Heather of Celiac Family chose 'Fish' as the theme for this week's gluten-free menu swap and the timing couldn't be better. Several weeks ago I went to a gluten-free potluck and the host of the meal made fish. It dawned on me that I very, very rarely ever made fish at home... and I wasn't sure why, because I love fish!
Michael isn't as big a fan as I am... but in the past few weeks I've been including more fish in our diet. I'm learning how to use it and cook it. Fish (in my experience) can be a tricky thing to cook. And I think that's why we haven't eaten it more often. I've made quite a few "bad" fish meals in my time...
So a few buying tips I've learned in the past few weeks... that at least work for us:
- If buying fresh fish, buy it the day you plan to use it -- don't let it sit in the fridge for days, it will become "fishy."
- If the fish is fresh it doesn't smell like "fish" -- it will have a slightly salty scent and even smell like the ocean.
- If using frozen fish -- defrost in the refrigerator overnight and use immediately -- the longer it sits, the more "fishy" it will become.
- So the basic key to using fish -- fresh, fresh, fresh!! Don't let fish wait in the fridge for days whether fresh or frozen.
If you're new to eating fish (or feeding those "new" to eating fish), start with "white" fish varieties that don't have a strong flavor like cod, whiting, tilapia, or flounder.
An Easy Fish Recipe:
A good place to start with fish? Bake them. Place fresh fish fillets on a greased cookie sheet with edges (to catch liquids). Sprinkle fish with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Add a few sprigs of dill and lemon slices on each piece of fish. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 12-16 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve immediately with steamed broccoli or a salad.
This Week's Menu:
- Monday -- Breakfast for dinner: yellow grits, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon
- Tuesday -- Turkey barbecue with homemade coleslaw and baked beans
- Wednesday -- Baked whiting fish with steamed broccoli and brown rice.
- Thursday -- Leftovers or out to eat
- Friday -- Traveling
- Saturday -- Pan-grilled steaks with baked sweet potatoes and garlicky sauteed zucchini
- Sunday -- Slow cooker roast chicken with lemon green beans & steamed carrots
Check out more gluten-free menus at Celiac Family's Gluten-Free Menu Swap.
Check out hundreds of menus of all sorts at OrgJunkie.com.
