Renovations and a Recipe

Well the renovations are underway.  At least they haven’t taken over the kitchen (yet!)  I made this for dinner tonight.  It’ s delicious and FAST and a great dinner for DH and I once the kids are put to bed.  I’ve combined and modified a couple of recipes, one from Epicurious and one from watching Emeril cook on TV.  Enjoy!

Catfish in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

For the marinade:

1 (14-oz) can of Lite Coconut Milk
1 tablespoon Lime Juice
Pinch of paprika

2 (14-oz) cans Rotel Tomatoes with Green Chiles (mild)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
Rounded 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
3/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon fresh ginger root
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar or Splenda
2-3 (5-oz) catfish fillets
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Preparation
Place catfish in covered dish with marinade for 45 minutes at room temperature.  Any longer will break down the fish.
Meanwhile, put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook garlic, spices, and 3/4 teaspoon salt, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add Rotel tomatos and sugar and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 6 to 8 minutes.

Using a 13- by 9-inch baking dish, pat fish dry. Arrange fillets in 1, tucking each tail end under if necessary to fit.  Pour sauce on top.  Bake until fish is just cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes, until it flakes easily.

Place catfish on plates, with a generous helping of the sauce and serve with fresh cilantro sprinkled over the top.

And on to the rest of the house.  Even these modest renovations make me feel like a construction foreman.  At any time there are up to five men walking around the house.  Because I have been very happy with their work, I will list them here.  We have contracted with:

  • Kevin McNally, Makeovers by McNally of Newtown
  • Dan Roe, Square One Carpentry of Bethel
  • Danbury Tile & Granite / American Flag Granite of Danbury
  • and purchased fixtures and vanities etc. from Lowes and Home Depot

Family Room – before:

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Family Room – after (ok, during)

We had the fireplace mantel redesigned.  Before, it looked like spare plywood and some window trimming..  We also had him continue the curve on the top of it.

We also had the room painted Benjamin Moore, Yosemite Sand.  I love this color.

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Bathrooms.  No need for a before.  Suffice it to say, it was boring, run-of-the-mill white tiles, white laminate countertops and the most horrid color that Benjamin Moore makes: China White.  It’ s hideous grey-white.  The old tiles were 4" in size and 2" in the master.  This is the new tile, in 12" and 4" combination:

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In the three bathrooms, the white laminate counter tops are being replaced with a gorgeous granite.  That isn’t here yet.  This is an example, similar stuff from Lowe’s, but I used a small, local company – Danbury Tile and Marble / American Flag Granite.

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The dining room has been painted the same color as the family room, with the trim in a Super White.

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Ok, the water has been turned off for the rest of the day.  Time to get the kids out of the house.

Have a great day!

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