what's for dinner?

may 2004

We all know that fish is a healthy alternative to other fatty proteins. What we like about fish is that it can be easy and quick to prepare sothat on a busy weeknight we can have dinner ready in a jiffy. Do ask your doctor about eating fish that are high in mercury if you are thinking of becoming pregnant, or already are. The guidelines for fish seem to change frequently for all of us, but as of this writing, we can all enjoy it twice a week regardless of the type of fish we eat. With that proviso, we feel safe bringing you these delicious recipes.

Our first recipe uses wild salmon instead of farm-raised fish. We have discussed the reasons for this before and hope that you keep up with news in this area. If you can only buy farmed salmon, why not use any other farm fish that you like. I have made this recipe with sea bass, halibut, swordfish and even cod. The only thing you need with this entrée is a crusty bread slice or another carbohydrate like brown rice.   Baked Salmon with Gingered Vegetables (for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above) This fish recipe is an easy and tasty way to prepare just about any fish. Here we use swordfish, which we treat ourselves to once every few months. We added some asparagus to our plate as well as brown rice. We stirred the remaining sauce into the leftover rice and reheated that for lunch the next day. Great!   Italian Swordfish (for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above) Coating baked fish keeps it moist and adds a great deal of flavor. We have used this basic recipe and substituted just about any fish. Try it with salmon which was our mother's favorite, or even flounder. You will get a standing ovation. Here we serve the fish with oven roasted potato slices and roasted asparagus. If using sea bass, make sure that you remove any bones or have your fishmonger do it.   Baked Sea Bass (for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above) Our final fish recipe is so simple and versatile, you'll want to remember it when you're grilling chicken, steaks, or pork chops. Team this fish dish with a pasta salad and sliced tomatoes what have been sprinkled with feta cheese and a splash of a basic vinaigrette. When you're buying balsamic vinegar, don't buy the "cheap" stuff-look for balsamic which has been aged for at least 12 years. The difference in flavor is well worth the extra expense.   Grilled Halibut with Balsamic Vinegar and Mint (for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above) BSP and FTG