Featured recipe from Marilu's table * Mediterranean salmon

Here's a different (and still incredibly easy) way to prepare salmon. We like to serve the salmon and vegetables on a bed of steamed spinach.

To make this recipe extra easy, purchase pitted Kalamata olives. If your grocery store has an olive bar, you may be able to get them already halved.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Mediterranean Sea Salmon

Purple * Serves 4

Four 6- to 8-ounce salmon steaks or fillet, rinsed and dried

20 asparagus stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces

12 cherry tomatoes

12 Kalamata olives, pitted and cut in half

4 Tablespoons olive oil for drizzling

6 basil leaves, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

Preheat oven to 375F.

In a large baking dish place salmon, asparagus, tomatoes, and olives. Drizzle with olive oil and top with basil. Sprinkle with a little salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover and cook an additional 10 minutes, checking the center of salmon to your preferred doneness.