Foodie Friday... the last Friday of Lent... Good Friday

Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.

In observation of the last day of the Lenten Fast, I thought I would share with you, a simple but delicious recipe for Salmon that is easy to make any time of year.

Salmon with Tomatoes, Lemon and Rosemary

1 to 1-1/2 lbs of Salmon fillet cut into 4 equal pieces
Salt
Pepper
4 tsp extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
16 slices lemon + 1-whole lemon squeezed
4 sprigs rosemary (you can use dried rosemary if you don't have fresh)
24 cherry tomatoes (halved) or 4 Italian tomatoes (sliced)
1-glass of your favorite wine

1. Preheat oven to 475-degrees. Cut four 12-inch long pieces of parchment paper.
2. Rub each fillet with salt, pepper, 1-tsp EVOO and 1/t-tsp lemon juice.
Put 2 lemon slices in the center of each parchment, take a sip of your wine and continue...
top lemon slices with Salmon, a rosemary sprig or dried rosemary,

two more slices of lemon; surround with 12 cherry tomato halves or 1 sliced Italian tomato.

Fold down parchment and seal edges well - leaving room around the ingredients so they can steam. Put packets on baking sheet.
isn't this just beautiful?

3. Bake 15-18 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked.
(open center packet to test.)

hello... are you done yet?

At this point I let my Salmon "rest" for approx. 1-2 minutes, in the packets, on top of stove. Then serve immediately with rice and vegetable dishes of your choice.
I love the way parchment looks just out of the oven... tinged with color... Now, finish you glass of wine and enjoy your dinner...

We like to serve this Salmon with white rice seasoned with Contadina Italian & Garlic Tomatoes.

Serves 4. Per serving: 240 calories, 5g carbs, 24g protein, 13g fat, 70 mg cholesterol.

Thanks Parade Sunday Magazine for another great recipe!

For more Foodie Friday celebrations join Designs by Gollum.

For the remainder of the weekend, we will be giving thanks for the sacrifice of our Lord and for the gift of the resurrection... down here in French Lique.

God Bless each of you.

The season of Lent... a message from Dixie...

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days. All churches that have a continuous history extending before AD 1500 observe Lent.

As I am a Catholic, I observe Lent. Our Parish Priest encourages us to observe Lent by both giving up something (indulgences) and doing something for others (kindnesses). Each year, I try to do both. Another factor of the "giving up" during Lent, is that it is not appropriate to advertise to others what it is that you are giving up. It tends to diminish the purpose and to give adoration to oneself. I hope this post does neither...

Since I'm an avid blog poster, I thought it only fair to let you know that I'm reducing my blogging time to make way for other, more spiritual endevors that I've allowed to go by the wayside. I'll be here posting on Wordless Wednesday, and will continue to post weekly at my other blog, "So, God... Are You Listening?" Please feel free to comment here at anytime for either blog. See you on Wednesdays, Sundays and here and there until Easter. Have a blessed 40 Days of Lent.

See you soon down here in French Lique... Dixie