Somehow we have managed to get our Little Chefs to LOVE fish. We only eat it a couple times a month. Maybe it is because our standby recipe is so wonderful! They also love Seared Mahi Mahi with Mango Sauce and Grilled Salmon. When Little Chef D saw a Bobby’s Baked Tilapia she immediately jumped at the opportunity to try it. This recipe seemed very much at her level. There is some prep work, but then it bakes in the oven. No flipping, turning, oil spitting at her or anything of the sort!
Little Chef D was SO excited to zest the lime. She knew exactly what to do. She knew she could do it all by herself. The green flakes reassured her that she was accomplishing her task. I think this was the best part of the recipe, in her eyes! She did comment, “This is going to take a long time. This is hard, I can’t do it.” What she really meant was, I had fun at the beginning, but now I’m done I don’t want to do it anymore so please take over this job. Yes, I am a mind reader!
Trouble came the first time when Little Chef D tried SO hard to juice the lime! She tried over and over holding the juicer different ways just to get SOME juice out. These type of juicers are not kid friendly! She wanted to take the first half of the lime out of the juicer. She made sure I wasn’t going to take that task away from her. When it came to the second half she decided her “hands were already sticky.” Either that meant it wasn’t as fun taking it out the first time as I thought, OR I really, really want to wash my hands lets hurry up and finish this step.
Next she seasoned the fillets with salt and pepper and lime zest. This was easy for her to do on the white fish because she could see the amount she was putting on. Not that she added more where there wasn’t any, but she had the option after I pointed it out to her. She is the boss for this one!
Little Chef D added the lime juice then put some butter onto each of the fillets. I placed it in the preheated oven for her. She isn’t ready for that job yet. Perhaps in a couple years!
She thought it was very odd that the butter, oh wait it was margarine, maybe that was the problem, did not melt and soak into the fillet. We put it under the broiler for a couple minutes and it was much better, the butter melted and the fish was more flaky. This picture was taken prior to broiling. Doesn’t it look funny! I forgot to take one afterward, oops! If I remembered we were cooking a Paula Deen inspired dish I would not have forgotten it always HAS to be butter, lots of butter!
Little Chef D’s play by play at the dinner table is always very amusing. Sometimes she gets the ingredients right, sometimes she is too excited to try it she says, “Mom you tell them.” They each ate it all until there was no more. Little Chef C commented on the texture of the fish because that is what her mind is fixated on at the moment. At least we are done with everything needing to taste like salt. I told them over and over the salt helped bring out the flavor of whatever they were adding it to which meant it did not need to taste like salt. I couldn’t seem to get that message across. Chef Robert Irvine did though, of course! My Little Chefs watched one of the Restaurant Impossible episodes and he said exactly the same thing I told them, but of course they believed him and now quote his line at almost every meal. Thanks Chef Robert!
Bobby’s Baked Tilapia
By The Deen Brothers
Ingredients
- Butter cooking spray
- 4 (6 to 8-oun
ce) tilapia fillets - Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 lime, finely grated zest and juice
- 2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Rinse fish and pat dry; place on the cast iron pan. Season each fillet with salt, cracked pepper, lime zest and lime juice. Add fish to the pan. Place a pat of butter on each fillet and cook in the oven for 8 to 12 minutes.
17 Replies to "Bobby's Baked Tilapia"
Nexlegacy Performance Institute May 4, 2012 (8:40 am)
It's so neat to see the little ones cook– my youngest loves to cook…. thanks for stopping by! New follower 😉
Nexlegacy Performance Institute May 4, 2012 (8:41 am)
Oh this is Prototype Mama– I accidentally logged under my husband's blog name
Ashleigh May 4, 2012 (10:13 am)
I think when you cook with kids, they are more likely to try new foods and try to like them! Such a good idea! Can't wait until my little ones can help in the kitchen! 🙂
ReviewsSheROTE Pamela R May 4, 2012 (10:17 am)
What a great job she did–BTW I love the top/dress Chef D is wearing
Lea Hunt May 4, 2012 (11:41 am)
Please tell your little chefs that we (my family) think they did an awesome job. Yum!
BTW, I am a new friend and follower from the Planet Weidknecht hop. It is a pleasure to meet you 🙂
Lori May 4, 2012 (10:44 pm)
I'm so happy that I found your blog! I love cooking, baking, and crafting with my 6 year old daughter 🙂 what a clever blog and I love the step by step pictures! I found you through the Newbie blog hop.
Jana May 6, 2012 (8:03 pm)
Looks awesome. So glad you meet you at Breathing Space. You're blog is awesome and I'm definitely going to check back on your adventures.
Lisa Weidknecht May 6, 2012 (8:46 pm)
YUM! Thanks for joining the Planet Weidknecht Weekend Hop!
Five Little Chefs May 6, 2012 (9:40 pm)
I have found this exact thing. Then then they WANT to try new foods they see in the grocery store. It's so fun!
Five Little Chefs May 6, 2012 (9:41 pm)
Thanks! Little Chef D LOVES to wear dresses!
Five Little Chefs May 6, 2012 (9:42 pm)
I will do so. I'm not sure they fully understand this blog thing, but they enjoy the cooking very much! I'm glad you found us. Thanks for visiting and following!
Five Little Chefs May 6, 2012 (9:43 pm)
I'm glad you found us too! I hope you come back and see the fun things my Little Chefs are always cooking!
Five Little Chefs May 6, 2012 (9:52 pm)
Hi! I'm glad you found us! I had a great time connecting with you as well! I followed you! We might just have to try one of your 4* or above recipes! I'll show them to my Little Chefs and let them choose.
Krista May 7, 2012 (6:12 am)
My boys would love this. They are lime freaks! Thanks for sharing at Church Supper! Love seeing new faces. Have a blessed week & please come back soon ~EMM
Danielle Wagasky May 8, 2012 (6:21 am)
Hi there! I just wanted to let you know I featured you today over at Blissful and Domestic. Stop by and grab a button:>
Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com
Six Sisters May 8, 2012 (4:31 pm)
I just love this recipe. We hope to see you back next week to our "Strut Your Stuff Saturday." Thanks for coming!! -The Sisters
Heather Kaluf May 9, 2012 (5:22 pm)
I love fish! I would eat that over chicken or beef. This looks like a wonderful dish. Since I am the only one in the house hold that like to eat fish. I may try this while Andrew is gone on a business trip.
Thanks for linking up to our Sunday Round Up link party. Hope to see you again this weekend 🙂
xoxo
Heather