Cooking For Two!

Funny how when you can't eat…it's all you think about! Why is that I wonder?

We always want what we can't have I guess!

My sweet son can't eat all day today because of a test he's having tomorrow so of course I've been thinking about food all day long! And so has he, bless his heart! So, to satisfy that craving of mine I thought I would share this post with you on my first attempt to begin cooking for two since I will be doing this next fall anyway!

 ( I hope this doesn't seem cruel!)

Anyway, when we returned home from vacation in Hilton Head my green beans were hanging off the vines like crazy! That's the way I like to see them growing! I wish all of my veggies were doing that! My green bean recipe is exactly what my mother has always done and you just can't beat it! Of course, we didn't eat all of these…I froze ALOT of them which will be nice later!

Fresh Green Beans

click here and then scroll down to the fresh green beans!

Squash Casserole
click here and scroll down to the Old Fashioned Squash Casserole

 I made the squash casserole by trial and error! How many squash does one cook for a casserole for two? I sure didn't know! So I just made my normal recipe but only put some in this small casserole dish for the two of us and saved the rest for later! I don't like reheated squash casserole so I thought this was the best idea. You can find the squash casserole recipe here. I did the good old fashioned kind for this meal and not the Soul Food Squash Casserole that is also very yummy! You can find it here.

Cornbread

 As for the cornbread…I simply made a normal recipe which can be found here and did it in a cast iron skillet..I've done it before in muffin tins which would actually be more practical for two people! I'm learning as we go! We will eat what we want and freeze the rest for later! I have a feeling I will be using my seal a matic freezer gadget a lot next year when Miller heads to Auburn in the fall! 

Cooking for two is not nearly as much fun as cooking for a crowd but I'm sure I will get the hang of it before too long!

Then comes the Blackened Tilapia!

 Now this was pretty darn easy and incredibly good if I do say so myself! We've been having it a lot lately and it's very easy to adjust this recipe for two people! 

I hope you enjoy it and if I have any leftovers I feel certain my son will gobble them up tomorrow when all is said and done!  

Blackened Grilled Tilapia

INGREDIENTS

• 4-6 Tilapia
• 2 Tbls. Paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp lemon pepper
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1.5 tsp ground red pepper
• 1.5 tsp dried, crushed basil
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• !/2-1  cup unsalted butter, melted

Heat grill on high 5 minutes. Mix all seasonings in a bowl. Dip fillets in melted butter and coat with seasonings. Place filets in a fish basket or in a cast iron skillet like I did. Make sure your skillet is hot and place prepared fish down for about 3 minutes on each side or until done and flaky. If grilling it will take a bit longer but it's just as good! I also did mine on the burner on my grill outside to avoid the smell in the house! I'm funny about that!


We like to serve this fish with homemade cocktail sauce and tartar sauce. I don't always make the tartar sauce though so that's when I buy the Old Bay brand…it's really good!
I hope you will at least try this fish! Talk about quick and easy! 
Especially for two!