Cumin Crusted Fish

This dish is still a work in progress. We're trying to replicate a dish we used to get at a place here in town. Once the chef left for another place, this and several other dishes went as well. It was a cumin crusted spicy fish and it was delish.

The picture above was our first attempt. Not bad, but not the dish we remember so well. But at least it gave us an idea of how to tweak the recipe for our next try. This version had me coat the fish with a beaten egg white, then dredged in a mixture of flour, cumin and salt. Then a quick toss in a skillet with some oil and garlic and topped with fresh cilantro.

While it smelled strongly of cumin, I think the flour supressed the flavor from coming through. The cumin flavor was very light. We did get the texture of the coating right on target. So now we're working with the actual flavoring. Maybe less or no flour, perhaps a pinch more salt, who knows. We'll eventually get it all figured out and when we do I'll repost with the recipe.

Plum Delicious!

Jim picked up some plums last week at the market, handed them to me and said, "Could you make me a plum cobbler?" How could I say no, the plums looked great and I've never made a cobbler with plums before. Strawberries, peaches, and blackberries, yes, but plums, no. I also saw it as a way to learn to like plums. Not that I dislike them but because I've never been a big fruit eater. And if a cobbler is the vehicle I need to learn to better enjoy a fruit, then I'll gladly make the effort.

I used a fairly simple recipe for the cobbler part.......Bisquick. Yeah, I know but it's easy and quick. The only thing I added to the basic recipe was some cinnamon.

Plum Cobbler
Topping:
2 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Filling:
12 plums, pitted then cut them into 8ths
1 cup sugar
3 tbsp of cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla pinch of cinnamon

Mix all the topping ingredients together and set aside. Mix all the filling ingredients, stirring well. Pour filling into an 8" x 8" baking dish.

Using a large spoon, drop topping over the filling. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes or until topping is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Serve warm with your favorite flavor of ice cream. (we had black walnut on hand and used it.)

Rules of Vacation...Vacation Post III

By Jim (Biscuit Boy)

1. Take a massage at the beginning of the vacation. Relax from the start.

2. Go to the pool. It's relaxing too.

3. If the bed is uncomfortable, get an air mattress. No sense in being uncomfortable.

4. Do something physical to burn off stress you accumulated before you came. Paddle a kayak hard, take a long walk on the beach, do water aerobics in the pool. But do something physically demanding. No, carrying bags in elevator to condo doesn't count.

5. When catching a fish, hold it's belly side away from from you so it won't crap on you.

6. Do one thing that you think is cool but you'd never do at home. Salsa lessons, anyone?

7. Try one new restaurant.

8. Buy Key Lime Pie from Publix.....have a slice after you get home from dinner.

We welcome any suggestions. What do you like to do on vacation that you don't do in your normal life? Let us know.