Dover Sole, Rissoto with Mushrooms and Asparagus

I've been trying to have fish at least once per week, but it is more expensive than chicken, for sure.

Sprouts, the poor people's Whole Foods where you don't spend a Whole Paycheck, had wild caught Dover Sole on sale. They also had wild caught Pacific Rockfish. I went for the sole. Very quick cooking in the frypan.

Lightly breaded Dover Sole dipped in egg and breadcrumbs 

Velvety Risotto with Crimini mushrooms, onion, white wine, chicken stock, parmigiano reggiano, butter 

Asparagus braised in chicken stock (there was some left from the risotto)

A simple, elegant meal

(Almost) Instant Mac and Cheese (and Healthier Too)

Baked cod, roasted tomatoes, asparagus and quick mac and cheese with cauliflower.

I came up with this side dish tonight to go with some baked cod (frozen cod from Costco) with roasted tomatoes, and asparagus.

I put the cod and the halved tomatoes in a casserole and drizzled all with olive oil, sprinkled the tomatoes with salt, pepper and oregano and the cod with black pepper and Italian style bread crumbs.

That all went into the oven at 375, for about 20-25 minutes (depending on the thickness of the fish) and I got a pot of water boiling and put the asparagus in a skillet with a little butter and white wine, ready to go on the fire.

I had about 1/3 box of quick-cook Ronzoni penne pasta (which cooks in 3 minutes) and when the cod was close to being done, I got the pasta into the pot to boil while the cauliflower (which was last night's leftover - roasted in the oven with olive oil and garlic, so I knew it would go good with pasta) was in the microwave to reheat - also 3 minutes.

When the pasta was done, I put the asparagus on to cook in the skillet on high heat for just a few minutes.

I drained the pasta, put in two heaping tablespoons (+/-) of plain non-fat yogurt and approximately 3 heaping tablespoons (+/-) of grated Romano cheese, added in the cauliflower with its garlicky sauce and tossed the whole thing together.

Easy and healthier mac and cheese

The fish was done and so was the asparagus. All in less than 30 minutes. Rachael Ray, eat your heart out.

Simple but Picture Perfect

Grilled Salmon and Shrimp with Garden Veggies

Finally we are getting tomatoes from the garden along with green and hot peppers, eggplant and zucchini. Skewer those veggies with a giant shrimp and drizzle with garlic infused olive oil and grill until just charred. Along with a nice piece of salmon which was on sale at $3.99/lb and you can't go wrong.

Salmon with Crusty Potato and Panko

NOTE: this is not a perfected recipe.  Took some left over oven roasted potatoes and crushed them up with panko bread crumbs and a little S&P. Covered the salmon pieces with the mixture and popped it into a hot oven until the potato/bread crumbs got nice and brown.  Served with broccoli and melted cheese sauce.  Not my finest, but very edible.

Fish Again

Did the poached fish with spinach and rice again.  This time with sole and ocean perch.  (Wild caught - is that OK? )  Made the rice more like you would do jambalaya with the Trinity - onion, celery, green pepper and a little garlic and heat - with some chicken stock.  I also drizzled the spinach and the fish with some garlic-infused olive oil.  It's a good simple quick dish, and good for you too!

Dinner's Ready

Back to Reality

Dinner's Ready!
Sorry, it's just
Frozen fish - two pieces of Mahi mahi,  a piece of white fish - frozen french fries and tater tots

And Leon's favorite condiment (next to mayonaise)  

To balance it all out we did have some fresh broccoli and beets.

Coming attractions: Eggplant and veal parmigiano in casserole.

Cod Poached on Spinach Over Rice

I would like to eat more of a Mediterranean diet which includes lots of fish.  Even though we live in New England, fish is expensive.  Today's fresh cod is exactly eight times more expensive than the split chicken breasts.  $8 per pound, vs $1 per pound.  And then one must determine if the type of fish has too much mercury, and whether it is sustainable.  How do you know if that fish at the market is line caught, or wild caught? whether it is North Atlantic or Pacific?  Whether it is farmed in China next to a toxic computer waste facility or farmed in Alabama next to a pig farm?  It's difficult to stick to a politically correct diet.  Anyhow, here's some cod:

Easy!
Get out the frying pan/skillet,
Put in a couple pats of butter and some olive oil
Chop an onion and saute for 2 or 3 minutes - a little garlic won't hurt
Add 3/4 cups rice and stir until the rice is coated with oil
Add a scant 1 & 1/2 cups water and a little salt - bring to boil, then lower heat to simmer
Place washed spinach on top of the rice (about 3/4 bag - two handfuls or so to cover the rice)
Place 1 pound of cod fillets (or other mild fish) cut into pieces, on top of the spinach
A little salt and pepper, a few slices of lemon
Cover and simmer until the rice is cooked about 12-15 minutes.
Dinner's Ready - in less time than an episode of Rachel Ray.

Butter, oil, onion, rice, water

 Put the spinach on top

 Put the cod on top of the spinach, simmer until the rice absorbs the liquid.

 Serve hot.