Baked Fish with Crisp Bread Crumbs

Very good - Baked Fish with Crisp Bread Crumbs served with Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Overall we rated tonight's dinner very good.  But please note, I dd have to make some gluten-free substitutions to this recipe.  I used cornflakes for the panko bread crumbs but a word of warning here - not all corn flakes are gluten free - check the package.  The fish cooked at only 300 degrees.  Although the fish was done, it registered 140 degrees, it did not seem hot enough.  I think next time I make this recipe I would use a hotter oven.  On the other hand, I Roasted Sweet Potatoes as the side dish.  They cooked in a 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes.  They were good but for the my time and taste - I would just bake a sweet potato and serve it as the side.  

Sauteed Pork Chops with Pears and Blue Cheese

Sauteed Pork Chops with Pears and Blue Cheese

Excellent

Wow, this was excellent.  "Cruise ship cuisine"  we both agreed.  The meat melted in your mouth and the sauce was tasty without overwhelming the meat.  Sauteed Pork Chops with Pears and Blue Cheese was an Excellent choice for a Wednesday night.  I served this entree with steamed broccoli.  I even had left-overs for lunch on Thursday.  Just a note, be sure to brine the pork - The Complete Cooking For Two Cookbook guidelines are 3 cups of water, 1 1/2 tablespoons of salt and 30 to 60 minutes.  I am finding that brning pork and chicken make a lot of difference to the taste and texture of the meat.  I am going to brine my Thanksgiving turkey this week.

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew served over Rice

Maybe not the most "eye appealing" meal, but this stew was excellent.  A different combination of spices for us.  This recipe calls for paprika, garam masala, and dried apricots.  This slow cooker recipe was a pleasant surprise, not the over cooked crock pot meals that I have made in the past.  This Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Stew was very tasty and I expect the leftovers will be even better on Monday night.  I did used dried chick-peas not canned peas.  I cooked them before I added them to the crock pot.  

Shrimp and Grits

Shrimp and  (Cheesy) Grits

One of our favorite dishes when we are in Tennessee is Shrimp and Grits.  This Shrimp and Grits was just as good as Pulbeos and a lot closer to home.  Please note,  I did substitute frozen peas for the scallion.  I also baked the shrimp and grits much longer than the recipe called.  "Transfer skillet to oven and bake until shrimp are opaque throughout, 5 to 7 minutes."  I baked the dish about 20 minutes total and it could have used a few more minutes.  I might consider using the broiler to put some "color" into the dish next time I make it.  Excellent meal, I even think the little kids would eat this.  Easy one dish meal that would be easy to serve to a crowd.

Lemon Herb Cod with Crispy Garlic Potatoes

Lemon-Herb Cod with Crispy Garlic Potatoes

Another "need to use the left-overs" meal,  I did make several substitutes in this recipe,  I used tilapia instead of cod and I used Yukon Gold potatoes instead of the russet potatoes listed in the recipe.  This was still an excellent dinner.  

Oven-Roasted Salmon with Fresh Tomato Relish

Oven Roasted Salmon with Fresh Tomato Relish and Spinach with Garlic Chips and Red Pepper Flakes

My goal this week was to use "stuff" from the freezer.  A box  of  Market Day Salmon fillets with just two fillets was my first find.  The Oven-Roasted Salmon was  an easy meal.  The salmon was done in just a few minutes.  The recipe calls for a very hot oven - 500 degrees, then you reduce the temp to 275 degrees when you add the fish.  The Tomato Relish is a classic bruschetta recipe.  It could be used on baked chicken for a twist to this entree or over crusty bread as an appetizer. Another fridge find, left over spinach.  I served the fish with Spinach with Garlic Chips and Red Pepper Flakes.  Over all, excellent rating.

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Mixed reviews on tonight's entree, Creamy Butternut Squash Soup.  I thought the soup was very good.  It is not listed as a "light" entree but it has to be good for you.  Squash, onion, garlic, and just a tablespoon of brown sugar and vegetable oil.  I guess it really should be called Butternut Squash Soup since I didn't add the half-and-half that the recipe called for.  I just added a bit more chicken broth.  I thought it was very good, Rick only gave it a good.  "I  wasn't that hungry, it's wasn't that bad,"  he commented.  

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Stir Fry Shrimp with Lemon Ginger Sauce

Stir-Fry Shrimp with Lemon-Ginger Sauce

We both gave the stir fry recipe good reviews.  In fact, we both rated this entree as excellent.  I served the shrimp and veggies over rice.  It was a fast, light, and tasty meal on a Wednesday night.  We both thought the entree was as good as carry out and without the gluten in the soy sauce - made it a safe entree for me.  Another bonus, the saki was great to drink.