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

Award Winning Salsa Recipe

Salsa!

Just looking at this picture makes my mouth water! haha! This is not my award winning salsa, this is my mom's salsa! Its restaurant worthy people! Its so good, I'll even eat it with a spoon or drink it through a straw! You can blame that weird trait or quirk on my birth mom, who also would do the same! haha! Here is how to make it!

INGREDIENTS:this makes a huge bowl. For two people cut the measurements in half.

1. 4-6 fresh tomatoes, chopped.
2. 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes.(28 oz)
3. 1 onion, finely chopped.
4. 1 bunch of cilantro.
5. 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic.
6. 1 tablespoon of salt.
7. 2 tablespoons of lime juice.(fresh lime tastes best)
8. 1 can of green chillies or jalapeños. (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

     Pulse canned tomatoes about 2-3 seconds in a food processor, then put in a bowl. (longer, if you like smoother salsa) Pulse cilantro in food processor with some of the juice of the tomato juice, pulse until finely chopped. Add in the onion and garlic.(may need to chop up a little for the onion and garlic) Add the lime juice, salt, and chillies or jalapeños to the mix and stir.

This tastes better the second day after the ingredients mix and sit together.

INSTAGRAM: @haleymarie1991

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

Chicken Bow Tie Pasta

Chicken Bow Tie Pasta

To say I love pasta is a understatement! This is something new to me. I have had several versions of this sort of dish, but I think I like this one the best. The others were too dry, too many onions, not enough chicken, etc. We just had this last night. Its easy to make. You can even make it a few hours before and just reheat it and it's still good, as well as for left overs the next day!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 tablespoons Olive Oil.
2. 1 clove minced Garlic.
3. 4 cups Baby Spinach Leaves.
4. 2 cups cooked shredded or cubed Chicken Breast.
5. 1/2 teaspoon Salt.
6. 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper.
7. About 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Philadelphia Cooking Cream. (I used italian herb flavor because there wasn't a regular flavor. It seems to be tasty so I am going to stick with it.)
8. 1 Box of Bow Tie Pasta.
9. 1 1/2 cups of shredded Mozzarella Cheese, or to your liking.
10. 9x13 inch pan.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350F.
2. Put oil in a pan the stove to medium. Add the garlic and let it come to a sizzle, then turn the heat down to 3 or 4.
3. Add the spinach. Stir and let cook until the leaves look wilted.
4. Add and stir in the chicken, salt, and pepper.
5. Add the philadelphia cooking cream.
6. Cook the bow tie pasta as it says so on the box.
7. Pour the pasta into the 9x13 pan and mix in the other ingredients.
8. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top of it all and put it in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.

INSTAGRAM: haleymarie1991

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

How to Roast Green Chillies!

How to Roast Green Chillies!

My mouth waters every time I see this picture! haha! When I lived in New Mexico my family had a friend, Joe, who we called our "Green Chili Man." He would have us for dinner and roast us some green chillies. Once we moved from there to Tennessee the chillies or jalapeños were never the same! Not even the mexican restaurants satisfied our hungry for hot authentic mexican food, which chillies are used a lot for. We use to have a bunch shipped to us but it is really expensive to do so. My birth mom, Christa, who lives in Oklahoma, she saw some new mexican chillies at her whole foods store and she sent us all some! Now I can have some spicy everything!! It's even good on steak! haha! 

Heres how to roast green chillies.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Wash and put a little slit with a knife in the green chili.
2. Put your oven on Broil. (If you dont have a broiling pan like i do just take a cookie sheet and put some foil on it)
3. Lay your chillies on the sheet. Spread them out evenly and don't let them touch.
4. Put them in the oven for 5 minutes and then flip them over. (they will look like they are getting burned, thats ok..they need to look that way. like in the picture above)
5. Once they are done, let them cool down and then peel them. (if you roasted them long enough they will peel really easy!)
6. Pull the stem off and then peel the skin. 

before peeled and stemmed

after peeled and stemmed

Now what do you do with them? You chop them up and freeze it! Put them chopped chillies in a Gallon sized ziplock bag. Spread it out where it lays flat and freezes that way. So, when you need some all you have to do it break off a piece of it.

what is looks like all chopped up.


I will be making a salsa recipe coming up soon where you can use this green chili (or you can replace it with jalapeños is you want), so be on the look out for that! You can put this on Steak, Chicken Fajitas, Pork, pretty much ANYTHING! lol 



WARNING! DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYES WHEN ROASTING, PEELING, OR CHOPPING GREEN CHILLIES! WASH HANDS THROUGHLY AFTER AND MANY TIMES AFTER!

INSTAGRAM: haleymarie1991
TWITTER: @haleymarie1991