quick and easy meals for 1 or 2

Pan blackened talapia serves 2

Gammy's still up in Texas and Butch and Janie are leaving Sat. morning to be in time for their grandson's (Zack) graduation. So I'm going to feed them Fri.

We're going to have Pan Blackened talapia with french fries and carrots. I know we've done this before, but, hey, what can I tell you? It's what we're going to eat. We like it and it's fast and easy.

Pre heat the oven to 450.

About 2 cups of those little pre cleaned baby carrots.
about 2 cups of frozen french fries .
3-4 talapia fillets.

Put the carrots on the stove in a sauce pan med/high with a little salt in the water (don't forget the water) A tip. Any veggie that grows above the ground I.E. string beans, peas you start the water boiling and then put the veggies in. If it grows below the ground put them in cold water and start them that way. they'll take about 10-15 min.

Spread out the frozen french fries on a pamed cookie sheet and put them in the oven. They'll take about 10 min.

Put a large frying pan on the stove med/high. put in about 1 swirl of oil. It doesn't have to be extra virgin olive oil. reg. olive oil will work. When I'm going to use high heat like this I even use canola oil. Rinse off the fillets and spread out on a paper towel flat side down. Sprinkle dried basil, paprika, garlic powder, ground pepper and red pepper flakes on the fillets. Put them in the pan seasoned side down and then do the same to the then up side. They are going to cook pretty fast, about 3-4 min. a side.

Everything should be done about the same time. Drain the carrots and put them back in the pot add a little dried parsley and some butter. mix it up til the butter and parsley has coated the carrots.

SERVE IT UP!! with some crusty bread and some white wine. I think we're going to go with some red, actually. Just because it's what we like.

quick and easy meals for 1 or 2

Pasta, Spinach and Bacon, and/or shrimp

½- 2/3 lb. pasta I like the bite sized non twisty kind like penne or farfalle for this, but any pasta will do.
A couple of handfuls of prewashed baby spinach
3 slices of pancetta or bacon
1 small or half a large red pepper
1 small onion chopped
1 large clove of garlic minced
olive oil
grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes (optional)

Start the water for the pasta and cook it al dente.

Heat med high a med large frying pan with a turn or two of olive oil. Put in the pancetta (or bacon). Cook it ‘til it starts to get crispy. Add the onions, garlic and red pepper and cook a few minutes until the veggies are smellin good. Add the spinach and cook until the spinach starts to wilt. Turn it often. As soon as it starts to wilt take it off the stove and add the salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to your taste and a few good shakes of the grated parmesan. Mix it up. The pasta should be done by now. Drain it and save a little of the water Mix up the pasta and the veggie bacon stuff. Use a little of the pasta water if it looks a little dry. As an option when you put the onions etc. in the pan you could put in some peeled and deveined shrimp. Gammy and I like it that way.

SERVE IT UP!! With some crusty pop pop’s homemade bread and some white wine!