Another Christmas

Did Christmas Eve much in the same way as last: the feast of the 7 fishes, an Italian traditional. No, not Italian, and many of the dishes I served were of the Cajun/Creole kind, and the Jewish kind, too.
7 seafood "dishes": jar of pickled herring, smoked salmon roll-ups with cream cheese, capers, and onions. Hubby wouldn't eat but did admit they looked pretty (would be nice for a party). Shrimp salad in Louisiana remolade sauce served over shredded iceberg. "grilled" oysters in the oven: drained, coated with bread crumbs and parmasean. Crabmeat au Gratin. Fried calamari and the NRA (new recipe alert) Cod Stew, a healthier take on a traditional Italian dish. Great for winter. Easy, too.
Christmas Cod
serves 4
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 chopped onion
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1 white turnip, peeled and diced
2 minced cloves of garlic, divided
1/4 tsp. paprika
1 bay leaf
1 can white beans
4 4-oz. portions of cod
salt and pepper
1 halved lemon

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat, add veggies, bay leaf, and half of the garlic. Cook for about 7 minutes or until veggies tender. Add the paprika, the rest of the garlic and the drained can of beans. Heat till warm.
Season fish with salt and pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Cook cod for 3-4 minutes on one side. Flip, then cook for 2-3 more minutes.
Serve veggie-bean stew in bowls and top with cod. Finish with a squeeze of the lemon.