Because the Costco tomatoes are still fresh.

4th of July weekend. A weekend in the Poconos full of hamburgers, hotdogs, and... rice and beans. Not exactly all-American, but I never complain about delicious Puerto Rican food (and I gotz da recipe, so stay tuned).

I returned Sunday night to my ugly kitchen to discover the Costco grape tomatoes are still fresh! Things like this excite me, for several reasons.

1. I don't have to spend more money on food.
2. I didn't waste money buying a jumbo crate of grape tomatoes. (Click here or here to remind yourself of their sexiness)
3. I have no life.

Combine that excitement with the bag of Costco tilapia filets chillin' in my freezer, and you've got yourself...

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Braised Tilapia with Grape Tomatoes & Onions

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients
-2 tilapia filets
-Grape tomatoes (about 2 handfuls), halved lengthwise
-Large white onion, chopped
-2-3 cups chicken stock (Organic Free Range Chicken Broth by Pacific Natural Foods... It makes a difference, trust. And if you buy it from Costco it's cheaper than Campbell's!)
-Garlic powder
-Olive oil
-Salt & pepper

Steps
-Heat oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium high heat. Add your chopped onions to the heated oil, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes, or until your onions just starting to brown. At this point, your house should smell like B.O.--delicious!
-Add your halved tomatoes to the onions, stirring until heated through (about 2 minutes).

-Transfer tomato & onion mixture to a plate, reserving your oil in the pan.
-Meanwhile, season both sides of your tilapia filets with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place filets in the hot oil, frying each side for 2 minutes.
-Pour your reserved tomato & onion mixture on top of the filets, along with enough chicken stock to cover. Cover pan (I just use tin foil, 'cause I'm fly like that), and turn heat down to a simmer.


-Simmer for 10 minutes, flipping the filets halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Ta-da!

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This recipe is much easier than it sounds (and it sounds pretty fancy, no?) You can seriously "braise" anything (even humans, although I hear the meat isn't that tender). Here's another meal I made swapping the tilapia filets for chicken breasts (also from Costco--I swear they aren't paying me), and the grape tomatoes (they finally ran out) for baby bello mushrooms.

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Braised Chicken Breasts with Baby Bello Mushrooms & Onions

Makes 2 servings

Ingredients
-2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-Baby bello mushrooms, sliced (about 2 handfulls)
-Large white onion, chopped
-2-3 cups chicken stock
-Garlic powder
-Olive oil
-Salt & pepper

Do you really need me to repeat the entire recipe, substituting "baby bello mushrooms" for "grape tomatoes," and "chicken breasts" for "tilapia filets?" Ok, fine, you needy bastard.

Steps
-Heat oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium high heat. Add your chopped onions to the heated oil, stirring constantly for about 10 minutes, or until your onions just starting to brown. (Repeat B.O. joke here)
-Add your sliced baby bello mushrooms to the onions, stirring until heated through (about 2 minutes).

-Transfer mushroom & onion mixture to a plate, reserving your oil in the pan.
-Meanwhile, season both sides of your chicken breasts with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
-Place breasts in the hot oil (sounds kinky), frying each side for about 3-4 minutes. If you're using chicken cutlets, a minute or 2 per side should be fine.

-Pour your reserved mushroom & onion mixture on top of the breasts, along with enough chicken stock to cover. Cover pan, and turn heat down to a simmer.

-Simmer for 10-15 minutes, flipping the breasts halfway through to ensure even cooking.

HELL YEA.