Mediterranean Mahi Mahi

Fresh white fish paired with a light tomato, olive, and artichoke sauce.  The Italian herbs oregano and basil pair well with the orange and lemon to really bring a lot of fresh flavor to the fish.  I was inspired by a recipe in Bon Appetit, and modified it to my own liking.  I added Artichokes, used Black Olives instead of Green, and added in lemon juice to give it more flavor and moisture.  Not only is this Mediterranean dish heart-healthy, using olive oil, tomatoes, olives, and artichokes over white fish, but it is absolutely delicious also.  When we ate it, we both agreed it tasted so decadent (yet it was so so healthy).

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Minced Onion
1 Cup Dry White (or Rose) Wine
1 (14 ounce) Can of Stewed or Diced Tomatoes
2 tsp. Garlic Powder
2 tsp. Dried Oregano (or 2 Tbsp. Fresh)
1 tsp. Dried Parsley (or 1 Tbsp. Fresh)
2 tsp. Dried Basil (or 2 Tbsp. Fresh)
4 4-5 oz. Mahi Mahi Fillets
1 Small Can Sliced Black Olives
1 Can Quartered Artichoke Hearts
2 tsp. Dried Oregano (or 2 Tbsp. Fresh)
2 tsp. Fresh Orange Zest
2 tsp. Lemon Juice

Directions.
1. Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.  Add in minced onion and cook about 3-4 minutes.  

2. Pour in wine and boil about 3 minutes, or until it's reduced to 3/4 Cup. 
3.  Stir in the tomatoes with juice and bring to a boil.  
4.  Sprinkle salt and pepper on the fish.  Place fillets on top of tomato mixture.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until fish is opaque and cooked through.
5.  Transfer fish to plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
6.  Add black olives, artichokes, orange peel, lemon juice, oregano, and basil to tomato sauce.  Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook about 7-8 minutes, or until thick and reduced.  
7.  Place a Mahi Mahi fillet on a plate and cover with 1/4 of the sauce.  Serve with Italian bread and a side of (or on a bed of, as I did) steamed spinach.  Or, for more substance, serve over cooked brown rice or wheat pasta.


Enjoy!

Chocolate Banana Oatmeal Bars

I seem to have ended up with more brown, ripe bananas and needed a recipe to utilize them (couldn't stand to throw them all out).  I could have made Banana Bread or Banana Walnut Muffins, but wanted to try something else.  I decided on yummy chocolate banana oatmeal bars.  This recipe incorporates a number of healthy ingredients (reminder: be sure to use organic if you can!), including heart-healthy oatmeal, potassium-rich bananas, and whole-wheat flour.  The chocolate chips (ok, and sugar and butter) add a little decadence, for a sweet treat you can enjoy knowing it's also sort of good for you.  :)  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!


Ingredients:
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
2 Cups Quick Oats
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 Cup Butter, Softened (1 1/2 Sticks)
1/2 Cup White Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1 1/4 Cup Ripe Bananas, Mashed (about 3 Large Bananas)
1 1/4 Cup Semi-Sweet or Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a 9x13 (or 9" square for thicker bars) baking dish with cooking spray (I use butter flavored).
2.  Stir together the first six ingredients (whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oats, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon) in a large bowl.  Set aside.

3.  Using a blender, or in your Kitchenaid, mix together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.  Add in the vanilla and eggs, and continue mixing.  Mix in the bananas until well combined.
4.  Slowly mix in (about a cup at a time) the dry ingredients, just until combined.  Don't overmix.
5.  Stir in by hand the chocolate chips.  Spread mixture into baking dish.
6.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7.  Cool and cut into bars.

Enjoy!

Citrus-Balsamic Salmon & Spinach

I love fish.  This recipe uses tasty salmon and is gluten-free, dairy-free, heart-healthy, omega-3 loaded, and delicious.  Be sure to use Wild Alaskan Salmon if you can, as it is the most sustainable (vs. farmed or from other regions which don't use sustainable fishing methods).  In addition to wild salmon from Alaska being better for the environment/fish population, wild is also nutritionally healthier than farmed.  This recipe is simple, light and perfect for summer, especially with the citrus flavors.  I adapted this recipe from one I found at Whole Foods. 

Ingredients:

4 Salmon Fillets
1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
1-2 Tbsp. Orange Zest (zest from one small orange)
1/4 Cup Lemon Juice
1 tTbsp. Honey Mustard
3 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
2.   Whisk together balsamic vinegar, orange zest, lemon juice, honey mustard, and olive oil in a medium bowl.  Place salmon fillets in a dish and pour marinade over them.  Refrigerate for 30 min to 1 hour.
3.  Remove salmon from marinade. Pour marinade into a small pot and boil over medium heat to reduce by half.
4. Meanwhile, place salmon fillets on baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until fish is cooked through. 
5.  Serve salmon over a bed of fresh steamed spinach, seasoned lightly with sea salt and black pepper.   Drizzle salmon with citrus-balsamic-reduction sauce.

Enjoy!

Nutrition

Per Serving (254g-wt.): 320 calories (130 from fat), 15g total fat, 2g saturated fat, 34g protein, 10g total carbohydrate (0g dietary fiber, 7g sugar), 95mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium