15 in 3: Dinner 1 Pan-fried whitefish with peas, parmesan, and whole wheat fettuccine + Bonus

Welcome to the first installment of 15 in 3!  This is the place I am sharing my 15 favorite dinners over the next 3 weeks.  Stay tuned for easy homemade dinner recipes containing lots of whole foods, minimal processed ingredients, and straight forward recipes with everyday healthy ingredients.  Some posts will contain bonus breakfast and snack ideas.  Happy cooking!

Dinner 1:  Pan-fried Whitefish with Peas, Parmesan, and Whole Wheat Fettuccine  

Ingredients:

2 oz. whole wheat fettuccine, cooked (This is an easy way to use left over pasta)

4 oz. tilapia fillet

1 c. frozen peas (can substitute other vegetable such as broccoli, carrots, peppers)

1/2 T. butter (I used Challenge Butter Spreadable Butter with Canola Oil)

1 T. shredded parmesan cheese

To taste, Mrs. Dash Chicken Grilling Blends

Spray oil

Directions: 
1.  Spray small skillet with oil.  Heat to medium.  Add tilapia, sprinkle to taste with Mrs. Dash.  Flip and repeat.  Sear each side to golden brown perfection, then promptly reduce heat to low and cover with lid until done.

2.  Meanwhile, lightly steam peas in microwave.  Add fettuccine, peas, butter and parmesan to a medium skillet.  Cook with heat on medium low, stirring frequently, until heated throughout.

3.  Transfer fettuccine mixture to plate.  Top with fish.  Serves one.  Enjoy!

*This recipe was satisfying to me without being overly filling.  It comes in at just 466 calories!

*Bonus Breakfast Recipe*

Man Meets Vegetables and Likes It Sandwich

Ingredients:

2 eggs + 1 egg white, scrambled

1-1 oz.slice Tillamook colby cheese, torn to pieces

3/4 c. loose (not packed) baby spinach
5 grape tomatoes, diced
1/8 yellow pepper, diced
2 T. real bacon bits
To taste, ground black pepper and salt
1 T. butter
2 slices whole grain bread (I used Rudi's Organic Honey Wheat.  The large slices helped accommodate the contents of this sandwich!)
Spray Oil

Directions:
1.  Spray small skillet with oil and heat on medium low.  Add eggs and cook slightly.

2.  When eggs are half-way set, add cheese, spinach, tomatoes, yellow pepper, bacon bits pepper and salt.  Stir as needed to break up pieces and set the eggs without burning the cheese.

3.  Toast bread and spread 1/2 T. butter on each slice.

4.  Top one slice toast with egg mixture, followed by the second slice of toast.  Cut in half.  This thing is huge!  This is also a great bring-to-work breakfast.  Just wrap in aluminum foil and go.  It should still be warm and gooey by the time you get there or open it up on the drive:)  Serves one.  Enjoy!

*This recipe was amazing and I'm so proud that Husband enjoyed it not despite, but with the vegetables!  This is a big one though as far as calories: 625!  Even though the calorie count is high, this breakfast is ideal if you need sustained energy and won't get to eat again until the afternoon.  This would also be great for brunch or an easy dinner.  And, this is so much good-for-you food that you shouldn't worry too much about a big breakfast like this now and then.