Baked Haddock and Old Bay roasted Red Potatoes and "The Blind Side"

Most of us wait 365 days a year for Thanksgiving dinner and are still enjoying its leftovers the day after. Come the weekend after Thanksgiving the last thing I want to cook or eat is anything resembling a turkey. Baked haddock is about as far from poultry as you can get and is a quick and easy dinner for any night of the week. Haddock is very mild fish so even if you're typically not a fan of seafood you might really enjoy this dish. Roasted red potatoes with old bay seasoning is the perfect side dish.

2 Haddock fillets (If frozen allow them to thaw completely before baking)

¼ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

2 tablespoons of softened butter

Juice of half of a lemon

About a ½ of a cup of seasoned Panko Bread crumbs

Freshly chopped Parsley

4-5 small red potaoes

¼ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

Kosher Salt

Olive oil

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees

The potatoes will take longer to cook than the fish so we'll start with them. Scrub the potatoes under cold water and cut into quarters. In a mixing bowl - toss the potatoes with the olive oil and the old bay. Arrange on a baking sheet and sprinkle with just a little bit of kosher salt. Bake in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and have browned.

While the potatoes are baking prepare the fish. Mix together the softened butter, old bay, lemon juice, panko bread crumbs, and parsley. Drizzle just enough olive oil on the bottom of a baking dish to coat. Place the haddock fillets in the baking dish and evenly spread the butter and panko mixture over the two fillets. Bake the fillets in the 425 degree oven for 20 minutes. Test the fish by gently pulling at the side with a fork, when done it should easily come apart and be flaky. Serve hot along side the roasted potatoes.

A few weeks back, a reader asked if I knew any movies based on kindness. In spirit of Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season I felt that it was a great time to suggest this week’s movie “The Blind Side”. Based of the incredible true story of Michael Oher, “The Blind Side” is the 2009 film starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, and Tim McGraw. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, an interior designer in Tennessee. When Leigh Anne and her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) find Michael walking alone at night in the cold, they invite him into their home. Michael was homeless at the time with his father dead and his drug addict mother no where to be found. The Tuohy’s take in the young man and treat him like a member of their family. Michael Oher soon changes the life of the Tuohy family in ways they never imagined. Sandra Bullock gives a heart felt performance and would go on to win the academy award as best actress for her portrayal of Mrs. Tuohy.

“The Blind Side” is truly an extraordinary story and one that will pull on the heart strings on more than one occasion. Though part of the movies plot is Michael’s ability to play football and the success he earns doing so, you do not have to be a fan or know anything about the game of football to enjoy this film. It’s a story about kindness, love, and family. Something we all need to appreciate every day, not just around the holidays. With that, I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and movie – Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Here is the trailer for "The Blind Side"