A New Year and a New Focus in the Kitchen by Paul Lindemuth January 10, 2017 by Jill Foucre 2 Comments The holiday decorations are taken down and packed away. The last of the Christmas cookies are eaten. And now I’m finally able to move forward to the first weekend that does not involve the responsibility of entertaining or being entertained! It was a very busy season of holiday cooking and baking with so many lists that needed checking and re-checking with a work-related event on the calendar nearly every day. If you’re like me, a New Year brings a new focus to so many aspects of everyday life and it’s a good time to bring that focus to our homes and kitchens. Here are some thoughts (OK….resolutions) that I’m bringing into our kitchen and home in 2017: BRIGHTEN UP YOUR KITCHEN You’ve spent so much time in the kitchen and looked at the same four walls and all the surfaces for hours on end. January is a great time to give your kitchen a good cleaning from top to bottom. And when you’ve finished that chore, create a new focal point with a planter of bright green herbs on the counter or a new food photo hung on the wall or a new cookbook displayed in a book holder. GET ORGANIZED This is a great time to open all the cabinets and drawers and take control of the clutter. Kitchen tools are often thrown into a drawer in haste when you’re busy, so pull everything out to clean up and organize. The same holds true for cabinets and drawers with ingredients and spices that may be past their prime. Toss that stuff out and get a fresh start. EAT MORE HEALTHILY Begin with small goals that are easily achievable on an everyday basis. Start packing a healthy lunch to take to work. Grab an apple for your snack to ease into eating more nutritiously. Once you’ve conquered the small steps add more healthy habits like cutting back on bad carbs and sugar until you’re eating more healthily regularly. MAKE TIME FOR FAMILY I think we’ve all had our fill of office parties, holiday feasting and revelry. Before the New Year gets too busy, make sure to set aside time for family. Block off some time that’s reserved just for activities at home. Eating together around the dining table is a great way to bring focus back to home and family. Please enjoy this beautiful and vibrant recipe around the table together! Baked Whitefish with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce 2017-01-10 15:35:41 Serves 4 Print Ingredients canola oil spray four 6-ounce whitefish fillets 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup light reduced-fat coconut milk 1/2 cup cilantro leaves 1 teaspoon peeled chopped fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon garam masala 2 garlic cloves 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish Instructions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with canola oil spray. Sprinkle the fish with the salt and place it in the pan. In the jar of a blender combine the coconut milk, cilantro, ginger, garam masala, garlic and jalapeño. Pulse until fairly smooth. Pour the mixture over the fish. Bake until the fish is just opaque in the center, about 15 minutes. Transfer the fish to heated plates. Garnish with more cilantro and serve right away. By Paul Lindemuth Marcel's Culinary Experience https://www.marcelsculinaryexperience.com/
Leslie Bennink says January 16, 2017 at 5:19 pm What would be a good side dish to serve with this fish? Reply
Amy Patterson says January 23, 2017 at 1:38 pm Hi Leslie, this fish is delicious over rice. You could also serve with steamed vegetables! Reply