Wednesday, March 21, 2012

GIADA'S TILAPIA FISH TACOS, AND PATIENCE, MY DEAR!...........


(Do you rip out recipies from magazines as carefully as I do? Pitiful, I must say...)

*****************
It's March. In upstate New York. Normally the coldest place on the planet. It's 80 degrees in the shade, with nary a leaf on a tree. Super freaky...but nice! Spent yesterday cleaning up my flower beds...this is what they look like, 'bout now.........(see if you can find the little kitty, jumping off a rock in this photo).....



BEEYOUTEEFUL, right? Ugh...this is what is usually left under all the snow.....and so hard to believe it will all end up looking like this, in a few months time.....BRING IT!.....




That's the thing about gardening...you can't rush it. Which is so hard for an impatient person like myself....I want my eye candy, and I want it, NOW!!!

**************

In anticipation of our daughter's return home for summer break, I've been trying out new Vegetarian/Pescatarian recipes again, just so I don't have to hear the kid whine about having nothing to eat! And it's official--she IS NOT eating meat again...just spoke with her (phone reception, even via Skype, SUCKS from France, just so you know) a few minutes ago, and she seemed excited to try out the recipe I made for dinner, just last night. From Ladies' Home Journal mag, doncha know....Giada's delicous Tilapia Fish Tacos with Arugula.

I totally forgot to take any photos until I was actually putting the tacos together, so this is all I have for you...you'll have to take my word for it: these tacos are FANTASTIQUE! I think I love the mango/avocado/arugula salad on the tacos most of all......and also the Wasabi cream sauce.  I do wish somebody would tell me WHY my photos are so blurry lately--so sorry!.........


You can tell that Wink didn't like his, not one little bit............


Here's the recipe, if you'd like to try them for yourself (and I do hereby promise to get with it, once again, regarding my photography!)......

TILAPIA FISH TACOS WITH ARUGULA
Serves 4

6 tblsp. olive oil
6 tilapia fillets (about 1 lb), cut into 3/4 inch pieces (I do believe haddock would be good in these, also)
1 tblsp. plus 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. ground pepper
1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 mango, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tblsp. chopped cilantro
3 scallions, white and pale green parts, finely chopped
2 cups packed baby arugula, coarsely chopped
1 tblsp. fresh lime juice
1 cup creme fraiche or sour cream
2 tblsp. wasabi powder (found in the Japanese foods section)
8 6-inch corn tortillas

In a large, nonstick skillet heat 3 tblsp. olive oil over medium-high heat. Drizzle tilapia fillets with 1 tblsp. olive oil and season both sides with 1 tblsp. salt and the pepper. Arrange half the fish in a single layer in the pan and cook until the flesh is flaky and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Repeat with remaining fish. Set aside to cool slightly. In a medium bowl, combine avocado, mango, cilantro, scallions and arugula. In a separate bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tblsp. olive oil, lime juice and 1/4 tsp. salt. Drizzle over avocado mixture and toss to coat. In a bowl, mix creme fraiche, wasabi powder and 1/2 tsp. salt until smooth. Warm tortillas by heating in batches in a dry skillet, turning occasionally until warm. Divide the mango-avocado salad among tortillas. Top with fish and some wasabi creme fraiche.

TODAY I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR....

***The trip I'm planning to California this August, to help celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary--God bless 'em! I also plan on helping my daughter settle into her senior-year living situation, and hopefully spend lots of quality time with relatives and friends.

***The opportunity to exercise around here almost every single day again...3 days at the gym, the rest of the time walking fast with friends outside in the fresh spring air!

***The hour long conversation I just had with my beautiful, hilarious daughter--chatting with her always makes me so happy!

2 comments:

  1. The fish tacos sound wondrous, so I am gonna have to make them! We have been having lots of rain here in Oklahoma, and our grass and trees are blooming like crazy. Not good for allergy sufferers, but the azaleas should be fantastic in about two weeks, for sure. Redbuds, Dogwoods, Bradford Pears,all blooming... sure hope we don't get a killing frost between now and April 15th, which is usually our last chance of frost. Thanks for the post and pictures of your beautiful garden, well, at least the way it WILL look here in a bit! Hugs! ~~Debra

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am ready to try this recipe out as fish taco's are my favorite thing to order when going out! Thanks for this Leslie!! I have to say that I am also grateful about your upcoming trip to California! Sorry Carol.... I get her for a day, please!! lol Love and miss my sweetest friend ever!!!

    ReplyDelete