Hump Day Blurb

Happy Hump Day!

I was "chatting" a with friend last night and they disappeared for a spell. Whence they returned, they said, "I thought you did another blog post...." Ahhh, my biggest fan! I said I'd meant to but hadn't gotten around to completing it. This is actually the third title this post has boasted. The first was - I don't remember actually - but the second was going to be a Mother's Day post that just never found footing. After I crowed on FB about needing a cast for my arm (I broke it patting myself on the back...) because the fish tacos I made were super-splendiferous, my favoritest sister responded, "I LOVE fish tacos. I can't wait for the recipe!" I then replied, "I'm going to get that out today!"

That proclamation was the beginning of my undoing. Sometimes I find that when I make written declarations, the complete opposite comes to fruition. Anyone else experience this phenomenon?

When I didn't take my own advice, and work on the blog before doing my chores, that sealed its fate (dum-duh-da-dummmmm). After hours of weeding, laundry, cleaning then making dinner I didn't have the focus to put together a post. Imagine that?

I didn't finish the manuscript edits over the weekend. I'm still plugging away - but I DID send a query and sample to one of the agents Monday morning. If she's interested, anyone who submits will hear back in four-to-six weeks. I just need to get synopsis and brief bio together to send with the twenty-five pages the other agent is requesting.

There's nothing like a looming deadline to keep one motivated! This was especially true at work a few weeks ago. Our company puts out a newsletter - I think it's quarterly. But I and my coworker received an e-mail from the HR manager: "The company is doing a feature on the voices who answer the phone." We were given six questions to answer in three days. I blew through the easy ones no problem - Name & title; how long have you been with the company; what are your duties; what do you do in our spare time, family, hobbies; and what do you like most about your job. The questions that had me floundering for proper responses were: "What are your thoughts on what happens at your location? What have you learned about our company? What do your friends and family want to know about the company?" Ohhhh, the implications... Since I had two more days to respond, I let it marinade.

Deadline day arrived (dum-duh-da-dummmmmmm). I was slammed that day. The response was supposed to be in by noon, but that didn't happen. I wasn't worried since I was working late that day. By about three-thirty things had calmed down, and I pulled the e-mail up again and reread the question. Then my muse (hahahaha) tapped me on the head and I rattled off some yummy goodness and sent it back.

A little later on that that day, I was chatting with someone who's in a position to give flip answers to those questions, and suggested I do the same. Then I said it's going to be in the newsletter, and that wouldn't be very politic. They agreed. "Yes. You have to play the game." Since writing is the ONE area in which I possess even a modicum of self-confidence, and I like to show off whence I've created a gem, I sent them my responses: "My current position and time with the company have afforded me little opportunity to observe the specific goings-on at our location. However, before I was hired I was oblivious to an industry such as ours. It's my great fortune to have been hired by a company whose mission is striving for excellence in all it does. My personal circle are always intrigued when after describing the company and industry." Reply: "That is a gold star response!" Of course it is... And the pressure of the deadline opened the faucet from which it flowed.

In that e-mail from HR with the questions we were told to submit a photo if we had one we liked, or one would be taken the following day. Well photo-snapping day didn't come that week, and I was certain that the pic of me and Kim at the concert, in my purple-and-black mesh corset top with our cosmos front-and-center is not what HR had in mind. My biggest fan happens to dabble in photography - has a blog, does weddings, etc.. Since I hate 98% of pics taken of me, I asked last Wednesday if they'd take it. Friday was when they'd be available to take it. Of course, after asking for their assistance, I found out the pics needed be in before the end of the day. A coworker ended up snapping a few of me with her iPhone. I hated them all, of course. Oh well - at least I wore my prettiest dress to work that day! My biggest fan has tomorrow off and asked if they could use me as camera target practice. What the hey - I'll pretend supermodel for a little while after work before coming home! Should be fun.

Little segue (I started this post at 5 a.m.)... While at work today I got called to the principal's - er - the HR manager's office to discuss my picture. Apparently the miniscule amount of cleaveage on display in the photo was deemed inappropriate and another picture needs to be taken. And they'd like a picture of me at the reception desk, since that's my station. Sounds good to me - I hate pics of me standing - I never seem to know what to do with my hands. A good picture will be turned in! Looks like the girls were able to get me what I wanted - yet again - just not in the usual way they do!

Now on to what you've all been waiting for (drum roll....) Fish Tacos!!

WHAT'S FOR DINNER?

TILAPIA FISH TACOS WITH ARUGULA

Splendiferous!

Okay, so this is the pic from the Food Network website, but this is NOT the presentation in the book. However since this was the only pic AND I am now intrigued by the won ton wrappers I will attempt this next time. Follow the link to under the pic to make these the won ton way - I'm going to! Below is the recipe from my book - with my modifications, of course, since that IS was transformed them from great to splendiferous! I didn't do much, really, just seasoned some flour with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper and dredged the tilapia filets in it before frying, and I cut back on the wasabi powder. If you're looking for an easy way to shake up a weeknight's dinner - this is it!





WHAT YOU'LL NEED:


8 corn tortillas
1/4 c of canola oil
6 tilapia fillets (about 1 pound)
1 cup of flour, Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and a few shakes of cayenne pepper
2 avocados, halved, pitted and flesh cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 mangos, peeled and flesh cut into 1/2-inch cubes
6 green onions, finely chopped
cups coarsely chopped baby arugula

Dressing:

1/4 c of olive oil
Juice of 4 limes 
Kosher salt

Creme fraiche (or sour cream):
1/2 cup creme fraiche (or sour cream)
1 tablespoon wasabi powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt


WHAT TO DO:


Combine flour, cayenne pepper, Kosher salt and pepper in a bowl and stir.

In a large, nonstick skillet, heat 1/4 c of canola over medium-high heat. Season the fish with salt and pepper, then dredge in the seasoned flour. Arrange the fish in a single layer in the pan and cook until the flesh is flaky and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Set aside to cool slightly the cut into cubes.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1/4 c of olive oil and the lime juice. Season with salt, to taste. Add the avocado, mango, green onions, and arugula. Toss until all the ingredients are coated.

For the creme fraiche (or sour cream): In a small bowl, mix together the creme fraiche, wasabi powder and salt until smooth.

Warm the tortillas. Scatter the fish chunks evenly, top with the avocado-mango-arugula mixture, then dollop with the creme friache (or sour cream). Then stuff your face! Yum!










Comments

  1. Meghan, I love your voice in your writing, and the answer you came up with for those questions were great. Who in the world wants to answer those kinds of questions? Sheesh! I'm glad I found this particular post because I got a good laugh when I read one of the ingredients for your fish tacos is arugula! I just left a very long comment on our WANA Children's Tribe, and you, too, will laugh when you read what I wrote about arugula lettuce. I mean, what are the chances of me writing about that tonight, then coming to your blog only to read a main ingredient in your yummy recipe is arugula? Hahaha! I'm still laughing. I LOVE fish tacos, but I'd have to find a good substitute for the arugula. Hope I can find you on Facebook. I'm so glad you joined our tribe. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lyn, I followed you on Twitter - didn't see a FB link on your blog. Love the title - given that I'm one of the weirdest I know it tickled me! That you love my voice and the answers to the questions is praise from on high! Thank you. I mentioned in WANA, but if you didn't get that yet - I always substitute baby spinach for arugula if i have none on hand. But I've come to love the peppery kick that arugula has, so I try to be sure I have it for recipes.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bunker Musings II - Pretty Flowers and an AM Yum

Bunker Musings I - Finding Joy and Gratitude

Dear Rachael