Just call me Martha. Just kidding, don’t do that. I don’t look anything like a Martha. But, I have to admit, last week, I sure was cooking like a Martha.
As you may know, I have really tried to spend more time in the kitchen. I’ve got some big things on the horizon and I really love cooking, so this seemed to be a natural choice. This dish, in particular, was my decision. The picture in Real Simple just looked so good. I stopped by the grocery store on my way home from work, crossing my fingers that they would offer fresh Pacific cod. (Say what you will, but for us, frozen is rarely an option.) As luck would have it, they not only had a ton of cod, it was also on sale. Score. I grabbed the rest of ingredients, and headed back home.
Sauvignon Blanc in hand, I got to work slicing and dicing and becoming Martha. Within an hour, our kitchen smelled like heaven, and dinner was ready to go.
Nights used to be about finding the best restaurants. While we still love going out and trying new things, I’ve found a new appreciation for the simplicity of being home. Life has pulled me in a million different directions each and every day, so the calm and quiet of my very own living room, and the work and love that is found in a homemade meal is sometimes better than any 5 star restaurant.
Ingredients: 1 Lb. Fresh Pacific Cod / White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc) / Mixed Olives / Lemon Zest / Olive Oil / Salt and Pepper / Red Pepper Flakes / Parsley / (Optional) Spinach / Garlic / Onion / Sliced Almonds
Directions: Preheat oven to 400˚. / Place the fish into a roasting pan. / Add enough wine to reach halfway up the sides of the fish. / Scatter mixed olives and lemon zest into the pan. / Drizzle with olive oil. / Generously season with salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. / Bake for 20-25 minutes. / Meanwhile, sauté onions and garlic in pan. / Add spinach and cook down. / Add sliced almonds to sautéed spinach, and plate with roasted cod. / Enjoy!
I scrolled, scrolled, scrolled through the pages of appropriate side dishes, and nothing caught my eye. I had almost decided on an easy plate of crudités when a delicious looking crescent roll kind of thing appeared on my screen. I took a quick glance at the necessary ingredients and darted off to the grocery store.
When we arrived, we were seated at a pew-turned-bench. We quickly browsed through the menu, ordered drinks (Old Chubb for me, mojito for him) and decided on what we wanted to eat. (I should note my favorite thing about the menu at Franktuary: Each hot dog option is named after a place and some of their most well-known flavors.)
So, we first opted for two New Zealand grass-fed beef franks: one New Yorker and one PA Dutch. The New Yorker arrived topped with house kraut, onion sauce and brown mustard. The PA Dutch frank, true to its name, came piled high with apple onion jam, sharp cheddar and scallions. The perfect sweet and salty combination for our tastebuds.
The day before we left for vacation, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that, after a series of unexpected events, we had a full day off. (Together. At the same time. This never happens.) We both woke up early that morning; he had an early call time and I needed to start the process of laundry and packing for our 15-day vacation. But he soon called me to say that his shoot had been cancelled, and he’d like to do breakfast at Coca Café. Within two minutes, I was presentable enough to be seen in public, and had already begun drooling over the breakfast I would soon enjoy.
Tiny Tales 