Grilled Tilapia with Stuffed Tomatoes

Grilled tilapia is one of my favorite cooked fish and I LOVE that it doesn't have a "fishy" smell when it cooks like some other types of fish.  When it comes to summer months, the one thing we love the most is firing up the grill and going at it with just about anything we can throw down on the hot grates.  I love how awesome and quick it is to cook just about everything on it, including pizza.  Pairing up certain side dishes to go with fish is a fun adventure in itself too.  I love stuffed tomatoes the best and it really pairs well with grilled tilapia.

Stuff tomatoes are a great replacement for stuffed green bell peppers.  If you don't care for the taste of green bells or you are allergic to them, like me, this recipe will surely be a taste addition to your dinner plates.

Be sure when you grill the tilapia you add you seasonings while it's cooking.  Add a few slices of lemon while it's cooking to give it that added flavor from the lemons.

For the stuffed tomatoes here's what you'll need:

2 tbs. Worcestershire Sauce

1 tbs. Garlic Powder

1 tbs. Rosemary Leaves

1-8ox. can of Tomato Sauce

1/2 to one full jar (3 oz.) Real Bacon Bits

Also you will need, 2 cups white rice, 1/2 cup brown rice or more brown to white rice if you like and 4-5 whole tomatoes.

Picking ripe tomatoes that are semi-soft are the best.  They will cook a lot better than a tomato that is harder on the inside.

You want to core out your tomato to prepare it for the stuffing.  I like to use a melon baller because it wastes less of the tomato that way.

Cook you rice according to the package directions and then combine all ingredients into a large mixing bowl.  

Stuff a generous amount into each tomato.  I used a muffin tin to keep the tomato upright, but a small backing pan would work just as well if the tomatoes were snug against each other.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the tops turn brown. 

While your tomatoes are cooking, prepare your tilapia with a butter glaze of rosemary and lemon pepper seasoning.  Grill on aluminum foil/parchment until the internal temperature is at 145-148 degrees.  

Don't forget to add your lemon slices while it's cooking!

Top the cooked tomato with a few slices of sharp cheddar cheese right out of the oven and allow the heat from the stuffed tomatoes to melt on top.  

Once the cheese has melted, serve with the tilapia.

ENJOY!

Eco-Tip:  Having your own livestock is a great way to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.  If you aren't sure where to start, start with chickens.  Chickens provide a lot of eggs for a family and can really help you appreciate a better tasting egg, as well.  For more tips visit The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Skylar and the Multicolored Sidewalk

We always have a blast with sidewalk chalk and we always seem for find the most colorful addition to add to the boring, gray, cracked, and otherwise plain sidewalk in front of our house.  This time it was a bit of a different take and it made the sidewalk come to life.

Skylar colored away till the whole sidewalk was covered in all sorts of different colors.

He had so much fun!

Our hands were super chalky.

  

Such a pretty, colorful sidewalk!

We even colored the stepping stones from the house to the driveway.

Such a fun day!

And I think we will leave it there till the rain of Oregon washes it away.

Eco-Tip:  Growing your own Aloe Vera plant is not only great for your family when it comes to burns and scrapes, but also great for the planet too.  It can help clean your in-home air quality and give you long lasting aloe vera instead of using something processed in a factory.  For more tips visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Quick and easy breakfast treat called PAP

This recipe seems a bit odd, but it's been passed down from generation to generation in my family for quite some time now.  It falls under the category of "porridge" and taste great with cinnamon and apples, or even just plain with strawberries.

It's a fast breakfast alternative to oatmeal, cream of wheat, and grits.  It has a flavorful taste and it made with only three ingredients:  Sugar, milk, and flour.

Seems simple enough, right?  It really is and it's a treat for sure.  It reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom would prepare this for us before school.  It's not quite a breakfast you would want to have everyday, but it is a great recipe to add to your breakfast menu and prepare for your kids on a cold, frosty morning this fall before school.  

ENJOY!

Never fail Hors D'oeuvres

These are really simple and very easy to make. If I can make them and they taste good, anyone can!

You will need either, tortilla chips that are shaped like scoops or the like, or make them yourself with flour tortillas. To make them yourself you simply cut the tortilla in the shape of a circle and wrap it around the bottom of a muffin pan and bake in the oven for a few minutes until solid.

To fill them use one of the following tricks:

1. Black Bean and Avocado: 1/2 cup black beans, 1/2 avocado, 1/2 jalapeno, chopped fine, and 1 tsp. olive oil. Mix together and fill the scoops with the filling and sprinkle the top with a little black pepper.

2. Goat Cheese and Corn: 1 medium to small cucumber, 1/2 cup, fresh cut corn kernels and 2 tbs, crumbled goat cheese or the like. Mix together and fill the scoops with the filling and sprinkle the top with a dash of black pepper.

3. Shrimp and Lemon Pepper: 12 peeled and de-veined cooked shrimp, finely diced. You can buy these already packaged or do it yourself. The ones already packaged saves a lot of time. 1/2 tsp. toasted sesame oil, 1 tsp. lemon pepper seasoning. Mix together in a small bowl and fill the scoops with the filling. Sprinkle the tops with a bit more lemon pepper and server.

Eco-Tip:  Always eat better than you did the day before.  Try out farmers' markets when you can and don't fall victim to the fade foods that come and go.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are always better than anything in a box.  For more tips visit The Earth and Me Go Green.