Cod with Lemon and Vegetables

I try to eat fish as often as possible, but it isn’t always the easiest thing to cook. Many times I have overcooked it and just ended up with an apt that stinks of fish. Now when I cook it, I make a little “fish bag” with lemon and whatever vegetables I have in the fridge. It steams the fish perfectly and comes out great every time!

Ingredients:
1 pound white fish (I like cod best, but tilapia is nice too)
1 lemon, thinly sliced
Handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
Handful of mushrooms, thinly sliced
Couple of asparagus
Half small white onion, thinly sliced
Small red potato, very thinly sliced
Crushed red pepper
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Slice all of your vegetables- you can really use whatever veggies you like, just make sure to slice everything thin enough that it cooks all the way through. Place your fish on a piece of aluminum foil, which should be large enough that you can fold into a “pocket.” Add a little olive oil on the fish and top with a few mini pieces of butter, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Top with sliced lemon then add your vegetables. Cook for 25 minutes. Be careful when opening the bag, the steam is very hot!

Angel Hair with Garlic Scapes and Tomatoes

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I had never eaten garlic scapes before (that I know of anyway) and I am totally in love with them now! I got them in my CSA and decided to try a simple pasta dish with them, which came out great. They have the texture of asparagus kind of, but with a light garlicky taste to them. If you haven’t tried garlic scapes yet, I suggest doing it! Their season is short though, so get them while you can!

Ingredients:
Angel hair pasta
2 Italian sausages
2 garlic scapes
Asparagus
Cherry tomatoes
Parmesan cheese
Olive oil
Salt and Pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop the garlic scapes, asparagus, and tomatoes. Toss in olive oil then roast together in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until the asparagus is fork tender and the tomato skin is starting to pop. While that cooks, remove the casing from the sausage and cook in a pan until browned, also cool your pasta. When the vegetables are done roasting, chop the garlic scapes then toss everything together with the pasta. Add some good olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper to taste.

Fettuccini with Corn, Pancetta, and Shiitake Mushrooms

I don’t cook shiitake mushrooms very often, but I got a bunch in my CSA and needed to figure out what to do with them. This pasta worked out though! The sweetness of the corn and the salty pancetta helped to give the mushrooms a nice flavor.

Ingredients:
4 oz pancetta
1 can of corn
1 pound shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream (or half & half)
1 lb fettuccine
1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Red pepper flakes
Salt and Pepper

Start by bringing your water to a boil for the pasta. Heat a large skillet and add the pancetta, without oil, browning it for about 3 minutes. In the meantime, wash the mushrooms, remove their stems, and chop to your preferred size. Add the mushrooms and half of the corn to the pancetta, cooking until the mushrooms give off some liquid.

While that cooks, put the remaining corn in a blender along with the cream, and blend until smooth. Next, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer so that you have a nice thin liquid. Add this to the mushroom-pancetta mixture and cook until everything thickens, about 3-5 minutes. Add the cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. If you like a little heat sprinkle in some red pepper flakes as well. Finally, toss in your cooked pasta and mix well to distribute the sauce. Top with fresh chives or parsley!

Vegetable Pot Pie

It’s starting to get a little warmer outside, so I have been trying to get in all my winter favorites before Spring is in full bloom! Like pot pie- I have never made it before, but I absolutely love it. Creamy vegetables, flaky golden crust…how can you go wrong! I decided to make this one without chicken, reason being that I couldn’t find any chicken that I trusted at my grocery store. If I’m going to eat meat, I have to feel good about where it comes from. My pot pie came out great and totally warmed my little heart up. And yes, the entire thing was gone in about two days. I do what I want!!!

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 small leeks, trimmed and sliced
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 medium carrots
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
10 oz button mushrooms, sliced
1 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup mushroom broth
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 cup fresh chives, thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 egg yolk (mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
7 ounces store bought puff pastry or pie dough (I used pie dough)
Salt and Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Chop all of your vegetables, potatoes, and fresh herbs so they are ready to go. Also have your dough thawing now if you haven’t started this already.

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Next, melt the butter over medium heat in a dutch oven or heavy bottomed saucepan. Add the leeks, celery, onions, and carrots. Toss together and cook for a minute or two until the onions are translucent. Add the mushrooms and potatoes and cook about 5 minutes to allow the mushrooms to release some liquid. Sprinkle in the flour and mix throughout. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in the mushroom broth followed by the milk. Bring to a simmer until the liquid has thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the frozen peas, parsley, and white vinegar. Mix well and salt and pepper to taste. I ended up adding a sprinkle of paprika as well.

Pour the vegetable mixture into an 8 x 8 baking dish. Top with the dough and trim any excess hanging over the edges. I ended up making little leaves with my leftover dough pieces! Next, tuck the edges into the sides of the dish and brush the top of the dough with the egg wash. Cut a few slits so the top can vent and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Let sit for at least 5 minutes before digging in. Bon appétit!