Grilled Bronzed Tilapia [Tom & June]

One of my favorite dishes to order is blackened fish or chicken. Alot of times the chef over-does the seasoning or it's too heavy with black pepper. On a trip to the west coast of Florida, I discovered a happy medium between blackened and "blah" when I saw "bronzed" on a menu. It was perfect - and looked like a piece of fish that had been "bronzing" in the Florida sun! This works for chicken and of course, any type of fish.

So I searched on-line for recipes for the seasoning and with some tweaking, this is our version.

Bronzing Seasoning
1 1/2 tsp Salt
3 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Dry Mustard
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp White Pepper
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Mix all ingredients. We put it into an empty spice container with a shaker top.

Brush the fish filets with olive oil and sprinkle with a generous portion of the seasoning. Using the brush, dab and brush the seasoning onto the fish to evenly coat. Do the same to the other side. We threw in some zucchini and orange bell peppers to grill for sides.

Grilling fish can be intimidating but it really is easy. If you have a grill basket, you can use that. If not, spray Pam on the grill. IF YOUR GRILL IS HOT - BE CAREFUL THAT IT DOESN'T FLARE UP!

Grill for about 5-7 minutes per side. You only want to turn once, so check to be sure that it's cooked to your liking before turning. Use a spatula and carefully remove.