What's Cooking? (a few recipes and a look back.)

When I started this blog it was partly my intention to share some of the recipes I've tried on my learning to cook journey. I have not done well at keeping up with that at all (or with the blog in general for that matter). I am going to try to work on that. So, I thought I'd post a few links to catch up. Most of my recipes are found either online, in cookbooks (some of which are also available online!) and from friends and fellow bloggers. I am getting more comfortable tweaking these recipes to my tastes, but mostly I stick to them to the letter.

This brings me to the look back, before I get to the recipes! When Matt and I were first married I knew nothing about cooking. I made rice dishes very often because, well it was about the only thing I knew how to do. Sad, but true. Matt never complained, and he would even do the cooking fairly often since I couldn't cook meat! So, when he left for a 7 month deployment, I decided that when he came back I would learn to cook. (Him telling me he HATED rice, after he was safely in another country was certainly a kick in the bottom too!) And so, I have. As I said, I'm still mostly very dependent on following recipes exactly, but I am always trying new things, adding little things here and there and getting comfortable doing that. Still a long way to go, but I've definitely come far, and in the process I've learned I really enjoy cooking too! Now, if only I could find that I enjoy housework, I'd be that perfect 50s housewife I love;)

Okay, NOW I'll share the recipes:

Feta Tomato Basil Fish
This is from my Taste of Home cookbook and can also be found here.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 teaspoons Crisco® Pure Olive Oil
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Italian diced tomatoes, drained
• 1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pound walleye, bass or other whitefish fillets
• 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Directions

• In a saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add tomatoes and basil. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, broil fish 4-6 in. from the heat for 5-6 minutes. Top each fillet with tomato mixture and cheese. Broil 5-7 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Yield: 4 servings.

This was my first attempt at broiling and I have to say it turned out great. Matt and I both really loved this one. Amazingly, I have no idea what broiling was before this recipe...I had to call my mom and ask her. Ha! Definitely a technique I want to try out more in the future. I also used tilapia because it was all I could find at the commissary...next time I will have to plan a trip to a fish market for some better choices, the tilapia was good though!

Okay, I had planned to share a few more, but I got tired...so, I'm off for the night. I will try to update more frequently from now on though!