Almond Encrusted Salmon

Fresh Asparagus Spears in Lemon Butter
Homemade Wheat Bread

Ingredients
1 pound of salmon per two people
½ cup of almonds, chopped fine
Italian style bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 bunch of asparagus
½ stick of butter
Juice of 1 lemon
Aluminum foil
Flour and yeast for the bread machine

Preparation in the morning
Place the ingredients for the bread in the bread machine and set to delay bake. Use your recipe book that comes with the bread machine for recipe amounts and times.

Preparation in the afternoon
Wash and dry the salmon.
Cut into pieces. Coat each piece with egg.
Place the bread crumbs on a platter and roll the salmon pieces in the bread crumbs.
Place the chopped almonds on another platter and press the salmon pieces into the almonds.
Place the salmon on a foil lined baking sheet.
Bake the salmon for 15 minutes in a 400 degree oven. The fish should flake easily with a fork.
Cook the asparagus in a scant amount of water in a sauté pan.
Melt the butter and add the lemon juice to it.
Take the bread out of the bread machine ten minutes before dinner to allow it to cool slightly before cutting.
Drizzle the asparagus with the lemon butter.
Serve the salmon with the asparagus and wheat bread.

Photo by OldTasty on Flickr

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Salmon Fettucini with Grilled Zucchini and Peppers

Sauvignon Blanc or a Pouilly Fumé

You can cook this dish with the same wine you’ll be serving at dinner. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll keep a bottle of 2 buck chuck in the refrigerator to cook with, and save the better wines for drinking.

Ingredients for Salmon Fettucini

• 1 pound of wild caught salmon
• 1 lemon
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, crushed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon crushed basil (fresh is wonderful, but if it’s winter, dry will do)
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 1 lb of spinach fettucini
• ¼ cup of fresh chopped parsley
• ¼ pound Parmesan cheese
• 2 medium zucchini, cut into strips
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing

How to make the Salmon Fettucini
Marinate the salmon in ¼ cup of Italian dressing and the juice of one lemon while you cut the zucchini and bell pepper into strips.
Cook the salmon on the indoor grill, or on a grill plate on your stovetop.
The salmon is done when it flakes with a fork.
Cook the fettucini in boiling, salted water.
Cook the bell pepper and zucchini on the grill while the fettucini cooks.
While the vegetables are cooking, cook the onion and garlic in olive oil in a skillet.
Flake the salmon and place it in the skillet with the onion and garlic. Add the white wine, pepper, basil, and butter.
Drain the fettucini.
Stir the salmon mixture into the fettucini.
Serve the Salmon Fettucini with the grilled vegetables on the side and a white wine.

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20 Minutes to Dinner: Cajun Style Salmon with Quinoa and Peas

Quinoa is a recently rediscovered grain that is becoming more popular with cooks. It has a nice crunchy flavor, somewhat like brown rice, but it's much more tender, almost like couscous. Quinoa is a healthy, protein packed food, and is quite delicious. 

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of salmon steaks, or ½ pound per person
• 2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning mix
• 1 lemon
• Fresh parsley
• 2 cups of quinoa
• 1 package of frozen peas

Preparation of the Cajun Style Salmon and Quinoa

Prepare the quinoa according to package directions.
Warm the peas in the microwave.
Add the peas to the quinoa and stir.
Put a lid on the pan to keep the quinoa warm while the salmon cooks.
Cut the steaks into single serving sizes.
Pat the Cajun seasoning mix all over the salmon steaks.
Grill on the indoor grill or bake in a 375 degree oven until tender and flaky with a fork.
Serve with lemon wedges and parsley. Add a side salad if desired.

Photo credit: Rowlanda Mangham

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Baked Salmon with Carrots and Parsnips

Homemade Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 lb of wild caught salmon
1 lemon
½ tsp sea salt
1 tsp dill weed
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
2 russet potatoes, peeled and sliced
½ cup of chopped parsley
2 Tbsp real butter, melted
Baking mix
Milk
Egg
¼ cup of grated cheese
1 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp real butter, melted

Preparation:
Place the prepared vegetables in a covered baking dish.
Melt 2 Tbsp of the butter and add the parsley to it.
Pour the melted butter and parsley over the vegetables. Toss to coat.
Cover with foil.
Place in the oven and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

Wash and dry the salmon and place in a foil lined baking dish.
Cut the lemon and sprinkle the juice over the salmon flesh.
Sprinkle with sea salt and dill weed.
Prepare the biscuits according to the package directions, adding the ¼ cup of cheese.
Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet.
Melt 2 Tbsp butter and stir in the garlic powder.
Brush the melted garlic butter over the biscuits.
After 45 minutes, turn the oven up to 425 degrees.
Test the vegetables to see if they are done. If they are tender, remove them and keep them warm. If not, continue to bake them with the salmon and biscuits.
Place the salmon and the biscuits in the oven.
Bake for 10-15 minutes, until the biscuits are golden brown and firm, and the fish flakes with a fork.

Using baking dishes that go from oven to table makes cooking and cleaning much easier. This baking dish works perfectly for the vegetables, as well as for Chicken Parmigiana and other baked recipes.

Cajun Style Salmon

Cajun Style Salmon
Broccoli Tortellini Salad

Ingredients:
1 pound of wild caught salmon
Cajun style seasoning mix, (1/2 tsp each: cayenne pepper, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, chili powder)

Broccoli Tortellini Salad Ingredients:
2 heads of chopped fresh broccoli
1 package of frozen cheese tortellini, 8 ounces
10 slices of bacon, chopped
½ cup of craisins
½ cup of red onion, chopped
½ cup of sunflower seeds
1 cup mayonnaise
4 Tbsp of sugar
2 Tbsp of red wine vinegar

In the morning:
Cook the tortellini in boiling water according to the package directions.
Cook the bacon.
Drain and set aside.
Combine the mayonnaise, sugar, and red wine vinegar as the dressing.
Mix all the ingredients together until it is well coated with the dressing.
Refrigerate until dinner.

In the evening:
Rub the Cajun seasoning mix into the salmon
Let it rest with the spices on it until you are ready to broil or grill it.
Set the table.
Broil or grill until the fish flakes with a fork.

Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa

Grilled Salmon with Mango Salsa
Fresh Grilled Pineapple
Green Salad
Bakery bread rolls

This dinner may be cooked on an outdoor grill, or if the weather isn’t cooperating, on an indoor grill.

Ingredients:

2 lbs. of wild caught salmon
1 fresh mango, peeled and chopped
1 cup of grapes, cut in halves
½ cup of cilantro, chopped
½ cucumber,chopped
½ a red onion, chopped, ½ a red onion sliced into rings
Juice of 1 fresh lime
Salt, pepper, and chili, powder
1 fresh pineapple
1 heart of romaine lettuce
Sliced tomatoes
Croutons

Preparation:
Prepare the mango salsa. Cut up the mango, grapes, cilantro, cucumber, and onion. Mix together with ½ of the lime juice. Place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to let the flavors combine. This can be made more quickly by using a food processor or chopper.

Prepare the salad. Cut up the romaine lettuce. Lay the sliced tomatoes and the rings of sliced red onion on top. Sprinkle chopped cilantro and croutons over the top.

Set the table.

Wash and rinse the salmon. Cut into serving sized pieces. Sprinkle the juice of ½ the lime over the pieces. Sprinkle lightly with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Place on the grill and cook until flaky.

Prepare the pineapple. Lay the pineapple down and cut off the green foliage. Cut a small piece off the bottom. Stand the pineapple up on the cut side and slice the outer husk off with a sharp knife. Cut the pineapple meat into four quarters. Slice the hard inner core off of the center. Slice the pineapple. Place on the grill and heat until warmed through and slightly brown grill marks appear. Save 1 cup of grilled pineapple for tomorrow’s dinner.

Lay the salmon on a plate with mango salsa on top. Garnish with grilled pineapple slices.