Books & Spoons Recipe for the healthier new year

January is for many, the time to reflect, start anew, and try new things. Many New Year's promises and declarations have been made, and we struggle to hold on to them, whatever they may be.
Many of us promise to take better care of ourselves, exercise and eat healthier, maybe even lose weight. At the same time, in many places on the planet, it is cold if not freezing, maybe even snow, and you want to just cuddle up, drink hot beverages, and eat comfort food.

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I didn't make any New Year's resolutions this year, but after all the good, fatty, Christmas food, I am ready to try something lighter, but still tasting delicious and looking good.
Here in Norway, you can get salmon for a reasonable price, something many are concerned in January. For me, salmon is my 'go-to' fish, because of the taste.

I would say for this dish, just about any fish would do, and work well with the vegetables. I like the ease of the dish, even with the clean up time. It's also easy to take into consideration all the possible allergies, and other individual wishes, but making one pouch for each person. I prepared two servings in the one pouch, just lots of vegetables, and spices, with the fish. 

When cutting the vegetables, it is a good thing to remember the different cooking times for different density veggies. For that reason, I cut the carrots into a thin stripes, left the broccoli a little bigger, onion and bell peppers larger. Since I pack the fish into the pouch with the veggies, everything should be ready at the time the fish is done. 
For spices I used a good freshly ground black pepper, salt, and on the fish some cayenne pepper, to give it a kick, and little after-heat in the taste. Loved the results. 

For vegetables I used bell peppers, carrot, red onion, broccoli. I also added a little lime juice on the fish before seasoning, and bay leaf on the pouch for aroma. Remember, more the color, the more vitamins, and nutrients the vegetables will have. 
With lots of vegetables per person, this can be a tasty meal in itself, or you can serve pasta, rice, or noodles, potatoes on the side. The juice from the pouch can be used as a lovely sauce if you so desire. 
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. And I wish your New Year's resolutions are still holding and going on strong
~ Cheers

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