Sunday, October 16, 2016

Guest Rebecca Adler with Pecan-Crusted Tilapia #bookgiveaway

LESLIE BUDEWITZ:  Today we welcome back to the blog Rebecca Adler, with a recipe for a pecan-crusted tilapia with golden rum butter sauce that's got me smacking my lips for dinner -- and I just finished breakfast!

REBECCA ADLER: Growing up in small town Florida, my exposure to Tex-Mex was limited to the locally-owned Pancho’s on Okaloosa Island. This local favorite offered everything my young heart could desire: tacos, queso, and enchiladas. Occasionally, I would try something exotic from my mother’s plate. Guacamole, refried beans, or tamales.

Have you heard the old saying, I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got there as fast as I could? That’s me. After living in NYC and Maine with limited access to quality, lip-smacking Tex-Mex, I was thrilled to be in the midst of an overabundance of restaurants and taco stands offering, not one, but countless varieties of my very favorite foods.


With the release of The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole--the second book in my Taste of Texas series-- I am excited to share the recipes for some of my very favorite Tex-Mex, and Texas, culinary delights. My favorite recipe in the book is definitely Senora Mari’s Pecan-Encrusted Tilapia. I recently made this dish with a dear friend. The recipe was simple, fresh, and oh so delicious. The end result? A delightful afternoon filled with scrumptious fare and heartwarming conversation.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win a signed paperback of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE (US addresses only). 

Senora Mari’s Pecan-Crusted Tilapia

Makes 4 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 8 minutes

½ cup pecan halves
4 fresh tilapia fillets, about 6 ounces each
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons butter
Golden Rum-Butter Sauce (recipe follows)
lemon wedges, for garnish
fresh parsley sprigs, for garnish

Chop the pecans until fine and pour into a shallow bowl. Sprinkle the fish fillets with salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Dredge the fish in the finely chopped pecans.



In a large nonstick pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the fillets, and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until well-browned and the fish flakes when pierced with a fork.



Serve each fillet with Golden Rum-Butter Sauce (recipe below), a lemon wedge, and a parsley sprig, if desired. (Leslie: And why on earth would you not desire?)

Golden Rum-Butter Sauce

3 tablespoons butter
1 shallot, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons rum
1 teaspoon honey
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Melt butter in a small pan over medium-high heat. Stir in the minced shallot and garlic. Continue stirring occasionally until the shallot is tender.

Reduce heat to low. Whisk in the rum slowly, and then add the honey, salt, lemon juice, and orange juice. Cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Serve warm.

Variation
You may substitute fresh lemon juice for rum.

Leave a comment below, with your email address, for a chance to win a signed paperback of THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE GUACAMOLE (US addresses only). The winner will be chosen on Tues, Oct. 18.

Rebecca grew up on the sugar beaches of the Florida Gulf Coast. Drawn to the Big Apple by the sweet smell of wishful thinking, she studied acting on Broadway until a dark-eyed cowboy flung her over his saddle and hightailed it to the Southwest.

Prior to writing, she always found a way to add a touch of the dramatic to her life from dinner theatre in Mississippi to playing a giant Furskin in the New York Toy Fair, plus plays and musicals.


She's currently content to pour her melodramatic tendencies into writing the Taste of Texas cozy culinary mystery series set in far West Texas filled with sweet, Southern-fried flavor, delicious suspense, and scrumptious Tex-Mex recipes. Rebecca's alter ego, Gina Lee Nelson writes sweet contemporary romance.

Where to Find Rebecca: 
Website:  http://www.authorrebeccaadler.com/ 

Facebook: @AuthorRebeccaAdler
Twitter: @CozyTxMysteries
Where to Find the Book:

67 comments:

  1. Have to try that golden rum sauce and the book!

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  2. Now I want some of that to eat! You sound like you have an exciting life! Your new to me. Love the cover! Lucky you you married a cowboy! I want to read your book now. Thanks for posting. Donamaekutska7@gmail.com I'm in Wisconsin don't think the food is the same!

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    1. Hi Donamae,

      It is a light and tasty dish! Glad you like the cover!

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  3. Excellent recipe; and the book sounds awesome! EMS591@aol.com

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  4. I love the title! I, too, have always wanted to live in Texas. Closest I've been is a small corner of western Texas when we went to New Mexico to visit our daughter and son in law. dbahn@iw.net

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Hi Dianne,

      Thanks! This series is actually set in FAR West Texas near Alpine and Marfa. Such a beautiful area with the desert and mountain range side by side.

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  5. Loved your first book, Rebecca, so I am happy to see The Good, the Bad, and the Guacamole being released. The tilapia recipe sounds delicious, and you got me hooked with golden rum sauce. I can't enter the drawing since I live outside the US, so I will add this title to my TBR list.

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    1. Hi Grace,

      I'm thrilled you loved Here Today, Gone Tamale! And I hope you enjoy this book as well. Reading the recipe online this morning, I'm tempted to make it for breakfast!

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  6. THis sounds good.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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    1. Hi Sandy,

      Thanks for stopping by. I love this dish!

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  7. The recipe looks very good and the book even better!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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    1. Thanks, Elaine! Hope you have the opportunity to enjoy them both!

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  8. I'm always looking for good fish recipes---this is one to try.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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    1. Hi Sue,

      My youngest son and I made this recipe again just last week. Made me wonder why I don't eat fish more often!

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  9. Hi Rebecca! Congratulations on your new release. What wonderful recipes. I'll have to try one.

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    1. Hi Connie! Great to see you here. This is a wonderful fish recipe; but if fish isn't your thing, there's other yummy Tex Mex recipes in both books.

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  10. Hi Rebecca! Congratulations on your new release. What wonderful recipes. I'll have to try one.

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  11. Thanks for being here and sharing today Rebecca! I loved the first book and have been anxiously awaiting the release of The Good, The Bad, and The Guacamole! It would be fabulous to win a signed copy! Can you give us any info on future installments in the Taste of Texas series?? Thanks so much.

    Rlewis11797 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Hi Bec,

      So glad you loved the first book, Here Today Gone Tamale! My heart is singing. I'm currently working on the third book in this series with the working title: Cinco de Murder. (Though A Fistful of Fajitas is still on the table.) In this third installment, Josie and Lenny, her chihuahua, are trying to help Uncle Eddie impress the town council with a charity chili cookoff on Cinco de Mayo weekend...and things swiftly go awry. Good luck with the giveaway!

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  12. Tilapia is good but it can get a little boring. This sounds like a great way to liven it up a bit! Congratulations on the new release. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Grandma Cootie! If you love pecans--and I do--this recipe is delicious!

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  13. Tilapia is our go to fish, and we eat a lot of it. I am so excited that you shared this recipe. It will definitely be a hit in our household and, even better, it looks easy to make (pecan crusted fish has always sounded a little intimidating to me, and this is a pleasant surprise)! Thanks for the giveaway as well! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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    1. Hi Celia,

      I hope you enjoy it! It is easy and fast...and we all know how important that can be.

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  14. Your recipe and your book both sound terrific. I need to partake in them both (and soon). Congrats on your new release. Thanks for the giveaway.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  15. Love your title and book cover, and this recipe looks delish!

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    1. Hi Regina, thanks for your encouraging words and for stopping by!

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  16. Your book looks captivating and the recipe delectable. Tilapia is my favorite fish. Thanks. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Traveler,

      Thanks! Tilapia is so light and delicious. It's my go to fish this season.

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  17. Definitely saving this recipe for later and love the cover of the book. brichardson0056@yahoo.com

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  18. Your tilapia recipe is enticing. We enjoy tilapia, so light and perfect. Love to read your delightful book. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Your covers are so clever (but the books inside them are better)! Love the recipe--this is a must try.

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    1. Hi Lisa! So wonderful to see you here! And thanks for those encouraging words! Hope you enjoy the recipe.

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  20. Welcome, Rebecca! Sorry I'm late to the party, but I see you all got started without me. Who's hungry for Rebecca's books?!?

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    1. Hi Leslie!

      I'm seriously considering cooking tilapia for lunch!

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  21. i look forward to reading the book. - mollie. iemercedez@aol.com

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  22. I am always drawn to the "cozy" series that highlights a culinary style or food. I get more times than not a great story and mini cookbook all in one...love it!
    kat8762@aol.com

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  23. The recipe sounds like a good combination of flavors.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  24. I grew up on Tex-Mex. I moved away from Texas in high school and made it back eventually. It is interesting to see how Tex-Mex has changed so much over the years. Way, way back there was no cilantro. Now it's everywhere. I would happily wish it away again! Your series sounds interesting. I never lived in the Marfa/Alpine area, but we were in El Paso for a few years, and the panhandle, and Austin, and now Houston.
    Pat patdupuy@yahoo.com

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    1. Hi Pat,

      And a big Texas howdy. I'll actually be in Houston signing my new book at Murder By the Book on Bissonet with fellow mystery author Melissa Lenhardt. Our signing begins at 4:30. There'll be refreshments and giveaways. Would love to meet you!

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    2. Oops meant to say that's Saturday, November 5.

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  25. Thanks for sharing your love of Tex-Mex. I love a good book, a good recipe, and a new series!
    Maybe I can stop in at your book signing at Murder By The Book.

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    1. You're welcome! I'd love to meet you in person on Saturday. Hope you can make it!

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  26. This recipe sounds wonderful and I can't wait to read the book. As someone who has lived in Texas most of her life I can identify with the love of Tex-Mex and all of your books sound very entertaining!!

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  27. Wonderful review thank you love the recipe too, I'm looking forward to reading this, love the cover too
    Penney penneyw(at)sbcglobal.net

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  28. Great recipe! I would love to win a copy of your book, thank you! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net

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  29. Love the title can't wait to read

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  30. I have lived in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas all my life and grew up eating Tex-Mex!! I love it! This recipe sounds great and I will definitely try it. I loved the first book in the series and can't wait to read the new book. cking78503(at)aol(dot)cI'm.

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  31. Howdy, y'all. Thanks for all the kind words about my cover, title, and recipe. I hope you enjoy the tilapia, and the book, of course! Chris, I'm working on a signing or two in Dallas/Fort Worth. I'll post the info on Facebook as soon as I know more. I'd love to meet you in person and autograph a copy for you.

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  32. The tilapia recipe sounds delicious and so does your new book. Can't wait to dig in to both!

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  33. What a great tilapia recipe, sounds so good! Your book also sounds amazing, I would love to read it. Thanks for the chance.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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  34. Would love to read! parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com

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  35. Totally agree with all the compliments on Rebecca's covers -- so bright and enticing!

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  36. Yay, I new author to discover. I can't wait to read this book. utaker555@gmail.com

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  37. The contest remains open through Monday, so if you want to enter, leave a comment with your email address!

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  38. I think I missed it, but here I am!!! konecny7(at)gmail(dot)com

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  39. I think I might replace the fish with cod as I am not a talapia lover but the recipe sounds real good and I love the name of the book as I love avacados and when i moved from Ca to Ia my husband and his brother never heard of guac so it was so funny and fun to make for them. So I would love to read a print copy and also review at a few sites! ptclayton2@aol.com

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  40. Gonna try thus with some tofu! Love the premise of the story- sounds like a hoot!
    Cheers-
    Kelly Braun
    Gaelicark(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. Well it all looks yummy and I have been looking for a new book to read. Your Covers are so cute. Thanks for the review ad the chance.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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