Monday Menu: Crispy Pecan Fish and Shortbread Cookies

I was in the mood for shortbread cookies, and I had these cool cookie cutters – ducks and swans – so of course, the cookies had to be ducks.

1. Crispy Pecan Fish
2. Hearty Bread
3. Broccoli w/Garlic Wine Sauce
4. Shortbread

Crispy Pecan Fish

• 4-6 oz fish fillets –you’ll want a firm fish such as: red snapper, catfish, tilapia or haddock
• ½ cup flour
• ¼ to 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp thyme, crushed
• 1 tbsp paprika
• salt & pepper to taste
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ cup milk
• ¼ cup butter
• 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

2 bowls, skillet Mix together in a bowl: flour, ½ of each: cayenne, thyme, paprika, salt & pepper in large bowl. Heat oil in skillet. Put milk in separate bowl. Dip fish in milk, dredge in flour mixture and add to pan. Cook over med-high heat, turning once until golden brown on both sides. About 5-6 minutes. Remove fish, keep warm. Drain oil and then add butter to skillet, melt and add pecans, remaining half of spices, cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until pecans are lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Add lemon juice, spoon evenly over fish portions & serve.

Broccoli w/Garlic Wine Sauce

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1-2 tsp crushed garlic
• 16 oz broccoli crowns
• 1 cup dry white wine (non-alcoholic ok)
• salt & pepper to taste

skillet w/cover

Heat oil, add garlic & broccoli, sauté 3-4 minutes. Add wine and let it boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. Cover, lower heat to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to medium and let remaining liquid simmer away, about 5 minutes more. Keep a close eye; you don’t want it to scorch. What you’re doing with this method is reducing the liquid until it is absorbed completely by the vegetables. Salt & pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Shortbread

• 1 cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 ½ cups flour

baking sheet

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in flour. Chill for an hour. Divide in half. Place each half on baking sheet and pat each into approx. 7 inch circle. Prick each with a fork to make 16 wedges (total of 32). Bake for 30 minutes at 300°