ONE MORE BITE

Marinating fresh fish is like taking an easy shortcut to flavor. Where beef and poultry may need to marinate for hours, and sometimes days, to ensure that the ingredients penetrate and tenderize the meat, fish needs only minutes of marinating to impart flavor into its delicate tissue.

The spring holidays of Passover and Easter are fast approaching. Holiday plans are under way, along with the added stress involved with preparing and entertaining. Eddie's catering allows you to keep up with traditions and enjoy your celebration, too.

Now that we're starting to come out of hibernation after that awful winter, we're thinking about entertaining again. One of the easiest ways to put a party together -- especially at the last minute, or when you have precious little time to prepare -- is to assemble a cheese board. There's no cooking required, and you can set it up in advance. If you plan well, you won't need too much else in the way of hors d'oeuvres, and if it's a cocktail party rather than dinner, the lion's share of the work is done!

With the rough weather behind us, we can slowly catch a glimpse of spring. Spring greens, roasted asparagus, fresh herbs and spring lamb find their way to our tables. As the spring holidays approach, lamb becomes the centerpiece, with ethnic and biblical significance in both Easter and Passover.

Spring is almost here! You can smell it in the air. Let go of winter and let spring fever take hold! You can bring that freshness of spring into your home by making these simple changes in your pantry: reorganize, rotate and refresh.

First, get rid of excess. Throw away those items that are expired or have been open for more than a year and have either lost their potency or become stale.

What do you do when you're hungry, but are too tired, too cold and/or too lazy to start cooking dinner at the end of the day? Sure, you can order pizza or open a box of cereal, but that just doesn't feel like dinner, nor does it satisfy your mind, your stomach or your palate.

Smell the jazz in the air. We're talking about Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Fat Tuesday and all of the deliciousness that goes along with it. Just smell the King Cakes baking in our ovens. Sugary Paczkis filled with jelly, apple or custard are ready and waiting to be indulged for Fat Tuesday.

Do you remember the "layered look" of the '70's? That was when one would wear three shirts at one time and call it a "fashion statement." That didn't last long, thankfully, but the layers we love to remember are the layers of flavor that make what we know today as lasagna. Flat rectangular noodles, layered with cheeses, meats, vegetables and sauce, make up this beloved baked creation.

Eating healthier is important to just about everyone, and how we define "healthy" can vary from person to person. As foods made with organic ingredients become more and more popular, we are increasing the number of products we carry that have earned that certification.

Just for Valentine’s Day, what fun to craft a verse,

We could have started with “roses are red,” and that would have been worse.

With love in the air, sweet chocolates abound:

How do A. Kirchmayr hearts and Naron assortments sound?

For those who want to impress, flirt and woo,

Try our gourmet Valentine’s Dinner for Two.