Fresh Fish

On our quest to eat healthier, I decided to find a way to make fish that Hubby would eat! The first step was starting with the freshest fish I could find, which led me to Atkins Seafood.

This is a tiny half fish market half seafood lunch spot in Waxahachie, TX.

So of course I got lunch before buying my fresh fish :) Blackened Fish Tacos with pineapple salsa, and a side of black bean salad. These were hands down the best seafood tacos I've ever had! I thought the black beans could have used a little more seasoning, but they were a nice complement to the spicy fish.

Then it was time to pick what fish we would be having for dinner :) The lady behind the counter told me, you pick your fish and pay for the whole thing, then if you would like they will fillet it for you.

She told me Red Snapper was their most popular fish, so that is what I chose, and I got it filleted with the skin on.

Then I brought it home to cook :)

Blackened Red Snapper

9oz Red Snapper Fillets, skin on (about 2 fillets)

2 tsp canola oil

1/2 Tbsp Salt

1/2 Tbsp Paprika

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Mix salt, paprika, garlic, cayenne, and pepper together in small bowl.

(What you see in this pic is twice as much seasoning, I ended up only needing half, and adjusted suggested measurements accordingly)

On Clean work surface cut several small slits in skin to keep it from curling while cooking. Flip fish and generously season meaty side. Heat small cast iron skillet over medium heat. If only one fillet will fit in you skillet, then add 1 tsp oil and allow to heat without smoking. If both fillets will fit, then add 2 tsp oil and let heat. Once oil is hot, place fish, seasoning side down into skillet and set timer for 3 minutes.

After 3 minutes flip fish and allow skin side to cook for 2 minutes. Remove fish and allow to drain on paper towel lined plate. At this point you can add the second tsp of oil and second fillet if you did not cook them together. You can peel the skin away from the fish before serving, or the meat will gently flake off the skin while eating.

I also made Crustless Swiss Chard Pie from The Skinnytaste Cookbook to go with our fish.

Blackened Red Snapper, Crustless Swiss Chard Pie, Sauteed Green Beans, and homemade (kinda) Horseradish Sauce ( 1 single serving size fat free greek yogurt, 1 Tbsp Penzey's Horseradish dip mix, 1 tsp dried dill)

Served on our fancy china ;)

It happened ya'll! Hubby said the fish was his favorite thing on the plate! This is a man who has always hated fish! I was so excited! Fresh fish is clearly the key!! Hubby's mom also really enjoyed it. Though she said it was pretty spicy, so take that into consideration when using the cayenne. We all also really enjoyed the swiss chard pie! We always enjoy sauteed green beans (I had to have something on the plate that we had eaten and liked before!) The horseradish dip was surprisingly good on the swiss chard, however I thought it had a tangyness (hello greek yogurt) that did not meld well with the fish.

I highly recommend this dish! And if you too are hesitant to eat fish, find a fresh fish market, and let them change your mind!

Books 3 & 4

Yesterday I put 2 books on my Empty Shelf!

The 3rd book to go on my shelf this year is "The Skinnytaste Cookbook" by Gina Homolka. Have you ever read a cookbook from cover to cover? I love reading cookbooks! I get so many ideas of what foods go together, and different ways to prepare foods. I also keep a note pad close by to jot down the name and page number of recipes I would like to try. Eventually I would like to make up an index of all the recipes that sound good from my cookbooks. That way I won't have to flip through each book searching for the right meal, it will all be in one place :) This cookbook has many good recipes, and has nutrition facts for each recipe at the bottom of the page. My only complaint would be that she does not believe in artificial sweeteners, and they are necessary for us right now. But I can easily swap out for most recipes, and skip those that I cannot. Gina Homolka has a very upbeat way of writing, and reading this cookbook was enjoyable!

The 4th book to go on my Empty Shelf yesterday was "Talking As Fast As I Can" by Lauren Graham. This was such a fun read! I felt like I had found a writing buddy in this book, she too is a huge fan of the exclamation point and of going off on rabbit trails :) I loved getting a behind the scenes look at my favorite TV show! This book is written like you are sitting having coffee with Lauren Graham hearing all about her life! All Gilmore Girls fans should read this book :)

So, tell me, (sips hot tea) what have you been reading?

Always Loved

On November 18th, our second Baby joined our first in Heaven. Baby was 8 weeks along, but we only found out we were pregnant the evening before.

Last night I got "Always" tattooed on my arm. Both of our Babies will Always be our Babies, they will Always be Loved! Most importantly, one day we will meet them when we reach our Target!

"Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me." - 2 Samuel 12:23b

Book 2 - Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Mishchief Managed! I have not been this excited to read a book since finishing the original series! Now, this is not a book in traditional form, it is a play script. I was a little worried I would not enjoy it as much because of that, I should not have been worried! From the first page I was hooked! I read a quarter of the book when I was supposed to be sleeping that first night.

I am not here to give spoilers, I am just here to give my feeling and recommendation. With this book, I cannot recommend enough :)

So what have you read? Tell us if we should read it too! :)

Book 1 - How To Be An American Housewife

I missed writing about books, and challenging myself to read more books last year. So I decided to bring back the Empty Shelf Challenge for 2017! Click on that link to see the way the challenge works.

I have changed the name of the Facebook group to Empty Shelf Challenge, so come join us there!

Find a shelf in your home you can clear, and as you read, fill your empty shelf with the books you finish :)

Then take pics as your shelf fills up, and share them with us! You can also share what you thought about the book, and if you would recommend it. Let's talk books! :)

If you read from an E-Reader, screenshot your books! If you borrow from the library, take a pic on the shelf before you return it! Everyone can participate!

My first book to finish in 2017 was How To Be An American Housewife by Margaret Dilloway. I really enjoyed this book about a Japanese woman who has been married to an American now for many years, and is looking back on her life. This was a good work contrasting the two cultures, and how different it is to move to another country.

OK, it is your turn. What are you reading in 2017?