Monday, June 30, 2014

Baked White Fish recipe from America's Test Kitchen


Originally this pinned recipe was titled as Sole, not simply the category 'White.'

White is a category, of which there are a lot to choose from (most fish are here, I'm guessing?)

Super expensive: Halibut

Cheaper: flounder, sole, haddock, swai (mine), and more



3tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves[used 2, frozen Celery leaves instead.]
3tablespoons minced fresh chives [substituted dill]
1tablespoon minced fresh tarragon leaves (see note) [skipped]
 1teaspoon finely grated zest from 1 lemon
5tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
6 boneless, skinless sole fillets, or flounder fillets, (about 6 ounces each) (see note)
Kosher salt and ground black pepper
 1tablespoon Dijon mustard
 2/3cup panko bread crumbs
 Lemon wedges for serving

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Combine parsley, chives, and tarragon in small bowl. Measure out 1 tablespoon herb mixture and set aside for bread crumbs, then stir lemon zest and mustard into remaining herbs.  [try sprinkling salt and pepper into this mixture to skip that step for the fillets later?
]

 2. Heat 4 tablespoons butter in 8-inch skillet over medium heat until just melted. Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Set skillet aside.

3. Pat fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and pepper. Turn fillets skinned side up with tail end pointing away from you.

Rub equal amounts (about 1 tablespoon) herb–lemon zest mixture and drizzle each with about 1  1/2 teaspoons garlic butter.

Tightly roll fillets from thick end to form cylinders. Set fillets seam side down in 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Drizzle remaining garlic butter over fillets, cover baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake 25 minutes. Wipe out skillet but do not wash.

 4. While fillets are baking, add remaining tablespoon butter to now-empty skillet and melt over medium heat. Add panko and cook, stirring frequently, until crumbs are deep golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add remaining teaspoon minced garlic, and cook, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant and evenly distributed in crumbs, about 1 minute. Transfer to small bowl and stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Let cool, then stir in reserved tablespoon herb mixture.

5. After fillets have baked 25 minutes, remove baking dish from oven. Baste fillets with melted garlic butter from baking dish, sprinkle with all but 3 tablespoons bread crumbs, and continue to bake, uncovered, until internal temperature registers about 135 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 6 to 10 minutes longer. Using thin metal spatula, transfer fillets to individual plates, sprinkle with remaining bread crumbs, and serve with lemon wedges.

Note from pinner (blogger?): - I used Swai fillet/ yellow mustard with honey/basil/earth balance butter. Suggest to 1/2 the butter & seasoning per my personal taste!

 Note from me: I also had Swai.  I chose this over another recipe and another recipe since my fish was frozen, and that makes the fish more delicate to handle.  I thawed it for 10 minutes in hot water.  Had one less fillet than the recipe... more flavoring!

Friday, June 27, 2014

Free Speech Under Attack

  Our president needs to defend free speech.  At least the Supreme Court, with pressure from ACLJ, defended it yesterday.


 Even if you are pro-abortion, would you say it is right to prohibit our first amendment right of peaceful pro-life gatherings in front of abortion clinics?  I would say it is wrong to prohibit peaceful pro-abortion rallies in front of pregnancy care centers. 

 ACLJ.org:

"The Supreme Court dealt President Obama's radical pro-abortion agenda and his attacks on the Constitution a stunning blow yesterday.

" ... unanimously struck down a pro-abortion law, aimed at shutting down pro-life speech in front of abortion clinics. We filed a critical amicus brief in this case, and the court relied on a case I argued decades ago to protect speech that saves lives.

"... unanimously struck down President Obama's non-recess appointments, sending an important signal that this imperial President's attempts to thwart the Constitution will not stand.

"President Obama attempted to stack a key federal agency with his radical nominees, ignoring the Senate's constitutional authority to "advice and consent." We represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives in an amicus brief, and the Supreme Court agreed with our position that Congress, not the President, determines when Congress is in recess.

"Unanimous victories at the Supreme Court don't happen every day, much less two in one day. We need your support to help make more victories defending life and liberty possible."

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Ethiopian Cuisine

Huh.  Didn't know this was a world famous cuisine!  A friend reported that Ethiopian beef was one of the best food she tried in London at the Borough Market.  :)

So, what is left to do, but to find the recipe?  Ain't no secret recipes in this world anymore!  Not even from Africa.


This recipe was the more accessible of the two I found (here's the other).  The book, STEWED! , needs to be the next book I peruse, since it is gourmet one pot meals - AH! That's amazing.







from: http://books.google.com/books?id=VusW-ByZoRQC&pg=PT224&lpg=PT224&dq=Borough+Market+Ethiopian+Beef&source=bl&ots=OKmPAnE9e8&sig=-CHK_-v1x1bfE79XwkcjwVle7bM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=BeuqU7ZAwYzIBMj3gvgK&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Borough%20Market%20Ethiopian%20Beef&f=false

Also, check out this book!  What an awesome gift this would make for any well-traveled foodie.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Borough-Market-Cookbook-Meat/dp/1904104924




Monday, June 9, 2014

The Internet Cookbook


I rarely use traditional cookbooks.  That may change once I get a library card, but for now, here are :

My internet sources for recipes.


For simple meal ideas and staple/classic recipes: 

America's Test Kitchen and their satellite magazines.  Never fails

FoodNetwork.com

SmittenKitchen.com  Never fails

MarthaStewart.com  (mixed success)



For inspiration and fun recipes: 

pinterest.com  (I have to be careful, here and use my cook sense to gauge a recipe's goodness.)

http://frenchfoodiebaby.blogspot.com/p/recipe-index.html 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Summer Makeup Staying Tips

As soon as the warm seasons hit I start getting this question every single day:
How do I get my makeup to stay put during the day?

See what Cara says at her blog... she's a pro!!


My noted quotes:


Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer.
Urban Decay All Nighter is my favorite.
Here’s why: Many of the primers I use work very well but of the ones that keep my makeup looking fresh all day, this is the only one that is truly undetectable on my skin.
Keep in mind though, I have pretty dry skin, for more oily skin textures who are looking for a more matte finish, the Makeup Forever Mist and fix
3. The Layering Technique:
It’s quite simple. Start with a cream set with a powder.

And after 12 weeks of Morning Sickness...

...life begins to become bearable.  Surviving will turn to thriving.  Patience, patience.

But first, some venting because the cleaning has definitely suffered, along with our diet, exercise, and sleep.




Just for laughs






Disclaimer:  I love a lot of chores.  Ironing, dusting and organizing/decluttering being my favorite.  But I can't de-stress that way when there's broken glass on the floor, the neighbor's calling, there's nothing to feed on, there's a #2 diaper, I forgot a family birthday, and I'm falling asleep.