[lemon flounder]

Today I am going to make lemon flounder with sauteed green beans, garlic cheese mashed potatoes and flower pot bread rolls! This is the go-to dish that David and I really enjoy eating because it is so simple and fast with not much prep time. I am going to the store to pick up a few items and then I will talk about the recipe and the way to cook this delicious and easy meal!

Phase 1: Prep work to do when you wake up in the morning:

You can basically use any type of white fish or salmon for this recipe. As far as this blog entry goes, I will be using Flounder.

I got this bag from Aldi's for $3.99. Being poor and in college means to shop where it is the cheapest! It comes with 5-6 decent size skinless and boneless fillets that are actually quite tasty.
I like using flounder with this recipe because it isn't as delicate as some fish can be.
I took this out at around 10am and put it in the refrigerator to defrost. If you are in a rush or don't feel like defrosting it, you can place the fish in a sink full of hot water right before you are ready to cook. Fish defrosts very easily!
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This is totally optional but I really enjoy fresh bread rolls. David's mother makes these really great bread rolls that you put into a little flower pot and bake in the oven. They are really buttery and very garlicy!

1. I buy the little bread rolls that need to be set out for 4-6 hours to rise.
2. Crush up the amount of garlic that you prefer. I just buy the already crushed garlic in a little jar. I use about 1/4 teaspoon for each pot.
   
3. Use about 1 teaspoon of butter and put ontop of the frozen bread rolls.
   
4. Place two bread rolls in a glazed ceramic flower pot and place it in somewhere warm. (I usually heat the oven to about 175 degree's and turn it off and place the frozen rolls in there just to stay in a warm place. 4-6 hours is about average.)

These are the bread rolls about 4 hours in! Still a little bit more rising to go!!

Phase 2: Sauteed Green Beans!

Ingredients:

• 1/2lb of fresh green beans
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 4 tbsp water
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds
• dash of lemon (optional)

1. About 30 minutes before you are about to eat, it's time to saute the green beans! Now, here in Warrensburg, we get the fresh kind where we have to cut the ends off, if so, do that ahead of time and rinse them well! Unfortunately, I couldn't find fresh... word of advice after we ate.. do not buy the frozen kind of saute purposes! Yuk!!!!
2. Put the green beans in a medium size pan that has a lid.
   
3. Pour water in the pot so the green beans steam and become soft and chewy.
4. Add sesame seeds and sesame oil
5. Add soy sauce (add more if you likes strong flavor)
6. Add a dash (optional) of lemon juice to give it an great kick!!
   
7. Set pan on low, and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

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Here Comes the Tricky Stuff!!! Multi-Tasking!
Phase 3: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cooking Bread Flower Pots and Cooking the Fish!

Ingredients for potatoes:

• 4 medium potatoes
• dash of milk
• 1 tbsp of butter
• 1/2 teaspoon of crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup of cheese

1. Wash and peel potatoes, then slice into 1/2in cubes
2. Put in a bowl and cook for 15-20 minutes depending on the power of the microwave (at the same time, place bread pots in the oven at 350!!)
3. About 10 minutes in, heat up a george forman grill, or just a normal grill or pan -- place fish brushed with a little olive oil
4. Sprinkle some lemon pepper and italian seasoning and close! Cook for 5-10 minutes!
   
5. When the potatoes are finished, drain potatoes -- add a dash of milk and butter.
6. Add cheese and garlic!
7. Mix together with a mixer and place in a covered dish to keep warm
8. Pull out bread pots and place in a warm place covered with a paper towel

This is the finished bread flower pot! Sorry that it looks so dirty, it's just the butter that cooked onto the side!!

Here is David, doing his usual, "oh you're taking a picture so I'm going to cock my head back all weird" eating the flounder!! All in all, the main lesson I learned today is that frozen green beans are NOT good when sauteed. ALWAYS use fresh green beans!!

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Tomorrow is Korean Dinner Day! Much posting!
Toodles!