Single Guy Cooking

I used Tilapia for this recipe and it turned out great.  I used the Emeril Creole seasoning.  Here was the end result:

The recipe I borrowed this from suggested making what they called “compound butter”.  Here’s the mixture and the directions:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

In a bowl, add the butter, Creole spices, salt and pepper and mix to combine. Melt the butter if you need to in order to mix ingredients together.

Pre-heat a non-stick frying pan.  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Take the fish and cover both sides in creole seasoning (about 1/2 tbsp for each side).  Once the pan is heated, put the fish in the pan for about 2 minutes on each side until the seasoning is browned.

Coat a baking dish on the bottom with half of the butter mixture.  Place the fix on top of the butter mixture and let the fish cook for about 12 – 15 minutes (try not to overcook).  When the fish is done, place it on your plate and then add a spoonful of the leftover butter mixture.

Sides

I used a frozen “southern mix” with onions, red peppers, blackeyed peas and black beans.

I also made wild rice from a rice-a-roni box.

I wanted to use this recipe to illustrate something that was a bit of a cooking revelation for me.  When you get a craving for something and decide you want to make it yourself, you can go out and google recipes.  I’ve found though that doing this often results in getting some crazy recipe with 97 ingredients and all sorts of techniques.  In the past, this used to make me give up on cooking and just go buy some frozen food or take out.  I’ve changed my perspective though….

This recipe was adapted from this one at the Food Network.  As you can see, I didn’t use catfish but instead used tilapia that I had on hand, I cut out the lemons because I didn’t want to mess with it, and I cut out the chives because I didn’t think it would add much.  The point is, I adapted the recipe to what I had and what I felt like getting involved with and still turned out a delicious meal. Cooking shouldn’t be a chore, it should be something you enjoy so you can save money, eat well, and eat healthy.  For me, learning that I didn’t have to follow the recipe exactly and could make it my own has really helped to make it less of a chore and turn it into something I enjoy.