"One Pot" Meal, Fish and Vegetables

There was a time when I planned on writing a cookbook. I thought of calling it "The Lazy Cook Cookbook," because I don't like complicated food preparation. This "One Pot" Meal of Fish and Vegetables served over simple cooked salad is so typical of the my sort of cooking.

This "One Pot" Meal of Fish and Vegetables can actually look quite impressive if you bake it in a nice dish. The colors can be stunning. Use any of the following ingredients or others. There's no real "right or wrong." Not all the ingredients are included in this version. Please let me know how your version came out, thanks.

Ingredients: 
fish, filet or whole fish
onion
sweet potato
squash
pumpkin
eggplant
potato
fresh garlic
cabbage
beets
zucchini
lemon or just some juice

Layer in your baking dish. To keep the fish moist, cover with onion or squash. Dribble a bit of vegetable oil before baking 190 Centigrade/380 Fahrenheit. 

Check that vegetables are soft and fish fully cooked before taking it out of the oven. Enjoy

Shavuot Menu, Keeping it Easy

Maybe someday I'll still do it. A number of years ago, I started writing a cookbook which I named:

The Lazy Cook Cookbook

For some strange reason, people told me that the title is awful. Am I the only person who looks for easy ways to prepare food? I don't like recipes that have too many steps and too many ingredients. Those of you who have seen my recipes already, must have noticed that they're pretty minimal.

Those of us who live very Jewish lives, according to halacha, Jewish Law, will be celebrating the Shavuot Holiday immediately after Shabbat. That means that since it's forbidden to do any preparation, whether cooking, setting the table or even cutting a salad on Shabbat for the Holiday, even the fanciest balabustas, Jewish housekeepers, should keep it pretty simple. The family and guests, if you have any, will want to eat as soon as possible, no doubt.

That's why I decided to serve me and my husband cream cheese, lox and salad. That's not something we have frequently or at all. I may serve a dairy vegetable kugel, which should heat up pretty easily, but I still have to make it today. With the added treat of ice cream for dessert, we should be ready on time to go to a Torah class. Neither of us learn all night anymore. We're not as young as we used to be.

For Shavuot "lunch," after synagogue, I'll make a version of my "one pot baked fish and vegetables" in advance. We don't have any guests for that meal either, so I can cook exactly what we need to eat.

Ever since we both began to "diet," I try to serve us only what we need. The only "unlimited" foods I have on the table are salad and low carbohydrate vegetables. We've never been on "starvation diets." Just the thought of one makes me gorge on forbidden foods. When we have guests, I put out more food, but many of our guests are "repeats" and have the same food preferences as we do.

I bought a couple of special cheeses as Shavuot treats, besides the ice cream. We won't starve for sure.

Soon I'll go to our local swimming pool, and then after breakfast I'll cook, Gd willing.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach To All

Fish in The Shuq

Grilled Trout in Michmoret מכמרת, fantastic

 A couple of nights ago I went to Jerusalem's nighttime restaurant and bar/pub hotspot, none other than Machane Yehuda, the "market." It used to be an open-air market, but over the past decade or more, it has been renovated and covered to help it compete with the discount supermarkets. Today's shuq isn't the shuq of old in so many ways.

As day fades into night, and the leftover produce is packed away, out come the tables. Instead of hearing the sellers calling out bargain prices, there's music blasting. And there's an amazing variety of food places, from ice cream to steak to fish. My companion and I knew exactly what we wanted, fish at Michmoret. They keep the prices down with a simple fixed menu. For ns80 each, we started with a table full of Israeli salads and very tempting wholewheat bread. Then the fish arrived. I had ordered the trout, and we both had it with vegetables, not chips, which is the other choice. Everything was perfectly prepared, delicious! I cleaned the plate. We sat inside, where it was relatively quiet. It was truly a perfect meal. Then we walked around the shuq a bit before going home.

Michmoret is also open lunchtime. There's a variety of beers, wines and other drinks, if you want them along with your meal. It's located at 7 Hatut Street, close to Agrippas Street, so there are buses that go there and the lightrail on Yaffo Street. If you're in the center of Jerusalem, you can easily walk to Michmoret. Phone 02-579-4847.

Super Easy Way to Add Flavor to Meat/Fish/Poultry

There are two condiments that almost everyone has in their kitchens, catsup and mustard. Adding them to your cooking is the simplest, easiest way to add flavor to meat, fish, poultry and other foods.

I know that they all have additives, salt and sugar, but most recipes ask you to add those evils separately. There are times when even the most "natural health" cooks, like yours truly, need to cheat.

The other day when I was in a big rush to cook a couple of meals before leaving home, I put a couple of spoons of mustard and squirts of catsup on this chicken breast vegetable dish before putting it in the oven (covered) for baking. The result was stupendous, delicious, just perfect.

Sometimes we all need shortcuts. I draw the line at powdered soup mixes, jam and straight sugar. Even salt is rarely used for cooking in my kitchen. And when I use salt in soup and kugels, it's coarse, not table salt. What are your little cooking "cheats?" Please let me know in the comments, thanks.

Easy Recipes and Enjoying The New Kitchen

Yesterday we had guests for a Succot lunch. They had been great fans of my new kitchen during the years I just talked and complained. I got a lot of support from them, so it was very exciting to host them. I served a fish meal, mujadarra, eggplant, baked vegetables, salad and salmon.

Mujadarrah:
1 cup brown rice
1 cup lentils
small/medium onion cut
a bit of cooking oil of your choice
4 1/2 cups boiling water

Put all but water in pot, saute a bit, then add boiling water, cover, bring to boil, lower to a simmer until you can't see any water. Leave covered at least another 10 minutes. Serve.

"Impressive" Eggplant:
eggplant
tomatoes
onion
fresh garlic
vegetable oil

Slice eggplant partially, so it opens like a book.
Fill with sliced tomato. Sprinkle diced onion and garlic, then oil. Bake in medium-high (or whatever is recommended by your oven manufacturer) oven until cooked.

"Fancy" Salmon:
Filet of salmon
lemon slices
fresh garlic
mustard
Decorate your salmon. Wrap in foil, if you're baking it at the same time as the other dishes, so it won't overcook. Otherwise just bake in a medium-high (or whatever is recommended by your oven manufacturer) oven until it seems ready. You can check that the salmon has changed color and is flaky where thickest. Yes, it's that simple.

I enjoyed the meal and hope everyone else did, too.

PS It was so much fun being able to cook so quickly. I could fit all three baked dishes in the oven at the same time. I love my new kitchen!!

Precarious Cooking, Kitchen Chaos

Last night I really didn't feel like schlepping the food out to a neighbor for cooking. Being that it was the last really full day of work in the kitchen, every few minutes I was called in for something.

These were good "somethings."

Wall tiles needed my input, and there were other questions the "kitchen guy" had for me. So I couldn't disappear for half an hour or so.

So I decided to see where I could set up the two-burner hotplate I'd been cooking on for almost two years. I managed to find a "safe" surface within read of an electric outlet. The truth is that the place on the laundry room sink was more "precarious" than "safe."

So I cut up an onion, potato, carrots and a nice sized sweet potato. On top of that I placed two pieces of filleted frozen fish. Then I added some oil, covered an placed it on the burner.

Once it began cooking, I lowered the flame a bit and kept checking until the potatoes were soft. White potatoes take longer to cook than sweet potatoes and unlike most other vegetables, they are awful when not totally cooked. Only eggplants, which are a "cousin" to white potatoes need even more cooking.

I'm glad I decided on that fish meal, because it was nice, filling, tasty and so easy to make, even under the difficult conditions we have right now for cooking.

Food Ideas for The Nine 9 Days

I really doubt that when chazal, our Jewish sages, decided that during the  Nine 9 Days, we shouldn't eat meat they could have known that fish meals would be much more expensive for us. That was the topic of this morning's post on Shiloh Musings, 9 Days Rather Ironic, Fish Yes, Chicken No.

My husband and I generally eat Shabbat leftovers for the entire week, and I have lots of portions of cooked chicken in the freezer. All you have to do is to recook them with vegetables and carbs. But during the Nine 9 Days, I have to cook every meal. Sometimes I have a stock of vegetable soup, but in all honesty, hot soup on hot days isn't a favorite.
Following are a few recipes. Your comments, recipes, reactions and ideas are welcome in the comments section, thanks.  Sorry, but I don't go for exact measuring of ingredients or cooking time. I encourage variations and would like to hear about yours.

Latest Breakfast, No Cravings
Yummy Cauliflower Casserole/Kugel
Frying Pan "Lentil Stew"
Do you Quinoa?
Simple Chickpea Salad
One-Pan Meal, Tuna Steak and Veggies
Shakshuka Plus
Lovely Lentil and Mushroom Dish
Pancakes
No Mayonnaise Egg Salad
Low-Carb, Crustless Dairy Quiche
This Year's Purim Soups, Yes Two 2

9

Which is your favorite? And what do you suggest from your own repertoire?

Michmoret, Heavenly Fish in the Shuq

The other day my friend and I decided to have a nice early dinner together. She asked me for suggestions, and I told her about Michmoret. It's an excellent fish restaurant in the Machane Yehuda Open Market. I always take a table inside, since I find the shuq much too noisy. This time the piped music was a bit too loud for my taste, so I asked them to lower the volume a bit, which was done immediately.

There's a choice of fish for NS75 or NS85, depending on which fish you order. And there's a choice of side dishes, either vegetables or french fries. If you want a fresh salad, as a side dish, it cost a bit more. This cost much less than a fish meal in any of the popular dairy restaurants.

You start the meal with a variety of Israeli salads and freshly baked bread. The salads are replenished and taste delicious. The wait staff was extremely polite, and although Michmoret's a small restaurant, we weren't rushed out.

I had the Denis, which was perfectly cooked. My friend and I just drank water, although Michmoret has a very well-stocked bar.

Michmoret's on 7 Ha-Tut Street, just off of Agripas Street, Machane Yehuda Market, Jerusalem, Israel, telephone 972 -2-579-4847.

Perfect Lunch, Even for Non-Dieters

I'm a firm believer that if you want to lose weight and keep it off you can't make yourself suffer. If you do, you won't be able to stick to it. When I managed to change my way of eating to get off about thirty pounds 30 lbs, 15 kg, I still ate a lot, and I made sure the food was delicious.

I refused to take the skin off the chicken, because I knew that I'd absolutely hate it and have to doctor the chicken with extra stuff, which would have calories, salt etc.

Being Blood Type* O, I really need to stay away from carbohydrates, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes etc. And for energy and feeling satiated I must eat a portion, one is enough, of animal protein. That lasts, while vegan meals don't. I'm starving just a few hours later. And that feeling of "starving" isn't good, because it means that your metabolism may be slowing down to protect you, and you're more likely to grab something and quantities you shouldn't be eating.

my usual vegetable base

This may have something to do with my being Type O; the only non-animal protein that keeps me satisfied for hours is sesame paste. It's very rich, and I don't even need to add anything or make it into techina. The sesame paste I buy does not have added salt. When I'm taking a meal along with me, I don't take a sandwich, I make vegetables and add the sesame paste. I store it in a container, and it's delicious and filling.

Yesterday, since I wasn't quite sure what my dinner would be, I made a special lunch. It had a nice piece of salmon and a lot of vegetables, including celery, which I don't usually find in the fridge. That meal with a bit of salad kept me nice, satisfied and functioning for quite a few hours.

Deprivation is not the way to diet or keep weight off. The best way is to eat well for your body and that includes eating frequently enough. The vegetables I cooked with the salmon are onion, garlic, squash, celery and cabbage. You can have cabbage in great quantities without it causing weight gain, but you must have some protein, too, along with something fatty or you'll be hungry soon after.

*Blood Type diet

The Blood Type Diet: An Evidence-Based ReviewThis is how each blood type is supposed to eat:

• Type A: Called the agrarian, or cultivator. People who are type A should eat a diet rich in plants, and completely free of “toxic” red meat. This closely resembles a vegetarian diet.

• Type B: Called the nomad. These people can eat plants and most meats (except chicken and pork), and can also eat some dairy. However, they should avoid wheat, corn, lentils, tomatoes and a few other foods.

• Type AB: Called the enigma. Described as a mix between types A and B. Foods to eat include seafood, tofu, dairy, beans and grains. They should avoid kidney beans, corn, beef and chicken.

• Type O: Called the hunter. This is a high-protein diet based largely on meat, fish, poultry, certain fruits and vegetables, but limited in grains, legumes and dairy. It closely resembles the paleo diet.

Totally Delicious "One Pot" Fish Meal

I figured out how to keep the fish (salmon) nice and moist when cooking it up, actually baking, this "one pot" meal. I made all this for me and my husband to eat the second night of Rosh Hashanah. When we're home I serve fish, since there's a limit to the amount of meat and poultry one should eat in a two day period, and since you're not supposed to heat up the food until after you light candles, barely an hour before we eat, the fish heats up very quickly. I use an electric hotplate, which stays on all of the holiday, just like on Shabbat.

As you can see, I cut up potatoes, carrots, onion, pumpkin and a nice sized squash. The squash was a bit larger than the pieces of fish. I made four slices of squash lengthwise and then sandwiched the fish, plus sliced onion, between the squash slices.

Before baking in a moderate oven I dribbled some oil, but no other spices. Of course you can add whatever herbs and spices you like.

It was a very successful, delicious and easy to make meal. If you try it, I'd like to hear how it came out and how you changed this to suit your needs.

One "Tray" Meal, Fish and All The Trimmings

Two nice pieces of salmon are wrapped up in the foil. For me and my husband to have Shabbat afternoon. I did add a bit of oil before baking it. Now it's all covered in foil and in the fridge to be heated up on the electric "platta." All it needs is a salad for a complete meal.

I'll skip the potato; that's why there's just one. I love these "one pot meals."

Prevent the Salmon from Drying Out

When I serve a fish meal to me and my husband on a Jewish Holiday, I usually run into a sticky situation. The salmon cooks more quickly than the vegetables. So this year I wrapped the fish in foil, adding lemon and garlic to it. And then I put it all in the oven, so we'd have a perfect "one pot meal" on Shavuot.

Machane Yehuda's Magical Transformation

Every night, in the Center of Jerusalem something very magic happens. The famous Open Market-Machane Yehuda packs away the onions, bananas, apples etc. to become Jerusalem's latest bar and restaurant scene.

The covers over the shopping lanes, which had been put up to protect the customers from rain as they picked out the very best mango and orange from the rains and wind now now provide the perfect covers for those looking for nightlife. Davka, when my dining partner and I braved the rain walking over there, I wondered how many people would be out considering the weather and the security situation. Nobody can predict where the terrorists will strike against innocent Israelis. But the "night shuk" was filling, and he told me that later on it would be packed. Apparently, 8pm is considered early. It was late enough for me. We ate at Michmoret the excellent fish restaurant where you get a first course of Israeli salads and an excellent bread.

You choose a fish, which is a large portion and comes with either cooked vegetables or "chips," aka French Fries. Along with that we had some beer, and the bill came to about ns100 each, tip extra.

Here are some "street scenes" of the shuk at night!

Wonderful Fish Meal at Ahavat HaYam

Last night I again found myself at Ahavat HaYam, which is an excellent, full meal fish restaurant. I had been there a few weeks ago for lunch with friends, and although I did take some photos, I hadn't gotten to write up a review. So this time I'm not procrastinating.

Ahavat HaYam has its good points and bad ones, too. I'll start with the negative, since it may mean that you can't get in.  The restaurant is on the upper floor of the gas station across from Gan Sacher, a large park in Jerusalem, near Binyanei Ha'uma and the center of town. I only saw stairs, so handicapped accessible it isn't.

If access isn't a problem for you, Ahavat HaYam is a wonderful fish restaurant. Don't let the gas station turn you off.

Once you walk in and see the large space, including a glassed in room for special events, you'll know that this isn't your ordinary restaurant.

As soon as I sat down, even before ordering, they brought out an amazing selection of scrumptious salads, like in the best of the Jerusalem grills.

There's a wide choice of fish meals, fried or grilled, and I stress the word "meals," since I didn't notice an ala carte option. You get the Israeli salads, fish of your choice with either potatoes or a fresh salad, plus dessert.

After taking away the potatoes, I covered my fish with salad. 

I definitely recommend Ahavat HaYam . Enjoy!

name:	Ahavat Hayam
address:	Shderot Ben Zvi 11 , Jerusalem
opening hours:	Sunday - Thursday 12:00 - 24:00 Saturday after the Sabbath - 24:00
phone:	02-6236767
food type:	Events, Fish, Homey, Lactic
service language:	אנגלית [English], עברית [Hebrew]
site:	Ahavat Hayam
kosher:	Mehadrin, Rabanut [Milk]

Fish Meal in the "Shuk"

During the "Nine Days," those traditional days of mourning the destruction of the Holy Temples, many Jews do not eat meat or poultry. It was davka that week when I went out with one of my children for dinner. She recommended a fish restaurant in Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda Open Market. I've eaten in a couple of the meat restaurants, but hadn't tried the fish one.

Michmoret, Fish Restaurant in the Shuk

מכמורת Michmoret, just a minute's walk from Agripas Street, 4 Hatute Street, offers a meal very similar to the ones you can get in the meat places. They start with salads and bread, and then you get the meal/fish of your choice with either cooked vegetables or french fries.   There was a nice selection of fish. I took my usual salmon and also ordered beer.

Everything seems to be cooked to order and nicely presented. 

You can sit inside, outside or at the bar. 

The biggest challenge is the stairs to the WC, so if you need easily accessible restrooms, it may not be your spot; though there may be some nearby. 

I was extra lucky to discover an electric outlet next to my seat for recharging my phone. And our table for two just inside was comfortably quiet enough for us to talk. Considering that the market transforms into a busy night spot after dark, we were afraid that we would suffer from the noise. We were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.

It's strictly kosher and open Sunday to Thursday 12-24.00, Friday 12-16.00. Our meal for two including a large beer and glass of wine cost NS200, which is considered very reasonable. Of course without the drinks it would have been much less. And being in the shuk there is lots of buses and the lightrail to get there. We enjoyed ourselves and recommend it.