Last night, as mentioned previously, I cooked almond-crusted tilapia for dinner. It was quite simple.

Here's the recipe:
1/3 cup blanched almonds
1/4 cup flour
2 tbsp parsley
1 tbsp oregano
2 tsp garlic powder
4 fillets
2 tbsp butter
1 egg, beaten
1/4 half & half

1. Melt the butter in a 12 inch skillet on med-low
2. Whisk the egg and milk together
3. Combine almonds, flour, parsley, oregano, and garlic
4. Dip the fillets in the egg and then coat with the almond/flour mixture
5. Cook each side 8-10 minutes.

To make these home-cooked meals go more smoothly, I have made it a habit to always have fresh sliced fruit on hand. That way I already have one side figured out and ready to go. Plus it makes a great snack while waiting for the meal to finish up. Another thing that I also try to keep around to make menu planning simple is fresh pre-washed spinach leaves. I'm so lucky to have found a farmer at our market that sells bags of pre-washed greens. This is a huge help on busy nights. One of my favorites things to do is saute asparagus, onions, and tomatoes in a little bit of olive oil and then serve it over the spinach. This is a quick and easy salad with loads of flavor! I truly recommend it.

Aside from making another yummy meal yesterday, I started to read The Frugal Gourmet, and while I am not religous, I am adapting his ideas to my secular life. So far he has mentioned how bread used to be the main item ate at every meal and it would be supplimented with sides. Occassionally it would also be served with a little bit of meat. Today, bread is optinal - it has been replaced by meat. We as Americans consume too much meat, and the consequences are evident in diseases like hyper-tension. I love the idea of revisting bread in the human diet. Grains, after all, were our first cultivated crops. Bread truly is a comfort food and there is nothing better than the aroma of fresh bread wafting through the house. One of the most satisfying experiences can be taking that first bite of your own bread. Have you ever tried baking a loaf? You should! It is actually pretty easy. In fact here is where you can find my favorite recipe.