Salmon Bites with Miso Glaze

I haven't had salmon in a while and I wanted to get my lunches looking more diverse, and give you some more ideas that are easy to make for you, your kids, and your family!  If you want to see a photo of this dish, click on the "my lunches" link

Salmon Bites with Miso Glaze
2 servings

10-12 ounces of fresh salmon fillet, skin off and cut into large chunks
salt to taste
2 tablespoons white miso paste
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sriracha hot sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
juice of a clementine, or 2 tablespoons orange juice
toasted sesame seeds for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all ingredients, except for salmon and salt, in a mini food processor.  Process to a smooth glaze.  Set aside.

Sprinkle salt on the salmon chunks and place them on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on how cooked you like your salmon.  Place salmon bites on a platter, drizzle with miso glaze, and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds if desired.  Serve with a side of asparagus or over a nice green salad! ENJOY!

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

Every time I travel by train or plane I buy one or two food magazines to keep me busy. Last week when I traveled home for the holidays I purchased a magazine I never had before, Everyday Food, the Martha Stewart publication.  I always saw it on the shelves but never bought it, probably because of it's small size.  Well I was totally wrong about that one!  Although small is size, it's big in the recipe department.  I found at least 10 easy recipes that I wanted to try out.  The first one I decided to try was this tomato and goat cheese tart. 

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart

adapted from Everyday Food Magazine

1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed

1 tablespoon fat free plain greek yogurt

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

2 leeks, white and light green parts only

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter

2 plum tomatoes sliced

2 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled

2 teaspoons chopped basil leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan and unfold thawed pastry on it.  In a small bowl stir together yogurt, mustard, and season with salt and pepper.  Spread the mixture over the puff pastry evenly.  Fold over 1/2 inch border on all sides and press edges to seal.  Refrigerate while preparing the leeks and tomatoes.

Meanwhile, halve leeks lengthwise, rinse well, pat dry, and slice 1/4 inch thick.  Saute leeks in a large pan with melted butter or olive oil.  Season leeks with salt and pepper and cook until soft, about 6 minutes.  Arrange the leeks evenly on the puff pastry.  Top with the tomato slices and season with salt and pepper.  Bake until pastry is golden brown and crispy, about 25 minutes.  Let cool slightly and top with crumbled goat cheese and basil.  Serve warm or at room temperature, ENJOY!

If you have any extra ingredients, use them to make a great omelet the next morning!  That's what I did...I even mixed it all up in a container so that all I needed to do in the morning was pour the egg and veggie mixture into a heated pan and cook it up for breakfast!  It's as easy as that...two meals in one!

Some exciting news...

Hey everyone, I hope you all are doing well, sorry I've been MIA but with all the holidays and stuff it's been hard to keep up, but I'm back and I have some very exciting news, at least I think it is!!

It's been 7 months since I started this blog and today, I will be offering you, my readers, my very first FREE, YES FREE, giveaway!!!

If you are chosen as the winner you will receive a $35 gift certificate to a great company that sells modern bedding, cookware, and even premium shoes and handbags for men and woman from 3 great sites: www.cookware.com, www.allmodern.com, or www.luxebycsn.com.

You will be able to choose what site you'd like to use your gift certificate for, the $35 dollars does not include shipping costs.

In order to be considered for this giveaway you need to do the following:


1) Become an official follower of my blog. (see right and click on follower, and I don't mean on Facebook!)
2) Once you've done step 1, you should post a comment below stating your favorite recipe of the ones I've posted since February!  If you've actually made it before, please share how you enjoyed it and how easy/hard it was for you, etc.  If not, please tell me when you plan to make it and why you chose it!
3) The contest for the free giveaway will be announced on Thursday, September 23rd.  Posts after 12pm on Thursday will not be considered.

GOOD LUCK!