Panko Crusted Cod

I love my job. I get to talk and write about food all day. I can spend hours chopping, slicing, dicing, stirring, then carefully plating, styling, photographing my creations. But sometimes, like many of us, I get home and simply lack the energy to create a delicious meal, despite my earlier-in-the-afternoon daydream about the fabulous meal I would whip up once I was back in my kitchen.

Last night was one of those nights. And to top it off I knew any cooking would then require cleaning - something I just wasn't up to.  The perfect solution? Oven-baked fish. Healthier than pan-fried, no grease splatter on your stove and only one dish to wash.

We took out our fresh Pacific cod, grabbed some panko and mixed in a little seasoning from a new-to-me company Amazing Taste. The various seasonings, which also happen to be Amazingly Inexpensive, can be used as marinades or rubs and we chose the rub direction. We decided on the Malibu blend of black pepper, onion, garlic and paprika; a nice combination for our fish. We coated the top of the fish with the seasoned panko and threw the pan in the oven. With the quick addition of some lemon zest and a big green salad on the side we had ourselves a meal!

Easy and delicious. Just what I needed after a long day (I even managed to clean the pan).