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Cooking in the Bag - paper bag

The French call it En Papillote, meaning in paper. Cooking food in paper is fun, it can be elegant and best of all it is a really healthy alternative! In fact, what happens inside that paper is the food actually steams and the nutrients are trapped inside.

If you don't know how to cook in parchment papper, you can accomplish the same thing in foil or even in a small lunch bag (sprayed lightly on the outside with cooking spray).

Things that cook well in foil or paper are, chicken breasts, fish, sea scallops, and lots of vegetables. I usually cook these things at 400 - 425 degrees. I like to make one packet for each person dining. Timing is anywhere from 15 minutes to 22 minutes (or more), depending on thickness.

You'll want to add flavor to your packet and the options are endless. With Salmon, I like to lay my fillet on spinach or tomato slices, season the fish well and top it off with a teaspoon of pesto and a teaspoon of white wine.

Just imagine all the combinations you can come up with! Feel free to share them with all of us!

For more ideas about cooking en papillote see my January 20, 2007, post.
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