September 7: Spanish Fish in a Sack

   Parchment paper
1 pound trimmed green beans, halved across
4 large garlic cloves, minced

16 strips of thinly sliced pimiento or roasted red pepper
1 pound Red Snapper fillets, cut into 4 portions
   Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
   Extra-virgin olive oil, for generous drizzling
   Zest and juice of 1 lemon
   Crusty bread, to pass at the table
   Green salad

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Rip off 4 sheets of parchment paper, each a little over a foot long. Place one fourth of the green beans in the center of each sheet of parchment, then top with one fourth of the garlic, the red pepper strips, and 1 portion of Red Snapper. Season the Red Snapper with salt and pepper and top with equal amounts of the scallions and parsley, Drizzle EVOO liberally and sprinkle lemon zest and juice evenly over the fish portions.

Fold the top and bottom edges of the parchment together and crease several times, then crease up the ends of the packets. Arrange the packets on a rimmed baking sheet and place in the center of the hot oven.

Bake the packets for 17 to 18 minutes. Serve each packet on a dinner plate and cut open at the table.

Pass salad and bread to round out the meal.

4 SERVINGS

This final variation on Fish in a Sack is not too bad. I think the reason it was better than last time I remember it is that I used fresh fish and real red snapper. I lessened the amount of fish from 2 pounds to 1 pound, so I only had to pay $14 for it (!). It would have been better had I not run out of garlic and had to use garlic powder. I used the cabbage left over from the mu shu topping to make a coleslaw. The bread was really good. It was an Italian loaf from Walmart. I don't think I would make the fish this way next time. The flavors would probably be better separated out, and it seems like sort of a waste of really good (expensive) fish. Oh yeah, and it wasn't all watery like the last time when I used frozen fish.

I need to apologize to the people leaving comments on my blog. I'm sorry I haven't responded to you. I try, but there is some reason why it won't let me comment on my own blog or anyone else's. But I really appreciate your comments. Keep them coming!