START WITH GOOD FOOD

Jan's recipe for shark (called toyo or toyito in Spanish):

TOYO BOYO

· Saute (until garlic is golden) a sofrito of minced garlic (2-3 cloves or more), minced onion (1/2 onion), 2 tsps. chopped cilantro (leaves only) and if you can get it, 1/2 tsp. fresh curcuma* (or turmeric, called palillo in Peru) shredded.

· Add about 2 cups of fish stock & bring to a boil.

· Throw in raw peas (optional) and cubed raw potatoes and cook 10-15 minutes.

· Add 2 whole cobs of corn broken in half, the rest of the whole stick of curcuma/turmeric shredded. Powdered turmeric, if using instead (See * below).

· Add about 2 pounds (1 kilo) of shark cut into 2" cubes and cook about 10 minutes.

· Sprinkle with more chopped cilantro, salt & pepper, and serve in soup bowls with rice.

· Optional: this can be made spicy with the addition of some fresh hot red pepper (cuidado!) when adding the corn (this also makes the corn a whole food).

*Curcuma/turmeric is also available as a powder. This is the ingredient that gives curry its color and is purportedly very good for your memory. If using it fresh, scrape off the thin skin. If using the powder, mix it with a bit of oil to make a paste and add after the sautéing. If you have ulcers, gall bladder problems, are pregnant or nursing, or taking a blood thinner, consult your doctor. This amount is probably too small to harm, but to learn more about its properties and whether you should use it go to: http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/HerbsWho/0,3923,4046%7CCurcuma,00.html