Friday, February 19, 2010

'SIMPLE PLEASURES' ~ A BOUQUET of FRESH TULIPS / GREEK FESTIVAL FISH / LEMON COUSCOUS

"The pleasure of picking a few flowers and finding the right vase for them is incomparable."

~ May Sarton


A simple Pleasure

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GREEK FESTIVAL FISH
~ a simple pleasure and gift recipe from dear friend, Sue
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6 white fish fillets (about 2 lbs.)
~ tilapia, whitefish, flounder, sole

2 Tbsp. olive oil
8 thinly sliced scallions
2 minced cloves garlic
4 chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
crumbled feta to taste

  • Preheat oven to 400º.
  • Coat 9 x 13 inch pan with Pam.
  • In medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add scallions and garlic and saute until tender. Add tomatoes, wine, parsley, oregano and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Remove from heat.
  • Place half of sauce mixture in baking dish. Arrange fish fillets over sauce and cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with feta cheese.
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork. Serve immediately. (6 servings)
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LEMON COUSCOUS
~ delicious simple side with fish or chicken

2 (5.4 oz.) packages toasted pinenut couscous mix
2 cups organic chicken broth
1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/3 cup diced red pepper
  • Combine broth, lemon rind, lemon juice, seasoning packet from couscous mix, and butter. Bring to boil and stir in couscous. Cover, remove from heat, and let stand 10 minutes.
  • Stir in parsley and bell pepper.


Tulips in Tiffany vase

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Joey, This looks absolutely delicious and, as all of your postings, beautifully presented. It is such a pleasure simply to look.

Regrettably I do not cook so I fear that I shall probably never make use of your friend's, Sue's, receipt. However, I can and do do something with tulips.

Victoria said...

YUm..these recipes looks so lovely..and that couscous is a unique version Id love to try!Wonderful! Lovely tulips..they just emit such robust beauty! Wonderful posts always joey..!Have a great wkd!
kiki~

Edensol said...

Beauty in simplicity. This recipe sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! :-)

Bren Haas said...

I love this Joey! I have been away from my normal blogging routine but glad to take a break from all the 'rush rush'.... back to just being normal ol' me. ( ho-hum)

YOUR Blog inspires... and is true living. Happy Friday!

Roses and Lilacs said...

Hi Joey, you found the perfect vase, very pretty. Tulips are so simple and graceful. The color might make you believe the weather is much warmer than it really is.
Marnie

imac said...

Nice angle on the tulips.

Jan said...

I like your quote, Joey! Now I'll just have to go out and collect some more vases, so I will have more choices next time I pick fresh flowers;-) I always love your collages. This looks like a really nice, light recipe to make around this time of year.

donna said...

May Sarton....I'm a huge fan of her and her books, especially Plant Dreaming Deep. Just the mention of her makes me happy.

I have to run out now and buy a Tiffany vase so that any tulips I have will look as pretty as the ones in your photos. Lovely.

donna

Scott Law said...

Beautiful tulips and great pics of them and the vase.

Shady Gardener said...

In agreement... beautiful tulips and beautiful photos. :-) Have a great weekend, Joey.

joey said...

Tulips are a good thing, Edith. You can always order out :) But how DO you eat if you don't cook? Now, I'm worried :(

Thanks Kiki ~ short on notes/visiting since on Mr. Ho-Hum's computer at the lake that to me is NOT user friendly :)

Hello, dear Edensol, and thank you. Your mother is a grand woman (but you know that)!

Hi Bren! Crazy you, crazy 'Ho-hum' me! Inspiring today, NOT ... but 'true living' adjusting to simple frustrations. No heat when we arrived here at lake but, all is well ... lit pilot (someone coming tomorrow to check furnace), awesome sunset, sitting by a roaring fire. All is good, dear friend.

Wow, 39 today, Marnie, a spring tease! Hold tight, dear friend, we are almost there :)

Thanks iMac ... don't you love checking the norm from unique points of view?

Thank you, dear Jan. Flowers/vases all go hand in hand as does a light dinner for those of us who love to cook something simple, yet yummy!

Wow Donna, did not have a clue choosing this quote but will search your comment. Thank you.
This 'perfect' vase was a special Christmas gift from my grandboys, knowing how much their 'Mimi' loves flowers.

Honored by your comment, Scott, and thank you.

Thanks dear Shady ~ arrived at the lake, expecting a wonderful weekend (no heat ... pilot on furnace out) but honing in in front of a roaring fire. Happy weekend to you :)

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I was very tempted to buy myself some tulips at Kroger the other day (one sale for $3.33 for six stems) but I walked there waiting for an oil change and knew they'd get crushed in the bag with the milk and whatnot (whatnot especially tends to be heavy, LOL!).

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Oh... they are wonderful Joey, they brighten up even the darkest of days and put a smile on the face!

xoxo Tyra

joey said...

:0) Monica! I love Costco tulips ... a 'bunch of happiness' for the $$

Thanks, dear Tyra! As did your stunning tulip photos. *hugs*

beckie said...

Joey, does any flower say spring like tulips? And the lovely cut crystal vase is perfect for them.

joey said...

Indeed Beckie, I agree. Tulips, in the garden, take my breath away and are one of my favorite cut flowers, especially white ones/mixed with cut greens during the holidays. This vase was a Christmas gift from my grandboys, making it extra-special!

RURAL said...

What a beautiful quote, and so true. Perfect for a season that is poised to change.

Jen

Rose said...

What a lovely presentation of tulips, Joey! The lemon couscous sounds delicious; I need to print this recipe out before I forget it...

Have a good week!

marmee said...

this recipe sounds wonderful.
i love your cut~glass tiffany...perfect for the tulips.
happy february.

joey said...

Thanks Jen but not poised to change today ... a winter storm warning throughout the day and all schools are closed :)

Enjoy Rose, and thank you. The week is starting out snowy! A winter storm warning and all schools closed. Since both parents work, the grandboys are on their way over. Yippee!

Happy snowy February, Marmee, and thanks. It's my favorite vase, not only because a gift from the grandboys, but because of the lily-of-the-valley, my mother's favorite flower, etched on the crystal.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

The tulips are delightful! I hope those squirrels have not eaten all of mine.

Eileen

Marysol said...

The food and the breathtaking tulip photos are a welcomed sight for sore eyes!

I'm trying not to look out the window, as I count the days.
So, I'll just focus on your wonderful photography to get me through the winter.

joey said...

I hear you, Eileen. Squirrels/rabbits a huge problems here also ... will keep my 'spring' fingers crossed!

Spring is coming, dear Marysol, and thank you ... enjoying the sunshine today (aren't you), almost too much for my eyes :)

Carol said...

Lovely tulips and vase Joey! I love the detail shots of the cut glass. Your recipes look yummy and light.

joey said...

Thank you, Carol. This is a favorite recipe, especially for Lent!