Monday's Menu-- Results Edition

This salmon recipe was a huge success, but I definitely had some changes that I made along the way. First of all, don't make it if you are counting your calories! This salmon is bakes with a 'crust' made from butter and bread crumbs--not diet friendly, but it was certainly delicious.

I used three small fillets of salmon, rather than the whole fish as the recipe suggests. I ended up halving all the ingredients, except the old bay spice, and I still ended up with a tub of the butter mixture that I am saving for the next time I use this recipe. If I were doing it again, I might actually do 1/4 of the original recipe. Here is what I did based on the contents that I actually had in my fridge:

2 sticks of butter, whipped until fluffy

Added 2 T. garlic paste (equivalent of 6-7 cloves according to the jar), 2 T. spicy brown mustard (that was all that I had), 1 tsp. dried thyme, 1 T. lime juice, 1 tbsp., 2 T. Old Bay, dashes of salt/pepper to taste (I used unsalted butter, so added more salt that I normally do)
Stir in the mixer
Add in 1 1/2 c. panko bread crumbs and stir.

Smear the butter/panko mixture onto the fish fillets in a really thick layer. Think 'crust'.

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes.

I served this with corn and sweet potato puree (again, this is what I had in the fridge...) but it probably would have been better served over risotto or wild rice, and with some crunchy green beans.

This is definitely a re-do recipe, and I actually wish I had made more last night because I could have eaten a second helping. To quote Zar (with a mouthful of food) "I think this is the best cooking you've ever done". Success.

Of course, the evening ended with a Dance Party. Tonight's music was provided by KDHX Community Radio. Monday night's show is called Soul Selector with Papa Ray.

Monday's Menu

In one attempt at taking better care of myself and family, I plan to try a new recipe out each week and post the results.  I normally hate trying new recipes because I have a two year old who is becoming quite a picky eater, and a husband who is not always home for dinner, so cooking for just myself can be a frustrating experience.  However, I really want to learn to cook new things and I know that the more foods you introduce to kids, the more likely they are to expand their pallet.

So, this week and I am going to try:

Odyssey's Mustard Crusted Side of Salmon

Prep Time:25 min

Cook Time:10 min

Level: Intermediate

Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

Baked Salmon:

• 1 pound butter
• 1/4 cup minced garlic
• 1 cup whole grain mustard
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh thyme
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups panko bread crumbs (Japanese bread crumbs) Do not substitute regular bread crumbs
• 1 (3 to 4 pound) side of salmon, skin on, pin bones removed

Directions

Whip butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add the garlic, mustard, thyme, lemon juice, Old Bay, salt, pepper, and panko, and mix well. Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper or waxed paper and lay salmon, skin side down, on pan. Blot salmon with paper towels to remove any moisture. "Crust" the salmon while the butter is still soft, allowing a 1/4-inch crust. At this point, the salmon may be refrigerated (cover with plastic wrap after butter has hardened).

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bake for approximately 10 minutes for a still slightly pink fish. Use 2 long flat spatulas, coming in from either end, to lift the salmon off the paper and transfer to a serving platter.

Chefs Note: Use your imagination, substitute dill for the thyme, horseradish for the mustard, substitute crushed potato chips for the Panko (try different flavors of chips or use pretzels or tortilla chips). This dish can also be prepared for individual portions.

Happy January!

Any Reason To Shop - January Calendar

National Clean Up Your Computer Month

1/1 Happy New Year!
1/6 Epiphany/Twelfth Night
1/8 Bubble Bath Day,  David Bowie's Birthday, Uncle Orion's Birthday!
1/11 National Clean Off Your Desk Day (followed quickly by Where Did All My Bills Go? Day)
1/18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1/25 No Name Calling Week
1/29 Freethinkers Day

Christmas Pics

We stayed in St. Louis and had a very different Christmas than our normal tradition this year. It was good in some ways, and bad in others. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves but really missed our families. Zar and I thought we would really enjoy having Christmas morning with just our 'nuclear family' where we could wake up in our beds and have a stress free day doing whatever we wanted. Little did we know that it didn't work out like that at all. Christmas Eve was down right depressing and lonely although we were together. I tried to make a nice Christmas Eve dinner, when Zar asked me "What's the point?" to which I responded "I guess there isn't one", and we ended up eating leftovers from the fridge.

It wasn't until we put the kids to bed and started preparing for Santa when we began to feel the Christmas spirit. Things were looking up for us, the tree was beautiful, we were sipping egg nog and watching Christmas movies. Christmas morning was fantastic, and we ate dinner with some wonderful friends who welcomed us with open arms into their families for the day. The day was full of cheer and fun and family...which made me miss our extended family all the more. While it was nice not to travel during the holiday season, I don't think I handle another Christmas away again...

Here are some pics of how celebrated, though.


We took a family walk in the snow in our new wagon. Thanks Aunt Lisa and Uncle O!

Playing in the new wagon. Finn looks like a giant baby here.

Finn in his gifts from DiDi and Papa. My mom made this bib (and several other items for the kids)!

Guinn was keeping cool on the tile by the fireplace.

Maeve got a bunch of princess gowns from Santa and immediately wanted Finn to be her prince.

Probably her favorite gift...a DJ Lance Rock costume!

New Year's Resolution

I don't usually make resolutions...mostly because I know that I won't follow thorough with them and it just seems forced. However, I am making a resolution this year, and that it to grow as a person and be the best that I can be. No, I'm not joining the military, I just don't want to be stagnant any longer. So I am taking some small steps to improve my daily life and hopeful that it will reap large rewards.

My resolutions:
1. Do something creative weekly. I really need to tap into that part of myself before it slowly withers and dies. I have decided that the easiest way to make this happen is via my blog (yay for my two readers!). I am also thinking about taking music lessons at the St. Louis School of Folk music. Maybe banjo? mandolin? Any suggestions?

2. Take better care of myself. I am not doing a crazy new resolution where I will be going to the gym, or running on the treadmill. Anyone who knows me understands that it just won't happen in 5 degree weather. What I mean is eating better, getting regular haircuts, maybe a facial here and there and setting some time aside for myself away from the TV and computer.

There. It's in print, so let's make it happen! I can't say that 2009 was a terrible year, because it did bring me one of the greatest joys of my life (Finn), but man am I ready for a fresh start.