Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Dinner · Fish-Seafood · friends · roasted · Uncategorized · WLS

Salmon en Papillote (Salmon in Parchment)

I love fresh Salmon, and used to eat it at least twice a week.  It is super easy to cook, and comes out perfect every time, especially when you cook it in parchment.  We had friends over for dinner, and I made sure to ask if they liked Salmon.  They do–score.

I purchased a whole filet, and made sure it didn’t have any bones or scales.Cut the Salmon into equal portions (I didn’t weigh them), and place them in parchment paper cut to approximate size (you will need to measure before cutting to ensure that the paper will close tightly).Salt, pepper, a bit of olive oil, and two slices of fresh lemon on each piece of Salmon. Wrapped them.  Start at one end of the parchment working your way to the other end, crimping the paper as best you can until fairly sealed.  Place on a foiled baking sheet.Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.  If you only have thicker slices of Salmon, check them at 15 minutes.  My piece was a thin slice, and was a bit overdone (you can tell with Salmon if it ‘bleeds’ white).  But it was still super tasty and tender.  Our guests seem to enjoy the dinner as well.  I made a nice, cheesy orzo with spinach and roasted broccolini (hybrid of broccoli and kale – I think it is sweeter), both recipes to come later in the week.

Blessings.

Affirmations · Bible verse · Enough · Faith · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · Sunday · thoughts · Uncategorized

Sunday

Quietly.

Blessings.

2019 · Friday · Meme · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · stuff · Uncategorized · Wine

Wine

wine

I know that Julia Child didn’t say this…but I like this meme.

Happy Friday!

2019 · Chicken · cooking · fall · Pork · Sauce · Uncategorized

Fig Sauce

I have used this sauce now on both chicken and pork.  I love the added flavor to the meat.

Chop one large shallot and grate two garlic cloves, add salt and pepper.  Heat in a bit of olive oil until translucent.  Add in 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar, and 1/4-1/3 of a cup fig jam or preserves.  Stir until blended, and simmer.When it is well blended (simmer for about 8 to 10 minutes), add in two tablespoons of butter (I use unsalted butter).The butter adds a richness to the sauce (I think).Serve over the pork loin or your meat of choice.  I have used this on burgers, chicken, and as a dipping sauce for egg rolls.

Enjoy!

 

2019 · cooking · Dinner · fall · Pork · Uncategorized

Pork Tenderloin

I made a roasted Pork Tenderloin to go with my sweet potato risotto.  One pork loin, at room temperature, and patted dry.  They are normally packaged with two smaller loins in one package.  Perfect for just David and I.Thoroughly salt and pepper all sides of the loins.Sear in a hot pan until golden on all sides.Instead of placing the pan in the oven (still over 90 degrees here), I ended up using my toaster oven (preheated at 400 degrees).  Roasted for about ten to twelve minutes.Rest for about 5 minutes (tented with aluminium foil), then slice across the grain.  My plate below.David’s plate and his has the Fig Balsamic sauce on the pork.  Recipe coming tomorrow. 

Blessings!

2019 · Arkansas · fall · Florida · Friday · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · Seasons · Uncategorized

Friday

Hoops and Yoyo Fall Friday

It seems to me that everyone is in love with pumpkin spice the minute Fall season is mentioned.  For those of you that don’t know, I live in the Panhandle of Florida, where the high temperature today is forecast for 94 degrees with a low of 74 degrees (like at 10:00 p.m.).  UGH.  I just can’t.

I love pumpkin pie, and sweet potato pie and all that goes with those yummy things, but I just can’t with the coffee and drinks.

I miss this:

Fall trees

The colors…the crispness in the air…the true feeling of Fall.  It is this time of year I miss Northwest Arkansas.  The trees there are gorgeous in the Fall, as I am sure they are as well in many other North or Northeast areas.  Here, it is brown and green…all the time.

So with that…Happy Friday.  I hope you have a great day.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · cheese · cooking · Dinner · fall · rice · Uncategorized · Vegetables · WLS

Sweet Potato Risotto

Craving Fall flavors in Florida is sometimes difficult especially when the temperature outside is 95 degrees.  Ugh…but we turn down the AC, and cook.

A simple risotto with one sweet potato (chopped and roasted with olive oil, salt and pepper for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees).Melt three tablespoons of unsalted butter and add a large, finely chopped shallot.Add salt and pepper, and cook until translucent.Add in a cup rice, stirring to coat the rice with the butter.  Cook until a bit browned.For my liquid I use 2/3’s cup chicken stock and 1/3 cup wine (warmed – not hot or cold).I also added four cloves of roasted garlic (smashed).  It adds a nutty flavor and isn’t in your face garlicky.  Add about a half of cup of liquid at a time, and stir until adsorbed.Continue this process until the rice is tender (about twenty minutes) with adding the liquid until the three cups are in the rice.When the rice is done, add in the cooked sweet potato.  Stirring gently. Then my favorite part gets added – the Parmesan cheese.  I like large bites of cheese, so I add in slices instead of grating it into the rice.David’s plate below.  I served this with a roasted pork loin with fig-balsamic sauce (recipe coming soon).And my plate (note the extra Parmesan cheese!).  I love this…and even though I am not supposed to eat rice, I think that this is okay (especially since the amount is less than a half of cup).  I do concentrate on eating the protein first especially since my gastric sleeve surgery.

What flavors are a must for you in Fall (even when the temperatures aren’t agreeing with you or Mother Nature)?

Blessings.

Affirmations · encourage · Enough · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · thoughts · Uncategorized · Work-job

You!

I expect a lot from others. My family gets this…some of my co-workers (well, bosses any way)…and friends—sometimes. I work hard. I expect others to do the same. I know and understand that this is unrealistic but that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to happen.

I care/love/give deeply and am exhausted.

Thoughts?

encourage · Enough · goal · Goals · leadership · motivation · Uncategorized · Work-job

Cry

Always.  And if I could ask…why do most of us think that crying is a weakness?

I have a tendency to say that I am bubbling over when I cry…like a boiling pot of water just bubbling over the pot edge. Sometimes we just have to let out some of the hot water out.

So…do you boss it up or cry…or both?

Blessings.

accomplishment · Affirmations · encourage · Enough · future · journey · leadership · Monday · motivation · Quotes · Random Stuff · Random Thoughts · Uncategorized

Vibes

Walking…

Happy Monday!