Testing new waters

Last night, I tried sable for the first time. Chuck and I were celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary at Le Perigord on East 52nd Street, a formal French restaurant with superb service, warm and comfortable decor, and never-fail traditional cuisine. Since I'm on the verge of turning 55 and feeling as though I look every second of it, I'm thrilled to learn sable (sometimes called black cod) is high in omega-3 fatty acids. I'll have to consume loads more of it! With capers and tomatoes, it is delicious.

Play With Your Food

As I was reading a recipe today for broccoli-cheddar soup, the word "floret" jumped out at me. I had four stalks of cooked broccoli to reheat for tonight's dinner and it struck me that I could make a bouquet--so much more interesting than the stalks lying on a plate. With grape tomatoes and black olives on tiny skewers and parsnip curls tucked in, the broccoli bouquet looked pretty enough to serve to company.

Now I have an idea for a meatloaf "sandwich" with the bread being two "slices" of mashed potatoes. Gotta work on that one! Joost Elfers, watch out!

So easy a baby could do it!

This refreshing stir fry of shrimp and baby bok choy in a glaze of soy sauce, honey, and lime juice is so quick to make that I whipped up the eagerly awaited second helpings fresh. I didn't like the sticky white rice I used; next time, I'll try quinoa or maybe cellophane noodles.