Salmon Recipe!

Salmon!

Last night I made Salmon for dinner! I have to come up with ways to cook things that are normally cooked on a grill haha! This was pretty easy to figure out! Josh and I love this Salmon! We went Whale Watching this past weekend and ever since then I have wanted some seafood for dinner! haha! 

INGREDIENTS:

1. Salmon.(This time I had almost 2 lbs of salmon, normally I just get 1)
2. Salt and Pepper to taste.
3. Butter.(cut a few slices)
4. A Lemon or two.(optional)

You will also need a cookie sheet and 2 pieces of foil. The foil needs to be a little longer then the length of your Salmon. Pre-heat your oven to 375

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put the first piece of foil down onto your cookie sheet and then your salmon, skin down.(you can take the skin off if you like)
2. Cut your lemon in to thin slices and place underneath the slab of fish.(if you want to with the left over end pieces of lemon, you can squeeze a little bit on the top of the salmon, too)
   
3. Salt and pepper the top of the salmon to your liking and then slice up some butter and lay across evenly.
   
4. Take you second piece of foil and put it onto. Fold pieces of foil together so the juices don't spill out. On all sides. On each end leave a little unfolded so theres a little room for air.
5. Put in your oven for 20-30 minutes. Because I had such a big fillet this time I had to put it in for longer and check it once or twice. For smaller pieces it should only take around 20-25 minutes.

TADA!

I also made Asparagus and mashed potatoes for the side dishes. Here is how I cook my asparagus!

---> How to Steam Fresh Asparagus | tender just like the canned kind <---

 My mashed potatoes, unfortunately, were from an instant mix. I did not have potatoes on hand nor did I feel like making anything extra! haha, but they were all natural and gluten free! haha! Not that I needed them to be but wherever I can have the healthier option I like to make it! Here are some pictures from our whale watching adventure from saturday!

Humpback Whales!

HUGE!! Jellyfish!

More Humpbacks!

Out in the Monterey Bay!

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

INSTAGRAM: haleymarie1991

Basil Shrimp Pasta

Basil Shrimp Pasta!

This is a side dish. Well, I guess you could just eat it by itself haha! We like this with steak! I made this one up too! I wanted something with steak and had some bow tie pasta and tomatoes lying around and made this! My husband says it's one of his favorites!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 pounds or less of Shrimp, peeled and deveined. 
2. 3 cloves of Garlic, minced.
3. 1 tablespoon of Dried Basil. (fresh sprigs, or the dried crushed kind)
4. 16oz of Pasta. (I've used spaghetti, and even whole wheat pasta too)
5. 2 cups of Roma Tomatoes, chopped.
6. 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil.

DIRECTIONS:

     Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside. Saute the shrimp with the garlic in the olive oil until they loose their transparency.(2-3 minutes) Add basil and tomatoes. Let simmer for 5 more minutes. Serve with warm pasta!

Now that I think about it, this would probably taste really good with spaghetti squash too! haha! For those that don't want all that pasta haha! (I LOVE PASTA!)

Hibachi Dinner: Rice, Meat, Zucchini, and Soup.

Hibachi Dinner!

Yesterday, I made Steak and Shrimp Hibachi for Josh's birthday dinner! It still smells like a Hibachi restaurant in our apartment! haha! This actually pretty easy to make, but it is time consuming! I will show you how and what you need to make all that is part of this tasty dinner! I also made Miso soup. Most Hibachi restaurants I've been to give you the onion and mushroom soup; but the ones I have been to out here have given us Miso. For those who don't know what it is, it's a soup with tofu soup. That might sound gross, and I thought that at once, but its pretty good. So starting with the rice heres how you make a Hibachi Dinner.

Fried Rice!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 cups cooked Rice, cooled. (I used minute rice)
2. 1/2 cup of Onion, chopped in tiny, thin pieces.
3. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil.
4. 1/4 cup of frozen Peas.
5. 1/4 cup of frozen Carrots.
6. 1 Egg.
7. 2 tablespoons of Butter.
8. 2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put your oil in a skillet with the heat on medium.
2. Put your peas, carrots, and onion in the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes.
3. Move you vegetables to the side of the skillet and add you egg. Scramble with your cooking utensil.
4. Add your rice and butter, mix with vegetables and egg. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until butter is melted.
5. Add soy sauce and stir in.

EXTRAS FOR THE RICE:

    You can remove the rice from the skillet and put in a pan with a lid on it to keep it warm. The closer you get done with the rest of the food you can put the pan on the stove on low. Also, if you buy just one really large onion thats all you will need for then entire meal. For the rice 1/2 cup onion is usually only 1/4 of the extra large onion.

Zucchini! 

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil.
2. 1 medium Onion, chopped thinly.(or just use the rest of the extra large onion.)
3. 2 medium Zucchinis cut into thin strips. (i cut them in half, then the halves in halves.)
4. 2 tablespoons of Teriyaki Sauce. 
5. Black Pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS:

     Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions, and cook 5 minutes. Add zucchini, and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Stir in teriyaki sauce and soy sauce. Cook until zucchini are tender. Stir in ground pepper.

EXTRAS FOR ZUCCHINI:

     I cover them with lid so they get all the moisture needed and to not let the liquids spit all over the stove. Once they are tender you can just keep the heat on low until ready to eat. Also, you can add sesame seeds if you want to. I usually don't unless I have some around.

                                                                     

                                             Hibachi Meat!      

                                            you can do this with steak, chicken, and shrimp.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Chicken, Meat, Shrimp, or all of the above!
2. Soy Sauce.
3. Teriyaki Sauce.
4. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat your oil in a skillet on medium heat.
2. Cut your meat into 1 inch cubes. If you have shrimp, de-tail.
3. Put your meat in the skillet. Add the Soy Sauce and Teriyaki Sauce. Put enough to fill and small layer to fill the bottom of the skillet. Cook until done.

Miso Soup!  

I found this at Whole Foods. Before you think, "ew..vegan? Organic?.." haha! It was the probably the best I had. Plus I couldn't find it anywhere else. All you need was 8oz of hot water!

EXTRAS FOR THE MEAL:

You can use any kind of Soy and Teriyaki Sauce but I use a specific kinds. I've tried many types these two are the best:

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce!

Spaghetti is probably one of my favorite meals! When I was little I use to eat it if cold for breakfast!

Gross I know, haha! I use to even eat soup cold, right out of the can! Don't get me wrong, the store bought kind can be good, but homemade is so much better and better for you! This recipe you actually have to use your hands and squeeze the tomatoes! It's fun! haha!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 3 Medium, finely chopped Onions.
2. 8 cloves of, finely chopped Garlic. 
3. 3-4 tablespoons of Olive Oil.
4. 2 cans of 28oz. Whole Peeled Tomatoes.
5. 2 cans of 28oz. Tomato Sauce.
6. 1 can of 6oz. Tomato Paste.
7. 2 tablespoons of Parsley.
8. 4 tablespoons of Basil.
9. 4 tablespoons of Oregano.
10. 2 teaspoons of Salt.
11. 1/2 teaspoons of Pepper.

DIRECTIONS:

    Saute the onions in the oil until nicely browned. Add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients. Reach into your pot and mash the Whole Peeled Tomatoes with your hand. (you can turn the heat down if needed, but its never that hot when I do so) Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours and stir occasionally. Cook the next day for 2 hours. (the reason for the two days is because all the ingredients mix and taste better if done this way. as my grandma use to say, "It tastes better once it's been married!")

EXTRAS:

   You can add ground beef or sausage to your sauce, but i usually cook that in a separate skillet and just add the sauce to it. Because, the meat will go bad before the sauce does if you just add it into the pot. You can also freeze it better if you just cook you meat when needed. Mushrooms taste great added in with the meat as well!! Also, if your not a big onion person you can always do 1 and 1/2 onions. I do sometimes.

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991