When you have to fake it

So, I don't plan ahead. It's not my thing. I try, and get distracted, and wind up running around at the last minute.
So, when I meant to plan a fancy-ish dinner ahead of time, and didn't, I fake it. I do this:

Marinated Tilapia

You need:
1/2 bottle marinade of choice
4 medium tilapia fillets
Salt and pepper to taste

Prep:
Line fish fillets in a large casserole dish. Pour marinade over fish. Marinade for 10 minutes, flip the fish and spoon over marinade. Marinade another 10 minutes. OR: Place fish in a large Ziploc baggie. Pour in marinade and lay flat. Marinade for 15-20 minutes, shaking the bag half way through. In a medium skillet, cook fish for 3 minutes on each side with any excess marinade (helps the cooking process AND makes a tasty sauce). Flip with a SPATULA (tongs will not work, trust me).

Hints:
HEB makes fabulous bottled marinades that sell for about $1. I'm in love with them, seriously. My favorite is the garlic and herb. If you don't have and HEB handy, you can always substitute Italian style dressing.
Lemon-pepper seasoning salt (which I just happen to have for some reason) is great instead of salt and pepper if you go the Italian route. Soy sauce, dijon mustard, and garlic is a super simple marinade if you don't have any of the aforementioned options.
Sam's Club sells AWESOME tilapia fillets in the frozen section. They're individually packaged and frozen, and have no fillers or preservatives. I ALWAYS have them in the freezer. Mostly so I can get away with never planning anything.


Add your favorite veggies and you have a fantastic meal that tastes fabulous and a lot more complicated than it was.
If you have leftovers, tilapia is fantastic for fish tacos.

Easy Recipies: Semi-Stroganoff

So, on those days that I really need to go the grocery store, but can't (or just don't want to), I discover all kinds of interesting meals made from whatever I have in the pantry. This is one of my new favorites, and it's made from stuff I always have on hand. Its definitely one of Phillip's all-time favorite things to eat ever.

Semi-Stroganoff

Ingredients:
1/2 box of pasta
1 pound ground beef
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can water
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbsp. margarine or butter
2 tbsp. Onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Prep:
Cook pasta as directed. Don't forget to salt the water. While pasta is cooking, brown ground beef in large skillet. Season to taste (I use salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder just about always) and drain. Set aside.
In the skillet, combine soup, butter, and wine. Fill the empty soup can 1/2 full with water, and whisk into the sauce. Add onion powder and pepper (I use a lot of pepper). Taste and see if it needs anything (I always add more wine, but hey, its me). Add beef to the sauce. Fold in pasta when its done.

Its seriously pretty good. It looks a little like gravy before you add the pasta, but it tastes not like gravy, so don't freak out. Its a little reminiscent of Hamburger Helper, but better, both in taste and because you make it yourself. You can also add fresh or canned mushrooms to it if you're a fan.

My hair is GONE,

I might be freaking out. Just a little.

Makeover.

So, ze blog has had a facelift.
I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it yet or not, but it will hang around for a little while.
For sure, the header will change, but I'm waiting on that until I have more time.

In other news, I am seriously considering a fairly drastic hair cut.
Mostly just because I am bored with my hair, and I feel like it.
This is drastic because: it will involve more that 3 inches being cut off and the addition of bangs, which I have not had since third grade, which is more than slightly scary. I also have tricky hair. Whatever cut I choose has to look good both curly and straight and work with thick hair. Not being a stylist or one with intense hair knowledge, I'm a little out of my element. This is the cut I am considering at the moment, because it looks easy and cute both straight and curly. Ignore the subject of the picture.
Thoughts?