Parmesan Crusted Cod

Now that the champagne has been drunk, confetti has been thrown, first kisses have been made, and Auld Lang Syne has been sung, we can officially say goodbye to 2012 and welcome in 2013.  With the New Year comes the commitment (temporary or permanent ) to resolutions for change.  Like most people, I usually have a resolution that centers on health, whether it be to sleep more, eat less, exercise consistently, or floss daily (that one's for you, Dad!).  This year, after about a month of gluten-free chocolate chip cookies at 5am and snacks of Peanut Butter M & Ms, I am feeling the need to redirect my eating habits.  And with my family's history of heart disease and Type II Diabetes and hitting the big 3-0 this year, the need to keep consistently healthy eating habits is as crucial as ever.

One thing that my husband requested of me was to make more fish.  I am not exactly experienced at making fish but with it being low in fat, high in protein, and rich in vitamins B and D, now is a good time for me to hone my fish cooking skills. Armed with fresh lemons from his aunt and uncle's greenhouse and full wedge of parmesan, I tried my hand at making cod.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of freshwater cod
• 2/3 cups of gluten free bread crumbs or gluten free crackers smashed in to crumbs
• 2/3 cup parmesan cheese
• Juice from one, medium-sized lemon
• 1 Tablespoon garlic salt
• 1 Tablespoon of gluten free Italian Seasoning
• Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Thaw and wash cod if it was frozen and pat dry with paper towels.  

Comine the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic salt, and Italian seasoning in a bowl or on a plate.  Cut the lemon in have and squeeze out all of the juice on to a plate.  One filet at a time, dip the cod in the lemon juice.  Sprinkle on each side your desired amount of salt and pepper.  Dredge the cod filet in the bread crumb mix until it is completely coated. Complete these steps for all of your filets.  Then, place them in a well-greased baking dish.  If you like, sprinkle some extra parmesan cheese on top.

Bake the filets for about 25 minutes or until they are browning on the edges and the fish easily flakes with a fork.  Serve with your favorite sides!

Any special New Year's resolutions or healthy recipes for the New Year?  Share in the comments section