Kik the Cook

I never EVER thought I would say this, but I am really enjoying teaching myself how to cook.  Mom, Aunt Sandy, Uncle Lyle, Colleen, and Zach joined Grandpa and me for dinner last night.  Here is what I made:

[I found about three or four recipes online and just combined them, modified them, and made my own meal out of it.]

  

Almond Crusted Tilapia with Mandarin Orange Salsa

What You'll Need:

For the Tilapia

A bunch of tilapia fillets

(The recipe called for six.  I made more than that.)

1 Cup chopped toasted almonds

(All I had in the cupboard was mixed nuts, so I used almonds & cashews.)

1 teaspoon brown sugar

(You know how I feel about brown sugar.  There was more than just a teaspoon in there!)

A pinch of nutmeg

(What the hell is 'a pinch'?  I just dumped in whatever fell out of the jar!)

1 (15oz) can of crushed pineapple

(I used a little less than half the can.  The other half I put into the salsa.)

1 Cup flaked coconut

3 Eggs - beaten

• Put the eggs in a shallow bowl
• Mix the almonds, brown sugar, nutmeg, pineapple, and coconut in a separate bowl
• Dip each tilapia fillet in the eggs, then press into the almond mixture
• Place the fillets in a buttered baking pan
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 40 minutes

Mandarin Orange Salsa

1 (11oz) Can of Mandarin Oranges

2 teaspoons of Red Chili Paste

2 tablespoons of fresh squeezed lemon juice

Fresh Chopped cilantro leaves

Cut the oranges in half and mix it all together!  Super easy!

Mandarin Orange & Pineapple Salsa

[I made this variation because I don't do spicy, although the other one was not bad at all!]

1 (11oz) Can of Mandarin Oranges

1/2 (15oz) can of Crushed Pineapple 

(The other half went into the almond mix)

1/2 fresh squeezed lemon

Chopped Cilantro