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WILD SOCKEYE SALMON WITH MANGO SALSA!


salmonmangosalsa

An old friend came to visit and requested the salmon I made 10 years ago … Ummm … which one??? I have made so many different salmon meals – different ingredients, different cooking methods and … I create the dish according to time and ingredient availability, weather, palate desires – in other words … what we feel like eating (light, comfort, spicy, etc) and what I am able to put together with the ingredients I have and the time available! So … “we were having Margaritas and you cooked it on the grill” really doesn’t give me much to go on.

Time for a new invention. I had purchased a box of Ataulfo Mangos that were ripening fast, ergo must include them in this meal.

The mango salsa was done and then we went out hiking. By the time we returned home we were starving and time was off the essence. As you can see there isn’t much food left in the plate in the above photo … It smelled and tasted soooooo YUMMY that we had wolfed down half our food before I remembered to take a photo!

Creative juices flowing here is what I created!

Mango Salsa (I used 8 Mangos)

Cube 8 Mangos
6 large cloves of Garlic – finely chopped
2 Tbsp. of Capers OR (use fresh Blueberries or Raspberries)
5 Green Onions (Spring Onions) – chopped fine
5 Tbsp. Roasted Red Pepper – chopped
2 Tbsp. Fresh Squeezed Lime Juice
Cilantro 
– added when served (optional) or Basil!

Cilantro may be added to the salsa before serving – chop some in a small bowl and serve on the side or sprinkle on top. Don’t add it into this mix as it will wilt in a day and change the flavour of the salsa.

Add all ingredients (except Cilantro) in a large bowl and mix them together well. Cover and set aside. May be refrigerated in a sealed container (NOT PLASTIC) for up to 5 days. Sometimes 6 … 🙂

Wild Sockeye Salmon (1 Large Filet)

In a small bowl combine the following ingredients:

2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip
1 1/2 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1 Tsp. Black Pepper
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder (or use Fresh Garlic)
1 1/2 Tsp. Paprika
1 Tbsp. Dried Basil

Blend well. Once it is blended add while stirring:

1 Tbsp. Tamari (or Japanese style Soya Sauce)
1 1/2 Ounces/ 5 ml of Orange Juice

Blend very well.

Chop up as much fresh Ginger as you like.

Wash Salmon. Pour a little olive oil in a baking dish. Place Salmon skin side down and completely cover with above mixture. Sprinkle fresh, chopped Ginger on top.

Cook for approximately 15 minutes at 350°- depends on the size of the Salmon filet and the type of oven you have. The Salmon juice in the pan should be bubbling, clear and a little brown. If you have a thin filet you may broil it – two notches below the broiler otherwise the sauce will burn! Or you may place it on a grill sheet/pan/aluminium foil on the barbecue at 400° for about 15 minutes.

Super Foods My Patootie!!!


Any time you connect to media – Any social media, radio, TV, the spam in your junk file – you are inundated with the wonders and cures of a “SUPER FOOD”! The ad (because that is what it is folks), goes on to list the numerous cures of this miracle Super food and cites studies, which are rarely specifically named, on how this food may cure cancer, diabetes or any number of diseases. Read … May …

Blueberries, ginger, turmeric, anti-oxidants, lemons, honey, cinnamon, gogi berries … the list goes on, ad nauseum and changes constantly. There is always a new super food that will cure everything, make you happy, make you look younger, cure a disease, help you lose weight and now the miracle ingredient is available in this powder form for your convenience! WooHoo … not.

THIS IS A super food: you planted it, tended to it, picked it when ripe and ate it fresh, that day. Now THAT is super! And it’s a food! Since most of us do not have the opportunity to have our own, diverse garden (read: veggies, fruit trees, berry bushes, etc.) and even for those that do, it is generally not year round, nor is it as diverse as we would like, we become denizens of our local grocery store and must forage through what is available and we wonder if we are making the right choices.

I am so sick and tired of reading all this bullshit on all media about this cure or that cure or how to lose weight if you buy this product or what you should never do/eat and … rants about Big Pharma … we need to remember that the natural health industry is also a billion dollar industry. People are in it to make money. In the case of “Big Pharma”, once you begin on a course of medication one pill leads to another and pretty soon you are not sure what you are taking and must consult a pharmacist to show you which pill to take when and with what and whether they are all working together for the good of your body. As for the health industry they are offering this cure for that disease, that cure for this disease, pills, cleanses, teas and the list goes on for a vast array of cure alls and weight loss products which without a complete lifestyle change – ie. exercise, diet, outlook on life, don’t deliver and are seldom beneficial for anything except making money for the seller.

Do I believe in healthy diets, mind, body, soul/spirit healing … YES! Do I believe holistic medicine is a great preventative tool? YES! Do I believe following a healthy diet can effect a cure for an already established disease. unfortunately, No. I DO believe following a healthy diet, resting, exercising, having fun/laughing/loving can lessen the symptoms of a disease, help get you back to being healthy faster and perhaps keep you off of or decrease the amount of your medications. For those that have a genetic predisposition to a disease, I believe being proactive by having good living habits will help keep the disease at bay or at least mitigate the severity.

DNA, genetics accounts for a lot of unexpected diseases. These can be mitigated with a healthy body, mind and spirit but not necessarily eradicated. Why bother then? Because your chances of survival are increased. Your time spent being ill is decreased. Better quality of life … if you like to be ambulatory and free of pain …

Fresh, whole foods do provide the nutrients your body requires and is built to use. Our body is an amazing machine which given the chance, regulates itself, detoxifies itself, pH balances itself and so much more. Yep. All it requires is the proper fuel; movement; rest; love and laughter. Your body is a part of a complex system encompassing your emotions and thought processes.

A healthy lifestyle, incorporating the mind, body and soul can keep you healthy and can minimize risk. If you are healthy in ALL three areas you have a better chance of fighting the disease and recognizing that something is wrong with your body, perhaps getting early treatment …

There is no magic pill. There is no surefire, instantaneous, miracle cure.

No one is here to solve YOUR health problems with a magic pill or potion! THAT is entirely up to you, to do the best you can with what you have. Research facts, read studies, stay away from marketing promises, commit to a lifestyle change and begin slowly. Small steps in the beginning lead to bigger strides once you develop your pace. Our health is our responsibility.

What there is the age old, simple advice … sleep, eat real foods, meditate/de-stress/relax, drink lots of pure water, socialize with friends and loved ones – be a part of a social network and get some exercise.

Mix it up. A little of this, a little of that … everything in moderation.

 

 

Addendum to MC Veggie Puffs … :)


Well … I added 5 eggs (whipped), about 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 1 cup of coconut flour (slowly – add a bit, mix … etc.), 1/4 cup quinoa flakes, 1 tsp. salt and for some reason I had the idea to add 1 tsp. of baking powder.

1st photo – the consistency you want to have – the wooden spoon stands up and you can make a definite hole in the mixture without any of it running in. Dryish not too dry. Still quite wet when you are rolling it but does stick together.
IMG_2469
You then proceed to roll them into little balls and flatten out a bit, placing into the pan with the coconut oil. Oven is at 350℃, ready to go. I made 48 in the second pan and 35 in the first – just jammed them a bit more in the second pan, (was getting tired of rolling!).
And here we are:

IMG_2471
Five are already missing … must do a taste test … 😉

They will be a perfect grab and go snack!
The rest – yes, there was MORE mix … I put into an 8 x 8 pyrex dish and it is cooking now. This is the one I will be sampling for the next few days!
Definitely a keeper recipe as they smell delicious, taste divine – puffy, spicy but not too much, just a hint of warmth and notes of curry and will go well with any number of dips/sauces or just a quick bite, straight out of the fridge when you are on the go.
Next time, I will reduce the amount of coconut flour and add mashed potato and cauliflower, see what the difference would be. When I do, I will let you all know!

These would go well with a Salsa Verde, Tsatsiki (made with Toffuti Sour Cream), or a Mango Chutney/Salsa.
Wine pairing: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, Rosé, Beaujolais Nouveau.
Happy Cooking!

New Year, New Beginnings … New Book!


Happy 2015! It’s a new year, a new beginning and a new book!

So … You Want to Get Laid Tonight?
A how-to guide for a romantic dinner that won’t have you watching TV afterwards!

What happens after dinner … in the bedroom, the living room or, heck!, on the kitchen floor … is up to you … provided you are with a consenting adult!

What the book will do is offer a selection of Romantic, Erotic foods, how to cook and eat them, the setting, the food, the fun, the ideas … date friendly (sex enhancing) dinners and more!

Tantalizing aromas, sauces glistening on your lips, nibbling a tasty morsel offered, finger licking and lip wetting deliciousness …

Whew! Need a moment …

Okay, back to the food …

Garlic, usually a no-no for romantic dinners, will be on the menu … too many excellent qualities in garlic to exclude it. How you cook the garlic is the key.

Cucumbers, parsley, lemons are great breath fresheners (after the garlic)! Let me show you how and why.

Spicy, Sweet, Sour, Savoury, Salty … a cornucopia of tastes … Kiss as each new flavour is sampled … sharing flavours with a kiss is so erotic!

There will be plenty left for a midnight foray to the kitchen too … All you do is follow the DIY guide and have fun! 😉

All Gluten and Dairy Free … of course!

Stay tuned! More to come …