Recipe of the Week; BAKED TILAPIA

I'll cut right to the chase. I adore Leah Chase. Truly one of America's culinary heroes. An inspiration for many a Creole dinner in my house.

Years ago, I came across a recipe of hers for baked fish. It was actually trout, I believe. Through the many moves and sorting out of old cookbooks and recipe snippets, the recipe has gotten lost. I've searched for it online, and still it eludes my finding. One of these days I'll have to break down and buy her cookbook to reclaim this delicious recipe.

In the meantime, I've somewhat invented my own version, except I use tilapia. I always seem to have it on hand, and it works out OK. It's not nearly as rich and grand as Leah's, but cutting back on the mayonnaise (yes this fish is coated with Mayo!) is necessary for me, primarily because my husband is not so much of a fan of it. I could eat it with a spoon (and do upon occasion). Her recipe also included fresh artichokes. Personally, I think they're a lot of work with little reward, so I just pick up a jar of marinated ones. The marinade adds an extra level of twang as well.

INGREDIENTS

approximately 2 lbs. tilapia fillets, or trout (skin on, if possible)

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons softened butter
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons chopped scallions
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning (I do NOT encourage substitutes here)
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
dash or so of hot sauce, recommend Louisiana Hot Sauce
1 jar marinated artichokes, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a buttered glass baking dish, lay fish in a single layer. Brush with lemon juice.

In a bowl, combine cheese, butter mayonnaise, onion, and seasonings. Mix well with a fork.

Bake the fish 10 to 20 minutes, or until the fish starts to flake. Remove from oven, spread with cheese mixture. Spread artichokes around the fish. Bake another 5 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Delicious when served with dirty rice and fried okra.

Summer Reflections

It's what? July 26th? REALLY? {Insert dramatic wide eyes here}

Yes, it is. More than halfway through the summer, and what have I done so far? A lil' bit of everything I suppose. Sweat, swim, stay up really late a few weekends, and indulge in a little libation here and there. And of course enjoy my Pirate games.

I like to reminisce of leisurely summer days of old, when the tips of my toes would find themselves dangling off the pool deck into the cool water. Or when I'd be munching on tea berries, lounging in my favorite patch of moss and staring blankly at the puffy white clouds in the sky. Or a lazy afternoon swinging on the porch swing. My Dad had ours hung under a massive grape vine arbor.

Summers as a child were particularly special when I was growing up. My Mom stayed home with us, and from the moment the sun was up we were out- riding our bikes, picking berries off in the woods somewhere, or out in the sand, playing with our Dukes of Hazzard cars. (I had Daisy's little white jeep.) I remember the sun, especially. It never seemed unbearably hot. It just felt so warm on my skin. I loved watching it set, it was a bright orange ball descending behind the lush green hills in the Pennsylvania country side.


We practically lived outside, even at night. We had a tent we pitched right in our back yard. We'd light a campfire, and it seemed we had hot dogs and mountain pies for dinner just about every night. We'd catch fire flies.

That's what summer was to me. Now, well... it's different. I go to work. I try to pack as much fun as I can into the weekends. I forgo housework. It's not quite the same, but I'm not complaining. It's just a fact of life, I suppose.

I pass a billboard on my way into the office every morning that reads "Expect everything out of life". I think it's for life-insurance. I guess I do expect everything, and occasionally that leads to dissatisfaction or frustration. When your and adult, your problems become more than worrying about running out of fudgesicles or having a flat tire on your bike.

So, especially during the summer, when the monotony of every day or the aggravations of life try to take over, I'll sit back. I'll close my eyes, envision that bright-orange sunset and smell the freshly cut summer grass. I know I can't physically relive those days. But I can always go back there, forever thankful that I have the memories.

Rules For the PA Driver's License Center:

I had to renew my driver's license. Yesterday I enjoyed a much-deserved day of rest, and took the day off to do things that normally I'm unable to do through the week.

One such task was the dreaded driver's license center. I soon found out that the following do's and don'ts apply when renewing your license in the wonderful state of Pennsylvania:

1. DO take a book, a DS, your IPod, snacks, medication for nerves, a pillow, blanket and an alarm clock.

2. DO NOT take your antsy seven-year old who has to pee every 15 minutes.

3. BE prepared to wait. For at least four hours, on a fast day.

4. EXPECT the clerk to not know how to do her job.


No wonder people in PA take such shitty pictures for their licenses. By the time your number is called, you have permanent frown lines etched into your skin and your once-perfectly coiffed hair resembles Don Kings 'do.

Recipe of the Week; FORGOTTEN COOKIES

This recipe is a lot like my blog lately. Forgotten about for awhile, then remembered and enjoyed later on. Ah, fahget-about-it!

My son brought this recipe home with some Sunday school papers a few weeks back, and it's a really neat idea, I think especially because in the summer if I do any baking at all, it's later on in the evening.


INGREDIENTS


2 eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until they hold stiff peaks. Add salt and vanilla. Stir well. Gently fold in pecans and chocolate chips.

Cover cookie sheet with foil and grease with butter or margarine. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the foil. Put in the oven, then turn it off. Forget about the cookies until the next morning, when you can enjoy them with coffee or tea!

Do not open the oven once the cookies have been placed inside.

The Great Longaberger Score

A new thrift store just opened up about 6 miles from my house, and about 1 mile from my office. You know what that means! Lots of lunch-time thrifting! It's called Thrift King, and during my first visit there I scouted a royal treasure to be sure!

LONGABERGER! Can you believe it! For (drum roll please) $6.00! I looked up this newspaper basket, a discontinued item, on EBay and other resale sites and the cheapest ad I saw for this very basket was $60.00! My basket is in pristine condition, too. Not a single nick, scratch or stain. As you can see, I've already found it's proper place, nestled right beside the love seat holding my magazines and whatever else.

I also found a great little wrought-iron shelf for my bathroom, and a pie-crust lattice cutter (still in the original packaging, appearing to be unused), both of which were less than $2.00.

Oh Thrift King, how I love thee.

Duck, Duck, GOOSE!

Look at the cute little baby geese that TJ and I spotted yesterday! First they were all lined up, waddling across the street, and causing a serious traffic back up!



Then they waddled up a grassy hill, while I further held up traffic long enough to grab my camera and take a couple pictures. "HONK HONK", said the cars behind me.


And "HONK, HONK!", said the birds in reply. Off they went!

Had to Share...

Okay, so maybe they're not necessarily America's superheros- but the picture is too funny not to share. And if Hilary ever really does go strapless, I'll loose my shit.

Mother's Day Reflection

The other day I was driving out to my Mom's house, with my son strapped in the back seat. As per usual, we had our music turned way up, windows down, and he was bobbing his little head and singing all the words to Jackson Browne's Doctor My Eyes word for word.

An indifferent feeling came upon me, as if I just realized for the first time ever that the curly-haired little boy I was watching through my rear-view mirror was my son. Not just some random kid, the the child I carried for nine months, gave birth to, coddled, cuddled and cared for with my utmost of attention and skill. I watched as he gradually made the natural transition from infant to toddler to little boy.

For almost 7 years, I've been a Mom. It's been flying by, and at that moment Mom became something that is more than just my title. It was a feeling.

What is amazing to me however, is how I adapted rather easily into Motherhood. I credit that to a few specific things- 1. We were older when we decided it was time to consider having a child. 2. I was ready; spiritually, physically, financially, and mentally. 3. We took child-rearing seriously. It wasn't an "oops- we're pregnant! Let's just deal with it" situation. We had been married for almost six years before TJ was born.

Perhaps it's because my venture into being Mom was done at a harried pace at the beginning- those first five years or so are busy. So many "firsts"- from teething to potty training to walking to starting school. I didn't really stop to reflect on how fast he was growing up. He just did, and suddenly I realize there he is. My son.

So with the forthcoming Mother's Day approaching, it seemed fitting to pat myself on the back a little. I've got a great kid. He's ornery and mouthy and testy at times. (So is his Dad.) But for the most part, he's very caring, loving, and just fun to have around. We laugh constantly, he has said and done some silly things that make me shake my head in amusement and wonder. And smart! I'm not just saying that, all parents are usually impressed with their kids. But this kid, seriously- he was actually figuring out Algebraic equations one afternoon with Daddy.

So while I'm busy gloating, I have to acknowledge the circle that is prevalent in my life. I have a great Mom. She had an awesome Mom, too. In fact, I come from a long line of awesome Moms- my Dad's Mom was the best. And I have the coolest Aunts on the planet, who have begat some pretty special cousins who have made excellent Mothers as well.

Which leads me to the first, and final point. I'm a Mom. That's both a special gift and an awesome responsibility. It's my hope my future generations of Moms will someday experience that moment of awe where they realize being a Mom isn't just a job, it's a privilege, an honor, and an immeasurable blessing. Thank you TJ for that revelation.