Steamed Mahi Mahi

If you've ever purchased frozen fish fillets, then you probably know that simply cooking the fish plain does not satisfy the pallette. However, there are some simple steps you can take to add to add a little flavor and a classy look to any meat. Perhaps the simplest accent to any cut or filet of meat is a dry rub. A dry rub can be made by mixing together various dry ingredients from your spice cabinet. For our frozen Mahi Mahi I used a simple dry rub consisting of garlic powder, ground ginger, paprika, salt, and pepper. Once I mixed the ingredients and rubbed them onto the fillets I set the fillets in the refridgerator while I finished my prep work for the rest of the dinner.

Another "accent" that can be added to any meat is a sauce. For the Mahi Mahi I decided to use a mustard sauce. The simple sauce consisted of chicken broth, mustard, garlic powder, ginger, salt and pepper. I started the sauce before placing the fish in the steamer so that it would have some time to condense into a thicker sauce. Besides the mustard, I wanted to use ingredients that would compliment the dry rub that I had already applied to the fish (ginger, garlic poweder, salt, and pepper.

Rice, either plain or seasoned, serves as a great side to fish and chicken. For this meal I decided to cook some plain white rice. Since it's very easy to add flavor too rice, I added butter, garlic powder, salt and pepper when the rice was almost done. Once everything was complete, I plated the dish by putting down a layer of the seasoned rice as the base. I then carefully placed the Mahi Mahi on top of the rice. Next, I carefully spooned the mustard sauce onto the fillet, spreading it lightly with the spoon. Lastly, I added a dash of parsley to the top for visual effect. This meal entree can be complimented by any vegetable, though I would recommend using steamed carrots or green beans.

Making a restaurant quality meal on a budget is never impossible. You can use basic ingredients already in your pantry and spice rack to make an ordinary meal into a culinary treat.

Ribbons and Bows

When it comes to the holidays, some people spend as much money on decorations as they spend on presents. When you're working on a budget, elaborate holiday decorations are a luxury that just don't fit into the budget. However, there are some simple decorations that anyone can make or buy that don't cost much, but add an elegant holiday look to any home. Two of the most cost efficient holiday decorations are ribbons and bows. Both are very inexpensive and can be bought in multiples at a low price. Both can also be found at your local dollar store, department store, pharmacy, or crafts store; hence, they are easily accessible.

Once you have your bows and ribbons there are a variety of things you can decorate to bring some holiday charm to your home. Perhaps the most popular use of bows is to place them on the exterior of a door or window to add a pop of color to the exterior of your home. However, bows are very versitile and can be used in a variety of locations ranging from your mantle to the grill of your car. Ribbon is just as versitle (if not more so) than bows. You can get about 15 ft of ribbon for less than $5 and there are a variety of colors and patterns to choose from.

Since there are so many unique and creative ways ribbon can be incorporated into your home during the holiday, I will just give a few example to show how simple it is to had a little holiday charm to any household item. One simple use of ribbon is to weave it through the various items and photos on your shelf, bookcase, or mantle (pictured above). If you have a bowl of fruit, real or artificial, just weave some ribbon through it. A festive red and gold ribbon is the perfect accent to a bowl of apples (pictured left). Ribbon can also be used to add some character to your Christmas tree by hanging it vertically from the tree topper. When using ribbon, you may want to find a spool that has colors or patterns that are already in your house to help tie together your belongings with the rest of your holidy decor.

When decorating your home with ribbons and bows don't be afraid to get creative. For example, I've been saving a few wine bottles to use in making some sort of decoration. When I found myself with some extra ribbon and bows I decided to stuff the ribbon into the wine bottles and tie a bow around the neck. This can add a simple accent to any shelf, bookcase, mantle, etc. Don't be afraid to experiment; with such versatile items it is hard to go wrong when decorating for the holidays. When decorating for a holiday party or family get-together don't let price become an issue. Just head over to your local craft supply store and get some ribbons and bows.