A little change up

So it has been a very long time since I have last used this, time has just gotten away form me! I do a little traveling  with my current job and am always looking for good restaurants to try out.  In April I got to go to New York for 2 weeks (worked 93% of the time) and go to visit one of my favorite chefs restaurants.  I am a HUGE fan of top chef.  While in New York I visit both of Angelo Sosa restaurants, Social Eatz Social Eatz and Anejo Tequileria.  I ate at Social Eat at least 3 times and every time it was just equally as amazing.  Now Social Eatz has a very special place in my heart since this is where I got to meet Angelo!  (picture below).  I only got to eat at his other restaurant once, I had the guac and margaritas, hands down best I have ever had.  If you are ever in New York I suggest these restaurant are both a must.

Alright now the reason for my post, I am gonna change up my blog a bit.  When I am out of town I have a hard time finding a new fun place to try to eat out at.  When I was in San Diego I googled like crazy for restaurants for the chefs on Top Chef.  So I am going to go season by season chef by chef and make my own list to share! This of course will take me a little while to create but I will post as I go.  Once I get them all to date I will post a final list, by season and by location. I am starting on Season One now so hopefully I will have that posted within a few days!

Crusted Salmon with Yogurt Caper Sauce

Sauce

-       - 1 tablespoon capers

-        - ½ cup Greek Yogurt ( I would suggest Fage)

-       - 2 teaspoons lemon juice

-       - salt and pepper to taste

-         

      mix all ingredients together and set in fridge till ready to serve.  (this sauce is great with many other things!)

Salmon

-       - 2 6oz salmon filets

-       - ½ bread crumbs

-       - 1 tsp mustard

-       - 1 tsp thyme

-       - 1 tsp rosemary

-       - 2 tsp lemon juice / 2 slices of lemon

     1)   Preheat oven to 450 degrees

      2)   In a bowl mix everything together except slices of lemon and salmon.

      3)   Squeeze lemon slices onto salmon and season with salt and pepper.   

     4)   Coat salmon with bread crumb mixture

     5)   Grease baking sheet and and cook salmon for 11 minutes. 

Enjoy!!

Roasted Potatoes

Oh boy how it has been a long time since I was able to cook dinner and blog….but I finally am back to a normal work schedule and have somewhat of a life.  So I am hoping to be able to do this more often !

Roasted potatoes – 2 servings

-      -  2 medium size red potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces

-      -  1 garlic clove, minced

-     -   2 tsp of parsley

-       - 1 tsp rosemary

-       - pinch of salt and pepper

-      -  ¼ cup olive oil

            1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) In a box mix everything together and make sure potatoes are well covered.

3) Place potatoes on a baking sheet and make 30 – 45 minutes, flip potatoes bout half way thru.

We had this with Salmon with the yogurt caper sauce(recipe in my other blog)…. the sauce went great with the potatoes! 

Gouda Mac

 Yickes it has been way to long since I last posted something, but last week I worked almost 80 hours between both jobs so I was just way to exhausted.  Well I love cheese so that would make mac n cheese one of my favorite foods of all time, of course I like to change it up a bit. When I first found a recipe that was for gouda mac n cheese. All together from starting to prep to you are stilling at the table it takes about 2 hours.  This can serve bout four people and makes great leftovers!

What you will need:

•  3/4 pound shell pasta

•  2 tablespoons olive oil

•  1 lb smoked turkey sausage (of course you can use normal smoked sausage)

•  1 can of artichoke

•  1 can of green chili

•  1 ½  tablespoons unsalted butter

•  3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

•  3 1/2 cups milk

•  2 bay leaves

•  1/2 white onion

•  Pinch of nutmeg

•  2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese

•  ½ cup of mozzarella

•  Salt and pepper (to taste)

what to do

1)    Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2)   Cook the pasta according to book, but only cook for about ¾ of the time it tells you.  Once pasta.  Once Pasta is done drain and run under cold water for the pasta stops cooking.  Put pasta in a glass-baking dish and toss with olive oil.

3)   Cut up the smoked sausage into bit size pieces and brown in pan.  Once browned to your liking toss in with noodles.

4)   Dump the can of green chilies info the noodles and chop up artichokes and toss with noodles.

5)   Add 1 ½ tablespoons of butter to pan and melt on low to medium heat. Still in the butter once butter is melted. Cook over low heat for about 2-3 minutes stirring often. Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly. Bring mixture to a simmer.

6)   Chop onion in large pieces and add to mixture along with bay leaves. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer for 20-30 sitting occasionally.

7)  stain the sauce a few times, and put back in and mix gouda until melted, add salt and pepper to taste. and miss in with noodles. Top with mozzarella cheese and cover with foil and place in over for 45 minutes.  Then remove foil and broil for 4 min to lightly golden the top.  All stoves are different so I would watch closely.

Once it is golden to your liking let it sit out for about 6 minutes and then it is ready to serve!!  Enjoy :) 

Tortellini & Sausage Salad

Made another recipe tonight that was super easy and very yummy! Even better…..makes great leftovers for our work lunches!!

What you will need to serve 4 (or two with leftovers!)  - I really don’t measure there are mostly guestaments….

-       2 Sliced red peppers

-       One bunch of asparagus  - cut into bite size

-       1 ½ Cups of edamame (frozen)

-       ½ chopped up onion

-       4 cheddar brats (can use really any kind of sausage, I had a bunch of these)

-       16 oz tortellini

-       2 cloves of garlic minced

-       ½ cup Italian Dressing

What do do….

1)   Boil a 2 pot of water on the stove, one large and one medium size.

2)   While you are waiting for the water to boil start cutting up your vegetables and sausage.

3)   When water boils place tortellini in large pot and cut up asparagus in small pot.  Just cook asparagus till they are bright green (about 3 min).   Then drain asparagus and run cold water over them so they stop cooking, and set aside.  Cook tortellini for about 7 minutes and then add edamame with tortilla for about 6 minutes.

4)   While those are cooking heat up a sauté pan (make sure its big) with some olive in it.  Put in the red pepper, garlic and onion. Cook for about4 minutes then add sausage and asparagus and cook for another 5-6 minutes. 

5)   Once tortilla and edamame are done drain well.

6)   Mix all ingredients together with the Italian Dressing

Then your done and ready to eat an amazing meal!!  Make sure you get a bite with everything because all the different flavors and textures are awesome together.  This time I actually took a picture.  

Grilled Salmon Sandwich

So I am all about easy recipe, working 2 jobs over 60 hours a week will do that to you.  I must say Pinterest in the most amazing creation ever!!!! J  It has helped me find ideas on things to make for dinner. For this sandwich in an hour I cook, we ate and cleaned!

What you will need to make a meal for two.

-          2 pieces of fresh salmon (I used 2 5 oz pieces).

-          2 rolls

-          Few slices of onion  (I prefer red onion)

-          Cajun Seasoning (you can also use blackening season)  

-          Spinach leaves (or lettuce)

-          Avocado mayo (see recipe posted before this one)

-          Few slices of a tomato

What you need to do.

1) I cut off the skin/scale part of the salmon, and then put the Cajun seasoning on both sides.  You can always do this earlier in the day and put it back in the fridge so it can sit in the seasoning longer. 

2) I love to grill but in my apartment we can not have grills so I use my George Forman Grill (worked great!).  Grill the salmon on both sides for about 8-11 minutes (depends on your grill and how think the salmon is). 

3) While salmon is grilling put together you sandwich.  I did lightly grill my rolls in the George Forman Grill.  Spread your mayo on the roll then layer spinach leaves, onion, and tomato. Once salmon is done place on top and then boom your set to go and dinner is ready!!

Avocado Mayo

So I made these Salmon sandwiches the other week, and learned of an awesome mayo!


Its super simple and takes no time to make, I don’t know how I have never thought of it before!


Its only 2 ingredients...


1 - Avocado


1/2 cup mayo


Mush up the avocado then mix in the mayo, you really can add how over much mayo you would like depending on how avocadoy you like it! Now I pretty much put this on all my sandwiches.