Blackened Tilapia Tacos with Cool Jalapeno Slaw

Since we no longer live in the land of fish tacos, I now have to make my own. The tilapia is really good served on its own as well, but that crispy slaw adds the perfect touch for a taco.

Blackened Tilapia Tacos

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. paprika
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried thyme (or 1/4 tsp. ground thyme)
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 tilapia fillets
2 Tbsp. melted butter
Corn tortillas


Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine all the herbs and spices. Mix well.

2. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dip tilapia in melted butter, then sprinkle both sides with the spice mix and place in the pan. Cook 7-8 minutes, turning once, until cooked through.

To serve: Break up the tilapia into small pieces and place in corn tortillas (I fry them lightly first because we like them crispy).

Top with Cool Jalapeno Slaw (recipe follows).

Cool Jalapeno Slaw

Ingredients

1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbsp. chopped cilantro
1/2 cup finely sliced red onion
1 jalapeno, diced (2 jalapenos if you like spicy!)
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
5 cups shredded cabbage (about 1/2 a medium-sized head)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the cabbage. Mix well. Stir in cabbage until and stir until lightly coated.

Pizza Pasta

A pasta with an identity crisis. Luckily this crisis involves tasting like pizza, so there is nothing to do but enjoy it.

Ingredients

12 oz. rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions
1 small onion, diced
1/2 lb. Italian sausage
1 (3 oz) package sliced pepperoni, chopped
1 can black olives, sliced (I like black olives a LOT, so I use a large can...half of them probably end up in my mouth rather than the pasta anyway)
2 cups spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. In a large skillet, combine onion and Italian sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally to crumble sausage, until cooked through and onion is tender.

2. Place sausage mixture in a large bowl. Add pepperoni, olives, spaghetti sauce, and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Stir to combine. Pour into a lighty greased 9x13 baking pan. Top with remaining mozzarella. Bake at 375 degrees 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and pasta is heated through.