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! 

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.