Orange Glazed Salmon & Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli

Saw this recipe on This Week For Dinner (great blog) and since my daughter loves salmon I decided to make it. It was so yummy! Just used sockeye salmon that was on sale and subbed apple juice for the wine. I liked the flavor the cilantro added.

I didn’t have sesame seeds so I made the Barefoot Contessa’s Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli instead (it was good, but next time I want to try the sesame seed broccoli it looks quicker).

Oh! Also, I don’t know if I didn’t reduce my sauce long enough, but it was really runny afterwards so I put it (w/o fish) in a pan with little corn starch to thicken it.

1/2- 1 lb salmon (I left the skin on for cooking and then just removed it afterwards, cause it's easier after it's cooked)

1/2 c orange juice (I had lots of oranges so I squeezed it fresh)

1/2 c apple juice

1/4 c soy sauce

3/4 tsp ginger powder

1 tsp sugar

2 Tbsp rice vinegar

Orange slices

1 Tbsp chopped cilantro

1 tsp orange zest

Salt & Pepper

Combine juice, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar and ginger powder in sauce pan. Simmer until thickened.

Place salmon in baking dish sprayed it with PAM. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place orange slices on top. Poor sauce over fish and bake at 375 for 12-15 min.

Garnish with cilantro and orange zest.

Recap

So I didn't end up doing as much for Valentine's Day as I planned.For breakfast the kids were "SO HUNGRY!" so there was no way they were waiting for waffles (or doughnuts, I also had thought of making doughnuts with Valentine's sprinkles left over from the cookies). My son begged for a yogurt I just did pink (strawberry) yogurt, heart shaped toast with strawberry jam and red grape juice. I had plain greek yogurt with fresh raspberries. Mmmm

Lunch had to be quick because the kids were "STARVING!" by the time I got around to it. So we made grilled cheese (loving my heart cookie cutter) and tomato soup again this year.

Dinner ended up being meatball subs w/ red marinara sauce (made the meatballs the night before so that was nice). And some friends brought us some yummy heart sugar cookies earlier that day so that's what we had for desert instead of cheese cake, or creme brulee- but I still plan on making both soon. I'll post when I do.

So not quite the menu I'd planned, but it was still pretty fun.

Valentine's Cooking

I'm getting excited to use these next week! Not sure exactly what I'll make with them. Make cake, maybe cheesecake. I'm sure it will be yummy though.I use my heart shaped waffle maker all year long, but it just seems more festive on Valentine's Day. Will probably splurge for some red raspberry syrup and whip cream to make it even more "Valentinie."

Kitchen Sink Quesadillas

Last night we made these Kitchen Sink Quesadillas that I read about here at This Week For Dinner. She got the recipe from Real Simple Magazine. And they are, real simple. ;) And what's more important everyone in my family ate them! (When they eat stuff I never know if it's just because we missed our snack that day so they were just starving.) I think this will become a regular at our house.

1 15.5-ounce can black beans, drained


1 11-ounce can corn kernels, drained
 (I used 1 cup frozen corn heated 2 min in the microwave)

3/4 cup salsa, drained


8 large flour tortillas


1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack
(I used both and almost twice as much)

1 small red onion, thinly sliced


1/3 cup fresh cilantro leaves


1/2 teaspoon kosher salt


1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Juice of 1 to 2 limes
 (I didn't have any and almost went to the store just for it because I LOVE lime, but I was trying to make a quick dinner, I need to keep some frozen for last minute stuff like this)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil


1 head romaine lettuce, sliced 1 inch thick

Heat oven to 400° F. In a medium bowl, combine the beans, corn, and salsa.

Place 4 tortillas on a parchment- or foil-lined baking sheet (I could only fit 3 and I put them right on the cookie sheet hehe). Sprinkle with half the cheese. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the black bean mixture on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and sandwich with the remaining tortillas. Bake until the cheese has melted, 5 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the onion, cilantro, salt, pepper, lime juice, and oil. Add the lettuce and toss. Transfer the quesadillas to a cutting board. Cut each into 6 wedges. Serve with the salad.

Spanish Tortilla

When I was living in Spain my host mom taught me how to make Spanish Tortilla. I don't really have measurements. So I decided to do a step by step picture post this time. Pretty much it's equal onions and potatoes (maybe 4 potatoes, 2 onions) sliced.

My host mom used a LOT of olive oil to make this, like boiling the veggies in it.

I just cover the bottom of the pan (7 in.) and when the oil is hot, add half of the onions and potatoes. Cook over medium high heat.

I always forget the salt and pepper. And even when I do, I never put enough salt in. (I should measure it next time.)

Cook potatoes, stirring occasionally, until tender and potatoes kind of break when you push on them (12 min.? depends on how thick you slice them.) Remove from pan and cook the rest of the onions and potatoes (add more oil if needed).

While they're cooking, crack 7 or 8 eggs in a bowl and add a few tablespoons of milk (like if you were making scrambled eggs).

Beat eggs.

Pour half of the eggs in the pan over the potatoes/onions. Use a fork (or wooden spoon- gotta be care with my new nonstick pans). and kind of jiggle (?) the potatoes around to get the eggs between everything. Do not stir/mix. Let cook on low for 10 or so minutes. Until only a little runny on top.

Cover with a plate and flip over. (I hold the frying pan in my right hand and plate in my left.

Then slide it back into the pan to let the (what used to be the) top cook.

Cook for a few more minutes. You can flip again if needed.

Flip it out onto another plate and you're done.

Here's what it looks inside:

My host mother would always serve it with a baguette and salad consisting of lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, salt, pepper, and, oh! that's right, olive oil.