Salmon Stir Fry

This is a very simple and tasty meal to make.  Best of all (with any cooking really) you can put whatever you want into the dish and season it to your own taste.  The only prep time involves cutting all of the ingredients and cooking time is minimal, especially the salmon, which cooks fast!

One cup of mushrooms; sliced (6 medium mushrooms)

One medium onion; sliced

One bell pepper; sliced ( I prefer the colorful ones over the green peppers)

Two cups of broccoli; halved florets

8 oz. Salmon Fillet; diced

I love Garlic.  I would marry it if I could.  Instead I use a lot of it in cooking.  I'm grateful that my boyfriend loves it too.  Mix 1/3 cup of soy sauce with as much or as little garlic as you like.  For me, I used two tablespoons.  You could also add minced ginger as well.

Add half of the soy sauce mixture to the salmon and cook it gently over medium heat.  The fish will cook quickly, so watch it to make sure it doesn't over cook.

Add the mushrooms, bell pepper and onions to a pan and cook until half done.  Drain any excess liquid and add the broccoli and remaining soy sauce mixture.  Continue cooking the veggies until the broccoli is cooked (crisp but dark green in color).

Add the salmon/sauce to the veggies and serve.  Enjoy!

Sugar Christmas Cookies with Buttercream Icing

My favorite and typical cookie to make for Christmas is the simple sugar cookie with frosting.  I usually by premade sugar cookie dough, which is yummy and saves on time, since I make close to 200 hundred cookies for friends and family. 

 My rolling pin is tucked away in storage, so a drinking glass is the next best thing!

 After all of the cookie cutting and baking are complete, the frosting making happens.  I found a buttercream recipie that I wanted to try.  Since I have to steer away from dairy products for intolerance concerns, I modified using soy butter and soy vanilla milk.  Regular butter and cream/milk can be used with the same tastey results.

Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks of butter, soft (not melted)
4 cups of powdered sugar, shifted
1 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk

 Cut up the butter sticks into smalled cubes so it is easier to beat with a mixer. After the butter is whipped, start to add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, slowly. 

 When the butter and sugar are mixed together well, add the salt, vanilla flavoring and milk.  Beat together until creamy,

 And don't forget to enjoy the the frosting!

 Frost and decorate and then enjoy!



Delicious Lemon Bars

It is easy to describe how much I LOVE lemon bars. The tartness of the lemon mixed in with the right amount of sweet on top of a delicate crust confection and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Heaven in bar form! The recipe is simple and it doesn’t take long to prepare and bake.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350̊F. In medium bowl mix butter, 2 cups of the flour and 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar. Press into the bottom of greased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until center is set and edges just begin to brown.

In medium bowl, mix remaining 1/4 cup flour and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar with whisk. Add eggs, lemon peel and lemon juice; stir with whisk until well combined. Pour over partially baked crust.

Bake 18 to 22 minutes longer or until center is set and edges are golden brown. The bars will firm up as they cool. Cool 1 hour.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

ENJOY!

Savory Slow Cooked Pot Roast

There is nothing better than preparing a roast in a slow cooker in the morning, before you leave for work or go out for the whole day, and come home hours later to the savory and delightful smell of the roast cooking.  It makes life awesome!

 Start with a good cut of beef - chuck, rump, ect. Look for a a lean piece with fat on the underside.  The fat will add flavor to the meat and will fall right off the meat when done, so no need to pick the fat out of the meat.  Season generously with garlic powder, salt/pepper and herbs of your choice.  Stick it in the slow cooker and fill with halfway with warm water.  Add a tablespoon of olive oil over the meat.

Set the slow cooker to low to cook for around eight hours or high for four hours (times vary on the size of the meat and different slow cookers).  The meat will be done when it falls apart!

Again, nothing beats walking into your house with that yummy smell filling your nostrils.  Better yet, your dinner is ready to eat!  Just cook up some sides, like steamed broccoli and roasted potatoes and you have a tasty, melts in your mouth treat.

ENJOY!

Yummy Chili on a cold night!

This recipe came from my Grandma Sue and it is simple, tasty, and can be made to any ones liking.  It uses ground beef, but you can substitute diced beef.  Different kinds of beans can be used as well.  Get creative!

Ingredients:

1 pound of ground beef

1 tablespoon of chili powder

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 small onion, diced

1-15 oz can of diced tomatoes

1-15 oz can of tomato sauce

1-15 oz can of chili beans

1-15 oz can of kidney beans

 

 Brown the ground beef in a pot, then drain any grease.  Add the diced onion and garlic and cook for on low heat until the onion is soft.  Add tomatoes and beans and begin to simmer on medium-low heat. Add chili powder to taste.  Let the chili simmer for about a half an hour.

Serve chili with your favorite kind of bread.  Top with sour cream, cheese or any other kind of delicious treat. This dish is really good reheated as well!

ENJOY!

Baked Salmon with Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar

Most of my recipes are altered to fit my tastes. In this case I love to bake the salmon with a simple marinade. Variations of marinades include a teriyaki glaze, soy sauce with garlic, BBQ sauce, lemon pepper seasoning, or various herbs. Salmon is a healthy, fast fish to cook and goes with any side dishes. Be careful not to over cook, because you will be left with a very dry dish that you may never want to eat again. When cooked properly, the fish will flake and be moist and delicious!

1-2 (or more) salmon fillets
Coarse-grained sea salt
Freshly ground black pepperOlive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Customized Tip: Any other sauce or marinade you prefer

 

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Season salmon with your marinade of choice. Place salmon, skin side down, on foil lined baking pan. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.

ENJOY!

Seasoned Oven Roasted Red Potatoes

In keeping with my simple meal practice, I really loved how this recipe turned out. You can add as much or as little seasoning to the potatoes as you wish (herbs, spices, ect.). As much as I like mashed potatoes, it can be involved with the boiling and the mashing and it can get boring to have a blob of potatoes on your plate. The roasted potatoes are not only fast and easy to make, they smell delicious as they roast and they are packed with flavor!

4-5 large red skined potatoes, quartered
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced garlic or garlic powder
Customized tip: Add any herbs or spices that you like.

 Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the potatoes and put them into a bowl. Add the olive oil and seasonings, toss the potatoes until evenly coated. Lightly oil a baking sheet, so the potatoes will not stick and burn. Roast in the oven, until golden and crispy on the outside, tender and cooked through on the inside, about 30 minutes.

ENJOY!