Penne with Collards and Cennellini Beans

Classic DRI, easy, fast and yummy.
* 1 1/2 lb Collard Greens, washed but not dried
* 2 Tbs Olive oil
* 6 cloves Garlic (yes, 6, just do it)
* 1TBS tsp Crushed red pepper flakes (more if you like. we do)
* 1 cup Vegetable stock
* 1 1/2 cup Cooked cannellini or other white beans, rinsed & drained
* 1/4 tsp Salt
* 12 oz Uncooked pasta--penne, ziti, etc.
* Salt & ground pepper to taste
* 2 T Parmesan

Bring 3 quarts of water to boil.
Prepare greens by ripping leaves off stems.

Tear or cut leaves into bite-size pieces.
You should have about 12 cups.

Heat oil in large skillet over med-high heat.
Add garlic and red pepper flakes; saute for 2 minutes.
Stir in greens and stock; cover pan.
Cook until greens are wilted and tender yet still bright green, about 7 minutes.
Gently stir in beans and salt; keep warm.

While greens are cooking, drop pasta into boiling water; cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
Drain; stir into greens mixture.

Portabella Burgers

2 large portabella mushrooms per person
Shaved provolone cheese
Roasted Red Peppers
Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 Sesame roll per person
Arugula

If you don't have a balsamic vinaigrette on hand just make a quick one with olive oil, balsamic pi.ch salt and crushed garlic.
Remove stalks and gills from mushrooms, and marinate in vinaigrette for at least 20 min.
place gill side up on broiling pan and broil 3" from broiler for 6 minutes per side (adding provolone cheese after 3 minutes on second side.
Toast buns
Serve open face, stacking mushroom-roasted pepper-mushroom, and topping with a large handful of arugula.

Easy, and very satisfying. Next time I think we'll try blue cheese in place of provolone

Lobster Bisque

1) Make lobsters for 4, making an extra lobster for the stock
2) take the bodies from the lobster carnage and make a stock (~pt.) You can freeze for later, along with the meat.
3) Saute shallots and onions in butter, add 1/4 cup flour to make rue.
3) add lobster broth, and some fish stock or other broth for volume.
4) add 2 cups heavy cream.
5) season with white pepper, paprika, (old bay as option)
6) add 1/2 cup sherry
heat but don't boil. Serve w/crusty bread.

Scott's First Catch (Striped Bass en Papillote)

Tom sees my line tension and yells "you've got Moby Dick on your line!" It was totally awesome. Thanks Tom for teaching me. I'm hooked.

Sea Bass en Papillote
an epicurious.com recipe
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4, 6 oz fillets striped bass* (½ to 1¼ inches thick), with skin
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
8 thin lemon slices (less than ¾ inch thick; from 1 large lemon)
8 sprigs fresh thyme
2 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
12 cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1½ Tbsp drained bottled capers

* black sea bass may be substituted

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil, then drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil.

Pat fish dry and sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange fillets, skin sides down, in 1 layer in center of foil on baking sheet and slide 2 lemon slices under each fillet. Arrange 2 thyme sprigs on top of each fillet.

Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté garlic, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are softened, about 1 minute. Stir in capers.

Spoon hot tomato mixture over fish, then cover with another sheet of foil, tenting it slightly over fish, and crimp edges together tightly to seal.

Bake until fish is just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes (depending on thickness of fish); check by removing from oven and carefully lifting up a corner of top sheet of foil, pulling up sides of bottom sheet to keep liquid from running out. If fish is not cooked through, reseal foil and continue to bake, checking every 3 minutes.

Transfer fillets with lemon slices to plates using a spatula (be careful not to tear foil underneath) and spoon tomatoes and juices over top. Serve immediately, discarding thyme before eating.