Wine Me, Dine Me, Then Take Me To AZ

Written by on in Dinner, The Lazy Chef, Tidbits and Treats, Trips, Wedding

Why, hello there!

I am currently sitting outside in the most beautiful place on Earth:

Scottsdale

Source

It seems like every time I come here, I get some sort of Arizona fever. Looking through some old posts, I noticed that in the past I’ve both expressed my determination to live here someday and apparently have mentioned “Arizona” 35 times since I started blogging. What can I say? When you love a place so much that it feels like your true home, you just can’t help but talk it up while you’re here.

I’m visiting on both official wedding and family business. Yesterday, I got my hair all fixed up the way I want to wear it for the wedding! I can’t share the pictures on here since Bobby reads my blog, but I am so excited about the style that I picked out and can’t wait to wear it on the big day 🙂 It’s inspired by this post from The Knot {Bobby, if you know what’s good for you, you won’t click that link!}

We’ve also been looking at invitations, programs and wedding favors. It’s been busy!

Yesterday was a very special anniversary, too. It just so happens that on May 6, 2009, the guy I’m marrying in just over 5 months proposed to me! I will never forget the comments and love that came in that day. Seriously – just reading that post brought tears to my eyes all over again. I am so glad that I had this community to share this special time with – then and now.

To celebrate, I want to share a new recipe I created and cooked for Bobby last weekend. I have always been a fan of nut-crusted fish – and this time was no different. But I altered some of the ingredients to create an extra special and flavorful treat. I hope you enjoy!

Almond-Crusted Tilapia Fingers

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • 3 tilapia fillets (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Optional: teriyaki sauce

Directions:

Crush almonds in a food processor or dicer. Mix with wheat flour to create the fish crust.

Rub tilapia fillets with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil. Dip into the almond and flour mixture until fully coated. Sprinkle fillets with ground pepper and garlic salt, then place into a skillet pan with remaining oil.

Turn burner to medium-high heat and cook tilapia until opaque, 5-7 minutes per side. Continue flipping until the fish is flaky. Split fillets in half to create the tilapia “fingers.”

Serve with fresh or frozen stir-fry vegetables. Top with teriyaki sauce, if desired!

Bobby and I both agreed that this dish was amazing. I think the flour really made all the difference – I’ve tried coating tilapia with chopped almonds before and it turned out OK. But the flour really held the crust together and kept the almond flavor throughout. The teriyaki sauce was a nice complement.

If you try this recipe out, let me know what you think! I love hearing your feedback 🙂

There is a lot going on this weekend. Sunday is both Mother’s Day and my 23rd birthday – eek! I can’t believe another year has come and gone. While I don’t necessarily feel older, I do feel that much has changed and there is A LOT to be grateful for. To challenge myself, I came up with a list of 23 Passionate Pursuits For My 23rd Year. I’d love to hear what some of yours are!

You never know where life will take you. In fact, I’m a firm believer that often times it’s the things we never expected to happen that are truly the most worthwhile. This list is just a way for me to put some goals down on paper – some of them fun and trivial, others more substantial and meaningful.

Do you create dreams and goals lists? If so, name one thing that is on your list.

I’m truly curious and not trying to pry. Can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Enjoy your weekend!

Abrazos,

49 Comments

  2. Welcome back, Jenn! From the unofficial Scottsdale welcoming committee 🙂 Hope you have an awesome trip and try to stay cool! Hope the wedding prep is coming along, sounds like it is! 🙂

  4. AZ is gorgeous! You should take the leap and just move…It was scary when Josh and I did it, but so worthwhile! Glad the hair trial went well. Aren’t tilapia fingers fun? I love making them for Josh. Great list. My favorite (other than getting married) is this one: # Take my mom on an unexpected trip.Have a fabulous weekend!!

  5. I hope you have a wonderful weekend with your family in AZ. I’m sure the combined Mother’s Day and Birthday celebrations will be a blast.

    I liked reading your 23 goals for this year! My ultimate goal is for this year to be my fittest yet. So far good, but I still have a quite a bit of work to do.

    Talk to you soon Jenn! xoxo

  11. Has it been a year already since the big proposal? I remember it so well!
    Glad you’re having fun in AZ–I myself am looking forward to some time at home in just a few weeks!
    Some of my goals/dreams include running a marathon and writing my own cookbook:)

  13. Jenn,
    Just wanted to pop in and say an early Happy Birthday to you as tomorrow is going to be a bit wild with Mother’s Day festivities. Please know that I’ll be thinking of you! 🙂

    So jealous you’re in AZ. I was out there last year when Bobby proposed to you as I remember reading your post and texting you from my mother-in-law’s dining room table. So wish I could be there right now! Was supposed to hike the Grand Canyon last month with CD’s mom, but we had to cancel. Someday I WILL hike it – definitely on my goals and dream list!

    • Thanks, Heather! You are so sweet 🙂 I distinctly remember your text last year. Isn’t it crazy how fast time flies? Too bad you weren’t able to hike the Grand Canyon but…I suppose you had your reasons for canceling 😉 Still GIDDY about your news!! Congrats!

  14. I always get misty eyed at a golf course 😉

    Don’t really have any goals for life right now. Always kind of just rolled through it and took what came my way.

    Happy Birthday!

  16. Yay, Jenn and Bobby! I can’t wait to see what your hair looks like – you’re going to look to gorgeous on your wedding day! Have a great time in Arizona! I’m always happy whenever I think of Colorado 🙂

    BTW, Happy Birthday!!

  19. jealousy is oozing through my fingertips as i type this 🙂 live it up in az for me!!! maybe one of these days we’ll get to live there again 🙂 i miss it! and you- let’s catch up soon <3
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! hope you're having an amazing day!
    xoxoxo

    • Thank you, Gina! I hope that if we ever get to live there again, we’ll both be there at the same time 🙂 I miss you, too! Let’s finally schedule that phone date one of these days 😉 Capeish???

  21. Ahhhh..happy anniversary beautiful! and birthday!!! i’m sure you had a wonderful weekend with your family!!

    hope the flight went well! can’t wait to catch up soon!

    • You are so kind – this comment seriously was amazing. Thank you so much. I completely agree that it is necessary to enjoy life! Everyone has their days – trust me, I had one today actually! – but when the happy, enjoyable ones outweigh the negative, that is all that matters! 🙂

  23. Wow—that looks amazing! I love the crustiness, and can’t wait to try it—-over veg looks great.

    Thanks for sharing.

  24. I love love love this post because it is all about AZ. I miss it soo much! I try and explain to people the glory of Tucson and AZ in general.. but no one gets it. I think this picture pretty much sums it up though!

    So glad to hear the wedding plans are well under way. Exciting! 🙂

  25. I always like to cook my fish with just a little olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, and some herbs. I never think to do something fun like nut-crust. I have some rockfish in the freezer that I may need to try this on.

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