Vanilla Bean Shortbread (Light version)

I got this recipe out of the Cooking Light magazine. It was sooooo GOOD!!! I love shortbread but when I read that this was a healthier version, I just had to try it out. It has half the butter of normal shortbread so it makes it less fattening (I guess), and more heart healthy (I guess.. ha!). I had some vanilla beans left over from when I got them at a great price at Costco. I made up a batch of these and let me tell ya, they didn't last long in my house. I even sent some over to my mom and she LOVED them! They have an amazing taste and texture. They are so flaky and yummy. They are a perfect compliment with tea. They almost taste like a pecan sandie sans the pecans. But I did do a second batch and added toasted pecans...DELISH!!! These are so easy, you have to try them!


Ingredients:

Cooking spray
9 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Line bottom and sides of a 13 x 9–inch baking pan with foil; coat foil with cooking spray, and set aside.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cornstarch, and salt in a large bowl; stir with a whisk.
4. Place butter in a medium bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add oil; beat with a mixer at medium speed 3 minutes or until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean, and add seeds to butter mixture; discard bean. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Spoon dough into prepared pan. Place a sheet of heavy-duty plastic wrap over dough; press to an even thickness. Discard plastic wrap. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; cut into 32 pieces. Carefully lift foil from pan; cool squares completely on a wire rack.

My kiddos couldn't wait for them to cool. They were hovering over them. They were a HIT!

I added toasted pecans to the second batch. Just typing this post makes me want to go make another batch. They are dangerous though. I could eat the entire pan, they are just so good!

Tilapia Fish Tacos

Let's just say I completely rocked it in the kitchen!!! This was so easy to make and the taste was unbelievable. I have never tasted a fish taco anywhere that had this much flavor. The white sauce was so delicious.

I got this recipe from my friend Alexis. I believe she got it from Allrecipes.com. You can use any type of white fish I'm sure but the tilapia was amazing. My hubby was very quiet and the whole time he was eating all I heard was "mmmmm...mmmmm"...so I know it had to be good. We served it with lime wedges and a simple pico de gallo which complimented the flavor even more. Please try this dish, it was super simple...you will not be disappointed.

1 quart oil for frying

1 lb Tilapia or any type of white fish, cut into small strips

1 package corn tortillas

cabbage, shredded

Batter:

1 cup all purpose flour

2 Tbl cornstarch

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

1 cup beer

Sauce:

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 lime, juiced

1 jalapeno pepper, minced

1tsp minced capers

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried dill

1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

To make beer batter: In a large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. Blend egg and beer, then quickly stir into the flour mixture (may be a little lumpy)

To make white sauce: In a medium bowl, mix together yogurt and mayo. Gradually stir in fresh lime juice until consistency is slightly runny. Sean with jalapeno, capers, oregano, cumin, dill and cayenne.

Heat oil in deep fryer or heavy deep skillet.

Dust fish pieces lightly with flour. Dip into beer batter, and fry until crisp and golden bornw. Drain on paper towels. Lightly fry tortillas, not too crisp. To serve, place fried fish in a tortilla, and top with shredded cabbage, and white sauce.