Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Spicy Southwestern Slaw

Adapted from All Recipes

I like fish tacos and mahi mahi is a good fish for them.  It's a mild flavored fish, so it allows you to add a lot of flavor with the other taco fillers.  For example, this time I made the dish flavorful with the Spicy Southwestern Slaw, but other times when I have made it I have used some type of fresh fruit salsa.  However, the Spicy Southwestern Slaw is one of my favorite accompaniments to any Mexican dish.  It's great with enchiladas or even on a pulled pork sandwich. 

Ingredients:

·         2 mahi mahi filets

·         1 tsp cumin

·         2 tsp honey

·         ¼ tsp salt

·         ½ tsp chili powder

·         2 Tbs. lime juice, divided

·         Southwestern slaw recipe (see below)

·         1/3 cup black beans

·         1/3 cup frozen corn, thawed

·         1 avocado

·         2 Tbs sour cream

·         2 Tbs fresh salsa

·         4 whole wheat tortillas

Directions:

·         Mix cumin, honey, slat, chili powder and 1 Tbs. lime juice.  Marinade mahi mahi in honey mixture for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

·         In the meantime make slaw.  (See below).

·         Peel the avocado and mash.  Mix avocado with sour cream, fresh salsa and 1 Tbs lime juice. 

·         After 30 minutes bake the mahi mahi for 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

·         To serve the fish tacos, layer the slaw, mahi mahi, black beans, corn and avocado crème on a wheat tortilla.

Spicy Southwestern Slaw

Ingredients:

• 1 package coleslaw mix
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrot, onion, red pepper, jalapeno and cilantro. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Pour over vegetable mixture and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Recipe from my MIL

Valentine's Day is all about chocolate.  This cake is similar to a molten lava cake, but instead of making individual dishes it all comes out in one pan (much easier to make!).  The hot fudge is rich and delicious.  This is a recipe Tim grew up with and is simply ideal for Valentine's Day.  He attempted to make it for me for the first Valentine's Day that we were married, but added 4 tsp of salt rather than the 1/4 tsp of salt, which was obviously disastrous.  We ended up making regular brownies from a mix that year.  So this year I decided to take over making this chocolatey goodness.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup sugar, divided
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 7 Tbs. cocoa, divided
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 ¼ cup hot water

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  In medium bowl combine ¾ cup sugar, flour, 3 Tbs cocoa, baking powder, and salt.  Blend in milk, melted butter and vanilla; beat until smooth.  Pour batter into square pan- 8x8” or 9x9”. 
• In small bowl combine remaining ¾ cup sugar, brown sugar and remaining 4 Tbs. cocoa; sprinkle mixture evenly over batter. Pour hot water over top; do not stir.
• Bake 40 minutes or until center is almost set.  Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
• Spoon into dessert dishes and top with ice cream. 

Serves:  8-10

Thai Chicken Pizza

Adapted from All Recipes

I think my current obsession must be peanut butter in entree dishes!  This pizza was fantastic.  It's pretty difficult to ruin a pizza, though, so I always love the new types of pizza we try.  This one is very reminiscent of California Pizza Kitchen's Thai Chicken Pizza.  Yum!

Ingredients:

• One pizza recipe (see Recipe Index)
• 7 oz. Thai Peanut Sauce
• ¼ cup peanut butter
• 8 oz. cooked, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• ½ cup fresh white bean sprouts
• ½ cup shredded carrots
• ¼ cup roasted peanuts

Directions:

• Prepare pizza according to recipe directions.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Cook pizza crust for 12 minutes.  In the meantime, stir Peanut sauce and peanut butter together in a small bowl.  After crust has completed cooking, spread the peanut sauce mix over the crust.  Arrange the cheese on top, then top with pieces of chicken and green onion.
• Bake the pizza for 8-10 more minutes in oven.  When pizza is done cooking, top with sprouts, carrots and peanuts.
• Slice into wedges and serve.

Note:  Next time top with chopped cilantro, as well.

Baked Cheese Tortellini

Adapted from Food Network-Giada De Laurentiis

I found some tortellini on sale and wanted to find a new way to use it. I found this recipe which was simple and we all enjoyed. I plan to try it again with meat tortellini next :)

Ingredients:

Olive oil

2 cups marinara sauce

1/3 cup cottage cheese

parsley to taste

thyme to taste

1 pound purchased cheese tortellini

2 ounces smoked Mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil an 8X8X2 inch baking dish.

Whisk the sauce, cottage cheese, parsley and thyme in a large bowl to blend. Cook the tortellini in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the tortellini to the sauce and toss to coat. Transfer the tortellini mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with the smoked Mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheeses on top melt, about 30 minutes.

French Bread

Adapted from A Taste of Richmond-Recipe from Eden Dixon

My hubby is completely obsessed with breads-I decided to bake this delicious French bread to go with the meal we were having. It is incredibly easy and compliments any Italian dish.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups warm water

1 tablespoon yeast

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups flour

1/8 cup oil

Dissolve sugar in warm water and then add the yeast and let sit about 5 minutes to dissolve. Add oil and salt. Add half the flour; mix and add rest of flour. Knead dough; let rise until double. Spread olive oil on the pan and drizzle with corn meal and then with sugar. Set pan aside. Shape dough into loaf and place on cookie sheet. Slit top of loaf and let rise. Cook at 375 for 30 minutes. When finished baking, brush with butter.

Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

Adapted from Barefoot Contessa Family Style

I loved this recipe. I think bananas and pancakes make an amazing combination:) I will definitely make this again.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 cup sour cream

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

butter

2 ripe bananas, diced, plus extra for serving

maple syrup

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together the sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing only until combined.

Melt one tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium low heat until it bubbles. Ladle the pancake batter into the pan. Distribute a rounded tablespoon of bananas on each pancake. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another minute, until browned. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel, add more butter to the pan and continue cooking pancakes until all the batter is used. Serve with sliced bananas, butter, and maple syrup.

Cheesy Spaghetti Bake

Adapted from Ivory Family Favorite's Cookbook

It was one of those busy days where I would have zero time to make dinner. I found this recipe which I was able to make ahead of time and just pop it in the oven!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds Italian Sausage

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large can spaghetti sauce

12 ounces spaghetti, broken in half and cooked al dente

8 ounces Mozzarella, grated

1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese

Cook sausage, mushrooms, onion and garlic until brown. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, uncovered. In glass baking dish, layer half of the cooked spaghetti, half of the Mozzarella cheese and half of the sauce; repeat. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, uncovered.