butter rice, recipe below, and steamed veggies)

https://thepeadenkitchen.blogspot.com/2024/08/garlic-butter-rice.html

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Season tilapia with salt, pepper, paprika, thyme, and oregano; arrange fish in a 9x13 baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest; pour over tilapia.
Bake tilapia for 10 to 12 minutes, or until fish flakes and is fork-tender.
Garnish with pepper flakes, parsley, and lemon slices. Serve.

I also thought this note about "How Long to Bake Tilapia" was helpful for a fish newbie like me: 

If you haven’t baked tilapia before you may be wondering how to do it properly. Here are a few quick tips for the best baked tilapia:Like most fish fillets, tilapia cooks up pretty quickly! You’ll want to check on it as soon as it’s been in the oven for 10 minutes, or even sooner if your oven runs hot.
The fillets are done when they flake easily with a fork (but aren’t dry).
If you’re using a meat thermometer, insert it sideways into the thickest part of the fillet. The temperature should be 145°F.

Garlic Butter Rice

 Garlic Butter Rice

Source: Crave It All

Garlic Butter Rice has so much flavor, it makes the perfect side to go with anything! All cooked in one pot, forget about plain rice!

Ingredients
4 tablespoons (2oz. | 60g) butter, divided
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups uncooked white rice, long gran, Basmati or Jasmine
2 1/2 cups chicken broth, or vegetable stock
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, plus extra to garnish

Instructions
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir in rice to coat with the garlic butter.
Add broth, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well and bring to a boil.
Cover with lid and reduce heat to low so the liquid is simmering very gently. Cook until all liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Uncover and stir through fresh parsley.
Remove from heat, cover with lid and let stand 5-10 minutes, until soft.
Fluff rice with a fork. Stir through remaining butter and season with a little extra salt, pepper and dried parsley.
Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley.

Biscuits and Gravy

My sister Jenna frequently makes biscuits and gravy when we get together with our family. It always feels so decadent and I feel spoiled when she cooks for us. This summer when I was trying to shake up our breakfast meal plan, I added this to our Friday mornings and when I went to make it for the first time I was shocked at how easy it was! In the past, I've made large batches of biscuits (to eat and to freeze) - but recently discovered Walmarts frozen biscuits and they are just so good and easy, that's what I've been using all summer with no regrets. 

Biscuits and Gravy

Source: All Recipes

Ingredients:
8 Biscuits (Walmart frozen biscuits are better than any canned biscuit - but 
1 pound pork sausage
3 Tablespoons flour
2 1/2 cups milk
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange biscuits 1 to 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 13 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently, about 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in flour until well combined. Gradually add milk, stirring continuously, until the gravy thickens and comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer and stir for 2 more minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Serve-
Split biscuits in half. Place 2 halves on each of 8 plates; top with about 1/3 cup gravy.

Brown sausage in a large saucepan. Use a paper towel to blot out most of the grease from the pan.