Independence Recipe

I haven't posted a recipe in a good while, so I decided to throw this in for Independence Day.  To  me, Independence Day is all about embracing our differences.  Whether you come from a different family, city, state, or country, we all have some differences and similarities.  I've been fortunate enough to have experience a lot of different cultures.  This recipe has a little Caribbean, a little Asian, and a little American.

Recently, I have been seeing a lot of bok choy and plantain. So, I said, "Self, what should we do with this?" I looked in the frig and saw some tilapia and chicken (Because I don't eat fish, but you can pretty  much prepare tilapia & chicken the same way.).  I decided to do some good old fashion herb baked tilapia and chicken.  With some sesame seed oil, I sauteed the bok choy.  I used some vegetable oil and sea salt to "fry" the plantains.  Here's the recipe for this awesomely diverse dinner!

Herb Baked Tilapia or Chicken
4 Tilapia fillets or 2 2oz Boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp Sage
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Rosemary
1 tsp Minced garlic
1 tsp Chopped onions
1/4 tsp Sea salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/2 c. Water (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix all the seasonings together and spread them on a plate.  Rub the seasoning in to the fish or meat.  Be sure to coat it well.  Place the fish or meat in a baking dish and pour the water in.  Be careful not to pour the water over the fish or meat, but in the pan itself.  If you prefer not to use water, wrap fish or meat in aluminum foil greased lightly with margarine.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Tilapia will be white and tender.  Chicken will be white and juicy.

Fried Plantain
2 Plantain
1 tsp Sea salt
2 tbsp Vegetable oil

Peel plantain like a banana.  Cut plantain in 1/4 inch diagonal slices. Turn on stove to medium high.  Pour oil in frying pan just enough to coat the bottom of the pan.  Once the oil is sizzling, place plantain in the pan in one layer.  Cook for about 30-45 seconds, then turn over.  Plantain should be a yellow color.  Place on a paper towel and sprinkle with sea salt.

Sauteed Bok Choy
2 Bok Choy bunches
1/2 tbsp Minced garlic
1 tbsp Chopped ginger
2 tbsp Sesame seed oil

Chop bok choy.  Turn stove on medium high heat.  Pour in sesame seed oil.  When sesame seed oil is hot, put in minced garlic and chopped ginger.  Once they are a golden brown, put in bok choy.  Stir frequently. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes.