Pan-Seared Cod Recipe and Birthdays and Car Stuff

Today my middle son is no longer a kid – he’s a teen! He requested two used computer games for his birthday, but he didn’t request them until  last week. I ordered them from Amazon sellers, and since I didn’t expect them to arrive in time, I told him that I was getting them for him. And then they both arrived during the week. He knew what the packages were, but I wouldn’t let him have them until today. So that’s where he’s been all day.

I also got him a watch, which is our tradition when a kid becomes a teenager. I don’t think he remembered that both of his sisters had gotten one on their birthdays. When he opened it, he jumped for joy, which made me very happy.

I got my car back today. Apparently the check engine light was that the fifth cylinder was misfiring, and the spark plugs hadn’t been changed since the car was new in 1997 (I’ve had it for a year)! So they did a full tune-up, and I got it back today, but it’s running a little funny. I will be calling them in the morning.

Last night I made pan-seared cod with roasted asparagus and couscous.  It’s very simple, and you can use any other sustainable white fish instead of cod.

Pan-seared Cod

Pan-seared cod

4 cod fillets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Put a skillet on medium-high heat and add the olive oil and butter. While that heats up, put salt and pepper on both sides of the fish fillets. When the butter melts (don’t let it brown) and the olive oil shimmers, add the cod fillets. Let them sit 5 minutes without moving them, and then flip them and let the other side brown until the fish flakes when you test it with a fork.

(I sprinkled mine with a little bit of parsley before serving, just to make it prettier.)

I like to serve pan-seared cod with roasted asparagus and either a rice medley or cous cous. (Cous cous is much quicker, if you got involved in rearranging your bookshelves and suddenly noticed it’s past dinner time. I’m just sayin’.)

P.S. Yeah, that picture is from last week. That is indeed a rice medley and not couscous in the picture.

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday and Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.