Crappie Tonight!!

Dinner Tonight: Fried Crappie w/ Loaded Baked Potato Casserole, Green Beans, and Whole Grain Bread.

As Spring inches ever closer I always get my yearly Crappie fillets. My Cousins come home from their 3 month Winter retreat at Lake Okeechobee. Which also means I get a mess of fresh Crappies  or Specks as they call them down in Florida. I could eat these every day and not get tired of them. I could not wait to open that first bag up and start frying! I seasoned them with Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper. I then rolled each fillet in a Whole Wheat Flour and Italian Bread Crumb Mix. I lightly fried them in Canola Oil about 3 minutes per side. As the picture shows they came out golden brown and the taste unbelievable!



For side dishes to accompany the Crappie I prepared a Loaded Baked Potato Casserole, Green Beans, and Whole Grain Bread. I used Idahoan Loaded Baked Potato Casserole. The easy and delicious way to have Potato dishes. It's 150 calories and 22 carbs per serving. The Green Beans were Del Monte Cut Green Beans, just heat in a sauce pan and serve. The Bread, Aunt Millie's Whole Grain Light Bread. For dessert later a Jello Sugar Free Dark Chocolate pudding.

Lake Okeechobee Crappie


Lake Okeechobee

Well if I’m posting about Lake Okeechobee you know it has to do with one of my favorite fish, the Crappie! My cousins dropped off my yearly supply of Lake Okeechobee Crappie!  Here’s a little info on Lake Okeechobee.

Lake Okeechobee locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States  and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states. Okeechobee covers 730 square miles (1,900 km2), approximately half the size of the state of Rhode Island, and is exceptionally shallow for a lake of its size, with an average depth of only 9 feet (3 m). The lake is divided between Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, and Hendry counties. Maps of Florida[3] show that all five of these counties meet at one point near the center of the lake.

The most common fish in this lake are largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill. Pickerel have been less commonly caught.

Lake Okeechobee Crappie Fishing

The Florida Crappie fishing, speckled perch or speck’ as they are called throughout the State of Florida is the most sort after pan fish on Lake Okeechobee. Although the Florida crappie can be caught during the summer months, they really are at their best from late fall to early spring.

Go Lake Okeechobee freshwater fishing with your family and friends together for an affordable day of Florida crappie fishing on Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee comprises a 730-square-mile area and is the second-largest natural lake in the U.S., holding more than a trillion gallons of water.

Most fishing takes place along the southeastern, west and north portions of the lake within a mile of the shoreline. Look for hyacinths, hydrilla and other water plants where big bass ambush shiners, bluegills and other scaled groceries. They also pounce on frogs, crickets, worms, grasshoppers and pretty much any fish smaller than itself. Plastic imitations of those baits work well.

You know the deal black crappies speckled perch to most Floridians are about as smart as a dead bird, but fortunately they are a lot more abundant. Stick a minnow in their face, set the hook and start heating up the frying-pan as we say here on Okeechobee.

http://www.lakeokeechobeebassfishing.com/crappie-fishing/




Idahoan LOADED BAKED® HOMESTYLE CASSEROLE

There’s no better way to start a savory Loaded Baked® homestyle casserole than with world-famous Idaho® potatoes, which is why you’ll taste only 100% grown-in-Idaho potatoes in this rich, cheesy, bacony side. For family meals or for special occasions, this cheesy, delicious dish is sure to please.

Oven Directions
Best for Golden Browning

PREHEAT oven to 450°F. COMBINE potatoes and sauce mix in 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
STIR in 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup milk, and 1 1/2 Tbsp. margarine or butter with whisk.
BAKE uncovered for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender (sauce will thicken slightly when cooling).
Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before serving.
BAKING NOTES: To prepare 2 casseroles at once, double all ingredients, increase baking dish size accordingly, and bake about 30 min. To bake potatoes and roast meat at the same time, bake at 375°F for about 45 min; 350°F for about 50 min; or 325°F for about 60 min.


Nutrition Facts
        Amount Per Serving
Calories 100
Calories from fat 10
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g* 2%
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 640mg 27%
Total Carbohydrates 22g


http://www.idahoan.com/products/loaded-baked-homestyle-casserole/

Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin w/ Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes, andf Potato Rolls

Dinner Tonight: Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin w/ Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes, and Potato Rolls

Quite a meal tonight, to cap off a beautiful sunny day outside today! I prepared a Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin w/ Green Beans, Scalloped Potatoes, and Potato Rolls. I used my favorite Pork Roast recipe, the  Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin. I just love the Crust that the Herbs, Garlic, and Olive Oil create on the Roast and the flavor along with keeping it nice juicy on the inside.


To prepare the  Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin I preheated the oven to 450 degrees. Then  combined 2 tablespoons olive oil, 4 cloves garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon dried thyme , 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried rosemary, along with Sea Salt and Ground Black Pepper for seasoning. Combine all the ingredients except the Salt and Pepper in a bowl and stir until well mixed. You then rub into your Pork Roast which will create the Herb Crust as it bakes. Roast the pork for 30 minutes on 450, then reduce the heat to 425 degrees F and roast for an additional 15 - 20 minutes (time will vary according to the size of the roast). Test for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F, remove the roast from the oven. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before carving. It will continue to cook while it rests. The Pork comes out perfect! The Herb Crust gives that extra taste to make it one delicious Roast! Love this recipe.  



For side dishes tonight we had Green Beans, Idahoan Scalloped Potatoes, and Baked Split Top Potato Rolls. My Mom prepared the Green Beans. She was at Jungle Jim's Market and they had just put out a large order of Green Beans. She bought a large amount and made a huge pot of them tonight. The first official fresh Green Beans were fantastic! Sometimes early in the year the Green Beans aren't quite as good as they are later in the year but these were really delicious!  The Idahoan Scalloped Potatoes are the easy and quick way for some Scalloped Potatoes. A breeze to make just mix the ingredients and bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes and you have some delicious Scalloped Potatoes. Plus their only 160 calories and 20 carbs. For dessert later a Healthy Choice Vanilla/Chocolate Swirl Frozen Yogurt.  

Herb Crusted Pork Tenderloin
Recipe courtesy Paula Deen, 2007

Ingredients

1 (4-pound) boneless pork loin, with fat left on
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme or 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1 teaspoon dried basil or 2 teaspoons fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary or 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
Directions
Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.

Place the pork loin on a rack in a roasting pan. Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. With your fingers, massage the mixture onto the pork loin, covering all of the meat and fat.

Roast the pork for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 425 degrees F and roast for an additional 15 - 20 minutes (time will vary according to the size of the roast). Test for doneness using an instant-read thermometer. When the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees F, remove the roast from the oven. Allow it to sit for about 20 minutes before carving. It will continue to cook while it rests.



Idahoan SCALLOPED HOMESTYLE CASSEROLE

Product Description
There’s no better way to start a hearty Scalloped homestyle casserole than with world-famous Idaho® potatoes, which is why you’ll taste only 100% grown-in-Idaho potatoes in this rich & creamy side. For family meals or for special occasions, this creamy, delicious dish is sure to please.



Baking Instructions



PREHEAT oven to 450°F. COMBINE potatoes and sauce mix in 1 1/2 quart baking dish.
STIR in 1 1/2 cups boiling water, 3/4 cup milk, and 1 1/2 Tbsp. margarine or butter with whisk.
BAKE uncovered for 25 minutes or until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender (sauce will thicken slightly when cooling).
Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before serving.
BAKING NOTES: To prepare 2 casseroles at once, double all ingredients, increase baking dish size accordingly, and bake about 30 min. To bake potatoes and roast meat at the same time, bake at 375°F for about 45 min; 350°F for about 50 min; or 325°F for about 60 min.


http://www.idahoan.com/products/retail/scalloped-homestyle-casserole