Daikon Fettucine With Tomato-Basil Sauce
Makes 3 to 4 servings

1 pound (450 g) daikon
1 can (14 1/2 ounces/400 g) plum tomatoes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon chopped basil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. With a swivel-blade vegetable peeler, peel the outer skin of the daikon and discard. Continue to strip the length of the daikon, peeling off long, narrow noodlelike ribbons. Soak “noodles” in cold salted water for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the Tomato-Basil Sauce. Drain the tomatoes, reserving half of the juice. Squeeze the tomatoes through your fingers to mash; mix with juice, about 2 cups.
3. In a heavy saucepan, heat the oil medium-hot. Saute the onion and garlic until softened, not browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, reserved juice, sugar and salt. Boil vigorously, stirring often, until thick, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. Drain the “noodles” on a kitchen towel, add to the sauce and toss gently, taking care not to break noodles. Cook just to heat through, about 1 minute. Divide on plates, teasing the fettuccine into mounds. Serve immediately.

- From Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking.

Serves 4 to 6

1 tablespoon Longjing tea leaves
1 cup water
2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
1 pound mediusm shrimp, peeled,deveined, rinsed
4 tablespoons peanut oil
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon aged rice vinegar
2 ounces fresh snow peas, strings removed
2 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces on the diagonal
1/4 cup scallions cut into 1/2-inch pieces on the diagonal

1. Place the tea leaves in a teapot or heatproof measuring cup. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, then remove from heat and let cool for 3 minutes. Pour the water over the tea leaves and brew for 3 minutes.
2. Strain and reserve the tea leaves and brewed tea liquor.
3. Place 2 tablespoons of the cornstarch on a plate and add the white pepper. Mix well. Pat the shrimp dry and roll them in the mixture one at a time. Set aside.
4. Heat a wok or skillet over medium heat for 1 minute.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of the peanut oil and heat for an additional 30 seconds.
6. Add the shrimp and stir to prevent sticking. Cook the shrimp for 2 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. Quickly remove them from the pan and drain the shrimp on paper towels.
7. Mix the oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar in a bowl and set aside.
8. Add a few tablespoons of brewed tea to the remaining1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch and stir to make a smooth paste. Add 1/2 cup of the brewed tea and stir to dissolve. Set aside.
   Add the remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil to the pan and heat on medium-high for 30 seconds.
9. Add the snow peas and green beans and saute for 2 minutes. Add the cooked shrimp and scallions and heat of 1 minute.
10. Add the reserved tea leaves and the oyster sauce mixture. Heat for 1 minute, adding a few tablespoons of water to the sauce if it becomes too thick. Serve hot.

six servings
Indian cooks bake meats in a clay oven, called a tandoor but I find that a grill works beautifully. The yogurt-based marinade tenderizes and flavors the chicken and provides a cooling (albeit spicy) contrast to the cooked meat. This dish is also delicious with turkey and seafood.

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed of fat and gristle

Tandoori Marinade
mix all together
1 ¾ cups low-fat plain yogurt
2 ½ tablespoons minced fresh ginger
1 ½ tablespoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes (or to taste)
1 ¼ teaspoons ground cumin
1 ¼ teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Mint-Yogurt Dressing
mix all together
1 ½ cups whole milk yogurt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

18 flour tortillas, folded and wrapped in a damp cloth

1. Toss the chicken breasts in the Tandoori Marinade to coat and let marinate 30 minutes, or longer covered in the refrigerator.
2. Prepare a hot fire for grilling or preheat a gas grill. Arrange the meat 3 inches from the source of heat, cover, and grill the meat until cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
3. While the chicken is cooking, pour the Mint-Yogurt Dressing into a serving bowl and arrange the flour tortillas on a serving plate.
4. Cut the cooked chicken thin slices and arrange on a platter. To serve, arrange slices of chicken in a flour tortilla, spoon some of the dressing on top, roll up, and eat with your fingers. Serve with a side vegetable or a salsa.

Recipe from Dinner Doctor: Single Millie, Quick and Easy Episode

Serves Four to Six

1 ½ pounds chicken legs and thighs

Barbecue Sauce

1 ½ cups bottled Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons minced garlic
½ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions

1. Mix the bottled dressing with the garlic, ketchup, and soy in a bowl and add the chicken parts. Stir to coat, cover with plastic wrap, and let the chicken marinate for several hours or overnight, if possible in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a cookie sheets with aluminum foil and arrange the pieces, skin-side up on the pan, spooning some of the marinade on top. Roast the chicken for about 45 minutes turning once or until deep golden brown. Remove and serve hot, at room temperature, or cold.

6 servings
The ginger-soy-balsamic marinade gives the seared salmon a lovely flavor and color and the simple mint dressing is a light and refreshing complement to snap peas. I like to serve this dish hot, or at room temperature with rice pilaf for a festive buffet.

Ingredients:
6 salmon fillets with skin on (each about 6 ounces)

Marinade (mixed together):
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 ½ pounds snap peas

Mint Dressing:
3 tablespoons fruity extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice, or to taste
6 tablespoons chopped mint leaves
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons virgin olive oil

1. Lightly toss the salmon with the Marinade in a bowl and let sit at room temperature.
2. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a saucepan and add the snap peas. Cook for 2 minutes, or until crisp-tender. Drain in a colander and refresh in cold water. Drain again and blot dry on paper towels.
3. Whisk the ingredients of the Mint Dressing together in a mixing bowl. Add the snap peas and toss lightly to coat.
4. Heat the 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan over high heat until very hot. Rub the marinade all over the salmon and place in the pan, skin side down. Partially cover, and fry about 5 to 6 minutes over high heat (depending on the thickness), until the skin is crisp and the salmon meat has started becoming opaque. Carefully flip over with a spatula and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, or until just cooked.
5. Arrange the salmon on a serving platter and spoon the snap peas around. Serve with a rice pilaf or steamed rice.

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GRILLED MAHI MAHI WITH MANGO SALSA Six Servings

This dish is wonderful for feeding your family or for entertaining guests. You can prepare the salsa and marinate the fish in advance, making it an easy, last-minute dish to cook and serve.
1 recipe Mango Salsa (See recipe below)
2 pounds mahi mahi, about 1 –inch thick, or you may substitute a firm fish fillet, such as halibut, sea bass, grouper, or swordfish
2 ½ tablespoons virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly- ground black pepper

1. Prepare the Mango Salsa as directed below. Let it sit while the fish cooks.
2. If possible, cut the fish into 6 equal pieces. Rub the surface of the fillets with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Prepare a medium-hot fire for grilling or preheat a gas grill and arrange a rack 3 to 4 inches from the heat. Arrange the fish fillets on the grill and cook covered for about 4 to 5 minutes per side until the flesh is opaque. Slide the fillets off the grill and onto a platter or onto individual plates. Spoon
some of the mango salsa on top and serve with steamed rice and a vegetable.

* Mangoes are a great source of vitamin C and beta- carotene.

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