Spicy Red Snapper with Mango Salsa

1 pound fresh or frozen red snapper fillets or other firm-fleshed whitefish, such as orange roughy, redfish, or haddock
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 recipe Mango Salsa (see recipe below)
1 medium lime, cut into wedges (optional)
Fresh cilantro or parsley sprigs (optional)

1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into 4 serving-size pieces. Measure thickness of fish. In a small bowl combine lime juice and water; brush onto fish. In another small bowl combine paprika, salt, ginger, allspice, and black pepper; rub onto fish.

2. Arrange the fish in a shallow baking pan. Bake, uncovered, in a 450 degree F oven until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (Allow 4 to 6 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness.)

3. To serve, brush the fish with pan juices. Serve with Mango Salsa. If desired, garnish with lime wedges and cilantro or parsley sprigs. Makes 4 servings.

Mango Salsa: In a medium mixing bowl combine 1 mango, peeled, seeded, and chopped (about 1-1/2 cups); 1 medium red sweet pepper, seeded and finely chopped; 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion; 1 Scotch bonnet or hot green chili pepper, seeded and finely chopped; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon finely shredded lime peel; 2 tablespoons lime juice; 1 tablespoon vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Makes about 2 cups.

Thai Shrimp and Fresh Vegetable Rice

3/4 pound fresh or frozen peeled and deveined medium shrimp
2 tablespoons lime juice
4 teaspoons soy sauce
1 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped*
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 pound asparagus spears, bias-sliced into 1-inch pieces
1 small red sweet pepper, cut into thin bite-size strips
3 cups hot cooked rice
1/4 cup chopped peanuts

1. Thaw shrimp, if frozen. Rinse shrimp; pat dry. Place shrimp in medium bowl. For marinade, combine lime juice, soy sauce, jalapeno pepper, ginger, and garlic. Pour over shrimp; toss to coat. Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain shrimp well, reserving marinade.

2. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. (Add more oil if necessary during cooking.) Stir-fry shrimp in hot oil for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Remove from wok; cover and keep warm. Add asparagus and pepper strips to wok; stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add reserved marinade to wok and bring just to boiling. Stir in cooked rice and peanuts.

3. To serve, transfer rice mixture to individual bowls or dinner plates. Spoon shrimp on top. Makes 4 servings.

*Note: Because chili peppers, such as jalapenos, contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chili peppers, put plastic bags over your hands or wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the chili peppers, wash your hands well with soap and warm water.

Make-Ahead Tip: Prepare shrimp as above. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Drain well, reserving marinade. Cook and serve as above.

Soy-Lime Scallops with Leeks

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 pound fresh or frozen sea scallops
1 small leek or 4 baby leeks
8 medium green or red scallions or green onions
1 medium lime, halved
Black sesame seeds (optional)

1. For marinade, in a small bowl combine soy sauce and rice vinegar; set aside.

2. Thaw scallops, if frozen. Rinse scallops, pat dry with paper towels. Trim root end and green tops of leek. Rinse leek thoroughly to remove any grit. Cut the one small leek lengthwise into quarters; insert a wooden pick crosswise through each leek quarter to hold layers together when grilling. Or, trim the baby leeks.

3. Place leeks, scallops, and scallions in a plastic bag set in a shallow bowl. Add marinade. Seal bag; turn to coat scallops and vegetables. Marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

4. Remove scallops, leeks, and scallions from bag. Discard marinade. For a charcoal grill, place leeks, scallops, scallions, and lime halves (cut side down) on the rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 8 to 10 minutes or until scallops are opaque, turning scallops and vegetables occasionally. Remove any scallions from grill rack before they overbrown. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place leeks, scallions, and scallops on grill rack over heat. Grill as above.)

5. To serve, transfer leeks and scallions to serving plates. Top with scallops. Using grilling tongs, remove limes from grill and squeeze over scallops. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds, if desired. Makes 4 servings.