Who craves capers?

I lived with my parents for about a year before Jon and I got married. One of my most favorite things was.. cooking with my Mom in the kitchen. We both share a passion for food and what's better than cooking with your Mom? She's a sweet lady. This first recipe is based on something that Mom and I perfected together.. but, I changed it up just a bit, of course.

Alright so this was our attempt at incorporating wine into our food. So if you do not drink.. no worries.. the alcohol gets cooked out when heated. 

Baked Tilapia with Chardonnay Sauce

- 6 to 8 Tilapia filets

- 2 TBSP of flour

- 2 TBSP of butter

- 1/2 cup of Chardonnay (and yes, use something that you would drink.. don't get a $3 bottle because it will not taste the same)

- 1/4 cup of water

- 1 1/2 TBSP of capers

- Optional: 1/4 of a thinly sliced onion (Okay, secrets up.. I put a lot of onion into my cooking because I like the texture of it and it really does add a great flavor. Not an onion fan? That's okay.. leave it out.)

- 1/2 TBSP of Olive Oil

- Salt and Pepper

Place the tilapia in a baking dish/pan and add the onions. Sprinkle with a small amount of olive oil, add salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 15 minutes at 425. In a small skillet.. combine the butter and flour. Cook until completely combined. Then add the chardonnay.. stir vigorously until completely combined (it's kind of like gravy.. you have to keep mixing it until thick). Add water if you do not want a strong wine flavor. Add the capers. Pour over the tilapia when finished baking.

Bleu Almond Green Beans

- 1 lb chopped green beans

- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (found in the baking aisle)

- 1/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles

- 1/2 of a chopped sweet onion

- Salt and Pepper

Steam or poach the green beans for 3 - 5 minutes. Strain and shock with ice or cold water to keep the green color. Add the green beans to a large skillet with the onions. Saute for 5 minutes. Add the almonds and bleu cheese. Allow the bleu cheese to melt. Stir and serve.

Not a fan of bleu cheese? That's okay. You can also try it with gorgonzola OR feta cheese. Although, feta does not melt as nicely as the others.

Serve with a simple side or salad. Enjoy a glass of the chardonnay that you chose to use in the sauce. My husband loved this meal. He made a lot "Yum" noises; which is always a good sign.