Meat and Potatoes (Heavy Cooking)

It feels like I haven't cooked in ages. Since I returned to work we have done lots of takeout, sandwiches and my favorite, oatmeal for dinner. Now that we are all getting used to the new schedule I'm looking for new things to make that require little fuss. This recipe from, Dinner a Love Story is a bit heavier than I typically make, but I loved the simplicity of it.  

I tried this recipe twice, and each time, my husband and I were underwhelmed by the results.  I will say I liked the recipe more when we made a few modifications: using turkey sausage and reducing the number of apples.

Dinner a Love Story billed this recipe as a time saving recipe that you can make once a week. I'm not sure that our arteries would survive having a dish like this ever week. It's easy, and if you want to make a filling meal for your family quickly, this might be worth trying.

If you want to make the recipe healthier, I recommend using turkey sausage and just the tiniest bit of olive oil. 
 
You might ask why I would blog about a recipe that I don't love.  The answer is, I started blogging in part to try all of these recipes I've seen on blogs.  They always look so pretty, but sometimes they just don't pan out.  I think it's important that there is feedback out there, to say you know what these recipe looks awesome, but it doesn't taste awesome.

You can find the recipe here and here.

Merluzzo Fresco al Pomodoro (Fresh Cod with Tomatoes)

Photo from La Cucina Italiana

When I was pregnant last year I suffered from morning sickness for 20 weeks. Even after the morning sickness ended there were still a lot of things I just could not stomach. Salmon, chicken, SALTEENS, and Dijon mustard, were all casualties of the morning sickness.  I spent my days eating bagels, potato chips and other carby foods.  

I knew that I couldn't subsist on carbs for the whole pregnancy so I scoured my cookbooks and the internet for things that I might be able to tolerate. This recipe, from La Cucina Italiana, was one of my favorite finds. It is very tasty and easy to make. It is one of the few recipes I've tried that works perfectly without any modifications. 

 

Now that I'm back at work I really enjoy this recipe, because except for the cod, all of the other ingredients are in my cupboard. I pick up some fresh cod on my way home from work, then when I get home I put some basmati in the rice cooker,  and presto the fish is done by the time the rice is ready.

Buon appetito!

Merluzzo Fresco al Pomodoro

Ingredients
 

1 (24-ounce) can peeled tomatoes, preferably San Marzano, juices drained, tomatoes roughly chopped

• 3/4 cup pitted black olives
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon sugar
• Fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds cod fillet, cut into 2-inch square pieces (I use pacific cod and put oil, salt, and lemon on it prior to cooking.)

Instructions

In a large skillet with lid, combine tomatoes, olives, oil, bay leaves, thyme, sugar and generous pinch salt and pepper. Over medium heat, bring just to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook, covered, 20 minutes.

Add cod and continue to cook, uncovered, until cod is cooked through and sauce is flavorful, about 12 minutes more. Serve warm.

Find the original recipe HERE.