Tilapia Puttanesca

Venturing into the freezer, Joan discovered some tilapia. She used this mild slightly sweet, fine texture meaty fish to create this tasty meal.

Start to Finish: 25 minutes

1 lb. skinless fresh or frozen tilapia fillets
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 medium red onion, cut in wedges
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 14.5-oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 cup pitted black olives
1 Tbsp. capers, drained (optional)
2 Tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse; pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
2. In large skillet cook onion in olive oil over medium heat 8 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in garlic, undrained tomatoes, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.
3. Add olives and capers to sauce. Top with tilapia filltets.Return sauce to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, covered, 6 to 10 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with fork. Remove fish. Simmer sauce, uncovered, 1 to 2 minute more to thicken. To serve, spoon sauce over fish. Sprinkle with parsley.

Makes 4 servings.

Joan serve this dish over brown rice.

Strawberry Waffle Sundaes

Seeing this magazine cover on his mother's book stool, Michael requested this dessert for his birthday.

After a birthday meal of Lasca’s Chicken Parmasen and penne with tomato sauce, we made the waffles and everyone built their own sundae. Diane provided the chocolate sauce - the famous fabled Schrafft’s.

1 container (1 pound) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
Krusteaz Belgian Waffle Mix
9 cups Neapolitan ice cream
6 tablespoons whipped topping
Chocolate sauce, for drizzling

1. In a medium-size bowl, toss together strawberries, orange juice and sugar. Refrigerate.
2. Make waffles, as per manufacturers's directions.
3. To serve - place the makings on the dessert table and allow everyone to build their own sundae.

Suggestion: Place one waffle section on a plate. Top with 1 ½ cups of ice cram, ½ cup of strawberry mixture and a second waffle. Add a few more strawberries and dollop with one teaspoon whipped topping. Drizzle with chocolate sauce and serve.

MAKES 12 servings (1/2 stack each)
PREP 10 minutes
COOK 3 minutes each batch


Mario Batali take notice!

Mix it up by adding bananas or raspberries to your fruit topping opt for solid flavor ice creams.


Emeril Lagasse add some BAM! to your meal.

Recipe borrowed from Family Circle - recipe submitted by Julie Miltenberger.

Fruit Basket

Mother's Day - Sunday May 10, 2009

Prepared by Edible Arrangements, these chocolate covered pineapple slices, plump strawberries and crisp grapes resemble a bouquet of flowers in blossom.