October Feast

I know I'm literally 2 months behind on this, but fear not, I'm done for the semester and have all the time in the world to cook and update!!! This post is for October's feast, which we actually did in the beginning of November...yeah we break rules. The ingredients were: tomatoes, salmon, and something sticky. Unfortunately, I did not photograph the dessert, and it was done before I could. It was caramel popcorn, and needless to say, my husband loved it....hence no photograph. I gathered a few gorgeous heirloom tomatoes (aren't they just beautiful!!!). I really did not know how to combine such a tart flavor with the delicateness of salmon. I started with the yellow heirloom and made a basil infused puree and went from there. I used a lean salmon from Alaska, and lightly S&P'd it, then topped it with the basil/tomato puree, and baked it. Then I thinly sliced the remaining tomatoes and tossed it in an olive oil/salt/basil mixture to make a light salad. This was definitely an OUT of season meal, but it was quite refreshing! I topped off the salmon with peppery arugula. It was the most out of the box I could think considering my 3 major deadlines that were fast approaching! The puree was a knockout and can be used on a lot of different things.

What's in it:

-salmon, variety heirloom tomatoes, basil, S&P, arugula, EVOO

Seafood Stew

Yes, yes, I said I'd update more often, butttttttttt grad school is TIME CONSUMING. I *am* cooking, but the pictures have just been sitting on my camera...sowwie. Anyhow, this is a dish I made for my husband for his birthday dinner, adapted from something I saw online. It's a clear broth with shrimp and halibut and orzo pasta. The broth is flavored with basil, tomatoes, and garlic. It's a very simple dish to make, with most of the cook on the seafood coming from the heat of the broth. Serve it with a crusty bread and it's a quick weeknight supper!

What's in it:
-halibut, shrimp, orzo, basil, tomatoes, EVOO, garlic, S&P

Baked Salmon & Couscous

Salmon is by far my favorite type of fish. It's inexpensive, versatile, and cooks pretty quickly. I marinated this beautiful filet in a mixture of olive oil, soy sauce, and various spices/herbs. I probably would have let it sit longer than I did, but I was quite hungry and didn't feel like waiting. It still turned out to be very delicious. Couscous is definitely a quick and easy food to make, and can be spiced according to your liking. I used Mediterranean/Italian seasoning to go with the flavors of the salmon. The best way to get everything out on time and together is to get the couscous going about half way through the baking of the salmon. This particular cut took about 12 minutes to bake, and the couscous only takes 5 minutes to fluff. I think I ended up eating this faster than it took to cook.

Here's to gourmet cooking...fast!  

What's in it:
 -Salmon: Atlantic salmon filet, olive oil, dark soy sauce, cilantro, coriander, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, parsley flakes, salt
-Couscous: olive oil, pine nuts, onion powder, salt, dried leeks, crushed oregano                                                                                  

Crab Cakes

 

My Secret Sauce!

 This dish is slightly inspired by an episode of Food Network Star, where the contestants had to create something using packaged goods such as Cheez Its or Townhouse crackers. So I wanted to get rid of the crab meat that was sitting in my fridge and I decided to make crab cakes. While gathering some ingredients, I realized I really need to make a trip to good ol' HEB. Anyways, to make crab cakes you need at least mayo, eggs, and some form of breading--that's what binds everything together and keeps the cake from falling apart. Now, you're probably asking, how did FNS inspire me? Well, that's where the Townhouse Flatbread Crisps come in. I crushed up a whole bunch of crackers and used that as my breading. I used the Italian Herb flavor, so it gave more dimension to the cakes. Using butter in your pan will help add extra flavor, but make sure the fat has stopped bubbling before you put the cakes in, or else it'll make them soggy and not crispy.

I was going to put them on a bed of arugula, but I didn't have any...
However,  I did make a sauce to go with it. Instead of tartar, I made my own 'special sauce'.

PS: my secret ingredient for the crab cake is wasabi powder.

What's in it:
-Crab cakes: crab meat, mayo, egg, dried mustard, wasabi powder, cumin, paprika, salt, black pepper, red chili powder, dried oregano, Townhouse Flatbread Crisps
-Sauce: it's a secret ;)

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Fish & Chips

Hello all! I'm back! I have been cooking quite often, but haven't been documenting it...sorry about that. I figured tonight for dinner I'd make something different and post it for you folks. I'm running low on groceries, so I had to make with what I had on hand. I realized I had a filet sitting in my freezer waiting to be picked, and 1 red potato sitting all alone in it's bowl. Immediately, I thought fish and chips! Britain's common meal, fish and chips is traditionally prepared as a breaded cod, deep fried, and served with golden fries. However, what I've made here isn't your traditional fish and chips; rather, I took the concept and added my own flair to it. I chose to use a trout, which is a fish very similar in taste and texture to salmon (my favorite type of fish). I soaked it in lemon juice, and crusted it with panko crumbs and toasted pistachio with dried parsley. For the fries, I used a red potato, with the skin left on, of course. I tossed them in olive oil, and sprinkled on a generous amount of paprika, garlic, oregano, and salt. The fries will take about 30 minutes to bake, and the trout is cooked at about 10 minutes per inch of thickness. You don't want to overload the fish with extra flavors and seasonings, because the taste of the meat is quite exquisite without adding anything to it. This is a very quick, no mess meal that will definitely fill your hungry stomach. 

What's in it: 

-trout, panko bread crumbs, pistachio, lemon juice, parsley

-red potato, paprika, salt, garlic powder, dried oregano, olive oil