Easy Gourmet
by Jeannette Graham
"The difference between a rather average cook and a chef is that the chef is never really satisfied with what he is serving" - Bradley Ogden.
Why try and be a chef if you can't ever enjoy what you cook? Instead, be an average cook and make something easy but fabulous. Stay in one night and whip up a meal that will make your date drool. Saliva can be romantic. Hey, it worked for me. I cooked my date this great recipe I invented myself and when I saw him drooling it just made me want to set down my fork and slap a wet one right on him. Okay, okay...so what to cook? Well, I will let you in on my little secret: flavor. Juicy, succulent, mouthwatering and flavorful food is very romantic...and I have just the ingredients:
Grilled Swordfish with Baked Red potatoes
2 swordfish steaks
5 red potatoes (sliced thin)
green bell pepper (cut in strips)
red bell pepper (cut in strips)
1/2 brown onion (sliced thin)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
/td> | 1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup olive oil
2 lemons
salt
pepper
garlic salt
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly salt and pepper swordfish steaks. In large dish add wine, 2 cloves garlic and swordfish; cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 1 hr.
In medium baking dish, combine potatoes, bell peppers, onion, 2 cloves garlic and 1/2 cup olive oil; mix until vegetables are covered with oil. Sprinkle with garlic salt and basil; mix again. Cook 20 minutes; stir; cook 20 more minutes. Leave in oven on warm until fish is done.
Preheat grill on med/high heat for 10 minutes. In small bowl, add 1/2 cup olive oil, juice from 1 lemon, and chopped parsley; set aside. Grill swordfish 4-6 minutes on each side or until midsection is white. When finished, remove from grill and garnish with small bowl mixture and lemon wedges. Serve with potatoes and a bottle of dry white wine.
Wine suggestions:
California Chardonnay
price range: less than $20
medium/dry
serve chilled
ideal vintage: youngest available
good producers: Byron, Kendall-Jackson, Sini
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