CSA

After picking some vegetables from a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) tonight's dinner was salad. Yummy Salad that included lettuce, turnip, zucchini, yellow pepper, tomato, cilantro, baked tofu, Gorgonzola, EVOO, decent balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.

AN EASY BALANCED MEAL

Pan roasted breast of chicken with brown rice and mixed vegetables.
Looks fancy but it's easy. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then dust with flour and brown in a small amount of olive oil. Finish in a 350 degree oven. In the same pan start a small amount of diced onion, add chopped garlic to taste, add dice carrots, pepper, and mushrooms and a TBS of flour. Deglaze with a little white wine, cook for a moment so wine cooks out and then  add about 1/2 cup of chicken broth, diced tomato and some chopped herbs and let thicken. Place rice in the center of a plate, sliced chicken and put around rice, finish by putting veg. on the plate.

HALIBUT The Big Flat Fish

One of my favorites. Halibut is easily over cooked which causes it to be dry. Even the best chefs could ruin a piece of halibut. That's why I  like to saute it. Here the fish is covered with herbs and lightly dusted with flour and sauteed. It sits on spinach and is accompanied with fava beans, tomatoes and orzo. I added a couple of shrimp to make a proper sized potion.

ON A BUDGET? BRAISE?

Braised Shoulder Pork Chops
This was good, easy, & inexpensive.

To Braise means first to sear (brown) and then to cook in liquid covering the food that's getting braised by 1 third - 2 thirds liquid. Braising transforms cheap tough meat into tender luscious dishes.

VEGETARIAN DINNER

Seitan with mixed vegetables cooked with ginger, a little soy sauce a top of quinoa.

I like dished like this because they're tasty and 2 pan meals are easier to clean up after...?

FEELS GOOD

With basil from my balcony herb garden we have a Basil & Cheese Omelet with watermelon and a simple oak leaf lettuce, blue cheese salad.

LEFTOVERS

Fish Pancakes!
I had about 5 oz. of perfectly cooked black sea bass and some julienne vegetables in the refrigerator. Being on this no trashing any food kick. I wanted to use up that black bass. Pancakes were the perfect vehicle to transport the fish from the no eat zone to the yum-o zone. Yes!!! the rest was easy, I made a small quantity of whole wheat pancake batter chopped (tarragon and parsley) and added the herbs and a couple of twists of fresh black pepper a long with the fish. Folded all the ingredients together. In a large flat pan I made silver dollar sized pancakes. Placed them on the heated vegetables topped off with a nice white sauce. >  Tablespoon+ of sour cream and yogurt add some of the chopped herbs, half teaspoon of Dijon mustard, teaspoon of lemon juice, teaspoon of lemon rind, salt and pepper. Whisk together. Bingo there you are!