baked salmon with honey mustard and pecan-panko crust

 

This was knock-your-socks-off good.  SO good!!!  I did not expect to be as amazing as it was.  

My son even enjoyed it and made a Gordon Ramsey comment. Score!

baked salmon with honey mustard and pecan-panko crust (my friend Shelli)

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons butter, melted (I used 1 tablespoon)

1 tablespoon honey

3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup panko

1/4 cup chopped pecans

2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley

4 (6 ounce salmon fillets)  (I used boneless, skinless from costco)

1 lemon, for serving, optional

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and set an oven rack in the middle position.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, melted butter, honey, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper.  Set aside.

In another bowl (I put them on a plate) mix together the panko, pecans, parsley and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Spoon the honey mixture evenly over the salmon filets.  Sprinkle the panko-pecan mixture over the glaze, pressing lightly so the crumbs adhere.

Bake for 7-10 minutes per inch of thickness depending on how well done you like your salmon.  Serve hot or at room temperature.

beef shashuka

 

I'm on a roll!  This dish was SO good.  Everyone loved it. 

beef shashuka (the food network)

1 pound lean ground beef

1 onion, diced

1 large jalapeno pepper, minced

4 large cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon cumin

1 teaspoon caraway seed (we didn't have any)

1 teaspoon paprika

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

salt and pepper

1 can (7 ounces) chipotle in adobo

1 (14 ounce) can crushed or diced fire-roasted tomatoes

14 ounces tomato sauce

5 ounces feta

4 to 6 large eggs

to serve:  garlic naan bread, melted butter, greek yogurt, cilantro leaves, 2-3 chopped scallions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium high heat.  Add ground beef and crumble and cook until the pink color goes away and meat is lightly browned.

Peel and chop onion, seed and finely chop the jalapeno.  Add onions and jalapeno to the meat and stir.  Add seeds, spices and garlic, stir.

Puree in food processor a can of chipotle in adobo.  Add 2 tablespoons to the pan and the rest to a bag to freeze and store for another use.

Add tomatoes, feta and stir.  Make 4-6 nests in meat sauce using the back of a spoon and drop eggs into them.  Transfer pan to oven for 8-10 minutes until eggs set.

Warm the naan bread and brush with melted butter.

Garnish eggs with dollops of yogurt if using, cilantro leaves and scallions.

chicken schwarma

 

Delicious!  Really delicious.

The more you put in your naan bread the better.  I love the tzatziki and red pepper hummus and pepperoncini.  Maybe those things are not traditional but SO delicious, nonetheless.

chicken schwarma (adapted from food network)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric

2 cloves garlic, minced

kosher salt and black pepper

1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into strips

1 onion, halved and sliced into half-moons

naan bread or pita bread, warmed

toppings: tzatziki sauce, red pepper hummus, sliced pepperoncini, sliced tomato, etc.

Combine olive oil, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, cardamom, turmeric, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and a generous amount of pepper into a bowl.  Add the chicken and onions and toss to coat evenly.  

Heat a skillet and saute the chicken on medium-high until cooked through and browned.

Use the bread, chicken and toppings to assemble sandwiches.

10-minute kimchi and chicken ramen

 

SO easy and SO tasty.  My kids don't like kimchi so I didn't tell them what was in it.  I guess they like kimchi after all!  I meant to add some tofu but forgot.  Lots of possibilities for add-ins.

10-minute kimchi and chicken ramen (adapted from Food Network)

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 squares of the brown rice and millet ramen from Costco

1 (5 ounce) package of baby spinach, about 4 cups (I used baby bok choy greens)

1 handful of shredded carrots

2 cups leftover shredded rotisserie chicken

2 cups kimchi (my favorite is from Costco)

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

3 scallions, sliced

2 sheets toasted seaweed, torn up

Combine the chicken broth, 1 cup water, ramen noodles, spinach (or boy choy), shredded carrots, chicken kimchi and soy sauce in a large straight-sided skillet.  Cover and bring to a boil lover high heat, stirring occasionally, about 6 minutes.  Let boil for 1 minute.

Meanwhile, slice the scallions and tear the seaweed into bite-sized pieces.

Divide the ramen among 4 bowls and top each with scallions and seaweed.

feta and herb crusted salmon

 

Gourmet!  This salmon was knock-your-socks-off good.  

feta and herb crusted salmon (my friend Shelli)

1 pound salmon filet (I used 3 boneless, skinless salmon pieces from Costco, thawed)

1/2 cup feta

1/4 cup fresh parsley

3 tablespoons fresh chives

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment or foil for easy clean up and set aside.

Combine parsley, chives, feta, lemon, salt and pepper on cutting board.   Rough chop several times, chopping up all ingredients to mix.

Spread feta mixture on salmon filet.  Pat down to ensure crust is formed.

Bake for 20 minutes of until cooked through.

pancit bihon

 

Delicious!  I'm on a roll lately with finding really good recipes.  My son had four bowls.  His friend kept up with him really well.  I waited until my daughter was out of town as she's not a fan of shrimp like the rest of us.

pancit bihon, filipino dish (slightly adapted from food network)

16 ounces bihon (rice stick noodles)

4 cups chicken broth

3 tablespoons oyster sauce

1/2 cup light soy sauce

3 Chinese sausages, cut into 1/4-inch slices on the bias (I used chicken sausages)

4 tablespoons oil

1/2 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices on the bias, about 1 cup

2 medium carrots, julienned (cut into matchstick-size pieces), about 1 cup

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 large Spanish onion, sliced

3 cups chopped cabbage

juice of 1 lemon

Soak the noodles in warm water to cover in a large mixing bowl until softened, about 20 minutes.  Drain in a large colander and set aside. (Note to self:  Instead, I just boiled the noodles with the cabbage later on when it talks about the cabbage in the recipe.)

Combine the broth, oyster sauce, and soy sauce in a medium bowl.  Mix and set the sauce aside.

Place the sausage in a dry wok.  Place the wok over medium heat and fry the sausage until crisp and browned.  Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and transfer to a sheet pan.  Set aside.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to the wok.  Add the shrimp, season with salt and pepper and stir fry over medium heat until just cooked through about 3 minutes.  Transfer the shrimp to the sheet pan with the sausage.

Add another tablespoon of oil to the wok.  Add the celery, carrots and snow peas and stir-fry until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.  Transfer the vegetables to the sheet pan.

Add the remaining oil and stir in the garlic and onions, and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.

Add the soy sauce mixture and cabbage and bring to a boil over high heat.  Add the drained noodles.  Press down on the noodles so they're fully submerged in the sauce mixture.  Lower the heat to medium and allow the noodles to absorb the liquid without stirring them, about 8 minutes. 

Gently fold in the reserved sausage, shrimp and vegetables from the sheet pan until evenly distributed.  Stir in the lemon juice.  Serve immediately.

chicken tinga tacos

 

SO delicious and with a kick!  I loved my tacos but tacos are my favorite.  I think the two things that made this so great are: 1. adobo sauce and 2. pickled onions.  After I took the photo I added some shredded cabbage and a little salsa verde on top because I am over-the-top when it comes to tacos.  The taco was so huge I could only eat one.  I'll come back for another as a snack for sure.

chicken tinga tacos (adapted from food network)

1 tablespoon oil

1 small yellow onion, chopped

2 chipotles in adobo, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes and green chiles

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded (I cooked 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the slow cooker then shredded)

charred corn tortillas for serving

toppings:  cotija cheese, avocado, fresh pico de gallo, pickled red onions

pickled red onions

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar (I omitted)

kosher salt

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and saute until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes.  Add the chipotles, garlic, cumin, salt and cayenne and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Stir in the tomatoes and stock and cook until they begin to simmer, about 2 minutes.  Turn off the heat and carefully ladle the sauce into a heat-safe blender.  Puree until smooth.  Pour the sauce back into the pan over medium heat and add the chicken, stirring to incorporate the chicken into the sauce.  Cook until the sauce has thickened about 5 minutes.  Serve with tortillas and desired toppings.

To make the pickled onions, combine the white vinegar, sugar and 1 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan (use 1/2 teaspoon salt if you don't use sugar) with 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Add the onions and shallots to a pint jar and pour the liquid over the top.  Let cool completely.  Refrigerate up to a week.