Easy Weeknight Dinner

During the week I still like to make home-cooked meals. Don't get me wrong, I have made my share of frozen chicken nuggets and fish sticks for the kids over the years, especially when my husband was out of town. And lets face it, it is sometimes really hard to make a meal from scratch when you have ballet, soccer practice and gymnastics to get kids to! That's why tilapia is my friend!! It thaws quick and cooks fast. I made my tilapia with garlic salt, lemon zest, a sprinkle of dried breadcrumbs, lemon juice and butter. I added some chives at the end for some color. I served my tilapia tonight with sauteed kale. Kale is a hearty green. It is SO good for you. I added canned white beans to the saute along with olive oil, garlic, chicken broth and lemon juice. I topped the sauteed kale with some grated asiago cheese. Parmesan works too! If you don't like kale try swiss chard. Swiss chard is also a hearty green but a little less bitter than kale. It is beautiful in color too! I planned on chard tonight but the Safeway in Camas didn't have it! I knew I should have gone to Camas Produce!! HA-HA!! To finish the dish off I made some basmati rice and we had a quick and healthy meal!

Tilapia with lemon and butter

olive oil

butter

Tilapia

lemon zest (from about half a lemon)

salt/pepper

garlic salt

dried bread crumbs

lemon juice

Set out tilapia on a platter. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lemon zest and garlic salt to taste. Sprinkle lightly with bread crumbs. Set your cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add olive oil 3 turns around pan. Add 1T. butter. When pan is hot and butter is starting to brown add tilapia. Cook on one side for about 4-5 minutes. Turn tilapia and squeeze the juice of one lemon over fish. Continue to cook for about 4-5 minutes. Pat each piece of tilapia with a thin slice of butter and let melt. Remove from heat.

Sautéed Kale or Swiss Chard

One bunch of kale (one bunch make enough for 2 people)

garlic (2 clove in the garlic press)

salt/pepper

lemon juice form half lemon

1/4 c. chicken broth

1 can white beans (any kind will do) drained and rinsed

asiago or parmesan cheese

Prepare kale buy stripping leaves off stem. Roughly chop. Off heat add about 2 T. of olive oil to saute pan. Using garlic press, add garlic to oil. Turn on heat to medium high. When garlic starts to sizzle and is fragrant add kale. Toss kale in the oil and garlic. Add salt and pepper, lemon juice and chicken broth. Continue to stir and cook for about 5 minutes or until kale is tender and cooked down. Add beans and cook for about 1 more minute. Remove from heat and add cheese.

I hope you make and enjoy this fast and healthy meal!!!