HONEY – GLAZED & SPICY WILD SALMON FILET TOPPED WITH SRIRACHA – DICED RED BELL PEPPER – CHOPPED GREEN ONIONS IN A LEMON – CLAM JUICE SAUCE

Almost too pretty to eat, but do it anyway. . .

For 2:

–wild salmon filet (size of 2 decks of cards, one-half pound)

–honey (3 tablespoons, bottled; be sparing)

–sriracha sauce (3 tablespoons, bottled, placed in ribbons across the salmon)

–red bell pepper (one-quarter pepper, diced, fresh)

–green onions (ready – prepared, one-quarter cup; or 3 stalks, chopped, fresh)

–lemon juice (bottled, 3 squirts)

–clam juice (one-eighth cup)

–salt and pepper

–extra virgin olive oil

1 – Place salmon in a covered baking dish.  Squirt with lemon juice, and then add clam juice.  Season with salt and pepper.  Drizzle honey and sriracha sauce on top.  Finish with red bell pepper, green onions, and extra virgin olive oil.

2 – Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

3 – Serve the salmon fillet hot.

–recipe inspired by C. Mabry, chef.

COD BASIL WITH FRESH TOMATO – PEPPERS – GREEN ONIONS IN LEMON – CLAM JUICE SAUCE

For 4:

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

–basil (if fresh, 3 minced leaves; if dried, 1 tablespoon)

–tomato (fresh, medium, chopped)

–red bell pepper (one-half fresh, sliced)

–green onions (3 stalks, chopped)

–lemon juice (3 squirts, bottled)

–clam juice (one-quarter cup, bottled)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the tomato and red bell pepper in a covered baking dish with the clam juice.  Season with half the basil, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave for 3 minutes on high.

2 – Place the cod in the sauce.  Drench in lemon juice.  Season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Drop green onions on top.

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

4 – Serve the cod and sauce hot.

–adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Italian Family Dining.

SALMON AND PEPPERS WITH SLICED VIDALIA ONION – BALSAMIC VINEGAR – MINCED GARLIC – MINT – LEMON – CLAM JUICE – GREEN ONIONS

For 4:

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

–red bell pepper (one-half, fresh, sliced)

–Vidalia onion (one-half, sliced)

–clam juice (one-quarter cup, bottled)

–lemon juice (3 squirts, bottled)

–balsamic vinegar (one-eighth cup, bottled)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–mint (dried, bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–green onions (2 stalks, chopped, fresh)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the sliced red bell pepper and the sliced Vidalia onion in a covered baking dish.  Add the clam juice.  Season with minced garlic, mint, salt and pepper, and olive oil.  Stir.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

2 – When finished, nestle the salmon amid the peppers and onion.  Drench in lemon juice and balsamic vinegar.  Season with salt, pepper, mint, and olive oil.  Drop chopped green onion on top.

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

4 – Serve the salmon with vegetables hot.

–salmon adapted from Edward Giobbi and Eugenia Giobbi Bone’s Italian Family Dining

CHICKEN ROSEMARY – TARRAGON WITH POTATOES – ONION – CELERY – MINCED GARLIC IN WHITE WINE SAUCE WITH A SIDE OF RED BELL PEPPER SLICES & FRESH TOMATO SEASONED WITH ROSEMARY & MINCED GARLIC

For 4:

–6 chicken tenderloins or breast strips

–rosemary, tarragon (dried, 1 teaspoon each, divided)

–potatoes (4 small, cut into bite-sized pieces)

–onion (1 small, cut in large chunks)

–celery (fresh, 2 stalks, chopped)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–white wine (one-quarter cup)

–red bell pepper (sliced, 1, fresh)

–tomato (fresh, quartered)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the potatoes, onion, celery, and minced garlic in a large, covered baking dish.  Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, tarragon, and olive oil.  Add the wine.  Stir.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes.  Set aside.

2 – Place the red bell pepper and the tomato in a covered baking dish.  Add one-eighth cup of water.  Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, minced garlic, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.  When finished, keep covered to preserve warmth.

3 – Place the chicken amid the vegetables.  Season with salt, pepper, rosemary, tarragon, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 8 minutes.  When finished, check a center piece for doneness.  If not cooked, replace in the microwave for 1 minute more.

4 – Serve the chicken and vegetables hot, with the red pepper and tomato as a side.

–menu designed by Edward Giobbi’s Pleasures of the Good Earth.

A Comfort Entrée: CHICKEN ROSEMARY – BASIL WITH SAUCE OF FRESH TOMATO – BABY BELLA MUSHROOMS – SLICED ONION – RED BELL PEPPER – CHICKEN BROTH & WITH A SIDE OF CREAM PEAS

Note:  To make a fancier recipe, substitute white wine for the chicken broth.

For 4:

–6 chicken tenderloins or breast strips

–rosemary (dried, bottled, 1 teaspoon)

–basil (dried, bottled, 1 teaspoon)

–fresh tomato (medium, chopped)

–baby bella mushrooms (fresh, 4 or 5, quartered)

–sliced onion (one-half, medium)

–red bell pepper (one-half, sliced)

–chicken broth (one-eighth cup, non-fat, low sodium)

–cream peas (1 package)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

–Bac’n pieces (1 tablespoon, bottled)

1 – Place the cream peas in a slow cooker.  Add water to cover.  Season with salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon of Bac’n pieces, and olive oil.  Cook for 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.

2 – Place the tomato, onion, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and chicken broth in a large, covered baking dish.  Season with basil, rosemary, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.  (The tomato will disintegrate, making for a sauce, and this is why you don’t need more than one-eighth cup of chicken broth.)

3 – Nestle the chicken with the vegetables and sauce.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, rosemary, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 8 minutes.  When finished, check a center piece for doneness.  If not cooked, replace in the microwave for 1 minute more.

–chicken and peas adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Pleasures of the Good Earth.

SPICY BASIL – GARLIC – MINT COD STEW WITH SLICED ONION – FRESH TOMATO – RED BELL PEPPER – CAYENNE – PARSLEY IN BROTH & WHITE WINE SOUP

For 4:

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

–basil, mint (1 teaspoon each, dried)

–garlic (minced, bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–onion (sliced, one-half, medium)

–tomato (fresh, 1, medium, chopped)

–red bell pepper (fresh, one-half, sliced)

–cayenne (dried, bottled, one-quarter teaspoon; one-half teaspoon if preference is for very spicy)

–parsley (fresh, 1 handful, chopped)

–chicken broth (two-thirds cup, non-fat, low sodium, packaged)

–white wine (two-thirds cup)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the onion, tomato, red bell pepper, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a covered baking dish.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.  When finished, nestle the cod amid the sauce.  Season the entire dish with basil, garlic, mint, cayenne, parsley, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 8 minutes.  Cod is done when it begins to break apart.  Before serving, break the cod apart into large, 2-inch, chunks.

2 – Serve the cod stew in bowls, hot.

–cod stew inspired by Edward Giobbi’s Italian Family Cooking.

SPICY PARSLEYED COD WITH MINT – BASIL – OREGANO – MINCED GARLIC – CAYENNE SPRINKLED WITH GREEN ONIONS ATOP RED BELL PEPPER & AND IN WHITE WINE ATOP QUINOA IN BROTH

For 4:

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

–parsley (1 handful, fresh, chopped)

–mint (dried, 1 teaspoon, bottled)

–basil (dried, 1 teaspoon, bottled)

–oregano (dried, 1 teaspoon, bottled)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–cayenne pepper (one-quarter teaspoon, bottled)

–green onions (fresh, 2 stalks, chopped)

–red bell pepper (one-half, sliced, fresh)

–white wine (one-quarter cup)

–quinoa (packaged)

1 – Place two-thirds cup of quinoa in a covered baking dish.  Add one and one-third cup of chicken broth.  Microwave on high for 6 minutes.  Then microwave on 50 percent power for 9 minutes more.  When finished, keep covered to preserve warmth.

2 – Place the red bell pepper and white wine in a covered baking dish.  Season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

3 – Place the cod atop the red bell pepper.  Season with salt, pepper, mint, basil, oregano, minced garlic, and cayenne pepper.  Top with green onions, parsley, and a few drops of olive oil.

4 – Serve the cod and pepper hot, atop the quinoa.

–cod adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Italian Family Cooking.

PARSLEYED COD & GREEN PEAS WITH RED BELL PEPPER – MINCED GARLIC – ROSEMARY – CAYENNE – BREADCRUMBS IN CLAM JUICE SAUCE ATOP BASMATI RICE

For 4:

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

–green peas (frozen, 1 cup, packaged)

–red bell pepper (one-half, fresh, chopped)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–rosemary (bottled, dried, 1 tablespoon)

–cayenne pepper (bottled, one-quarter teaspoon)

–breadcrumbs (3 tablespoons, boxed)

–clam juice (bottled, one-half cup)

–parsley (fresh, 1 handful, chopped)

–basmati rice (follow package instructions for microwaving; brands differ)

1 – Place the green peas, red bell pepper, minced garlic, rosemary, and breadcrumbs in a covered baking dish.  Season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Add clam juice.  Stir.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes.

2 – When finished, nestle the cod amid the green peas and sauce.  Season with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, and olive oil.  Top with parsley.

3 – Microwave on high for 8 and one-half minutes.  Cod is done when it begins to break apart.

4 – Serve the cod, peas, and sauce hot atop basmati rice.

–cod adapted from Edward Giobbi’s Italian Family Dining.

HERB COD AND BROWN RICE WITH RED BELL PEPPER – FRESH TOMATO – ONION – MINCED GARLIC IN BROTH

For 4:

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

–brown rice (5 – minute cook, boxed, two-thirds cup dry)

–red bell pepper (one-half, fresh, sliced)

–tomato (fresh, chopped, 1, medium)

–onion (one-half, sliced)

–minced garlic (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–chicken broth (non-fat, low sodium)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

–cayenne pepper (one-quarter teaspoon, bottled)

–rosemary, oregano, basil, tarragon (one-half teaspoon each, bottled)

1 – Place brown rice in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Place red bell pepper, onion, and tomato on top.  Season with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and olive oil.  Then top with cod.  Season with minced garlic, cayenne pepper, rosemary, oregano, basil, tarragon, salt, pepper, and olive oil.  Pour in chicken broth to the level of one-half of the cod.

2 – Cook on high for 1 and one-half hour.  Cod is done when it begins to break apart.

–cod and rice adapted from “fit slow cooker” web site.

BONE-IN CATFISH WITH FRESH TOMATO – MINCED GARLIC – BASIL – CAYENNE – RED BELL PEPPER – MINCED ONION IN WHITE WINE SAUCE

For 2:

–catfish (2, medium, whole)

–tomato (medium, chopped)

–minced garlic (in a jar, 1 tablespoon)

–basil (bottled, dried, 1 teaspoon)

–cayenne pepper (bottled, one-quarter teaspoon)

–red bell pepper (one-half, medium, sliced)

–minced onion (bottled, 1 tablespoon)

–white wine (one-quarter cup)

–salt and pepper

–olive oil

1 – Place the tomato, garlic, and red bell pepper in a large, long covered baking dish.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, cayenne pepper, and olive oil.  Add white wine.  Microwave on high for 2 minutes.

2 – Nestle the catfish in the sauce.  Season with salt, pepper, basil, cayenne pepper, and olive oil.  Microwave on high for 5 minutes.  Turn the catfish over, spoon some sauce on top, and then microwave for 5 minutes more.

3 – Serve the catfish hot, atop basmati rice (follow directions for microwaving on the package; brands differ).

–catfish inspired by Edward Giobbi’s Pleasures of the Good Earth.