Inviting Knorr to dinner

This month has been amazing! I am once again working with Knorr, and this time it's not creating a recipe, but I am using their product to make dinner, and let me say they have some delicious dinners!

Fiesta of Flavours

My most recent Mazola recipe was another success.  I chose to make the Sweet & Spicy Salmon with grapefruit salsa.  This recipe packs a zesty kick that is only enhanced by the grapefruit salsa. 

Salmon success!

Tonight I decided to go back to my roots of cooking what I call food fusion. I find that the most simple of ingredients create the most fantastic meals.
Hazelnut-coconut salmon is both fast to make, and requires minimal ingredients.

To make:

• 5 ounce salmon fillet
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp Goya Adobo seasoning
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried Rosemary, crushed
• 1 Tbsp flaked coconut
• 1/8 cup finely chopped Filberts (hazelnuts)

Mix together the mayonnaise and lemon juice.  Spread evenly on the flesh side of the salmon fillet.   Sprinkle with the adobo, black pepper and rosemary.  Top with chopped hazelnuts, and coconut.

Bake at 400° for 15-18 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Serve with steamed vegetables, and rice if desired.

Shaking up the salmon

A couple of months ago I heard of a new line of McCormick gourmet spice packets.  I am selective about who I give my business to as I prefer companies that acknowledge the "two or less" households.  McCormick seems to cater to families while largely ingoring the growing community of singles and couples so I rejected purchasing the spice packets until I had a coupon.  I saw a coupon for $1.25 off any McCormick product which meant that McCormick would pay ME to buy the product - I couldn't argue w/ the savings and bought the spice packet.

I decided that I wanted salmon for dinner, and figured the spice packet would make an interesting marinade.  I placed my salmon fillet in a quart sized ziploc bag and then poured in 1/4 cup pineapple juice and 2 Tbsp of the bourbon spice seasoning mix.  I let my salmon marinate for 5 hours and then baked it at 375° for 25 minutes.  During the last 5 minutes I took 2 Tbsp pineapple juice  and 2 tsp of the bourbon spice seasoning mix and brushed it on top of my salmon fillet.    I served my salmon
along side homemade macaroni and cheese, roasted potatoes (yes those are PURPLE, gold, and red baby potatoes!!!), and a yeast roll   Talk about a fast meal for one!

Spice is the flavour of life

Tonight I took a break from Allrecipes, and used MY recipe for spice rubbed salmon - this will be the ONLY recipe I will not share.  I've had a local restaurant manager who tasted my spice rub and he said I need to market it.  Talk about a boost to my self confidence!

I am in love w/ my food ring molds - I made garlic herb rice pilaf to go along w/ my salmon and it was yummy
Please note this rice pilaf uses a traditional rice, not a "quick cook" type.
1 Tbsp grapeseed or Extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp EACH thyme, savory, basil, and salt
1 cup rice (Instructions are NOT for instant rice!)
1/2 cup orzo
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup water
Directions:
1. Warm the olive oil and butter in a saucepan, covered, with the heat on high.
2. Add the herbs, and toast lightly in the olive oil and butter.
3. Add the rice, orzo, and salt, and stir up a bit to coat the rice with the spices.
4. Pour in the chicken broth and water and bring all to a boil.
5. Turn the heat down, cover the saucepan, and cook until done (about 20 minutes for white rice, about 50 for brown rice).

Maryland crab cakes

1 pound lump crabmeat

1 1/2 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

2 tsp chopped fresh parsley
salt and pepper to taste

1 egg
1 1/2 Tbsp mayonnaise

1/2 tsp ground dry mustard

1 tsp Old bay seasoning


Mix together crabmeat, bread crumbs, parsley, salt and pepper. Beat together egg, mayonnaise, Old bay seasoning and mustard. Combine with other ingredients and mix well. Form into patties Refrigerate for at least 1 hour Pan fry in 2 Tbsp grapeseed oil OR place on a lightly greased broiler pan or baking sheet. Broil for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly brown.

The veggies were one of the Green Giant steamers - it rounded out my meal quite nicely!

Dining In

Tonight I tried a recipe from Allrecipes - usually I'm an adventurous cook, but there are the times when I'll wrinkle up my nose in distaste prior to trying a new recipe.  Tonight was no exception, regardless I went ahead and took a culinary adventure w/ Pan seared Salmon & scallops w/ a macadamia-cilantro pesto and WOW!!! Talk about a yummy gourmet meal! 

Here's a question...how long do you think it took me to cook everything in the picture?  45 minutes-1 hour?  No.  Try 20 MINUTES!!! 
FACT:  A meal like this in a restaurant would normally cost upwards of $20 (b/c of the salmon and bay scallops)- wanna know how much it cost me to make (per plate)?  Under $9 that's almost HALF the cost!!!

If you're currently a "I don't have time to cook" person - I'll challenge you to cook this recipe.  I found that by using my vitamix, my pesto was a breeze to make. 

Suggested tools for making this recipe:
Blender (Vitamix) or preferred food processor
Slotted fish turner (OXO) 
Garlic Press (Pampered Chef)
Microplane Grater for the ginger.