Sesame Seared Tuna with Lime Ginger Vinaigrette with Parmesan Green Beans

This was such a light, delicious dinner Saturday night.  Tim and I getting used to eating so healthy and continuing to explore new flavors and ways of cooking healthy.

Sesame Seared Tuna with Lime Ginger Vinaigrette with Parmesan Green Beans

3 tablespoons black sesame seeds
3 tablespoons white sesame seeds
2 pieces tuna fish fillet (about 1 pound)
1 teaspoon wasabi paste
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice ( or other vinegar)
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
3 tablespoons avocado oil
Salt and pepper
2 large handfuls salad greens (optional)

The ratio for a vinaigrette is 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar.  For the oil, you can use olive, vegetable canola, grapeseed, etc.   For this recipe avocado oil is used.  The vinegar can be balsamic, rice vinegar, white vinegar, lime juice or lemon juice.

In a shallow bowl, add the black and the white sesame seeds.  pat the tuna very dry.  Smear a bit of wasabi paste on both sides of the fish.  Season the fish with salt and pepper.

Heat a frying pan over medium-high heat and add the cooking oil.  When the oil is shimmering, carefully lay the tuna fillets in the pan, not touching.  Cook for 2 minutes then flip the tuna.  Cook 2 minutes, then flip the fillets to its side to cook 1 minute.   Flip one more time to cook the other side for 1 minutes so that you have a good sear on all sides.  Please take care not to burn the sesame seeds.  If the seeds start turning brown too quickly,  lower the heat.   Remove the fish to a plate.

In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, ginger and the oil.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Slice the fish into thin slices and arrange on a plate.  Drizzle some of the lime-ginger vinaigrette over the fish.  Toss the remaining lime-ginger vinaigrette with salad greens, if desired.


Parmesan Green Beans

1 1/4 pounds of green beans
pinch of Kosher salt
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, finely grated
extra virgin olive oil
1/2 of a lemon

1. Line up the green beans on a chopping board and cut off the stalks.

2. Put the beans in a sauce pan of boiling water with a dash of salt and cook for about six minutes. Drain, reserving some of the cooking water, and set them aside to steam dry.

3. Put the pan back on the heat, add the oil and the garlic. Stir. When the garlic starts to turn golden, add the beans and shake them around in the pan to coat them in the garlic oil.

4. Add a small ladleful of the reserved cooking water, the parmesan cheese, and the lemon juice. Stir and simmer until the water and cheese start to form an oozy, sticky sauce. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

Seed Station

It may not look like much now, however, we will start the seeds very soon.  We are attempting to kick our seedlings into high gear shortly.  We are determined to make the most of this summer and plant tons of perennials and veggies.  8 foot plywood table base and suspended work light is just the first step and this in combination with outside winter planting in tubs will maximize our spring planting.  So excited.  Trying to minimize any travel plans for this summer since the past couple summers have been a little crazy.  Want to have the most wonderful Bovina summer ever!

Mothers and Sons

What is it about our Mothers that strikes such a chord?  They protect us.  They are our first loves.  They are our world for so much of our childhood.  I adore my Mother. It breaks my heart with what she has had to go through in the last few years with my Brother's death in 2005 and then my Dad's death last year.   There is nothing I can do that can make up for her loss.  The hardest part of our lives is when we become their protectors.  I feel I can't do enough to keep all the pain away.  We both enter a new phase of our lives and our roles shift and change and all I can hope for is the grace and patience and ability to meet this challenge. I love you, Mom. You are everything to me.   Years ago, I was in this small community theatre show called "Minnie's Boys" and this was one of my favorite songs.


What do you give to the lady
Who has given all her life
And love to you?
What do you give
To the reason you`re livin`?
I could windowshop the world
Before I`m through.

Mama, a rainbow,
Mama, a sunrise,
Mama, the moon to wear.
That`s not good enough,
No, not good enough.
Not for mama.

Mama, a palace.
Diamonds like doorknobs.
Mountains of gold to spare.
That`s not rich enough,
Not half rich enough,
Not for mama.
Mama, a lifetime,
Crowded with laughter,
That`s not long enough,
Not half long enough.

What can I give you
That I can give you?
What will your present be?
Mama young and beautiful.
Always young and beautiful.
That`s the mama I`ll always see,
That`s for mama with love from me.

Lima Peru

So, while NY was still experiencing it's longest, coldest winter ever... we snuck away for a week in the sun.  We flew south to Lima, Peru.  80 degree weather, sunsets over the Pacific Ocean, amazing food and gorgeous architecture and people - what could be a better way to spend some time away from the snow?  We have been to Buenos Aires, Rio and so we continue our current obsession with South America by spending a week in Lima, Peru.  What a surprise.  It was beyond our expectations.  We went on food tours, architecture tours, walks on the beaches, lots of ruins, lots of museums, great shopping and way too many Pisco Sours - it was wonderful.  We did not want to leave.  The amazing assortment of local fruit and vegetables and different flavors  - we will be making Peruvian dishes all summer this year. An amazing trip.