Breaking the cod(e) to cooking perfection

We want to celebrate the fact that we now have reached 922 fish recipes (yes!) on Recipes.it (link) with these two essential way to cook cod, one from the past and one from today's kitchens - both tasty and easy.

THE RECIPE - back to 1902:

Codfish Hash
Freshen 1 pt. of salt codfish, add to it 1 qt. chopped, boiled potatoes, mix well, cut three slices of salt pork in very small pieces and fry brown; remove half the pork and add the fish and potatoes to the remainder; let it stand and steam five minutes without stirring; be careful not to let it burn; then add 1/3 cup of milk, and stir ell. Put the remainder of the pork around the edge of the pan, and a little butter over it; simmer slowly for 1/2 an hour, until a brown crust is formed, then turn on a platter and serve.

MAY WE SUGGEST?

Peregrino Premium Salt Cod Tenderloins (Solomillos de Bacalao), 16-Ounce Packages (Pack of 2): link

THE RECIPE - 2009:

Grilled Cod with Red & Green Pepper Sauce

Ingredients:
4 fillets of cod
4 red peppers
4 green peppers
6 tbs. olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt & pepper

Directions:
Place peppers on grill and cook on all sides until almost completely covered with black blisters (gives the peppers a delicious, slightly smoky flavor). Place under cold water and peel off blistered skin, open peppers and remove seeds. Puree red peppers in a blender with 3 tbs. olive oil and juice of 1/2 lemon. Set aside and then puree green peppers separately, with the remaining 3 tbs. olive oil and juice of 1/2 lemon. Season with salt & pepper.
Brush fillets with oil. Grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
Pour red and green peppers sauces onto a serving platter from opposite ends, so they meet in the middle. Place grilled cod over the sauce, and serve immediately.

MAY WE SUGGEST?

Charleston Seafood Cod Fillets, 32-Ounce Box: link

THE MASTER COOKBOOK:

Fish: The Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking: link
From anchovy to wolffish, Mark Bittman, the executive editor of Cook's Illustrated magazine, presents fish and shellfish by name, offering discussions on preparation and presentation along with sumptuous recipes. Bittman proposes everything from traditional fare--Dungeness crab salad and marinated grilled salmon--to more complex dishes like curried mussels and raw sea bass salad. The more than 500 recipes are tried-and-true, and any cook with access to a decent fish market is advised to take full advantage of Bittman's expert and substantial overview. The book won the 1995 Julia Child Cookbook Award in the Single Subject Category.

SPECIAL OFFERS:

Receive $20 cash back by mail when you purchase a select KitchenAid Food Processor at Chefs Catalog via this link
Ends: 3/7/09

---

Free Shipping on Select Appliances at Target website via this link
Ends: 03/14/09

---

Get this Set of 3 Baking Sheets (3 for $24.99) at Sur La Table
Ten times more durable than traditional nonstick, these jellyroll pans have an Ifalon nonstick finish that resists chips and peeling. Thick, reinforced rolled edges and folded corners prevent warping. Made from corrosion-resistant aluminized steel for superior heat conductivity and durability. Includes three jellyroll pans in small, medium and large sizes for every baking project. Perfect for sponge cakes, cookie bars, roasting vegetables and toasting nuts. Dishwasher and oven safe to 550°F.
Until supplies last.

Remember! You can always share your favorite recipes! Write to recipereq[AT]recipes.it

A toast to our toast!

You can have eggs, you can drink coffee or tea, but a morning toast is always welcome to our tables. This is a delicious recipe that can help you vary your toast presentation, and raise ooooohs and aaaahs among those who share the breakfast with you.

THE RECIPE:

Elvis' Favorite, excerpted from French Toast: Sweet & Savory Treats For Every Meal (see below)
Elvis loved grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, so we're sure this would be his breakfast of choice.

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
Butter
1 large banana, mashed
4 teaspoons honey, divided
8 slices thin day-old, firm white bread

Directions:
In a pie pan or other shallow pan, whisk together milk, eggs and salt. Spread 2 tablespoons peanut butter on half the bread slices and then soak dry side of each slice in the egg mixture for 10 to 20 seconds, or until soaked through. Heat a little butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Place soaked bread in pan with peanut butter facing up. Spread remaining bread slices with one-fourth of the mashed banana and then drizzle each with 1 teaspoon honey. Soak dry side of each slice in egg mixture for 10 to 20 seconds, or until soaked through. Place soaked bread, banana side down, on top of other slice already in pan. Press with a spatula so the two slices stick together. Cover and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned.

MAY WE SUGGEST?

French Toast: Sweet & Savory Treats For Every Meal
French Toast offers recipes for all of our favorite meal times, including lunch, dinner, dessert, and special occasions. Push aside the syrup and open those taste sensations to flavors for savory dishes such as Tomato Basil Monte Cristos, Southwest Chipotle Cornbread, Crab Strata Supreme, as well as the classic sweet recipes we all know and love-Banana Supreme, French Toast Bread Pudding, and French Toast Blueberry Cobbler. With beautiful full-color photography and more than 70 easy-to-use recipes, French Toast is sure to please the entire family!
Sections Include: Family Favorites, Specialty, Special Occasions, Casseroles, Entrees, Desserts, and Syrups and Sauces. Get this cookbook at Amazon

SPECIAL OFFERS:

Sur La Table - Free 1 Yr. Subscription to Gourmet Magazine with Orders of $50 or more. Click here!

---

Hamilton Beach 22502 Digital 2 Slice Toaster: only $39.99 at J&R! link
Never again be frustrated by the too-small slots in a regular toaster. Hamilton Beach Digital 2 Slice Toaster has 2 extra-wide slots that hold any size bread or bagel. Just set the easy-to-read adjuster so your bagel won't be burned. If you see it start to burn, you can always press the cancel button. With its breakthrough bagel technology, it toasts the cut side of a bagel while gently warming the other. And there's also a defrost button in case your bagel just came from the freezer. Its smudge-proof brushed-metal exterior and slide-out crumb tray makes this toaster easy to clean. So have perfect bagels every time with this toaster.

# Digital display shows toast shade setting at a glance
# Bagel, defrost & cancel functions
# Slide-out crumb tray
# Automatic shutoff
# Smudgeproof brushed-finish cool-touch exterior
# Two 1.5" Extra-wide slots
# Auto Toast Boost: Automatically raises bread to highest position for easy removal

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

We don't want to leave without pointing out our yummy section of free breakfast recipes at Recipes.it (link) which includes: toasts, muffins, cookies, brownies, jams and jellies, smoothies, hot beverages and eggs recipes! The perfect way to start your day! (we should trademark this :-)

Valentine's day at Recipes.it

Oh romance is in the air! Our kitchens are already filled with chocolate and love and wait for tomorrow - we'll all bake valentines! This year we're very fortunate, since St. Valentine's is on Saturday we'll have plenty of time to cook and serve to our beloved one a complete romantic breakfast and a meal - obviously he's taking us out for dinner.
If you haven't found the right recipe feel free to browse our St. Valentine's menu on Recipes.it link.
We now present you a very romantic and unusual way to present some Valentine cookies: a puzzle he will have to solve before eating!

THE RECIPE:

A puzzling cookie valentine
BE MINE? LOVE YOU? What will the valentine reveal? Sandee Cameron creates a sweet mystery with her Love You to Pieces shortbread valentine. With the help of her two young sons, she uses chocolate bits to stud an abbreviated billet-doux traced on the super-size heart. Baked whole, the warm cookie is then cut apart randomly and presented as a puzzle.

What will your puzzle valentine say when assembled? Love You to Pieces

Ingredients:
Shortbread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 cup (1/2 lb.) butter or margarine, at room temperature

About 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate baking chips, small candy-coated chocolates, or raisins

Directions:
In a food processor or with a mixer, combine flour, sugar, and cornstarch. Add butter, in chunks. Whirl or mix until dough is well blended.

Scrape dough onto a lightly buttered 14-by 17-inch baking sheet. Using hands, pat dough out 1/4 inch thick, then shape into a heart that is about 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide.

With the tip of a skewer or sharp knife, write a message on the heart, scoring lightly (it's helpful to write the message first on a heart-size piece of paper). If you don't like the results, pat smooth and try again. Press chocolate pieces into lines.

Bake cookie in a 275[degrees] oven until pale gold, about I hour. At once, cut cookie with a sharp knife into 6 to 10 pieces of random shapes, but leave in place until cool.

With a wide spatula, gently transfer pieces to a large platter or board, disassembling the heart and message. Serve, or wrap airtight up until the next day; freeze to store longer. Invite your youngest (or other selected) guest to reassemble the puzzle and read the message. Break into chunks to eat. Makes a 1 3/4-pound cookie, 12 to 16 servings.--Sandee Cameron, Burlingame, Calif.

Per ounce: 129 cal.; 1.1 g protein; 7.5 g fat (4.6 g sat.); 15 g carbo.; 67 mg sodium; 18 mg chol.
COPYRIGHT 1992 Sunset Publishing Corp.

Subscribe to Sunset Magazine and save 85% !!!

Sunset explores Life in the West. If you live in the West, you must have Sunset! Get garden tips for your area, home decorating & design ideas, delicious food & entertainment made easy and regional travel coverage.

ROMANTIC COOKING TOOLS:

Heart Copper Cookie Cutter: link
Give your delicious cookies a little fun and personality with these durable copper cookie cutters. Perfect for making oversize cookies into delightful shapes for parties, gifts, goodie bags or as a cute snack. Makes a fun decorating project for children. The cutters are available in various shapes, so there’s sure to be one for just about any interest and occasion.

---

Heart-shaped Mini Muffin Pan: link
Here are a dozen ways to say "I Love You"! Muffin pan is made of heavy-duty, non-stick metal, so baking, candy making, and cleanup are a snap. 12 heart-shaped molds — each 1 1/2" Dia. — create perfectly shaped muffins, cupcakes, biscuits, candy, teacakes, and more! Instructions and a fun recipe are included. 12 x 8".

MAY WE SUGGEST?

Valentine Treats: Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family: link
Nothing says "I love you" like gifts made from the heart, and anyone struck with Cupid's arrow will find plenty of inspiration in Valentine Treats. So say it like you mean it with nostalgic Antique Valentines and a Sweetheart Candy Box. If that's not enough to sway the fickle, then let them hear the sweet Pitter Patter of your Pancakes, and dive into your Chocolate Cookie Truffles. Even the littlest cherubs will join in the fun with simple nosegays, no-fuss Peanut Butter with Love Sandwiches, and Pixie Postcards. Cupid's arrow will hit the bull's eye this holiday with the enchanting ideas in Valentine Treats.

Happy Valentine's day from Recipes.it kitchen!