Feb 18th - Baked Cod Filets with Asparagus in Sage and Shallots and Sweet Potato Maple Mash

Tonight was a stressful Olympic night to say the least. Canadian Men's hockey was playing Switzerland but but, I hadn't been to the gym in nearly a week. I over did it on a run last week and my knees were a bit tender. I was able to justify that to myself for an extended few days supplemented with the all the walking we were doing with the Olympic events and venues. Well, tonight ran out on excuses except for Hockey. Though it was only a prelim game, there is something about Hockey that is captivating us all this year, Men's and Women's.

Unfortunately, I couldn't not entirely manage my day from work to cooperate. The darned game started at 4h30. I am working from home but I had an important call until 5pm. I was good enough not to have the game on during that call and didn't miss too much, just the first Canadian goal. I decided to stay home until the end of the first period and dash off to the gym during the intermission. I only just barely made it. I could have sworn the break was longer.

Anyhoo, suffice it to say that I got trapped at the gym through the second and third period. Second period ended with a heartbreaking own goal tie with a scoreless third. I had thought I'd get 2o minutes between the end of the nailbiting third period to run home. Alas no! So there I was with my coat on with my gross gym stuff underneath my jeans and sweater, sitting on a weight bench watching the Overtime. Then, as if it weren't stressful enough to watch a 5 minute sudden death overtime with a bunch of strangers without my cowbell or the ability to curse and yell at the TV, it went into Shootouts!!! AAAAAAAA

After the first cycle, and still scoreless they rounded back around the shootout roster and FINALLY Sid the Kid, Sidney Crosby scored on the unstoppable Hillier. A gigantic collective, PHEW was heard around the country, with one loud Woohoo echoing through the Fitness World gym and some applause from the others. I ran home as fast as I could to enjoy a glass of wine with the good result and make dinner.

Baked Cod with Asparagus in Sage and Shallots

2 cod fillets, 200-250g per person
1 shallot sliced
10 sage leaves, fresh, chiffonade (ribbons)
lemon zest
dried parsley
olive oil

Rub the fillets with olive oil and sprinkle with the dried parsley and lemon zest. You can do this ahead, in the morning or the night before.

Heat the oven to 375 and put a rack at the lowest level. In a shallow baking dish, rub the asparagus spears with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Lay in one layer in the pan. Spread the shallots all over as well as the sage leaves. Lay the cod fillets over the asparagus. Bake for 15 minutes. If the tops seem a bit underdone, you can check by flaking a peace, place under the broiler for an additional 5 minutes.

Sweet Potato Sour Cream Mash

1 large orange sweet potato

1/2 c sour cream, low fat
1 T maple syrup, real stuff or nothing!

salt and pepper

Peel and cut a large orange sweet potato into 1 inch cubes. Place an inch of water in a large sauce pan and on top place a steamer tray. Bring the water to boil. Steam the cubed potatoes for 10 minute or until tender. This is MUCH faster and MUCH healthier than microwaving sweet potatoes! It retains much more of the nutrients and is actually faster. Been there and seen it!

Set the whole pot aside until you're ready or right away if you can juggle the rest.

Carefully lift the steamer out and set aside while you drain almost all but a few T of water away. Drop the potato chunks back into the pot. Add the syrup and LOWFAT sour cream. Mash with a masher or fork. Taste. Season with seasalt and pepper to taste. THIS IS SOOOOOO YUMMO!

Orange sweet potatoes is considered one of the 'perfect' foods along with Red Bell pepper. Super Foods!