Pecan Crusted Trout & Cauliflower Cakes

Fish is one of my absolute favorite things to munch on in the summer months because it is so LIGHT easy/fast to cook! I love fresh caught fish so during the months of summer we like to head on down to our beach house and fish for our favorites ( Snapper, Redfish, Speckled Trout) and then eat them all summer long:) This recipe is really easy and will make you look like a total STAR in the kitchen!

Shopping list:

Fish of choice ( I used trout)

Two cups of honey roasted Pecans!!

Flour

Two eggs beaten slightly in a shallow bowl

salt and pepper

A lemon wedge

 

Procedure:

preheat oven to 400 degrees*

 

 

First and foremost, if your fish has a nasty skin on its backside..peel it off!!!!

Then take your pecans and place them in a food processer and process slowly until they are fine but still have a bit of pecan texture.( If you do not have a food processer you can use a veggie chop or finely chop them with a butcher knife..just get them really small so that they stick to the fish!)

 

Now that your fish is clean on both sides you can salt and pepper him.

Once seasoned, sprinkle flour on both sides of the fish until you get an even coating then shake for excess flour to fall off.

Then dip your fish in the egg mixture and coat it well.

Following that, coat the fish in the pecans until covered well. Pat to make sure the pecans are compact around your fish.

Place on a baking sheet lined with foil, squeeze the lemon juice on both filets and bake for twelve minutes.

DONE!

 

 

Cauliflower cakes

 

 

This recipe is absolutely one of our household favorites, kin to the "potato cake" this recipe is actually a lot healthier and has more give when it comes to caloric intake. I love that this reminds me of eating something unhealthy but its actually SO healthy :)

 

Shopping list:

 

One head of cauliflower ( cut into florets)

two large eggs

1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup diced green onions

1 cup bread crumbs

salt and pepper/cayenne

olive oil

 

Procedure:

place the cauli florets into boiling water until softened and ready to mash ( about 10 mins)

Drain and mash the cauliflower while it is still warm

stir in bread crumbs, cheese, green onions, salt and pepper, and cayenne.

wait until the mixture has cooled just a little and then form patties ( I usually make eight because I make them small, however you can make less if you form them larger)

then over a hot skillet pour a little olive oil and place cakes on top

cook until both sides are browned ( about three mins each side) and set aside to cool.

ENJOY!

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Weekend Recap

Whew! It is Tuesday and I am STILL tired from this weekend! I had such a blast hosting my first holiday in my new home with my sweet family. I am the girl that is literally giddy with excitement when people come to visit me. I don't get stressed or overwhelmed trying to please everyone I just get so happy that people are coming to stay!! I woke up early on Saturday morning and cooked ALL of my Easter recipes for FIVE hours. Yes that's a long time of cooking...maybe that's why im so tired? Mama and Daddy came around 1:30 with Nana and Papaw following around 2:00. We relaxed and talked and showed them some of the renovations we have been working on and then headed out to dinner. Soluna ( mine and Brandon's favorite Mexican resteraunt in Alamo Heights) was an instant hit. We really can't go wrong choosing Mexican food with this crowd. Easter Sunday came bright and early and we all rushed to make the 9:30 service. The service was beautiful and captivating.. almost like every Sunday but remembering that our savior died and rose again was just all the more beautiful. We sang and praised and listened to Randy Frazee tell his tale and then it was time to go home. AND EAT. and eat we did:) I had everything homemade from Corn Pudding, 3 cheese Maccaroni, Fruit Salad, Grit Casserole, Honey Baked Ham, Salad, Southern style green beans, rolls, buttermilk pie, pecan pie, and BLT potato salad. Remember I did everything SOUTHERN style so I made my food with LOTSA butter:) It was only for one Sunday and I wanted to do my favorite food so I chose the southern style home cooked food that I am so passionate about..only I didn't do any healthy twists like I usually do! The food was great and everyone complimented me on my hard work which made me feel so good! I am totally an affirmation girl haha:) Then we cleaned up, had a little coffee, and everyone left:( I hate to see my family go but at the same time I was SO tired. I put my PJ's back on..cuddled up to my husby and fell asleep on the couch. It was a GREAT weekend.


Here are a few pictures:

I DIY these flowers and I was so proud!

They looked so fresh and clean..spring!

I was overjoyed to be able to put my china to use!

 

Had to get my hair done before Easter of course

 

 

Looks like I have a green thumb after all! Knockout Roses!

A picture of my pulled pork deviled eggs...recipe to come!

 

BLT potato salad

Nana and Calvi...she loves him haha

 

He is thrilled

I was a little obsessed with my table..can you tell?

 

Before Soluna

 

ALL SET!

Hostess with the mostest

 

The spread.....

YES I DID IT ALLLLLLLLLL

 

DELICIOUS!

My Favorite Kitchen Essentials

It's no secret that I love to cook.. with that said I feel like it is so very important to be cooking with the correct equipment. It is easier on  you and makes your recipes taste better! Now before I got married.. I made do with a wooden spoon as my whisk or my hands as my mixer...I didn't really have all of the fancy schmancy cooking equipment that I got from my wedding. Thank gosh for WEDDINGS!! Haha..and husbands too I guess. Anyways the following are some of my absolute favorite items that I use on a daily or weekly basis .. They are fabulous!!!

 

1. The cast iron skillet; I have said it before and I will say it again.. you haven't tasted good home cooked food unless it has been prepared in this skillet!!! I cook everything from eggs, cakes, cornbread, veggies, filet mignon, and various other recipes in this sucker. It holds its flavor so nicely from all the different seasonings and gives each dish a little kick! I am IN LOVE. 

 





2.  The Kitchen aid hand mixer. Any hand mixer is great but the kitchen aid one comes in fun girlie colors so that is why I like this one best:) I didn't really understand what was so cool about a hand mixer until I got one..  now I use it all the time! I whip my potatoes, or my cauliflower mash, cakes, cookie mix, puddings, yogurts you name it..I whip it. I love foods with a smooth texture so I tend to get whip happy and pull this little guy out at all times. Whipped bourbon sweet potatoes are SO good.. I may have to post about those:)

3. Next to the kitchen aid hand mixer.. is the Kitchen aid STAND MIXER. I am currently coveting this and hope to get it for Christmas from Santa.. but I had to put it on this list because obviously its freaking amazing!! Even if I don't  have one.. I am smart enough to know that this is a MUST HAVE.

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

4. Sur La Table potato peeler; sure this seems like just a little " big whoopie do" of a tool but it is SO your best friend when you are peeling potatoes...and even fruit and other veggies. I am so messy when it comes to peeling I get my peels ALL OVER THE PLACE but this little friend helps things stay neat and orderly. Not spilling, not making a huge nasty veggie mess. Clean. Get one.

 

 

 



 



 

5. Last but certainly not least..( In fact this probably should have been number one on my list) is the Keurig. I really feel like this is self explanatory but I will share its fabulousness out of courtesy :) The Keurig is hands down my favorite most beloved item in my kitchen. Every morning when my eyes pop open for the day, I instantly remember that I get to have my one amazing cup of coffee that I allow myself daily. Just standing in my robe waiting on the brewer to mix up the delicious "donut shop" coffee ( that's my fave:)) is totally orgasmic to me. Okay maybe not orgasmic but its really a pretty good start to my morning. If you do not have a Keurig please put one on your birthday list, Christmas list, anniversary list..whatever.. JUST GET ONE!

 

 

 

 

Easter Excitement

Hooray for Thursday!! I always love a Thursday..it's Friday eve which is super exciting because who doesn't love Friday?? I have some exciting new recipes brewing up and I am so excited to post them!! This year I am "allowed"(<<<---- yes my mom is very particular about the holidays) to host Easter!! I am so excited to hold my first holiday in my own home. Brandon has a work event that Friday so we figured we would just stay in San Antonio. This year Easter is going to be THEMED ( because I am theme obsessed) as a Southern Style Easter. We are going to have lots of the traditional dishes served at Easter..only with a southern twist :) I have been researching and flipping through cookbooks for two months now picking out some of my favorite home cooked recipes that will fit with our Easter theme. Just an example of some that I have picked are,

BBQ Deviled Eggs with pulled pork

* Such a fun twist on the original deviled egg recipe!

photo courtesy of southern living magazine

 

Grit Casserole

 

cheese, butter, and grits

yep sounds pretty southern :)

 

 

BLT Potato Salad

Totally HAD to try this one..it had bacon in it

duh!

 

 

These are just a few of the many side dishes I have planned. I also have a homemade caramel butter cake on the menu as well as a glazed ham!!! I am so excited to host this special holiday!

 

Edmame Quoinoa Salad

This salad is packed with so many healthy additives its crazy! I found this recipe off of a cooking site and decided to try it. I made a HUGE batch and decided to munch on it for the rest of the week and pack some for Brandy's lunches as well.. it was a hit!

shopping list:
one frozen bag of shelled edamame
one frozen bag of corn
one cup of cooked quinoa ( it expands so it makes a lot!)
one red bell pepper diced
one small bunch of cilantro diced ( to taste.. I love cilantro so I added a lot)
two green onions diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
salt
dried thyme
chili powder
ground black pepper
dash of cayenne

Preparation:

briefly boil the edamame and corn until tender
drain and cool completely

in a large bowl combine the cooked quinoa, edamame, corn, cilantro, onions, and red pepper and mix

then in  a small bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon and lime juice, black pep, thyme, salt, chili powder, and cayenne until well combined. Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat.

chill for two hours and enjoy!

Hometown Happenings and a Monday Beet Salad.

Happy Monday!! I wish I were saying Happy Friday.. these weeks are starting to run together. I am so happy that we had the opportunity to race home just for a night to see family and celebrate two birthdays that are very special to me. My D.G's and my bestie Lindie's 25th birthday! We ate some yummy Mexican food and had so much fun with friends. I always enjoy a quick trip home..and for lunch today I have a yummy beet salad on the menu!! Those who might be reading this are probably trying not to gag at the sight of the word Beet. Let me explain.. beets are SUCH a nutritious food selection and if seasoned with the right spices and paired with the correct flavors they can actually be quite enjoyable! I love fresh beets from the ranch but our farmer Felix didn't have any for us so I bought some at the grocery store in the produce section.

to prepare beets you need to:

soak them and scrub them
cut off the tops and then peel them with a vegetable peeler
quarter them into bite sized cubes
lay them evenly on a baking sheet
drizzle with EVOO
sea salt/pepper
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme
cook at 400 degrees for 40 minutes

** BEETS are very messy!! the beautiful crimson juice will stain your hands and while peeling so don't wear white pants :)!

for the salad:

fresh arugula lettuce
roasted pecan halves ( you can buy roasted or do it yourself)
a log of goat cheese or crumbled
a light and fresh vinaigrette of your choice

set your lettuce on a plate then top with the roasted pecans, crumbled goat cheese, and when finished, add the beets. Pour your favorite vinaigrette over this salad and enjoy!

Isn't it pretty?! The tangy goat cheese marries so well with the bitter beets. Try it its not terrible!

 

 

Some pictures from over the weekend :)

 

 

A pedi with mama!

 

and the Birthday Girl!

 

My hot date!

 

Happy 25th Birthday diff!!

 

Love at its finest :)

 

me with my stripe obsession coming from three different angles!

 



Whipped peanut butter creme

Last night I was wanting ice cream after dinner so bad but we were out..then I got the brilliant idea of empervising with ingredients we already had! This turned out to be one of the best creations ever!!! I grabbed peanut butter (because I am peanut butter obsessed), plain Greek yogurt, and lite whipped cream. I added about a half cup of Greek yogurt, a cup of the whipped creme, and maybe two or three tablespoons of peanut butter. I also added one trivia packet and started my hand mixer and whipped this mixture until it was smooth and blended. Then to that, I added slivered almonds and fresh cut fruit!! BEST DESSERT EVER. Your welcome!!!

My Dolly's Peanut Butter BLT Sandwiches

I know what your thinking.. peanut butter and bacon..gross!! I promise I thought the same thing when I was a little girl as I curiously watched my great grandmother assemble this sandwich with its very intriguing ingredients. I was both pleased and surprised.  I have been eating these sandwiches since I was 5 years old..and my mom has been eating them her whole life.. and my grandmother.. and so on. You get the point right? Anyways this is such an easy recipe.. and I bet kiddos would even love it too!

Shopping list:

one package of center cut bacon

FRESH bread: the best that work with this sandwich I feel are ( Brioche, Ciabatta, Rye, or Pumpernickel)- I also recommend toasting the bread just a little to bring both a golden crustiness and a soft underbelly to your sandwich foundation.

Lettuce: When it comes to the lettuce, the goal is to provide crunch and flavor that can stand up to the rest of the mix. Greenery that I would choose would probably be romaine or butter lettuce. They are versatile and easy and taste yummy.

Tomato. The tomato AKA the "T" is an essential part of this amazing sandwich so its important to pick a good tomato. The type of tomato does not matter so much as the quality. Try and pick one with little or no cracks, intense color, and always slice these with a serrated knife!

and here it goes..instead of MAYO you add PEANUT BUTTER

I choose Jiff..but its totally up to you :)

There you have it .. the perfect BLT..
some additional add ons that taste great could be some really yummy farm house cheddar. This cheese will brighten up your sandwich and make your taste buds pop!!! ( I have really been watching to many cooking shows.. my vocabulary is totally GIADA DE LAURENTIS!)

ENJOY PEEPS!

The Cast Iron Skillet

In life we go through so many different seasons. Seasons of change.. seasons of growth, seasons of tribulations, seasons of joy, and seasons of hope. I am such a huge believer that God gives us these seasons not only to fill us with joy and happiness but to also mold our spirit into one of trust and faith.  In my kitchen I hold a very prized possession...my cast iron skillet. Anybody who has a cast iron skillet knows the number one rule is to never wash it with soap because the seasoning will dissipate and your skillet will turn to rust. The beauty of the cast iron is that it is open to different seasons which in turn make delicious food. Sometimes I feel like God is using my soul like I use my skillet.. always seasoning and always changing. I am not the person I was last year.. I can sense a change about myself and it makes me happy. Finding out how God is working in your life is the beauty in living and walking in faith! I have had so many struggles walking in faith and trusting. I love to be in control. OH YEAH. It is how I thrive.. how I feel comfort... and how I deal with situations. For a long time I was turning to people to comfort me because this gave me a sense of control. I was receiving an answer and in turn,  the answer gave me complete relief and comfort. throughout these few months I have turned everything over to God and released my beloved control in his hands. I cannot begin to tell of all the wonderful things God has done in my and in my husband's life. I am so grateful for these seasons of change because they have truly helped me become the woman of faith I have always imagined myself. Letting everything go into His hands has given me the comfort I need and in turn he has blessed us tremendously. It sounds strange but I am grateful for the hard times as much as I am grateful for the good. For those who have anxious hearts and are reading, know this " Trust in the Lord with your whole heart and lean not on your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will make your path straight" This scripture from proverbs is used to heal many anxious hearts and at first I thought it was just words. It wasn't until I truly let go and believed in what these words mean that the miraculous hands of our Lord touched my life.

BBQ Chicken Tacos

Last night for dinner I wanted to make something quick, easy, and simple. I recently re-read my Rachel-Ray 30 minute meals cook book for the hundredth time and came across a pretty yummy sounding taco recipe. While I always make my own little spin on things (BBQ was my idea:)) I loved the spices she used to marinate her chicken and thought it sounded very appealing! A quick side of sautéed zucchini and squash medley was my side of choice and also pretty quick and easy..which we love!!! For this recipe you will need"

Four boneless skinless chicken breasts
two zucchini and two squash
cumin, cayenne, chili pepper
salt/pepper
BBQ sauce of your choice ( I use sweet baby rays)
one can of black beans
1/2 of a yellow onion chopped
tortillas ( I love the black bean tortillas from artisan!)


Directions:
** If you have a crockpot marinate your chicken the day before and pop them in the crock pot to let them cook all day. That way when you are ready for your dinner you only have a few steps to follow!

marinate your chicken with a little salt/pep, cumin, cayenne, and chili pepper, and BBQ sauce. Be sure and rub them really good so the spices settle in and really make your chicken tasty! Then pop those chicken in the crock pot and let them sit with a little chicken stock.  Cook for about 6-8 hours. Once the chicken is cooked you can take two forks and shred them...

NEXT

pour your beans (drained and rinsed) into a sauce pan with your chopped onions and let the onions cook with the beans. Add a couple of glugs of BBQ sauce to give them a smoky flavor! Once the beans are cooked, take your shredded chicken and add it to the beans and onions.. mix them all around until the chicken is coated with the beans and onions.. the spices from the chicken will marry with the BBQ flavors of the black beans and make for a great taco filling!!!!

Fill your tacos up with the mixture and top with fresh tomatoes and romaine lettuce!!!! YUM!


For the squash and zucchini medley

I simply sliced them in rounds then quartered them to make them into smaller bites.
Then I sautéed them in EVOO, salt and pepper and cooked until browned.

EASY!!