Date Nights at Home

Since the babies arrived, Aaron and I have gotten creative with date nights. By creative I mean we are having date nights at home. Before the babies arrived we weren't really having many date nights unfortunately, and we really wanted to rectify that situation. We rarely have extra money to go out for dinner or a movie, and when we do, we really don't have extra money to pay a sitter. But we have learned in the last few weeks that though it isn't ideal to have at home dates, it does work, and it can be very fun and relaxing with a little bit of planning. Also, time alone together is VERY important, so this is something we are making a priority one evening a week. We have been planning our date nights for the night before Aaron's day off, so that we can stay up after the kids are in bed, and not have to worry about being up late. We have picked up take-out and watched a movie and talked, or I have created a nice meal and we watch a movie and talk. We also like to play games, so that is on the agenda one date night here soon. Just last night we decided to take turns every other week planning the meal and movie/entertainment. http://www.celebrateeverydaywithme.com/2012/09/30-ideas-for-date-nights-at-home.html I just found this link on Pinterest with some fun date night at home ideas.

 

We have fun, and we really are enjoying the "alone," uninterrupted time. We get the kiddos fed and in bed, and then we get our meal and do our thing. Now don't get me wrong, we are wanting to still get out of the house from time to time alone, but this works for us as well. We know this is a season of our lives, and we are choosing to embrace it. We are currently planning a get away for our fifth anniversary!! Since our Hawaii trip was turned in to put the money towards a transmission we decided to plan another trip on a much smaller scale. We can't wait!!

 

Anyway...last night was our date night for the week. I had a new recipe to try, Spicy Fish Taco Bowls, a SMASHING success!! And we chose the movie "We are Marshall" to watch. Great movie, and yes...this hormonal mama cried a couple times!  The recipe is too good not to share. I made a few tweaks from the original for what I will do differently next time. It is a recipe I found on Pinterest (of course.) :) If you like fish this recipe is for you. If you are like my mom and don't like fish, read no further (or try it, it just might convert you to a fish lover). We rarely eat fish, not because we don't like it (because we do!), I just haven't experimented with it much.

 

 

Spicy Fish Taco Bowls

 

Just a glimpse at the deliciousness

 

 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

salt &pepper to taste

4 tilapia filet's

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 C. corn

1 red onion, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 can black beans

2-3 C. cooked rice

 

*toppings: avocado, cheese, sour cream & pico de gallo

 

Instructions:

-Mix spices and sprinkle on both sides of fish. Add salt and pepper to taste.

-In a large skillet over medium heat, heat a drizzle of olive oil. Add garlic and sauté. Add fish and cook on both sides until done. Fish should be completely white and flake easily. Remove fish and set aside.

-Add corn, pepper, and onion to the skillet. Heat on high until browned (tender-crisp). Add black beans and heat through.

-Cook rice and mix in a little salt, sour cream and avocado if desired (to moisten it up a bit).

-In a bowl layer rice, corn/pepper mixture, and then fish. Add suggested toppings if desired. You can just toss it all in the skillet, mix it up and serve it that way too.

 

 

*It doesn't HAVE to have the pico de gallo, but it was good with it. This is a fairly easy recipe to make and doesn't require much time. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did if you try it.