Something's FISHY around here!

Ok, so I have to admit...I was hard won on liking FISH of any kind, as a kid. Then of course, as I grew up and experienced more cuisine, and more importantly became a FOODIE! I wanted to try everything, including FISH! You see, FISH of all kinds is plain good for you! It's low in fat, nutrient dense with some varieties boasting 20g of protein for a 3oz serving! (that's the same as meat!), a good source of vitamin B12 and some types are rich with iron! Now if you're unsure how to prepare your first FISHY experience, this recipe is a sure-fire way to get you in the kitchen and cooking up something delicious that's good for you too! And HEY, next time you"re out to dinner, try a fish dish! Believe me, you'll surprise yourself just how much you like it!


Salmon Florentine~ByEllie Krieger

Ingredients

• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen spinach, thawed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 5 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, rinsed and patted dry

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Using your hands, squeeze spinach of all excess liquid.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots and garlic and cook for 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Add spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool approximately 10 minutes. Add ricotta and stir to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, to taste.
Using your hands, pack approximately 1/2 cup spinach mixture on top of each salmon fillet, forming mixture to the shape of the fillet. Place fillets on a rimmed baking sheet or glass baking dish and bake for 15 minutes, until salmon is cooked through.

Per Serving:

Calories 375, Fat 18 g; (Sat Fat 4 g, Mono Fat 7 g, Poly Fat 5 g) ; Protein 44 g; Carb 12 g; Fiber 5 g; Cholesterol 103 mg; Sodium 585 mg

Excellent source of: Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium Copper, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamin C,
Good source of: Iron, Zinc, Fiber