Bouillabase

I made this the other night, and Dad keeps saying.  "This is SO good, I just love it".  he may have been starving, his claims exaggerated, but he really does eat each and every drop in his bowl.  Add any kind of fish you want.  If you don't like scallops, don't add them..ditto for any other suggested fish. Don't worry, it won't bite you.

Slowly saute  1/2 onion and 2 medium cloves of garlic (or prepared chopped  garlic from a jar) till soft in a bit of olive oil.
Add 4-5 cans or approximately 2 quarts of diced tomatoes - any kind you like(not with chilies though)
Add 1 bay leaf and 2 tsp each thyme and basil
Simmer on low for about 45 minutes. Season to taste w/ salt and pepper
Now add snapper, cod, shrimp, scallops to your taste.  I love cod, especially. Cook another 10 minutes(no more) and serve with a nice loaf of your favorite crusty bread.
YUMMY!

6-8 servings

This last time I also sauteed some brown mushrooms and added them. You don't have to, but it sounded good. If you need to learn how to saute mushrooms call me.  I just learned a trick from Julia Child! (via Julie and Julie - the film)

Yummy Apples

This isn't really a recipe....It's just a reminder that some things in life are their best as close to their natural state as possible.  Apples are one of those.  I used Fugis this morning.  They are flavorful and firm.  I liked that.  If you like them softer try a different variety.  A mix is always best.  Try golden delicious, pink lady, honeycrisp, mackintosh, galas,  or winesaps. Just not something tart like Granny Smiths. Peel and chunk into about 1" pieces. Now add a bit of water to your pot (just an inch will do) and sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves, or a mixture of them.  Bring to a boil and then turn down the heat to low and cook till they are soft to a fork. Done!  No sugar  is needed most of the time.  We like them chunked or mashed.  It doesn't matter.  They just smell so good and are a wonderful breakfast treat. I like them served with plain yogurt or mixed in my steel cut oats.

Enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

Why feel under pressure to make a big dinner, when sometimes something super simple is just perfect in a pinch?  This recipe is just the simplest ever, and very yummy.

Prep 10 minutes or less.   Serves 6

l lb ground beef browned with
1/4 cup chopped onion (or whatever you'd like) and
1/4 cup chopped green pepper (or to taste)

Drain the juices and add:
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. prepare mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook - or rather, simmer, for about 30 minutes.  I added a bit of water to keep the mixture from getting too thick and sticking.  That's it.
Serve on hamburger buns with veggies or fruit or whatever sounds good.
 I made an easy cole slaw with cabbage, sliced green onions and ranch dressing. If it stands in the fridge for a couple of hours that's nice, but not necessary.

PS if you feel fancy you can add chopped celery to the sloppy Joes, or some sausage. But why?  It's good just as it is. I added celery because I didn't have green pepper. You couldn't tell the difference.

Mexican Lasagna

This is SO easy - There's no right way, so improvise to you heart's content!


1 package Taco seasoning
1 lb. ground beef or cooked chicken (you can buy it precooked)
1 - 14 ounce can of tomatoes - plain, or Mexican style - diced
1 cup salsa
1/2 cup  grated cheese or more to taste(Mexican style, medium cheddar or whatever you have)
10 corn totillas - torn or cut into strips or pieces


Cook the meat and drain off juices.  Mix with Taco seasoning, tomatoes, and salsa.
Layer twice with cheese in a glass pan
Top with extra cheese

Bake at 350º about 20 or 30 mintes or till bubbly and brown on top


You can add all kinds of things to this to make it more interesting - chopped chilies, olives, diced onions, etc.

Roasted Vegetables

I chop into equal sizes about an 1-1/2" or so.... Any of the following
 Potatoes - (I love the yellow Yukons-Just scrub them - no need to peel)
 Mushrooms (leave these whole)
 Carrots (Organic taste MUCH better - they really do)
 Shallots (These add really nice flavor- cut off the ends and take off the outer peel)
 Brussel sprouts(Don't let them scare you off - they're wonderful roasted)
 Yams (Never say never to these gems)
 Zucchini
Tomatoes (baby)
Toss in olive oil and salt and pepper - I like sea salt that is very coarse.
You can sprinkle with herbs like thyme, rosemary, and oregano, but you don't have to.
Bake at 400º for about an hour or till brown and crisped, and the veggies are tender to a fork.  You might want to stir once or twice.
This is a yummy any way to do vegetables.  Serve as a side dish, or for a dinner with rice (I like brown for better taste)
Use any mixture you like - There's no one way to do it.

Potato and Chive Crusted Salmon

1 large russet baking potato, peeled

4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 6oz. salmon fillets, skinless (or I just cut up a Costco salmon into 2 inch wide slices)

1/4 cup chopped chives or green onions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Slice the potatoes paper thin. Toss with 1 Tbs. olive oil and season with salt and pepper as desired. Pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Place 1 Tbs. chives on top of each fillet and press firmly. Layer the sliced potatoes on top of the chives, overlapping slightly, cover the entire top of the fish. In a nonstick 9x13 inch pan, heat the remaining 3 Tbs. olive oil for 5 minutes in the oven. (I've never done this part and it's turned out just fine) Remove and carefully place the salmon fillets, potato side up, in the pan. Bake salmon until opaque and just done, 18 to 23 minutes.

Something about the potatoes make the salmon stay super moist, and the potatoes get a crispy sort of texture that are so good!

Lasagna (Does Part Costco Count?)

Don't Laugh.

Buy the big round flat Spinach and Cheese Filled Ravioli's in the deli section

1 jar spaghetti sauce

1 pound ground beef

8 oz package shredded mozzarella cheese

Don't worry about cooking the ravioli first.

Brown the ground beef and drain off the fat

In a pan, layer about a third of the sauce, then 1/2 of the meat, 1/3 of the cheese, and then the ravioli. Do it again.

Top with the leftover sauce and cheese and bake at 400 degrees until it's bubbly. I think about a half hour should do it.

Super easy!