Foil Promotes My Laziness

Many times when I come home after working in lab all day, all I want is something quick and easy for dinner...yet preferably not something I can get at a fast food drive through.

 
Here's my "efficient" and lazy dinner which was prepared by just wrapping everything in foil and popping it in the oven. I seasoned the tilapia with soy sauce, white wine, garlic, and green onion.

I kept the zucchini simple and just used some lemon pepper seasoning; and for the mushrooms I used about a half tablespoon of pre-made black bean and garlic sauce that's common in Asian cuisines.

I don't remember specifically how long the food was in the oven for, but since fish cooks really quickly...I assume all of my foil packets were in a preheated 350 degrees F for about 10-15 minutes. Also, keep in mind that if you're baking any kind of squash (like the zucchini that I have), make sure not to over bake it or it can become a soggy mess.    

Be careful when you open the foil packets, or you may end up with a too hot to handle facial!

Pineapple Fried Rice

Obviously graduate school has taken priority over keeping up with this blog, especially on top of having to teach an undergraduate chemistry lab. I'm finally back though! Plus, I'm still cooking and baking when I have the chance, and taking pictures of everything...I just haven't had the motivation to write about it all. I recently started organizing all of the photos I have on my camera and transferring them onto my computer, and boy, hopefully I'll eventually catch up because I have too many food pictures.

Anyways, on to the food!

I usually have leftover plain white rice. I have a handy rice cooker and make about twice as much as I will be eating the day I'm cooking it so I have leftovers the next day to make fried rice. This is pretty much another variation of my previous fried rice post, link here!...which gives you helpful tips on how to make fried rice and prevent it from getting soggy.

There's marinated pieces of chicken, zucchini, pineapple, and egg in this fried rice. I suggest making sure the chicken is well done before incorporating it into the rice. If you refer to my other fried rice recipe, it teaches you how to incorporate each ingredient (typically the order is eggs, meat, seasoning such as soy sauce, veggies/fruit).

Leftover white rice doesn't have to be boring!