Swai, Rice, and Broccoli in Parchment Paper

As I've mentioned before-Michael is a big fan of variety. And he has a big appetite. So I often struggle with making enough food and enough different kinds of food to keep him satisfied. Which is why I was SO thrilled when I came up with this super simple dinner idea and he loved it!

One of the best parts of this recipe is-in addition to the fact that you cook an entire dinner together in the oven-that you can completely customize the flavorings based upon preferences. I went a slightly spicy route using chili powder and paprika, but you could also do soy sauce and ginger, or garlic and herbs, etc. Also, you can switch out the veggies according to preference-I used broccoli but you could use whatever, or a combo of different vegetables. (Heck, you can even use chicken instead of fish!) And in the end you have flavorful rice, veggies, and fish all cooked up together. It's perfect. My solution to weeknight dinners for my hungry hungry hippo of a fiance' and I know it'll be a great option for your family too! 

Baked Lemon-Thyme Tilapia

It is so much easier for me to make Michael healthy meals. I feel like he just has a plethora of options that I, being a picky eater, do not. But in some ways it makes cooking for him sort of fun-I get to be creative! Improvise! And that is what happened when I made this tilapia.

First I just wanted to make some sort of baked fish. Then I decided to make a packet I had of Hodgson Mill garlic herb quinoa. Then I was like, "Hey. Let's use some Star garlic cooking oil and cook some spinach up too." So I did those things. And served them. And Michael was like 'Om nom nom."

The fish is flaky and tender and the little bit of sauce that the tilapia cooks in adds just the right amount of flavor while still keeping this a pretty healthy dish. And I like this recipe because it doesn't smell as fishy as other things do....#realtalk.

Honestly, I'm crazy proud of this recipe-it'll take you no time at all to make (so no excuses for not having time for healthy dinner!), can be easily doubled (if you're entertaining or have a large family), and Michael raved about it. Restaurant-quality eating with all the comforts of home!

{Baked} Fish Sticks

Of course I made these for Michael.

(Sometimes) I'm a nice lady.

Now...technically these are supposed to be fish sticks buut...I may have not cut the fish small enough? So it's more like just...baked fish?

When I look at these pictures, it actually reminds me of "fish 'n' chips"...minus the chips.

Michael loves fish and chips. And fish and chips make me think of British things, which makes me think about some of the hilarious people in my life. Let me elaborate:

Michael's best friend, David, is obsessed with all things British. He teaches Brit Lit at the high school Michael and I attended. He's basically in love with Queen Elizabeth (Tudor). His twin girls know all about the royal family-his daughter Kate especially loves hearing about Princess Kate. He has British flags um...everywhere.

One of my good friends in high school went through a strange phase senior year where...out of nowhere she would say something in a British accent and just speak like that for awhile and if someone pointed it out she'd be all "Oh? What? I am? I didn't even notice that! Strange." Um...you'd never been to England. You were just doing a strange thing and acting like it was unconscious lol.

Another friend in high school was also very obsessed with England (in addition to early, 18th century, America. She loves her some Thomas Jefferson). In college she did a semester abroad there and guess what? She bagged herself a Brit! Her first real boyfriend turned out to be an English boy and even after she had to come back to the states they visited each other often and then, a few months ago, they were married in a super charming wedding in the English countryside.

Anyway, all those British stories don't have much to do with anything. I just think it's funny the obsession some people have with British culture. Even those of us who aren't obsessed are fairly interested in, say, Kate & William and little Prince George. 

Back to fish: I adapted this recipe a fair amount to work with the ingredients I had on hand, and I think the result was even better that way! Michael really really enjoyed these and if you like fish (and/or British culture? :P) then you will too! They're also pretty darn quick and easy to throw together, and on the healthy side. Huzzah!

Breadcrumb Crusted Cod

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I do not like seafood. It is true. I do not like fish. I do not like it in a dish...ok let's not let this devolve into a Seuss-y blog post...I don't have the ryhming skills for more than a line or two, at most...

hehe.

Anyway. I hate all fish and seafood. People tend to get fairly weirded out by this (my mom doesn't like it either! My dad however, adores it all.), and yes, I promise, I've tried it. I wish I liked fish! It's pretty good for you 'n' stuff! I just...don't. The smell, the texture, the taste...none of it is for me.

However, other people totally love it. Including my boyfriend. And the poor guy barely ever gets it, because I'm a mean lady who doesn't cook it for him ;).

After his best friend visited and cooked him some Indian inspired fish recipe, we had some leftover cod fillets in our freezer. And one day I decided to be nice and use it to make something, and oh look how handy, there was a recipe on the bag! And we had all the ingredients! So, nice girl that I am, I made it. And Michael loved it. And so maybe you will too?