New Jersey Baby Boomer

Well friends, I don’t think I’ll ever be “The Next Food Network Star” like our friend in the previous post, but maybe I have a chance in the “Great American Seafood Cook off? What do you think? If you want to check out the winners for 2004 - 2007, and see whether you…or I…have a chance, click on the “Cook off” link above and visit this fabulous site!

At first I was going to share a very simple, delicious Tilapia recipe, then realized that this isn’t a truly seafood, as it’s more common in fresh water, sometimes found in brackish water, so, I’m going with another. It’s real easy to make, healthy, and you don’t have to eat this piping hot, here’s what I do:

• In a skillet (I love my cast iron skillet) sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, and with about a teaspoon of olive oil, lightly fry a small chopped onion and a few cloves of chopped garlic.
• In another pot, cook up some whole wheat pasta…if you want to TOP it with the seafood mixture, cook any of the “long” pastas, linguine, spaghetti, etc. -OR- if you want to TOSS the seafood mixture with pasta, cook up some whole wheat penne, or similar pasta of your choice, there’s so many fun pasta shapes!
• Back to the skillet, add a 1 lb package of that ever versatile imitation crab meat, don’t cook this long, quickly add a few tablespoons of white wine and a few tablespoons of lemon juice. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of Italian Seasoning to taste (we like a lot of whatever spice is in many recipes) and toss the mixture well.
• Turn off the heat.
• Chop up about 2 tomatoes and toss in the skillet.
• When the pasta is done, drain, then return to pot, stir in about a teaspoon of olive oil, couple tablespoons of non-fat liquid butter, then add some herb seasoning (I use Mrs. Dash garlic & herb) to the pasta and toss well.
• Now, either toss or top your pasta with the seafood mixture, and serve.
• You may add sea salt to taste if you desire.

So there you have it? What ideas do you have? Think you have a winning recipe? Do you have a good source for domestic seafood? I suppose that’s a bit easier for those of us that live near the ocean, where our seafood can be local and fresh. Comment if you like, and be sure to check out the contest, it looks like fun. I had fun browsing the site as well!