Baked Fish

So fast. So easy. So yummy!! This is a traditional Sunday food for us.

A few fish fillets (we prefer Salmon, but I've also done Pollock and Bass using this recipe!)
Olive Oil
Seasoned Salt
Herbs as you like (some combinations: Rosemary and lemon; italian herbs; dill and lemon...)

Spread a sheet of aluminum foil on the counter, spray with a non-stick cooking spray, and place fish in the middle. Pour Olive oil (to taste) over each fillet. Sprinkle with seasoned salt and herbs of choice. Wrap in foil. Bake at 500F/250C (approx) for about 30-45 minutes. (You can also place the wrapped fish on the BBQ! :) It will taste baked and if you're already using the oven, this is a good option.) Unwrap and eat! Serve with oven fries or rice and veggies! :)

Oven Fries

This is SO simple and SO yummy and SO much better than pre-fab french fries!!

8 or so medium potatoes
Olive Oil
Seasoned Salt

Chop the potatoes in whatever shape you wish! I've done them in 'circles', or 'moons', french fry shape, or just large 'wedges'. Sometimes it's fun to use those apple corer/slicer things! Then you have the fry shape and a cool cylinder shape! Place all potatoes in a large bowl. Sprinkle Seasoned salt over to coat, then pour on some olive oil to taste. Toss so all the potatoes are covered with salt and oil. Spread potatoes out on a GREASED (DON'T forget to grease, as these will stick mercilessly!!!!) cookie sheet and bake in a 400F/200C oven for about 40 minutes. You can turn them halfway, but I usually forget to do that, and they still turn out fine!! :) My kids LOVE these! (And so do I!)

Brussel Sprouts and Mushrooms

I should give this a cooler name...like 'Green Fun Guys' or something like that. Would that make it sound more appetizing? :) It was an experiment, and was YUMMY!!!

1 lb brussel sprouts, halved
1 lb white button mushrooms, sliced
1 small onion, finely chopped
3-4 Tbsp butter (yes, I don't do low-fat)
Garlic salt, to taste

Melt butter in large sauce pan. Saute onions for 5 minutes (until transparent). Add brussel sprouts and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook until all the color has changed (wilted?). Add garlic salt. Serve! It's a great side dish! I served these with mashed potatoes and these italian hamburger 'steaks' that I created, and it was SUPER yummy!! :)

Beef Stew

Oh so yummy...and the perfect Sunday afternoon crock pot delicacy! :)

Beef (Here, you can do what you like. You can have already pre-cut stew beef, you can just chop it yourself, you can throw in a huge hunk of some beef--and since it's in the crockpot, it doesn't matter whether it's tough or not, as it will become fall apart because of the crockpot! :) I personally like to throw in a nice tough bone-in full-o-fat hunk of meat for fantastic flavor! Of course, you shred the meat and throw out the bone/fat just before serving!)
4-5 carrots, sliced
4-5 medium potatoes, with skins, cubed
2-3 stalks celery, sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tbsp Worchestershire sauce
dash ground cloves
8-10 c Water
1-2 tbsp Beef bouillon
1 tsp oregano
1/4 c fresh parsley, finely chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Throw it all in the crockpot on high for 5-6 hours. Who doesn't like 'fast' food made slowly? :) Serve with some fresh crusty french bread, fresh rolls, or Italian breadsticks! :)