the Fare

Healthful & Light

When you think of eating light, inevitably your mind lands upon the ubiquitous salad. Luckily, there is more to healthful eating than a plateful of raw veggies.

I have a lot of friends who are very conscious of what they eat, so I love to treat them to seafood and fish whenever possible. In the Twin Cities, Coastal Seafoods is my go-to for the best quality, as well as great recipes. Try their Thai Flavored Grilled Swordfish for loads of flavor without lots of fat and calories. Celebrity chef Daniel Green also has a great website with fabulous seafood recipes that are tasty and good for you at www.televisioncookery.com. His Miso Salmon is out of this world!

A favorite of mine is beans. Beans are high in protein and fiber, and can stand up well to strong flavors well. I like to add cannellini beans to sautéed onions and garlic, along with some red pepper flakes, sundried tomatoes and fresh basil. Finish with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, and you have wonderful side or bruschetta topping.

Wondering what to start the party with? When in doubt, go simple - take a slice of hearty whole grain bread, toast, then spread with fresh avocado. Layer with sliced cucumbers or tomatoes, season with salt & pepper and serve. The lusciousness of the avocado will fool your guests into thinking they are getting something sinful. Another indispensable recipe couldn't be easier - Ceviche. Mix chopped raw (peeled and deveined) shrimp with diced serrano peppers, cilantro, tomatoes, avocados, red onion and mango - season with fresh squeezed lime juice, salt and pepper and let refrigerate for an hour before serving.

- Kiersa Notz, Creative Director, the Affair