Quick Weeknight Dinner

On April 13, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes6 Comments

As hectic as our schedules are, we often look for quick and easy dinner options. Making tacos is definitely one of those types of meals that is tasty as well as easy. Tacos are a great option because you can use almost any type of meat such as pork, chicken, beef, or you could even do a vegan option. You can also cook the filling a variety of ways, cooked slowly and shredded, seared in a skillet like fajita meat, or ground meat simmered in a frying pan. We’re not really doing a recipe this week because, as we said, this was a fast meal made easy.

This was a childhood staple for both of us and we used to make it for our kids as well. We went with the simple solution of browning ground meat, we chose ground chicken to make a little healthier, and then adding water and taco seasoning. It doesn’t get much simpler. We shredded some lettuce, cut some tomato, added salsa, shredded cheese, jalapenos, and sour cream to complete the meal. We heated store-bought taco shells in the oven, but it works great with flour shells heated in the microwave if you don’t want a crunchy taco. Twenty minutes later and we had a dinner that was not only fast and easy, but really satisfies the taste buds.

Sometimes uncomplicated, unsophisticated, down right old-fashioned is the perfect solution for a weeknight dinner. People have been making this same meal since the sixties, but there is probably a reason that it has been around for so long. When it works, it works. We all have that “go to” dinner for when we just don’t have a lot of time or energy, but don’t want to order out or pick up fast food. Hopefully yours is as tasty as a weeknight taco dinner.

Pan Fried Tilapia with Oven Roasted Asparagus

On April 6, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes7 Comments

We try to have some sort of seafood every week and tilapia is a mild fish that is easy to prepare and typically inexpensive. We cooked this as a weeknight dinner because it is quick and easy, but also very tasty. Because tilapia has such a mild flavor, there are plenty of options to serving it, from sauces to cooking techniques such as baking, poaching, and pan frying. Asparagus is also very versatile, but oven roasting it is one of our favorite ways of preparing it as it gives it a robust flavor and is very easy, especially for a weeknight dinner. We’re providing the recipe that serves four people, but we did half of this recipe since it was just the two of us. Enjoy :).

Ingredients

1 lb Fresh Tilapia Filets
1 cup Panko or Bread Crumbs (we used Panko)
2 eggs
1/4 cup Milk – optional
1 cup All-Purpose Flour
1 tbsp Spanish Paprika
1 tbsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary – finely chopped
6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 lb Fresh Asparagus
Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

Toss the asparagus with 2 tablespoons olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place the asparagus on a baking sheet, ensuring that they are not crowded, and put into a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes or until the asparagus begin to caramelize. On plates or in shallow bowls, prepare the breading ingredients. In the first bowl, combine the flour, paprika, garlic powder, tablespoon of salt and half tablespoon of black pepper. In the second bowl, whisk together the eggs and, if desired, milk. In the third bowl, combine the Panko or bread crumbs and the rosemary. Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Dredge the tilapia in the flour and then coat with the egg mixture. Finally, completely cover with the Panko and place the fish in the frying pan. Cook the fish until golden brown and thoroughly cooked, about 4 minutes per side. Squeeze some lemon juice over the fish and serve with the asparagus.

Pan Fried Tilapia with Oven Roasted Asparagus

Roasted Leg of Lamb with Gravy

On March 30, 2016 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Recipes14 Comments

We have very specific meals that we have on special occasions and lamb is our Easter tradition. There is something about having lamb that is very emblematic of the coming of spring to us and we look forward to this meal every year. It doesn’t have to be a leg of lamb, but that is our preference when we are able to get it. Surprisingly, lamb isn’t as easy to find here in Colorado and it is often expensive, which doesn’t really make a lot of sense to us. Oven roasted red potatoes is definitely our favorite starch to serve with lamb and sautéing spinach made for a light and refreshing vegetable.

Ingredients

5 lb, Bone-in, Leg of Lamb
2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove – finely minced
1 tbsp Fresh Rosemary – chopped
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/3 cup Water

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Place the lamb, fat side up, on a rack in a roasting pan. Rub the herb mixture over the top of the lamb. Pour a cup of water into the bottom of the pan. Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees and place the lamb on the middle rack in the center of the oven. Cook for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350 degrees. Continue cooking for an hour and thirty minutes (approximately 20 minutes per pound) or when an instant-read thermometer reads 155 degrees at the thickest part of the lamb, but not near the bone. Remove the lamb from the pan, cover, and set aside for 15 minutes to rest. Using red wine or water, deglaze the bottom of the roasting pan and pour the drippings into a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together the flour and water to make a rue. Once the pan drippings are hot, slowly whisk in the flour mixture until the gravy is at the desired consistency. Be sure to add the flour mixture when the drippings are nice and hot to avoid lumps in the gravy. If desired, roast red potatoes that have been quartered with olive oil, garlic powder, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper, in an oven at 450 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden brown. In a sauté pan, add olive oil, spinach, red pepper flakes, stone-ground mustard, salt and pepper and cook the spinach over medium-high heat until wilted. Enjoy with a nice glass of wine. 🙂