Liberally Seasoned

Spinach, Mushroom & Sausage Lasagna

1 lb oven-ready lasagna noodles

1 lb sweet italian sausage links, casings removed

1/2 lb white mushrooms, sliced

1/2 yellow onion, chopped

26-oz can spaghetti sauce (hey I don’t have time to make it homemade)

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 pints part-skim ricotta cheese

1 c. parmesan cheese

1/2 lb mozzarella cheese

8oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Red pepper flakes

Salt & Pepper

Extra-virgin olive oil

In a medium skillet,  heat 2 tsp. EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and a pinch of salt & pepper, and red pepper flakes. Saute until soft and brown, add onion and saute one more minute. Add Italian sausage and break up with spatula until browned and crumbled. Add chopped garlic and sauce. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1/2 Parmesan cheese, 1/3 mozzarella cheese and spinach (drained) and salt and pepper. In a casserole dish, layer a ladle-full of sauce, followed by noodles, then cheese mixture, then sauce. Repeat x2. After final layer of sauce, put the rest of the mozzarella cheese and remaining 1/2 of parm. Bake at 350 for 60 min.

Our primary is in a few weeks. And I have a problem. I would love to have either Obama or Clinton as my next president. What to do? I have been through the issues with each candidate and while Obama shares more of my beliefs and positions, I feel strangely compelled to vote for Clinton. I have loved her for a long, long time and had planned on voting for her for a few years now. In fact a couple of years ago I had a “Elect Hillary” bumper sticker on my car. But now I am frozen. Both candidates are in town and I am going to try to see them both.

Four years ago, I was strongly behind Howard Dean, traveling and campaigning extensively for him…but now I can’t commit. Maybe because I was hurt so badly last time. I really thought I would be a strong supporter of someone right now. And I am a strong supporter, just of both of them. Unfortunately I have to choose one come March 4.

What the fuck? Why do people love tilapia so much? It is the worst fish I have encountered so far in both texture and taste. Sure, it’s cheap and widely available, but this still does not explain North Texas’ affinity for it. I cannot tell you how many times a day customers come up to the case to survey the dozens of fillets and steaks, appearing to be carefully scrutinizing each fish, contemplating taste, origin, and cooking method, only to ask me for 2 lbs of tilapia. Every time this happens I want to scream at them, throw the bag of fish into their cart and tell them not to come back. If all you can manage is tilapia, then you have no business entering the store. Or existing, for that matter. Why not try tuna, or halibut, or even salmon (coming soon a rant about atlantic salmon)?

No respectable eatery serves tilapia, but rather it is to be found at Chili’s, Applebees and the like. One reason is that there are only a few ways to cook this fish to make it edible. And no, idiot, you can’t grill tilapia. It’s too thin and has no skin. What the hell are you thinking? Do you want to take your fork to the charcoal bricks to eat your fish piece by piece? Another reason is that tilapia is so fucking bland. “Yes, I would like the seared tilapia with mango chutney.” Do you know why there is always some sort of salsa, chutney or stuffing served with tilapia? BECAUSE IT HAS NO TASTE!!

I know, I know, I should be supporting people’s love affair with tilapia. It is constantly hailed as the fish of the future (kill me now) because it is easily farmed with little environmental impact and can be farmed pretty much anywhere in the world. But is that a reason to constantly choose this fish over any other on a daily basis? Most fish available in markets these days is farmed (yet again, another topic in the future). Because of its abundance, it is also very cheap. But can’t these dot-com execs and trophy wives pony up an extra 5-spot to pay for a better fillet?

In conclusion, if you ever come up to me and ask for tilapia, I will refuse service.

Ok. Here’s the deal. This is my first blog, and I make no promises. I intend to write about my experiences with food, daily encounters and provide an extra large dose of liberalism. What’s old is new again, and I am back in Texas, this time by choice. I have no professional food experience, but I consider myself a foodie at heart. I work in a specialty grocery store, and run into lots of interesting people, which brings me to my first real post, to be entitled, “I Hate Tilapia, and the People Who Love it.” Oh, and please email me. LiberallySeasoned@gmail.com.