Mustard-Roasted Snapper with Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli and Herb Fingerling Potatoes

This weekend has been a kidfest - sleepovers, playdates, sticky peanut butter fingers and jam stained cheeks. Sunday dinner is always our time to calm down, reconnect and kick-off the week ahead.

After serving so many kid meals, I am really looking forward to preparing something high on flavor for our Sunday table tonight. The Barefoot Contessa hosts a 'Back to Basics' show that continues to inspire fresh, simple meals in our household. They are simple, use everyday ingredients but still have that 'this is something special' flair. This is a 45 minute meal that is guaranteed to hit the spot!


From my table (Ina's again) to yours...


Mustard-Roasted Snapper


Ingredients:

• 4(8-ounce) red snapper fillets (really you can use any white fish)


• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper


• 8 ounces creme fraiche (you can use mayo...but creme fraiche is best)


• 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard


• 1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard


• 2 tablespoons minced shallots


• 2 teaspoons drained capers
  

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.


• Using an ovenproof baking dish, place the fish fillets skin side down. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.


• Combine the creme fraiche, 2 mustards, shallots, capers, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.


• Spoon the sauce evenly over the fish, making sure the fish is completely covered.


• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until it's barely done. (The fish will flake easily at the thickest part when it's done.) Be sure not to overcook it


• Serve hot with the sauce from the pan spooned over the top.
  
  

Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

• 4 -5 lbs broccoli


• 4 -5 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced


• 4 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided


• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt


• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper


• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest


• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice


• 3 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted


• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese


• 2 tablespoons finely sliced fresh basil leaves (about 12 leaves)
  

Directions:

• Cut the broccoli, leaving an inch or two of stalk
• Cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. You should have about 8 cups of florets.
• Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer.
• Toss the garlic over the broccoli and drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
• Roast at 400*F for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.
• Remove from the oven and immediately toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil, the lemon zest, lemon juice, pine nuts, Parmesan, and basil. Serve hot.
  
  

Dill Fingerling Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1¼ pounds fingerling potatoes, rinsed but not peeled
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1½ tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  

Directions:

• Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot.
• Add the whole potatoes, salt, and pepper, and toss well.
• Cover the pot tightly and cook over low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are just tender when tested with a small knife.
• From time to time, shake the pot without removing the lid to prevent the bottom potatoes from burning.
• Turn off the heat and allow the potatoes to steam for another 5 minutes. Don’t overcook.
• Toss with the dill, and serve hot.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Caviar Pie

Both my granny and Pam and Dad have made this fantastic appetizer since...FOREVER. It is definitely part of our family food repertoire. Once I moved to Colorado I realized this old school appetizer may just be a popular favorite in our circle. Growing up, I remember thinking Caviar Pie was special for a few reasons...

1. Preparation: You have to chill overnight before adding the toppings- anything that takes that kind of forethought, must be impressive.
2. Caviar: This ingredient brings thoughts of hundreds of dollars an ounce, Marilyn Monroe and champagne ...even though this recipe simply uses a $7 jar of Romanoff caviar.
3. Presentation: The finished product adds color to any spread, is always a topic of conversation and looks like a little piece of food art.
4. Event: We normally were able to enjoy this at our traditional Christmas Eve bash, New Years and other festive holidays.

Really this recipe takes the most basic ingredients and is not difficult at all. You do need to have a spring form pan and clearly you need to purchase a jar of caviar, but I bet you have everything else in your refrigerator. While nothing says football like chicken wings...tomorrow Packer and Steeler fans will be expanding that thought to also include caviar.

From my table, granny's and dad and Pam's to yours...

Caviar Pie
Ingredients:

• 3/4 C chopped green onions
• 6 hard boiled eggs
• 3 T mayonnaise
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 C sour cream
• 1 jar caviar (I just purchase the Romanoff black whitefish)
• 1 C chopped parsley
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced, then cut slices in half
• 1 red cherry pepper
• Baguette, sliced

Directions: This is very visual, so try to follow me here!

• Coat your spring form pan with non stick spray
• Chop eggs and mix with mayo. Spread in the bottom of the pan.
• Top with chopped green onion.
• Beat cream cheese and sour cream together until smooth.
• Drop by tablespoons onto onion layer. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the mixture evenly (so you don't see the onion).
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (if in a time crunch, 3-5 hours will work)
• Pour caviar into a strainer and rinse. Set on paper towel.
• Place the spring form pan on a platter that is the same size or larger than the bottom of the pan. Open the pan and remove the sides.
• Thinly slice the lemon. Then cut each slice in half. Set aside.
• Using a toothpick, lightly draw 6 even slices/triangles.
• The toppings: Triangle 1 - Fill with chopped parsley. Triangle 2: Leave blank. Triangle 3:Fill with Caviar. Triangle 4: Parsley. Triangle 5: Blank. Triangle 6: Caviar.
• Take each half slice of lemon and cover the outside layer. So essentially you are covering the outside of the pie like you are tiling a wall. The lemon slices will stick to the sides of the pie.
• Take the red cherry pepper and place in the center.
• Serve with the sliced baguette
• Take your cocktail knife, dig in and spread on the bread. Yum.