Salt Crusted Baked Fish

The fish says: "Hello! I am sleeping! In my salty sleeping bag!

Mmmm the garlic inside was yummy...

Although this fish dish uses 1.5 lb of kosher salt, the actual fish is not salty at all! Which means daddy can eat it guilt free! Mom and dad, you can do a small miniature version of this fish when you get a toaster oven, or you can go to wooyi's house and make a feast out of this with some salad!

Ingredients:

2 pounds of coarse or kosher salt

1 cup water

2 pound whole red snapper or whatever fish you prefer.

1 lemon

Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Garlic, basil, bay leaf, or whatever fresh you have handy

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees

In a bowl stir together salt and water until combined well. On a large baking sheet spread half of the salt mixture in a rectangle just larger than the red snapper and set fish on top. Halve lemon crosswise and cut 3 slices from 1 half, reserving remaining half. Insert slices of lemon and herbs into cavity of fish. Pat remaining sale mixture over fish to cover completely and bake in the middle of oven for 20-25 minutes.

Rap all around edge of salt crust with the back of a large spoon to loosen and lift top off. De-bone, lift the meat and skin from the fish and put onto platter. Squeeze juice from reserved lemon half over fish and drizzle with oil.

Stir fry mushrooms and tomatos with olive oil (or butter if you're feeling wild!), garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Surround the fish with this colorful mixture!

Mmmm Carrot Muffin Yeah!

Makes 8 muffins:

3/4 cup skim milk
2 egg whites
1 tbsp canola oil
1/2 cup grated apple
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 cup whole wheat flour
3 tbsp sugar (or substitute 6 packs of splenda if you're trying to avoid sugar)
1 teaspoon baking flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional: golden raisins
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat the milk, egg whites, and oil until smooth.

Stir in apple and carrot. Combine the dry ingredients.

Stir into milk texture just until moistened.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Top with raisins.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cool for 5 minutes.

Nicole's Pizza!

My friend Nicole is very talented at creating healthy but yummy recipes. I tried one of them out today, and I encourage you to do the same!

Veggie-filled "Pizza"

Red pepper sauce:
3 red peppers
3 cloves garlic
olive oil
1/2 a yellow onion, chopped
1 c chicken stock
salt and pepper

'Crust':
1 1/2 cups finely-shredded cabbage
2 tbs whole grain flour (whatever you've got)
1/2 cup chopped onion or shallot
salt and pepper to taste
2 egg whites

To make sauce: Lightly oil whole peppers, then broil them until the skin is blackened in most places. Remove from oven and put in plastic bag - allow to sweat for about 45 minutes. Once cooled, remove skin (this should be easy), then take out seeds and chop roughly. Heat olive oil in a high-sided skillet. Add garlic, onion, salt'n'pepper and cook for 5 minutes, then add red pepper and continue to cook another 5 minutes or so (until onions are softened). Puree in food processor, then return to pan and add chicken stock. Cook down to desired thickness (add more stock if necessary).

To make crust: combine cabbage and onion in a bowl - make sure they're reasonably dry. Add flour, salt and pepper and combine. Then add egg. Pour olive oil in skillet and heat, then press crust mixture into pan. Saute for 6-8 minutes each side, until a nice golden brown.

Spread crust with red pepper sauce and desired toppings (suggestions: turkey italian sausage or meatballs, roasted garlic, sauteed mushrooms, spinach), then sprinkle with grated pecorino romano or parmigiano reggiano. Broil for a few minutes until cheese is melted. Cut into slices. Voila!