Fish

Some good buys for your health and your pocketbook: Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season. Buy frozen otherwise. Frozen is cheaper and may even be better for you than fresh. That's because produce is usually frozen at its ripest, which is usually when it maxes out in nutrient content too. Some nutrients do break down or leach out in the freezing process, but most make it through.

When Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher were teammates, Bryant used to joke about the lopsided results of their one-on-one games at the Lakers practice facility. On Friday evening, he proved that he wasn't just bragging. Fisher guarded Bryant on two possessions in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the Lakers Western Conference Semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The mismatch resulted in consecutive baskets for Bryant. In the first sequence, Bryant shot a 14-foot turnaround fade away jumper over Fisher to tie the game at 76-76 with 8:17 remaining.

So how many omega-3 fatty acids are enough — and how should you get them? That likely depends on your age and your specific health concerns. The United States does not yet have guidelines for DHA or EPA, and consensus among nutrition experts is elusive. But specialty groups, some governmental agencies and individual experts have started to take a stand. For healthy adults without major medical issues, the European Food Safety Agency recommends a daily dose of 250 milligrams of combined EPA and DHA, while the National Heart Foundation of Australia suggests 500 milligrams.

Simple fish stock Total time: 1 hour Servings: Makes a generous 2 quarts stock. 1 pound small fish, fish heads, bones, trimmings plus any shrimp shells 3 quarts water 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 onion 1 strip of lemon peel 1 strip of orange peel 1 stalk of celery 1 small carrot, split lengthwise Several stems of parsley Pinch of fresh thyme In a large, heavy-bottomed pot,...

Southern California researchers have found evidence of ingestion of plastic among small fish in the northern Pacific Ocean in a study that they say shows the troubling effect floating litter is having on marine life in the far reaches of the world's oceans. About 35% of the fish collected on a 2008 research expedition off the West Coast had plastic in their stomachs, according to a study to be presented Friday by Algalita Marine Research Foundation and the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project.

Melamine in Chinese-produced milk powder has sickened hundreds of thousands of children and added to a growing list of made-in-China foods banned across the globe. Now, some scientists and consumer advocates are raising concerns that fish from China may also be contaminated with the industrial chemical. China is the world's largest producer of farm-raised seafood, exporting billions of dollars worth of shrimp, catfish, tilapia, salmon and other fish. The U.S.

I came to Barbados for the flying fish sandwiches. Not that this small island at the easternmost edge of the Caribbean doesn't offer other attractions. Like perfect weather. And beaches that come in two flavors -- Caribbean, which has a sea that is turquoise and tranquil, and into which the sun sets spectacularly every evening, and Atlantic, where the coastline is rocky and the sand is the color and consistency of cake flour. Then there are the Barbadians themselves, people who are the very definition of friendly locals.

Scrawled on the white board hung behind the bar at Noshi Sushi in Los Angeles, the word " otoro " (fatty tuna) beckons seafood lovers. For the connoisseur, this is the main attraction, the filet mignon of sushi. Atop a small mound of rice, a heavily marbled slice of fish sits precariously — so oily that it's on the verge of falling apart. With one bite, the exquisite cut of bluefin will melt into oblivion. Bluefin tuna may not be a household name, but its taste and texture are famous — and increasingly infamous — among sushi aficionados across the world.

Anaheim Lake provides fun for anglers, but for nearby residents, life has gotten too fishy and smelly lately. "They drain the lake every year," said Erica Kimbrough, who lives in the Vistara housing tract. "They leave the fish rotting and decomposing, and there's a horrible odor that permeates the entire neighborhood." Kimbrough said one child has taken ill, and other residents, including two pregnant woman, have complained of headaches.

WHEN it comes to TVs, cellphones, fashion models -- and now home aquariums -- slim is in. Skinny, wall-mounted aquariums barely thicker than most plasma TVs are popping up everywhere: on restaurant walls, in store displays, even at mall kiosks, where they are sold as novel home decor. These aquariums make amusing, if not striking, additions to a room, but are they safe for the fish? And is it fair to confine a pet, however tiny, to a place that's often less than 5 inches thick?

Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Note: For the fish, use a white fish such as cod or halibut. Serrano ham is available at select gourmet markets and specialty stores. 1 egg, at room temperature 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 quarts simple fish stock 1 1/2 cups diced boiling potatoes 1/4 cup shelled peas, fresh or frozen 1 1/2 cups chunks of raw fish 1/4 cup chopped Serrano ham 1/3 cup peeled shrimp (3 ounces)

Total time: 1 hour Servings: 4 Note: For the stew, use a white fish such as cod or halibut. 1 1/2 pounds fish fillets Salt 1 1/2 pounds boiling potatoes, peeled and quartered 1 quart water 1 onion, quartered 2 bay leaves 1/4 cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, chopped 2 tablespoons sweet pimentón (paprika, not smoked) 2 tablespoons wine vinegar 1. Cut the fish fillets into chunks and place the fish in a bowl.

Birds twitter and sunshine twinkles through groves of bamboo and banyan trees adorned with cascades of orchids. With every step, my Vibram boot soles crush hibiscus blossoms littering a pathway, while butterflies flutter around a group of elderly folks welcoming the morning with the gracious silent semaphore of tai chi. At a clearing where remnants of a World War ll gun emplacement rust, half-swallowed in greenery, an opening in the jungle reveals...

MAMMOTH LAKES - On the banks of a jutting little river, I'm trying to think like a trout thinks: Did I pay the mortgage on time? When do the Kings play next? Whatever happened to that sassy Helen Hunt? No, wait, those are my thoughts. Then, WHAM, something takes the lure and I'm officially a fly fisherman. Constantly looking for an activity where my deficiencies aren't quite so apparent, something outdoors where I don't have to run a lot, or strip down to my skivvies, or maintain eye contact for more than a moment, I am drawn now to fly fishing, not so much a sport as a Christopher Guest movie.

Fly-fishing season in Wyoming starts next month and lasts well into fall. The Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Jackson offers a three-night package perfect for those who want a few quiet days of fishing with a little luxury too. The Angler's Dream package includes three nights lodging and two days of private guided fishing on the Snake River just a few miles away. When not on the river, guests can relax at the spa or take a dip in one of the lodge's heated pools. It's a good jumping off point for visiting Grand Teton National Park (from the  southern entrance)

Tests on seafood sold at Los Angeles sushi bars, other restaurants, and grocery stores have revealed that more than half is not labeled correctly, a nonprofit organization is reporting. Red snapper, Dover sole, white tuna and other fish were often different species, the group Oceana found in DNA tests of seafood from 74 retail outlets in Los Angeles. In all, 55% of 119 fish samples from across L.A. were misidentified, Oceana said. Oceana focused on the frequency of mislabeling rather than its origins.

With only 19 days before the newly restored Hansen Dam Recreational Center is open to the public, 375 pounds of catfish were dumped into the fishing lake Monday. The artificial lake and another for swimming will open Aug. 28, marking the initial phase of a 17-year project designed to restore the recreation area to its 1950s prominence among Los Angeles parks. The lakes will be opened to the public with daylong festivities Aug. 28.

Total time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Note: For the fish, use a white fish such as cod or halibut. Serrano ham is available at select gourmet markets and specialty stores. 1 egg, at room temperature 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 2 quarts simple fish stock 1 1/2 cups diced boiling potatoes 1/4 cup shelled peas, fresh or frozen 1 1/2 cups chunks of raw fish 1/4 cup chopped Serrano ham 1/3 cup peeled shrimp (3 ounces)

The mountain lion hunt that put California Fish and Game Commission President Daniel W. Richards in the center of a political firestorm has him in trouble again. The enforcement chief for the state's Fair Political Practices Commission informed Richards on Thursday that he had violated the gift limits of the Political Reform Act when he went on the Idaho hunt but failed to pay the fee that the Flying B Ranch usually imposes. Richards eventually reimbursed the ranch $6,800 on March 5, but he did it after the expiration of the 30-day time period that state officials are given to pay back the value of an illegal gift, and after a complaint had already been filed with the FPPC.

If you've got company, it's always a nice touch to break through the salt crust tableside. It's like doing a magic trick. But return the fish to the kitchen to fillet it, since this is a messy process. • Using two spatulas, gently lift the fish out of its salt bed and onto a clean work surface (it will be tender and want to fall apart easily). Scrape off any salt clinging to the fish with the blade of your slicing knife. It's important to be as thorough as possible with this.