Great Pasta, and Fish...and a Bad Week!

Amazing fresh pasta with fava beans, and mixed vegetables, topped with goat cheese...courtesy of Chef Fabrizio,
 (my son-in-law)

Do you ever get one of those days when it starts out with a series of things going wrong, and the next day it's the same, and as you go through the week your realize that nothing is going right, only because of that one thing that is tugging at your "sleeves" and you know you have to take care of it. It started exactly one week ago.

Fabulous baked Mahi-Mahi with lemon-butter sauce and veggies...courtesy of Chef Fabrizio (my son-in-law)

My central air condition, which is only about 3 years old, just gave out and water was dripping...then gushing, thinking it's my water heater, or the neighbor's that busted. It was neither but my AC. I live in an older building on the beach where we are sharing "pipes"...now don't get me wrong...not the kind of pipes that is illegal...ha, ha...but the pipes that is connected to our water system.

The AC guy came out and fixed the problem, only to last 2 days. I waited for another 2 days for him to return the call...as you see, we live in South Florida, and here independent workers run on their own schedule. When they say they will be out in an hour, you should know it will be 2 hours...maybe 3 or all day, depending where they might get stuck on another job. Well, in the meantime it's still in the upper eighty degrees here, and at night the upper seventy degrees. No sign of fall here, till about November. I could not wait for this guy to come back to fix the problem, so my son called his AC guy to come and check the problem...by that time it was towards the end of the week. He promptly came out and drained the excess water, but by that time I have used up all my towels...even the good ones to mop up all the water from the floor.

Problem fixed...oh, but NO!...still the same dripping water existed coming through my ceiling pipes in my closet where the water heater and the AC unit is. Mind you, I had to cancel all my appointments that entire week, to deal with all this...not over yet! By Friday, I had no other choice but to call my condo association and tell them perhaps it's an outside problem. Sure enough they sent their AC man, and they checked the outside pipes, drained it...and DONE!...3 AC service people...$100. service charge to each of the first 2; (son paid for the second.)
The 3rd service man didn't charge for the service call, since it's an outside problem...but the inside problem was my responsibility...No air condition for 1 whole week...so appreciating the breeze in the early morning, and evening...but no fun stuck inside not wanting to cook or bake in that heat. So grateful for at least I got to eat two truly amazing meals made by Fabrizio!

Also had a beautiful dinner at my son's. He is the "grill guy!" ...such a nice grilled fish...this time a grouper (didn't take photo, darn!) ...so all in all, I still have my loving family, regardless of all these aggravating issues that have a way of working themselves out!

I picked up rotisserie chicken from my favorite local Publix supermarket that was at least 2 dinners, and 1 lunch for me...also picked up fresh sushi from the same market that they make fresh every single day! So it wasn't so bad. Spent some quality time by myself... and sat around enjoying the breeze on the beach this weekend...have not cooked even 1 meal. I feel so bad for not having anything to post of what I made! didn't make!

I sat out here on this beach lounge for at least 2 hrs under the umbrella Sunday, just chilling and reading cooking magazines!

Such a beautiful scene I captured with the ocean and the sky!

The palm trees gently swaying in the breeze!

Walking along the shore getting my feet wet...waves too rough, they actually knock you down when you go in the water!

About a mile from where I live...drawing the line from the "rich and poor folks" These are the "millionaires' section" ...only in the U.S. can you see plain folks, next door to the rich folks! ...I still prefer my little condo, that has been there a lot longer than these fancy rich ones...that's why we have our "prime select beach"...that they don't have.
In the seventies when ours was built, these fancy condos were just a gleam in the builders' eyes!
Have a wonderful week...hope yours is a better one than mine was...but then again, this is a new week!

I apologize for not commenting back to all your comments. I don't know where my head is sometimes! I will catch up with my comments and hope I didn't offend any one for neglecting them!
Hugs, to all! 

Cayman Fish...and a Collage of Awards

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend. Spring is hear, and so is Passover, and Easter. Actually, Passover ends tomorrow at sundown. We had a very nice and relaxing Easter Sunday at my daughter's with her in-laws who will be going back to Italy, but before they go back, on Wednesday, Teresa was cooking up a storm for Easter...but before I get into that, there's something even more exciting that I want to share with you, is this amazing fish dish, from the Grand Cayman Island, by a recently befriended blogger, by the name of Parsley Sage...sorry, I never did ask for her real first name, I figure if they want to let you know what their real name is, they would have told you so it's all right, after all it's such a cute name...maybe I should have picked Rosemary Thyme for my name on my blog,

I also like that name. Parsley Sage has such a cool and refreshing blog called The Deep Dish and she actually lives on Grand Cayman Island...and here I thought in the beginning that she is just visiting the island. When I saw her making this delicious fish with peppers, and onions, and island spices, I immediately fell in love with this colorful and yummy fish...knowing that I did have everything on hand, including fresh Salmon, but not the fish that she recommended. Also, I used scotch bonnet, and sweet peppers, shallots, and sweet onions, and I'll tell you, those scotch bonnets will set your mouth on "fire" no matter how you are trying to tone it down. Now for the recipe, you will just have to click over toThe Deep Dish blog, to find it!
Just think, you don't even have to travel to the Cayman Island, or even to West Palm Beach...on the beach, where I live, to get this authentic island recipe...I did a few minor adaptations to the dish, but over all, it was superb, over a bed of rice.

I'm linking the Cayman Fish to the gracious hosts @ Hearth and Soul #45
Thanking all of them for hosting this fun, event, to share, every Tuesday...so link up with them!

                                   The Hearth and Soul Hop Team!

Alex at a Moderate Life

Christy at Frugality and Crunchiness with Christy

Jason at Alternative Health and Nutrition

Alea of Premeditated Leftovers

April of 21st Century Housewife

Michelle of Fit Foodista

Kankana of Sunshine and Smile

Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen

The Hearth and Soul Hop Hub

...also, I have an exciting announcement to make re: my 300th follower on my
food blog (not to mention on the other 54)
Shelby, from Yum de la Yum  isn't that such an adorable, name for a blog?
You just have to check out her blog and try not to get hypnotized by her amazing decadent chocolate cake, before you bookmark, and copy her recipe!

I'm linking my Cayman Fish to Full Plate Thursday, 4-28-2011 
@ Miz Helen's Country Cottage

Just a little addition to Melinda's Mom's Sunday Cafe  "What We are not Eating on Wednesday"...surprise, surprise! When was the last time you had Glazed Tongue, in Aspic?...Yumm, or Yuk...Ughhh!

Start out with a 5lb beef tongue boil it for 3hrs, peel skin, refrigerate overnight...slice thin, then proceed with the gelatine to make the aspic...does this bring back fond memories from about 30 years ago?...original McCall's recipe...I think I'll skip this one!!!
 

I'm going to show you step-by-step photo directions.
I have my salmon fillet ready to marinade, Have my
extra virgin olive oil ready, my tomatoes sauce, sweet and hot peppers, tomotes to dice, shallots, and half of a large onions to slice. The recipe did not call for olive oil, but I used half olive oil, and half butter which is how I cook fish.

This is how I started out too, marinade fish in water, in a deep glass dish, add fresh lime juice, and lime slices, sea salt, and freshly ground pepper, and marinade for 15 minutes.

In a large preheated cast iron skillet, I added the 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, and the butter that the recipe calls for, along with red pepper flakes, and the lime slices.

Add the fish first, skin side down, and cook over medium high heat, then turn over, and cook for an addition 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the fish to a plate, and let it rest, until you're ready to add it back int the skillet when vegetables are cooking.

Add the sliced onions, peppers, and saute them together until they start to get soft, and the onions start to look golden. Takes only a few minutes

.

Add the dice tomatoes, and stir together, gently.Add sea salt, and freshly ground pepper.

Add 1/4 cup tomato sauce, and stir together.

I'm a little daring because not only did I use fresh scotch bonnet pepper, I added a few drops of the crushed scotch bonnet pepper sauce, as well...hot!

The best part, is adding a splash of the famous Key West Lime Juice...all natural, no preservative!

Also, I parted the pepper-tomato mixture to one side, and added the salmon carefully in chunks, right into the skillet. Mix gently together with the vegetables and cook for no longer than about 3-5 minutes, till heated through and gently incorporated. Serve over a white rice, or pasta if you like.
Enjoy!

Enjoy...and so I thought I did, until the phone rang, and I put the plate down on my coffee table to get my cell phone which I left in the other room...I hobbled out there without my walker, and  when I returned within a minute  or two...somebody wanted to enjoy my yummy fish, as well.

My fair "Prince" ...who is 18yrs old, and supposedly on his "deathbed" according to my Vet, lately has been wanting to eat salmon, and chicken...people food. Not just any old people food, but nice fish, salmon, white meat chicken, cooked ground sirloin, white albacore tuna, and rarely wants to eat his beloved "fancy feast"...even been buying
Paul Newman's organic, but sticks his nose up at it. Since he pulled this piece of salmon off my plate, I put it on his dish, crumbled up, so he can eat it easier. He even licked his plate.

So, I scraped off the rest of my food, changed plates, and finished my delicious Cayman Fish...and gazed out the window,  from my condo apartment, from the second floor, watching the palm trees swaying in the gentle warm April breeze!

So now, on to the awesome award I received from  Parsley Sage@Deep Dish. She is such a cool, and pretty red haired young lady, with such amazing vitality for the island life, and her love of seafood....she brings such joy, and pleasure, just browsing through her blog, I feel the energy... and her enthusiasm and  adventures with other people on the island. Must be awesome to live on Grand Cayman Island....although, I should not be complaining about my home in S. Florida.

Thank you so much for this most amazing collage of awards...8 in 1...Wow! I never received anything like this. I will pass this one on, and link it, tomorrow... it's such an honorable award to receive!

Savory Stuffed Baked Trout

Another Sunday, the first Sunday of March, and I should have been making something for Cookbook Sundays with Brenda, @Brenda's Canadian Kitchen, or make the yummy Brown Butter Brownies from Bon Appetit magazine, which I also have, and mentioned to Lizzy, @That skinny chick can bake!!!, who actually made these brownies, adapted it from Bon Appetit...but no! I have to be different...and "talk is cheap." The truth of the matter, I don't follow too many recipes, unless there is something special I want to make, then, I have to make a list of the ingredients that I don't have, and run to the store to get it, and by that time, I lose interest and just make do with what I have on hand. On the other hand, what better opportunity, when a dear friend invites me over to dinner, and lets me "run the show"...LOL. She knows that she can trust me with what I'm going to prepare, and in most cases it's seafood. She bought these beautiful trouts, from BJ's which is yet, another food club, just like Costco's, but I still prefer Costco's and know exactly what products they carry, even the seafood. The first thing that came to my mind, is that these little "guys" need to be stuffed, so my friend just brought out all the ingredients to choose from that she had in her fridge, and pantry, and dinner was done in 30 minutes...yeayyy!

Normally, I don't see trout at Costco's but then again, I have not looked for it because most of the time I buy shrimp, or salmon, so I don't look for any other type of fish, unless I stop at our local fish market where it's more expensive, but so well worth it. So without any further conversation, I will share my easy recipe with you.

Savory Stuffed Baked Trout
my own recipe

2 pieces about 1 lb. each of whole trout,
(cleaned, and gutted)
2 cups of herb croutons
3 cloves of garlic chopped
fresh herbs of your choice,
(I used fresh rosemary, and parsley)
sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper
liberal amount of extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup vegetable broth
a good handful of fresh baby spinach

Liberally drizzle olive oil over, and inside the fish, sprinkle with the fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper, and let it marinade for just a few minutes, while you are sauteing the garlic, the croutons, in a large skillet. Add the broth, the herbs, and the spinach, and cook for about another 5 minutes. Pack the cavities of the 2 trouts and gently pat it in making sure that you don't get the croutons all mushed up. In a preheat 400 degree oven, place the trouts on a aluminum lined baking sheet, and bake for no longer than 25 minutes. Serve with a side of couscous, rice, potatoes, or any side dish of your choice, with a few pieces of fresh spinach. Drizzle extra olive oil on the top, and serve.
Caution: Do not flip the fish on the other side, or stuffing will fall out. Serves 2. The skin will come right off, when you peel it, and so will the meat off the bone, in one try. Oh, so flaky, and delicious! Really enjoyable!

I'm not much of a wine expert, my friend is, and she always orders wines online. Normally white wine would have gone better with the fish, but she did not have one chilled, so we opted for this special Spanish red wine, which was really, good, and had somewhat of a fruity hint to it. I know for a fact that I don't care for heavy Cabernet, but this wine, was so amazing, and when you swirled the glass, it really had "legs"...as they call them meaning that it just hugged the inside of the glass, with little "legs" slowly drizzling down. Also another factor that I know learning it from wine experts, from yet, another friend of mine, who says, the more alcohol percentage volume, the better. Well, I have never seen 15% in any wine, and this one had it...even said it, right on the bottle, in Spanish. The highest alcohol volume I had, was 14% which was an Argentine, Malbec. I do prefer at least 13% in a nice Pinot Grigio, or a light Chardonnay...on that note...didn't I just contradict myself, that I don't know much about wine?...I do know, what I like, and this one really kicked "butt"...2 glasses, and you feel a good buzz!..:-DDD...(smiles)

Just so I won't leave you hanging, I will share last Sunday's event on the beach, where I live. An impromptu Sunday with my ex-husband, who by the way is my "best friend" my "BFF", the father of my beautiful 2 children, and 4 precious grandchildren. His special gift is bringing the most beautiful bouquet of flowers to each of us from his garden, that has lilies, blooming all over his garden at this time. Also, he brings baby fruit trees to plant for our daughter, and son.
We have known each other,...forever, since I was still in my last year of high school.
OK...enough mushy details, just an observance of a glorious, sunshiny day.

Today is not so glorious. Cloudy, windy, yesterday, a lot of rain, on and off, and that is also the forecast for today.

Mind you, this is a private beach for us who live there. This young couple visiting family, set up the volley ball net and had fun playing, right smack in front of us where we sat on the lounge chairs.

This is not the kind of stroll you want to do on the beach...notice all the seaweeds, and more important, a huge caution! Look at those horrific blue little bubbles littered all over the beach...hundreds of them. They are called "man of wars"...they are very much alive, with tentacles, that look like strings, they are poisonous, if you step on one, it will sting you like a bee, but even worst, because your toes, or your whole foot will swell up, and will get "beet" red, and you will be in pain, for hours. Not everyone is affected by them but as for me, I have some allergies, and it did happen to me last year. I had to go to the local fire station to get it treated, and all they really use, is just clear plain white vinegar, that will kill the poison. I love nature, but this has it's bad moments:-((

You will not see anyone in the water, because it is the "shark season" so that means that the sharks come so close to the shore and they actually bob their head so you can see them. Helicopters were cruising up and down, checking for them, and people were warned not to go in to the water...even in the shallow water.

Tilapia 3 ways-and I'm a Winner!

I've been on the tilapia fish kick lately, simply because it's a simple white fish, delicate and takes practically no time to prepare, and also very affordable at your local supermarket's fresh fish department. Also, in order to eat fresh spinach, I like to pair it with the tilapia, or just have the salad separately. Such an easy, comforting dish that not only tastes delicious, but it's healthy, and definitely works when you are trying to lose weight, or just want to eat light.
My friend invited me over for dinner, and for some reason, I love to use this friendly and happy platter she has...love the "inscription"...Life is what you make it!...yes, my friends, it's so true! If you decide to take charge of your life, you have to decide which direction to take.

You can't always be worrying about tomorrow...can't use the quote from the old song..."Let's forget about DOMANI=tomorrow...tomorrow may never come". That thought scares me, it really does. I do want tomorrow to come, and many tomorrows after that. Do take care of yourself, your health, exercise, eat right, and remember. Life is GOOD, it really is, what you make it. (Now, if you can figure out what the bottom line says, let me know, somehow I never paid attention to it.) It is a nice platter though!

This is the same salad...I call it Greek style, with feta cheese, crumbled, sliced scallions, garlic croutons, olives, chopped roasted red peppers, over fresh baby spinach...drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
I seasoned it with freshly ground sea salt, and fresh ground mixed peppers. The tilapia was halfway baked, and last five minutes topped with a crumbled feta cheese, and topped with a slice of fresh tomato.

This particular tilapia was marinated in a balsamic/dijon mustard/mayonnaise/olive oil mixture, and cooked in a preheated grill pan, over baby spinach, sauteed onion, w/sliced portabello mushrooms, sprinkled with toasted pine nuts, and crumbled blue cheese. Drizzle with the same dressing.

Tilapia #3, made same way as #2, only difference is, different dressing, and served with chunks of the fish, topped with the dressing made with white balsamic vinegar, red onions, and extra virgin olive oil mixed in food processor.


Greek Style Baked Tilapia

2-4 pieces of Tilapia fish, or other white fish
4 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, and 1 more Tbsp. for drizzle
juice of 1 lemon, and 1 lime
1 block of Feta cheese crumbled
Fresh sliced tomatoes
sea salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste

Place fish pieces on a large platter, and squeeze the juices of the lemon, and/or lime generously, all over the pieces.
Drizzle with 2 Tablespoon of the olive oil, sprinkle with the salt, and pepper, and marinate it for about 30 minutes, but not longer. In a preheated 400 degrees aluminum foil lined oven, drizzle with the remaining 2 Tablespoon olive oil, and place the fish pieces with the marinade. Bake for 7 minutes, and after that, top with slice of tomatoes, and half portion of the feta cheese, crumbling it. Bake for an additional 5 minutes, till the tomatoes get slightly softened.
Serve over rice, couscous, or spinach salad, as I presented it. Light, and delicious!


I have a huge announcement...I hit the Jackpot...no, not the Lottery, you know that's an almost impossibility, but the next best, is the CSN giveaway.
Chef Dennis, from More than a Mount Full was hosting a CSN giveaway last week, and as usual, I simply commented on his fabulous blog, as I always have, no rules, no..."follow my blog, facebook, twitter, etc." but just a comment which he truly deserves, and the best of it.
I have never witnessed a $100.00 giveaway from CSN Stores, but "lo, and behold" Chef Dennis had it, and guess what! I'm the Winner! I am beyond thrilled, excited, and oh, so, very happy!
Thank you, Chef Dennis...  and thank you CSN!

I did, decided on my order...#1, I selected a Pastry mat, Tuscan Stone style, which I will give to my daughter Lora, because she loves to bake.
2nd....I chose the Circulon 12 " Stir Fry pan, for me, because I donated 3 of my own stir-fry pans, including an electric one, to Goodwill, and now, I realized I don't have a stir-fry pan.
3rd....I chose a Bath Rug set, which is so beautiful, and it will be perfect for my little bath room.
I actually went over $15.00, but hey, it's worth it...I could have went over another $100.00, but there's a limit, I am so very very happy!
I will take a picture of my choices, when I receive them...so start following, and visit Chef Dennis blog, and all the other blogs, if you haven't, and make friends. You'll be glad, you did!

Baked Mahi-Mahi with Artichokes, and Capers

Yesterday was an extremely productive day, all around. I will take your on a little water ski fishing journey. What you see here is another dish that I created with Mahi-Mahi, freshly caught by a family friend surfer, who now owns a jet ski, mainly, just to use it for fishing in the ocean, having fun, catching the best, do I need to emphasize...the freshest fish, and he is so gracious to share some with us. I have never heard of jet ski fishing...although there are plenty of jet skiers, in the ocean, here in Palm Beach. I will post this recipe that I once again...seriously, just put together with whatever came into my head, and according to the ingredients and fresh herbs my daughter had at her house.

Baked Mahi-Mahi with Artichokes, and Capers

1 1/2 to 2 lbs. Mahi-Mahi

1 6 oz. jar marinated artichokes

1/2 cup capers (minus 1 teaspoon)

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, sliced thin

1/2 Aranja brand or any other sour orange

marinade

1 lime cut in half-use juice of half, slice the

other half in thin slices

1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika

salt and pepper to taste

First line a baking or broiling pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and fold up the sides, like in the photo...this way, the juice will not overflow. Place the fish on the foil, pour the sour orange marinade on top of the fish, the olive oil, salt, pepper and the paprika on top of the fish. Empty the small jar of the artichokes, and pour around the fish (not on top) ...Also use the liquid from the marinade. Add the sliced garlic, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of capers around it. Bake at 375 preheated oven for about 12 minutes...any longer will turn fish dry. Check for doneness, if needed to cook longer, maybe another 3-5 minutes. It should be nice, and flaky. Top with fresh herb sauce. It's "out of this world" tasty, and unique!

Fresh Herb Sauce

A good handful of mixed fresh herbs chopped

(I used what we had available.)

fresh dill

fresh oregano

fresh basil 

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup capers, drained from liquid

(minus 1 teaspoon, which was used for the fish)

salt and pepper to taste

juice of the half lime

Mix all ingredients together, set aside until fish is done, and liberally spoon on top of the fish, as shown in photo. When ready to serve, place fish portion on a large plate, and spoon the artichoke and the sauce it was baked in (topping is already on)...Ready to serve. Serves 2-4, depending on portion size. Delish!

Yesterday I had so much difficulty in posting my recipe for the butternut squash...which I already have done so, only to have it all wiped out, and not be able to retrieve it. Now, I can't even continue on the previous post, or it will run into the comment section, and mess everything up.

So, here is the recipe for the...

Butternut Squash with Organic Rainbow Chard

A large half already cut up butternut squash

1 bunch of rainbow chard

1 bunch of celery

1 cup of San Marzano tomato sauce

(or Marinara sauce...or your favorite tomato sauce)

1/2 plain water

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

2 cloves garlic chopped

2 teaspoons good quality curry powder

1 teaspoon Hungarian hot paprika

Clean and cut the butternut squash into 1 inch cubes, and roast in the oven, drizzled with olive oil, and your favorite herbs, for about 30 to 45 minutes. Set aside, and use that day, or refrigerate in a plastic container, and save it for another use.

In a large skillet, saute the butternut squash with the rainbow chard, that has been cut up into large chunks, and most of the stalks discarded. Also slice the scallions thin and add them along with the garlic. Saute on medium high for about 10 minutes, now add the water, let it cook down, and add the tomato sauce, the curry, and the paprika, season it with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for an additional 20 minutes being careful not to break all the beautiful chunks of the butternut squash. It is ready, when it gets to a nice thick sauce consistency. Serve it over pasta of your choice: best I found was the rigatoni, or rice, and even better, Israeli, or Moroccan couscous.

You can also add Reggiano Parmigiana cheese on top, if you are serving it over pasta. It is so delicious, not overly spicy, and the butternut squash is perfectly flavored with the spices, and the tomato sauce. The little guy in our family loved it so much, and everybody loved the baked fresh fish too.

Serves 4.