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3B LIFE/ (Eie Charlotte $««t Thursday, March 4, 2004 Quick cooking: Ranchero Catfish THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Catfish is a mild-flavored fish that can easily be com bined with a wide range of seasonings, to ring the changes, to suit different tastes. In many of these vari ations, it can also be quickly cooked. One more considera tion: It’s a versatile option for those observing Lent and looking for a series of inter esting fish dishes. The following Ranchero Catfish will take only about 15 minutes, start to finish _ unless you decide to make your own favorite salsa, which could add a whole five or 10 minutes more. The salsa, chosen to suit your taste, governs part of the spiciness of the finished dish, which is already vibrant with chili, lime juice and cilantro flavors. Ranchero Catfish (Preparation 5 minutes, cooking time 10 minutes) 4 fillets catfish (4 to 6 ounces each) 1 cup finely crushed tortilla chips (crumb size) 2 teaspoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 tsp ground black pepper 3 this lime juice 1 this vegetable oil 1 cup of your favorite salsa fresh 1/4 cup minced cilantro (optional) Preheat the oven to 450 F. Lightly oil a baking sheet. Cut catfish fillets in half Mix crushed tortilla chips, chfli powder, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Mix Ume juice and oil in another shal low dish. Dip catfish in the hme mix ture, then immediately dredge in the seasoned tor tilla crumbs to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle catfish with any remaining tortilla crumbs. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until crisp and golden or when fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Warm salsa in a small saucepan over low heat. Arrange catfish on serving plates and spoon 1/2 cup (or to taste) of salsa over top of each seiving. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and serve. Makes 4 servings. Nutrition infonnation per serving: 452.2 cal., 30 g total fat (6.1 g saturated), 35.3 g pro., 9.8 g carbo., 101.8 mg chol., 2.6 g fiber, 1,513.5 mg sodium. Vegetarian cooking: Vegetable upside-down casserole By J.M.Hirsch THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONCORD, N.H. - Because of the volume of recipes that flit through my kitchen, I tend to be a harsh judge when determining which become keepers and which land in the compost pile. . The herd is culled using a few basic criteria, including ease and speed of prepara tion, and availability of ingredients. But the most hkely quality to ensure a long life in my repertoire is flexibility. Overly prescriptive recipes calhng for a particular vari ety of cinnamon or color of peppercorn are far too fussy for me. There is a time and place for demanding recipes, but daily cooking rarely cuts it. Flexible recipes, such as whatever-is-the-fndge soup and omelet-of-whatever- strikes-my-fancy, are the backbone of home cooking. These dishes usually require only basic skills and equip ment, but are versatile enough never to bore. Pasta is the king of flex. I recently topped it with a saute of leftover onion, steamed broccoli, bell pep per, shelled edamame, a handful of grape tomatoes, a splash of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. It was easy, delicious and a great way to use up refriger ator remnants. This bias to flexibility can leave me fhistrated by pook- books which have the audac ity to insist not only that I measure but also that I use specific ingredients. Then I found Nava Atlas’ “The Vegetarian Family Cookbook” (Broadway Books, 2004, $17.95) - a comprehensive collection of recipes written with my sort of random pantry in mind. Atlas is good not only at offering recipes that easily accommodate variation, but also at spelling out ideas for changes. For example, her “Basic Muffin, Seven Ways” begs for innovation. Even before I got to Altas’ suggested varia tions, I was thinking how easy it would be to add pumpkin puree and spices to her recipe for great pumpkin muffins. Her suggestions? Every home is bound to have at least one: they include raisins, raisins and nuts, berries, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, pear, dried apricots and banana. Even the recipes that offer no suggested variations are easy to adapt to what you have on hand thanks to Atlas’ reliance on straight forward dishes and mostly common ingredients. Most of the book’s 275 recipes are vegan, and most that contain dairy products offer suggestions for substi tutions. For a superbly simple and versatile main dish, try Atlas’vegetable upside-down casserole. Though I’m not sure what about this dish is upside down, it is a delicious and comforting winter meal perfect for using small amoimts of spare produce. Some combinations she suggests include: com, toma to and scallion; broccoli and Keep matrimonial fires burning with respect onion; and squash and spinach. Vegetable Upside-Down Casserole (Preparation 1 hour) 3 to 4 cups vegetables, cut into bite-sized chunks 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour 1/4 cup wheat germ 1/2 teaspoon baking pow der 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup low-fat yogurt or soy yogurt 3/4 cup low-fat milk, rice milk or soy milk 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1/2 cup grated cheese or nondaity cheese Preheat oven to 375 F. Heat a medium skiUet over a medium flame. Add olive oil and vegetables and saute until just tender. Time will vary depending on vegeta bles. Set aside. Lightly oil a round 2-quart casserole or a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the cen ter and add the yogurt, milk and vegetable oil. Stir together until well mixed. Transfer the vegetables to the prepared pan. Sprinkle with cheese. Pour the batter evenly over the vegetables, gently smoothing it out with a spatula. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and firm. Let stand for about 10 minutes, then cut into wedges or squares to serve. (Recipe from Nava Atlas’ “The Vegetarian Family Cookbook,” Broadway Books, 2004, $17.95.) J.M. Hirscli can he e-mailed at jhirsch @ap. org. chic Rcad/fl r /i ' /V-V/ -' 7 \ V MS. GABRIELLE Palm Reader & Advisor Reading Tdh Past, Prmt and Future 704-537-7518 Tarot Reading Kids advocate for other children and themselves ^ very child wants a I home,” says 12 year-old Cronetia. “So help the children in the world because everybody needs a parent." Cronetta and her broth er Robert, age 10 are spokespeople for chil dren in foster care who are waiting for adoptive families in Mecklenburg neighborhoods. They know what it feels like to be waiting - they are waiting for parents to adopt them. “Cronetta is insightful, engaging, and outgoing - she has a strong sense choir Cronetta am! Robert are nvo of many children waiting to he adopted in Mecklenburg County. of responsibility, appre ciates guidance, and has a positive outlook on life." says long-time friend Evelyn Dillard. “Robert has an engaging smile, pleasant personal ity and has a special interest in music.” Both Cronetta and Robert sing in the church together. “1 love my brother, he's always been part of my life," states Cronetta. “I want to be adopted into the same family with Robert." If you are interested in finding out more about Cronetta and Robert or other children awaiting adoption, call Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services at 704- 336-KIDS (5437). Communities for Families & Kids MECKLENBURG COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION Continued from page 1B site is our gender. Besides that we have a lot in common. We both wanted some of the same things out of hfe.” Barbara Fite (14 years of marriage): “We respect each other’s differences and we’re able to communicate those things to each other and don’t let those things hinder us. But love plays a huge part in it. “Communication is important because if I love you and you don’t love me the way I think I should be loved I may think you don’t love me. So you have to be able to communicate your needs.” • Donnie Sydnor (married 14 years): ”In order to have a mar riage work, it has to be Christ-centered or it’s doomed. In my marriage we make God the final authority.” • Stephanie Rice (married 14 years): “Honesty and commu nication are the most important. I say honesty first. I know a lot of people will say trust. But if a person is honest, it’s easier to trust that person. But if a person decides they are going to tell hes it’s going to affect your husband/wife. And that will lead to arguments.” • Robbie Mills (7 years of marriage): “I think the key is hav ing Christ in your marriage. If you don’t, then you’re making things work on your own strength. With Christ you have cer tain values that you represent that will blanket the marriage.” What can ruin a marriage “I think differences can cause problems. Especially, if it’s major differences like finances or, how the children are going to be disciplined. Infidehty can also end a marriage. “I think Fm still with my wife because God made her for me. I knew it after the first date. I never looked back and I have no regrets.” Byrd • “Don’t air your dirty laundry. You and your mate may work through the problem but your family and fidends will continue to look back on it. People think marriage is a fantasy. It’s a job. It’s a job that’s longer than a 9 to 5, it’s 24-7. You have to work on it to make it successful. People should treat a marriage like they treat their careers. In order to succeed in a career you should be willing to do whatever you have to do to make it suc ceed. But it’s like we’ll rather give up on a*relationship than fight.” Fite • “Cheating makes your mate feel insecure. And it makes your mate feeLlike I can’t trust you. It also could make the mate want to do the same thing. I believe the other no no is lying. “When a relationship starts out it has romance. You have the candlehght dinners. Once it goes out you may think the rela tionship has changed or the person isn’t as interested in you anymore. Or begin to look for someone to romance them.” Rice • You can’t have one selfish part in a healthy marriage. It has to be 100 percent and 100 percent not 50 percent and 50 per cent.” Mills • “A marriage can’t make it with selfishness.” Sydnor In a time when people were standing up for their rights, it’s a good thing some decided to take a seat. Share your story. Contribute to Voices of Civil Rights. AARP and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights are working together to collect firsthand accounts of the Civil Rights Movement. Voices of Civil Rights will not only preserve these stories for generations to come, but will also serve as a memorial to those who lived through the era. The project will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education in May 2004. From activists to observers, individual testimonies are crucial in documenting this important time in our nation’s history. The stories gathered will be kept in a historical archive, housed on the Voices of Civil Rights Web site and may also appear in other media outlets. To participate visit www.voicesofcivilrights.org or send your 500-word account to Voices of Civil Rights, 601 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20049. A4RP r The power to make It better.' LC CR ‘w.voice&ofcivilrights.org Call US at 888-OUR-AARP or visit our Web site at www.aarp.org.
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