PARSLEYED SPICY COD THYME – GARLIC – CAYENNE WITH BROCCOLI FLORETS – SLICED RED ONION – BLACK OLIVES IN A WHITE WINE SAUCE

For 4:

–cod (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–parsley (fresh, 1 handful, chopped)

–thyme (dried, bottled, 1 teaspoon)

–garlic (minced, bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–cayenne (to taste, at least one-quarter teaspoon)

–broccoli florets (cut from 1 head, fresh)

–red onion (one-half, medium, sliced)

–black olives (sliced, 1 small can, drained)

–white wine (one-third cup)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the red onion in a large, covered dish.  Season with salt, pepper, thyme, minced garlic, cayenne, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

2 – Place the cod in the sauce.  Surround with broccoli florets.  Season with salt, pepper, thyme, minced garlic, cayenne, and olive oil.  Pour drained black olives on top.  Finish with chopped parsley.

3 – Microwave on high for 10 minutes.  When finished, check center of cod to be sure that it is done.  If not, replace in the microwave for 2 minutes more.

4 – Serve the cod, hot, with broccoli, onion, and sauce.

–cod adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Eat Right, Eat Well—the Italian Way.

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SPICY COUNTRY CHICKEN TENDERS SEASONED WITH GARLIC – BASIL – CAYENNE & SURROUNDED BY BROCCOLI FLORETS – RED ONION – FRESH TOMATO IN BROTH SAUCE ATOP ZITI PASTA

For 4:

–6 chicken tenderloins

–minced garlic (1 tablespoon, bottled)

–basil (1 teaspoon, dried, bottled)

–cayenne (one-quarter teaspoon, bottled)

–broccoli florets (cut from 1 fresh head)

–red onion (one-half, sliced, medium)

–fresh tomato (1, medium, chopped)

–chicken broth (one-quarter cup, packaged)

–ziti pasta (1 cup, dry)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the ziti pasta in water to cover, seasoned with salt to taste.  Microwave on high for 6 minutes; and then microwave on 50 percent power for 8 minutes.  When finished, keep covered to preserve warmth.

2 – Place the red onion and fresh tomato in a large, covered baking dish with the chicken broth.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.

3 – Place the chicken atop the vegetables.  Surround with broccoli florets.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, minced garlic, cayenne pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave for 9 minutes on high.  When finished, test a center piece for doneness.  If not cooked, replace in the microwave for 2 minutes more.

4 – Serve the chicken and vegetables atop the pasta.

–country chicken adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Eat Right, Eat Well—the Italian Way.

ZESTY SALMON WITH SAUCE OF HONEY – LEMON – APPLE JUICE – MAPLE SYRUP – ORANGE JUICE – MINCED GARLIC – ORANGE ZEST ATOP JASMINE RICE

Note: This is a very delicate, mild sauce.  For more flavor, increase orange zest to 1 tablespoon (recommended).

For 4:

–salmon (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–honey (2 tablespoons, bottled)

–lemon juice (2 squirts, bottles)

–apple juice (3 tablespoons, bottled)

–maple syrup (one-third cup, bottled)

–orange juice (one-third cup, bottled)

–minced garlic (1 tablespoon, bottled)

–orange zest (1 teaspoon, bottled)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the salmon in a covered baking dish.  Add maple syrup, apple juice, and orange juice, and stir.  Drench the salmon in lemon juice.  Season with salt, pepper, orange zest, and olive oil.  Place minced garlic on top.  Finish with honey drizzled over the top.

2 – Microwave for 7 minutes on high.  Salmon is better if cooked medium rare.

3- Serve the salmon hot, atop jasmine rice (1 cup rice, with 1 and three-quarters cup water, microwaved, covered, for 5 minutes on high, and then 10 minutes on 50 percent power).

–salmon adapted from Salmon, the Cookbook (a kindle e-book).

A Southwestern Entrée: BAKED COD CUMIN – TOPPED WITH TOMATO-ONION SALSA – ON A BED OF YELLOW CORN – IN CLAM JUICE – ATOP COUSCOUS

For 4:

–cod (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–cumin (bottled, 1 teaspoon)

–tomato – onion salsa (bottled, ready-prepared, restaurant style, three-fourth’s cup)

–yellow corn (1 cup, frozen, packaged)

–clam juice (one-quarter cup, bottled)

–couscous (1 cup, packaged)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Prepare the cod according to package instructions for microwaving.

2 – Place the corn in a covered baking dish, with the clam juice.  Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

3 – Place the cod in the dish, amid the corn.  Season with cumin, salt, and pepper.   Pour salsa on top.  Finish with a few drops of olive oil.

4 – Microwave on high for 7 minutes.  Cod is done when it begins to break apart.

5 – Serve the cod hot, atop the couscous.

–entrée inspired by C. Mabry, chef.

A Holiday Dinner for Two: ORANGE CORNISH HEN WITH FRESH ORANGE – ORANGE MARMALADE – ORANGE JUICE & TOPPED WITH ORANGE ZEST & PARSLEY –

-Cornish hen (thawed from frozen)

–orange (fresh, sectioned and then cut into pieces)

–orange marmalade (three-fourth’s jar)

–orange juice (one – half can, do not add water)

–orange zest (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–parsley (fresh, a handful, chopped)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – In a small mixing bowl, place the orange pieces, orange marmalade, and orange juice.  Stir well.  Place this sauce in a large, covered baking dish.  Add a few drops of olive oil.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.

2 – Place the uncut Cornish hen in the sauce.  Season with salt, pepper, orange zest, and parsley.  Finish with a few drops of olive oil.  Microwave on high for 6 minutes and 20 seconds.  Then carefully turn over (with 2 spatulas), and microwave for 6 minutes and 20 seconds more.

3 – Before serving, divide the Cornish into two pieces, just to the side of the backbone.

4 – Serve the hen hot, with the sauce over top.

–Cornish hen inspired by C. Mabry, chef.

COD THYME ROLLED IN BREADCRUMBS – TOPPED BY FRESH CHOPPED TOMATO & SLICED BABY BELLA MUSHROOMS – WITH SHREDDED CARROTS – SLICED RED ONION – CHOPPED CELERY IN WHITE WINE SAUCE ATOP GARLIC WHEAT BREAD

For 4:

–cod (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–thyme (1 tablespoon, divided)

–breadcrumbs (boxed, plain, one-third cup)

–tomato (fresh, medium, chopped)

–baby bella mushrooms (3 or 4, chopped in small pieces, fresh)

–shredded carrots (fresh, 1 handful)

–red onion (one-half, medium, sliced)

–celery (3 stalks, fresh, chopped fine)

–white wine (one-half cup)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–olive oil

–wheat bread (4 slices, each the size of the palm of a hand)

–salt and pepper

1 – Place the shredded carrots, red onion, and celery in a covered baking dish.  Add white wine.  Season with salt, pepper, and a portion of the thyme.  Finish with a few drops of olive oil.

2 – Microwave the vegetables for 3 minutes on high.

3 – Place the cod in a large plastic bag.  Season with salt, pepper, and thyme.  Add olive oil to cover.  Pour in breadcrumbs, and shake well.  After the vegetables have cooked for 3 minutes, place the cod on top. 

4 – Chop the tomato, slice the mushrooms, and then season with salt, pepper, and thyme.  Then add chopped tomato and sliced mushrooms on top of the cod.  Finish with a few drops of olive oil.

5 – Microwave on high for 9 minutes.  Cod is done when it begins to break apart.

6 – While cod is cooking, break apart the wheat bread, season with the minced garlic, and then sprinkle with olive oil.  Place the wheat bread in a bowl for each person.  The cod and vegetables are then placed, for serving, atop the wheat bread, with a small portion of wine for each serving.  (This is not a soup.)

7 – Serve the cod and vegetables hot.

–cod inspired by Edward Giobbi’s Eat Right, Eat Well—the Italian Way.

CREAMY CREOLE SALMON WITH FRESH TOMATO ATOP QUINOA

For 4:

–salmon (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–evaporated milk (one-third cup)

–Creole seasoning (1 teaspoon, bottled)

–tomato (fresh, medium, chopped)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

–quinoa (two-thirds cup)

–chicken bone broth (1 and one-third cups)

 1 – Place the salmon in a covered baking dish.  Season with salt and pepper, and Creole seasoning.  Pour the milk on top.  Chop a tomato, and season it with salt, pepper, and Creole seasoning.  Then place the seasoned tomato atop the salmon.  Finish with a few drops of olive oil.

2 – Microwave the salmon for 7 minutes on high.  When finish, cut a slit in the middle of the salmon to check doneness.  If not done, replace in the microwave for 1 minute more.

3 – Serve the salmon hot, atop quinoa (microwave two-thirds cup of quinoa with 1 and one-third cup chicken bone broth for 6 minutes on high, then 9 minutes on 50 percent power)

–inspired by C. Mabry, chef.

CHICKEN PARMESAN MY WAY WITH CHICKEN BREAST FILLET ROLLED IN GARLIC – HERB BREADCRUMBS & TOPPED WITH SHREDDED PARMESAN IN A GARDEN MARINARA – CABERNET WINE – MINCED GARLIC SAUCE ATOP ZITI PASTA

For 2:

–chicken breast portion (size of 3 decks of cards, to be halved for serving)

–Parmesan cheese (shredded, one-quarter cup)

–garlic-herb breadcrumbs (boxed, one-quarter cup)

–garden marinara sauce (one-quarter cup; I used Ragu)

–Cabernet red wine (one-quarter cup)

–minced garlic (1 tablespoon, bottled)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the chicken in a plastic bag.  Pour in 3 tablespoons of olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.  Then add garlic-herb breadcrumbs.  Shake well.  Then place breaded chicken in a covered baking dish.

2 – Stir together the red wine, marinara sauce, and minced garlic.  Add a few drops of olive oil.  Pour the sauce atop the chicken.  Finish with Parmesan cheese.

3 – Microwave the chicken for 6 minutes on high.  Then cut the chicken in half, and check the center for doneness.  If not cooking completely, replace in the microwave for 1 minute more.

4 – Serve the chicken hot (one-half for each person), with ziti pasta, microwave 1 cup of pasta in 2 cups of water, salt to taste, for 6 minutes on high, 8 minutes on 50 percent power.

–recipe original.

A First Course: SPLIT GREEN PEA SOUP WITH SHREDDED CARROTS – SLICED RED ONION – BAY LEAVES – MINCED GARLIC ATOP QUINOA AND IN CHICKEN BONE BROTH

For 4:

–dried split green peas (1 cup)

–shredded carrots (fresh, packaged, 2 handfuls)

–sliced red onion (1, sliced)

–bay leaves (2)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–quinoa (two-thirds cup)

–chicken bone broth (low sodium, for the quinoa, 1 and one-third cups)

–chicken bone broth (low sodium, for the split pea soup, 4 cups)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the dried split green peas, shredded carrots, sliced red onion, bay leaves, minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 4 cups of chicken bone broth in a slow cooker.  Season, to taste, with salt and pepper (very little salt will be needed).  Cook on low in the slow cooker for 5 and one-half hours.  When cooked, place setting on warm.

2 – For the quinoa:  Place the quinoa in a covered baking dish.  Add chicken bone broth.  Microwave on high for 6 minutes.  Then microwave on 50 percent power for 9 minutes.  When finished, keep covered to preserve warmth.

3 – Place 3 generous tablespoons of cooked quinoa in each serving bowl.  Laddle soup on top.

4 – Serve the soup hot.

–adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Eat Right, Eat Well—the Italian Way.

A Simple Dinner: BAKED SALMON WITH SAUCE OF BRANDY – DIJON – MAYO & TOPPED WITH CHIVES

For 4:

–salmon (size of 4 decks of cards, 1 pound)

–brandy (buy an inexpensive, small bottle; 2 tablespoons)

–Dijon mustard (2 tablespoons, bottled)

–mayonnaise (4 tablespoons, bottled)

–chives (bottled, dried, 1 tablespoon)

–salt and pepper

1 – Place salmon in a covered baking dish.  Season with salt and pepper.

2- Place brandy, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise in a small mixing bowl.  Stir well.  Then pour over the salmon.  Sprinkle chives on top.

3 – Microwave for 6 and one-half minutes on high.  Salmon is best if served medium rare.

4 – Serve the salmon hot.

–salmon inspired by C. Mabry, chef