reacclimation

it's been a long time since i really cooked. over the last few months, i've been feeling my abilities awaken & stretch. thought i would share my really yummy dinner from tonight.

Tilapia With Lemon Butter White Wine Sauce
4 teaspoons of flour, divided
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
5-6 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
1 lemon
1 1/2 pounds tilapia fillets
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1/4 cup white wine

**a little note here: one of the best pieces of advice i ever got for cooking with wine is to cook with a wine you would drink. the flavor will be even stronger once you cook with it, so it makes sense, really. why would you want a stronger flavor of something you aren't that crazy about? i've used a chardonnay in the past & liked it enough. tonight i decided to gamble on using riesling. yum!

1. Place 3 teaspoons of flour & the seasoned salt into a large zip-top plastic bag; shake to mix & set aside. Chop parsley coarsely, leaves only. Slice the lemon in half & set both halves aside.

2. Check fish for bones by pressing on the fillets with fingertips & remove. Add fish to zip-top bag; seal tightly & shake to coat. Preheat a large saute pan on medium-high heat 2-3 minutes.

3. Place 1 tablespoon butter in pan & swirl to coat. Add fish & cook 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon butter to center of pan. Turn fillets, using spatula, distributing butter under each fillet. Cook 3 more minutes until fish is golden & flakes easily. Place fish on serving plates.

4. Place remaining 1 tablespoon butter & 1 teaspoon flour, the wine & squeeze the juice from the lemons into the saute pan. Heat 1-2 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir parsley into sauce & serve over fish.

Angel Hair with Broccoli
8 ounces angel hair pasta
2 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup sun-dried tomato pesto

1. Fill large sauce pan 1/2 full of water. Cover & bring to a boil on high heat.

2. Stir pasta into boiling water & boil 1 minute. Stir in broccoli & boil 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Drain. Add butter to saucepan, using residual heat to melt butter. Return pasta & broccoli to pan. Stir in tomato pesto. Mix & serve.