Exotic Warm Weather Dinner - Date Night Meal

Exotic Warm Weather Dinner

from the July 2009 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine, page 196
I made this dinner on 8/3/09, amounts adjusted based on what we ate.
I didn't make the Rum Punch listed in the original article because Rob doesn't like rum. We had a nice Viognier white wine instead.

Serves 2 adults with minimal leftovers.

Cilantro-Lime Rice - Start First
- lime juice, 1 tbsp
- rice, 1/2C, (use package directions)
- cilantro, 2 tbsp
- salt & pepper to taste
Start rice first - it will take about 45 minutes.
Add lime juice and salt to water.
Add cilantro at end. Add pepper if desired.

Macademia Nut-Crusted Tilapia with Pineapple Salsa
For Salsa:
- crushed pineapple, 1C
- red onion, minced, 1 tbsp
- jalapeno, minced or grated, 1/2 pepper, no seeds
- cilantro, minced, 1/4C
- salt & pepper
Mix all ingredients together.

For Fish:
- flour, 1/2 C
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- macadamia nuts, crushed, (2) 2.25 oz bags or about 4.5 oz
- tilapia fillets, 3/4 lb
- salt & pepper
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
Pound nuts with crab mallet while still in their original baggies.
Add salt & pepper to flour.
Place flour, egg and nuts in separate pans.
Dredge fish in flour. You can help things along by spooning the flour onto the fish and spreading with your fingers. Then gently shake off the excess.
Next, dredge the fish in the egg.
Dredge (or spread/sprinkle) nuts onto both sides of fish.
Place fish in oiled baking pan.
Bake for 14 minutes. Nuts should be slightly golden brown. Fish should be soft, opaque white and flake easily when poked with a fork.

Sesame Snow Peas
- snow peas, 1 1/2 C
- butter, unsalted 1 tsp
- sesame seeds, 3/4 tsp
- salt & pepper
Trim tips of snow peas and remove strings if necessary. (If using baby snow peas, they will be tender and not stringy.)
Start steaming the peas when the fish has only about 2-3 minutes to bake.
Steam peas for 2-3 minutes.
Add salt, butter & sesame seeds. Stir and serve.