Alright, let’s talk about this lemon pepper cod, you know? I ain’t no fancy chef or nothin’, but I can cook up a tasty meal. And this fish, oh this fish, it’s somethin’ special. Even my old man, who usually just grunts at the table, he asks for seconds!
First off, you gotta get yourself some cod. Now, I ain’t picky. Fresh is best, sure, but those frozen fillets work just fine too. Just make sure they ain’t got no weird freezer burn on ’em, you know what I mean? Fishy smell is bad, real bad.
Then comes the lemon pepper. Don’t go buyin’ that fancy pre-made stuff if you don’t want to. It’s just lemon peel, all dried up and crushed, mixed with black pepper. You can make it yourself, easy peasy. Just get yourself some lemons, rub the peel on a grater – the little thing with all them holes – then let it sit out till it’s dry and crumbly. Mix it up with some black pepper, and there you go! You got your own lemon pepper. Saves you a few pennies too.
Now, how to cook it? Well, there’s a bunch of ways, ain’t there? You can bake it in the oven, fry it up in a pan, or even grill it if you’re feelin’ fancy. Me? I usually just bake it. Less mess, you know? Just throw them fillets in a dish, sprinkle on that lemon pepper, a little bit of salt, and maybe some olive oil, though sometimes I just use whatever oil I got on hand. Don’t matter much.
- Baking: Heat your oven to about 375, stick the fish in there for, I dunno, 15-20 minutes. Till it flakes, you know? You can poke it with a fork and if it comes apart easy, it’s done.
- Frying: Just put some oil in a pan, get it hot, and fry those fillets for a few minutes on each side. Makes it crispy, which some folks like. Just don’t burn it, that ain’t no good.
- Grilling: If you got a grill, well, you probably know how to use it better than me. Just make sure it ain’t too hot, otherwise the fish will dry out. You wanna keep it juicy, that’s the secret.
Now, what to eat with this lemon pepper cod? Well, you need somethin’ to soak up all that good juice. I usually make mashed potatoes. Just boil some potatoes, mash ‘em up with some butter and milk, maybe a little bit of salt and pepper. Easy peasy, and it goes great with the fish.
But you can have other things too, you know? Like rice. Or maybe some veggies. Green beans are good, or corn on the cob if it’s in season. Even just a simple salad. Whatever you got in the fridge will do, really. Ain’t gotta be fancy, remember?
And listen, cod ain’t just tasty, it’s good for you too! Keeps you healthy, they say. Gives you energy to chase them grandkids around. And that lemon pepper, that just makes it even better. The lemon gives it a nice zing, and the pepper, well, pepper just makes everything taste better.
So there you have it. Lemon pepper cod. It ain’t rocket science, I’m telling you. Even a blind squirrel can find a nut, and even I can cook this. And if I can cook it, you can too. So go on, give it a try. Your belly will thank you, and so will your family. Unless they’re picky eaters, then you’re on your own, ha!
And don’t forget, cooking is about feeling, not just following some fancy recipe. Add a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and make it your own. That’s the real secret to good cooking, I tell ya. Just like life, you gotta experiment a little, you know? Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t, but you always learn somethin’ along the way.
Now go on, get cookin’! And don’t forget to clean up after yourself, or you’ll have ants everywhere. I’m tellin’ ya, those little critters are worse than a tax collector!
Tags: [lemon pepper, cod, fish recipe, easy dinner, healthy eating, baking fish, pan-fried fish, grilled fish, side dishes for fish, homemade seasoning]