Is It Lent Yet?

One of the greatest things about being Catholic in New Orleans (redundant?) is that, once a year, we Catholics experience that built-in reducing plan called "Lent."  It's great when Mardi Gras comes early so that Lent gives us a nice head-start on our trim Springtime physiques.  Unfortunately, Mardi Gras is super late this year (March 8th) which means Lent won't start until March 9th.  And, personally speaking, my waistline could use a little Lent about now.

So, since I was feeling rather, shall we say, "puffy," and since it is Friday, tonight we had fish!  Delicious fish, I might add.  Admittedly, I always feel a little guilty about how 'abstaining from meat' on Fridays in Lent usually means 'suffering' with something like Sauteed Shrimp, Seafood Gumbo or Trout Almondine.  Makes a girl want to head straight to Confession.  Well, Confession aside, tonight our Friday 'sacrifice' took the shape of Pan Seared Salmon.

First, I found a gorgeous piece of salmon as long as my leg.  After it was washed and patted dry, I cut it by hand into six nice steaks (got to have leftovers!).   Let's get cooking...

PAN SEARED SALMON
6 tuna steaks
Marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp New Orleans creole mustard
Place salmon steaks in a glass dish.  Pour marinade over them and let them rest for 20-30 minutes.  When ready to cook, spray a non stick pan with oil spray.  Heat the pan to high heat.  Carefully place steaks in pan.  Sear for 4 minutes on each side.  Cook till the steaks feel firm to the touch and/or flake with a fork.  The outside of the steaks should have a bit of burn on them.  That's the yummy part!  I did my 6 steaks in two batches of three.  Piled them high on a platter and drizzled the whole mess with balsamic reduction.

I served my salmon atop a bed of baby lettuces, cucumber and tomatoes that had been lightly tossed in pepper jelly vinaigrette.  On the side, I served a medley of roasted cauliflower, carrots and broccoli.  It was so healthy and so delicious!  Even my kids raved!

So, of course, now that we've enjoyed something truly light and nutritious (first since before Thanksgiving, maybe?), we're all going to wake up tomorrow filled with boundless energy and 10 pounds lighter, right?

Somebody lie to me! (See you at Confession.)