Many months ago I was having one of those days when I just couldn’t bear to cook another meal, after about 22 in a row (yes, this does happen sometimes). So, hubby took me to our favorite Thai restaurant for dinner and it was wonderful to just sit back and enjoy a yummy meal without…
Seafood
Fresh Blackfin Tuna Salad
Fortunately, Blackfin tuna is readily available in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, which is great for me, my hubby and our friends who like to fish. These beautiful fish are fast swimmers who tend to hang out in large schools that feed near the surface so, trolling a cedar plug or a rigged Ballyhoo…
Mussels with Chourico and Purslane
It’s not too often we cook mussels in our house. . for some reason, we seem to reserve enjoyment of those delicious mollusks for when we visit restaurants! But after experimenting with this recipe, hubby and I agreed to make them more often because they’re economical, easy to work with and mighty tasty. I had…
Snapper, Chile/Garlic Butter & Sauteed Purslane
In an upcoming Field Trip Friday I’ll be writing about my recent visit to Mote Marine Laboratory’s Aquaponics program in Sarasota. They’re doing amazing things by way of studying and growing sustainable foods, including a tasty vegetable called Sea Purslane. This edible succulent (also called Sea Samphire) has pretty, dark green and crispy leaves, along…
The Best Smoked Mullet Spread
Gotta love a Mullet. . .the fish, not the hairdo! But if you’ve ever tried to catch one, you know that nabbing one with hook and line is nearly impossible, because they’re vegetarians. As a matter of fact, in the last ten years, I’ve caught only one and even that was a lucky break because…
Flounder with Mint-Lemon Gremolata
Gremolata might sound like a fancy word but it’s really just a mixture of a few ingredients and it brightens up just about anything it’s paired with, especially braised meats which tend to be heavy (eg. you usually see it served with osso buco). Traditional gremolata is a mixture of minced parsley, lemon rind and…
Spicy Cilantro-Jalapeno Cobia
Several years ago my husband and I were fishing offshore and I nabbed my first Cobia! After hooking it I actually thought it was a shark because it looked surprisingly like one and was fighting pretty hard. Luckily, it wasn’t. When I finally pulled that big fish into the boat, things were just a little…
Citrus Infused Whole Roasted Snapper
We’re doing something a little different today. . .cooking a whole fish! Don’t be intimated — it’s actually a little easier than cooking a single fillet and you can even make stock with the leftover bones and pieces! If you’re fortunate enough to catch a fish yourself, that’s great, but you can also find one…
Shrimp & Scallop Zoodle Saute
Remember when I told you how much I love that spicy sausage called chourico (see Portuguese-Style Fish Stew)? Basically, I will seize just about any opportunity to use it in my recipes! So, when I realized I had a small piece left over from that stew, I decided to put it into action with some…
Sugar-Lemon “Cured” Sockeye Salmon
I’m fortunate to have access to a lot of great fish, but there’s one I can’t catch myself — salmon. Because it’s so good for us, and so tasty, I try to serve it at least once a week, so I’m always trying new ways of cooking it. I recently picked up some fresh Alaskan…
Field Trip Friday – Shrimp & Lobster Fest
(Field Trip Fridays capture interesting, fun, food-related and/or fishing adventures that I like to share with you! At a minimum, you’ll see one post each month). Recently, the Sarasota Farmer’s Market hosted its 5th Annual Shrimp & Lobster Fest. My husband and I made our way downtown, happily willing to brave the ridiculous heat and…
Yellowfin Tuna, Grilled Peach & Ginger Salad
Yellowfin tuna (commonly known as ahi tuna) is a game fish readily found in Gulf waters off the coast of Louisiana, one of the few locations that offer a year-round tuna season. It’s a fast, aggressive swimmer, known to be a tough fighter once you hook it, so it’s challenging to anglers, but the rewards…