Recipe Review | Salmon and Spinach in Parchment

I tried a new recipe this past week from my latest issue of Everyday FOOD (April 2012).

The cover recipe, Salmon and Spinach in Parchment. All four of us love salmon so I thought I'd give it a go.

Overall, the prep was about 20 minutes. There are only 5 ingredients to shop for: baby spinach, oranges, salmon, fresh ginger, and shallots.

The following serves 4 (Compliments of Everyday FOOD):

• 8 cups baby spinach
• 1 Tbsp grated orange zest (I didn’t measure, just used the zest of 2 oranges)
• 2 medium-large orange peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds (use same orange that you zested)
• 4 skinless salmon fillets (mine had skin, which I removed before serving)
• 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and cut into thin strips (matchsticks)
• 1 shallot thinly sliced
• Course salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 400. Divide spinach among four, 16-inch long pieces of parchment paper. Top with orange slices, salmon, ginger and shallots. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with oil.

Bring long ends of paper together and fold down 3 times to make a seam. Tuck ends underneath to secure.

Place packets on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until packets are puffed and salmon is cooked through, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer packets to plates, pull open and serve immediately.

I substituted Citrus infused olive oil because I have it! 

Get your own Citrus Olive Oil from the Temecula Olive Oil Company.

 Don't fuss too much over your wrapping job. Do be sure to use parchment paper and NOT waxed paper.

The result was scrumptious!

(And I do say so, myself.)

I served this up with creamy polenta.

We all ate every bite--well, maybe not each piece of ginger.

When I make this again...

1. I will use more spinach in the pouches or sauté some on the side. There was not enough to be considered a "side dish," which was how I envisioned it (based on the photos from the magazine).

2. I will grate the ginger. The matchsticks were a bit stringy and overpowered the other flavors when you had too big a piece in your bite. 

3. I will make extra. The leftover salmon on a bed of fresh spinach would make a lovely salad (citrus vinaigrette) the following day.

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St. Patrick's Day Pinspiration

My girls are part Irish and I try to make a big deal about the holiday every year because growing up, I always wished that I was Irish (especially on St. Patty's Day). Luckily, my very best childhood friend, Natasha, was (and still is!) Irish (she's also half Hungarian and there are a lot of fantastic stories I could tell you about growing up with her fabulously crazy Hungarian father--but I digress...). 

Because I was taken under the wing of Tasha's whacky and wonderful family, I can tell you that you've not experienced St. Patrick's Day if you haven't enjoyed homemade corned beef, cabbage, and boiled red potatoes (all dripping with butter and showered with salt and cracked pepper). I make this meal every St. Patrick's Day (and then wonder why we don't eat it more often--until I wake up March 18th with swollen fingers and a parched palate). I always serve dinner with Guinness Stout for Greg and I and Green Milk for the girls. It's super fun.

This photo is from our family archives--can't wait to make this again soon!

In addition to the traditional meal and dressing my children in green from head to toe, I saw something on Pinterest recently that I wanted to incorporate into our holiday fun (You know, so it wouldn't just be about drinking, kissing, and gluttony--Admittedly, my favorite characteristics.)

(Idea and Pin from Lisa Storms' Blog)

So we set to work. It looks like Miss Storms has a shamrock paper punch. We do not. Instead I downloaded a simple shamrock silhouette from Google Images and traced it only a little car stock to make a stencil. The girls and I got busy tracing the edges and cutting out our shamrocks.

I found a small green bucket in the Dollar Bins {love} at Target and bought a cube of floral foam at the craft store. I had some wooden skewers and toothpick swimming around the bottom of a kitchen drawer. 

Next, we needed some rainbows to decorate the bucket.

Here's what we came up with. We add a thought each day and hope to have is overflowing by the time St. Patrick's Day arrives.

Cheers!

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Gusano (That's "worm" in Spanish)

Piper, this morning:

"I learned something in school yesterday. Did you know that if you put a worm in your pocket at recess and bring it into the classroom and you lie about it, you will get a consequence. But if you get a worm at recess and bring it into the classroom in your pocket--but don't lie about it, you will not get a consequence? Did you know that? It's true. Because yesterday, after recess, Avery had a worm in her pocket and she lied about it and had a timeout. But Autumn also had a worm in her pocket that she did NOT lie about--and she did not have a timeout--she just had to put the worm back outside, which maybe is a consequence, but not so bad."

I'm pretty sure the biggest consequence here might be the result of reaching into your pocket for a worm and squishing it under your fingernails--or simply having a worm in your pocket at all. However, I'm not five--so maybe I'm just missing the point?

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Pinspiration Pantry

Not sure if you're familiar with Pinterest. It's one of my latest timesucks. I love it. It's an amazing forum to "bookmark" fabulous ideas and organize them in one convenient spot. You can have as many different categories as you like (recipes, books to read, "Do it Yourself" Crafts/Projects, fashion, etc.). For me, it's been a terrific place to take a virtual "note" of something I like, something I want to make, or something I want to do. You get to choose one picture from almost any website and when you "Pin it" to your profile, you can trace back the original source (often for full recipes, directions, or information about how to acquire the item).

Lately, I've made a commitment to myself to actually do more with all the pinned goodies I've found. Which is to say, I need to spend less time on the computer planning what I'd like to do and more time taking action. :)

While I have been pretty good at making some of the recipes I've found and pinned (and purchasing some of the items I've also pinned), my first "big" Pinspiration Project has been to give our pantry a makeover. It's been absolutely desperate for one. {It's true--I hear it crying out in embarrassment anytime someone, other than our immediate family, accidentally sees its insides.} 

Here are two photos I found on Pinterest that I used as my inspiration (get it, pinspiration?).

{Brett Valenstein Designs}

{Martha Stewart}

I love the cohesion of the first pantry above. While things are organized, it looks like a family actually uses this space as well. I really love the light fixture (but didn't actually get that far with my makeover). I also love the second photo but feel as though it's not realistically achievable in my home. You see, I have lots of things I like to keep in my pantry that are NOT yellow or white {snicker}. However, the idea of having a few common elements to make the space unite, seemed doable.

Here is what I had to work with:

"Where's the cat food (substitute anything else here)?"
"It's in there. Just look for it!"

You can see I had some good intentions along the way: bread basket, canned food shelves, a basket for my tea...

And so the process began, with me emptying everything out and into the kitchen. I'm embarrassed to admit how much expired food was in this pantry {blushing}. You may be able to recognize that I was raised in my grandparents house. Having lived through harder times, they always kept plenty of canned food and dried goods on-hand (just in case). I do enjoy having a backup up two!

During:

The pantry threw up into the kitchen!

I should have taken a picture of the floor too. Because as soon as I ran out of counter space (which did not take long), I started making rows of stuff on the floor. The process of purging was thrilling. When I was finished, I had a trunk-load for donation and had filled the recycling and garbage bins to the top.

It was a solid, six-hour process (not including wine breaks). I'm quite pleased with the results.

So much less on the floor!

Apron Collection

Apparently, I have a "Basket Collection," as well--though, I came to have this more by accident. 

I'm addicted to jars and bottles.

Look! We even have food in here!

I invested a few funds into the chalkboard baskets (to tie the space together and house smaller items that go together) and bright, flower wall decals (to add a little fun surprise). I picked them all up at Target. 

I look forward to sharing how some of my other pinspiration comes to life at our house.

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Things I Love Thursday

I should call this "Things I Love Lately" because it's been SO LONG... However, it happens to be Thursday... So there you have it!

• Celebrating NINE years (married) with this guy:

• Fall soccer. Geneva started soccer this year. We were reluctant to give up "our" Saturdays for games. As it turns out, watching her play on the weekends is one of our weekend highlights. It also helps that she loves it and she's pretty good. We call her "Hat Trick Jones" because she's earned it. 

• Knowing my nephew, Tyler, is going to have a full recovery (in terms of mobility) from the serious injury he sustained one week ago today. He has had three surgeries so far and will hopefully return home this weekend. The road to recovery is still long with further surgeries and challenging physical therapy; however, he is expected to achieve 100% functionality in the end.
• Having my dad and mom so much closer to us. They've managed to sell their home in South Dakota and are now living in southern Oregon. They are still about 5 hours away--but is so much closer than SD! They stopped by to visit us for a few days on the trip out. Papa taught Piper how to balance coins on their sides--she's surprising good at it!

• The Fall television premiers--especially The Good Wife. Seriously. This is a fantastic show! I look forward to it like no other. If you're not watching this show, you're missing out!
• When Daddy gets his hair done:

• A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith.
• Watching Geneva smile just before she climbs the (gigantic) steps onto the school bus in the morning.
• Having some "Piper and Mommy Time" for a couple hours each weekday afternoon.
• Living Basil. Find your own in your grocer's produce section. I've had this plant at least 4 weeks. I've tried growing basil in my herb garden for the past 3 years. It's never grown this well before--and this is nearly effortless! Because it's on the counter, I remember to add it to lots of different things to. D'lish! (Thanks for the tip, GK!)

• The fact that 9 times out of 10, my kids are in bed by 7:30pm. Not only are they getting enough sleep and are pleasantly rested, it's so nice to have some husband and wife time at the end of each day. 
• Having our girls share a room.
• Having two guest rooms for our friends with kids to come visit us--one for mom and dad and one for the kiddos. 
• The girls new nightgowns. They made these out of their dad's old t-shirts and some puffy paints. It was a really fun rainy day project and they look adorable in them.

• Pinterest. It's my new favorite time-suck. Check out my profile: CLICK HERE.
• This picture of Greg and I at the Children's Cancer Association dinner. The company is called, "Paparazzi Tonight" and they can be hired to work your event (if you're local). They provided all the props. It was tons of fun!

• The art of Hadley Hutton. I saw a small grouping of her prints in a model home when we visited the Street of Dreams this year. It was so sweet! I'd love to recreate something along those lines in the girl's bedroom.
• The Maple Bacon Bar from Voodoo Donuts. This establishment has been in Portland for over 8 years now. I've never been. However, when my dad mentioned that his buddy from Montana suggested they check it out when they got here to Oregon, I was all about making that happen. And I'm so glad I did! We had to wait quite a long time in line (especially for a Tuesday morning at 10am!) but it was definitely worth it.

• My closet. I FINALLY carved out the time to get it completely organized and I've managed to keep it that way for several months now {insert some kind of audible noise that expresses your complete shock right now}. It's so nice to be able to see what's in there--let alone walk over to it!
• When we catch a sunny day at the coast.

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The Sound of Piper

Here it is: Solid evidence that we've over-indulged the family musicals.

 (Our favorites include and are not limited to: The Sound of Music, Annie, and Mary Poppins.)

She does this, a lot. 

Warning: This is super long. Even our family will likely turn it off before it's over.

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Argentina

Geneva's Kindergarten class did oral reports on Latin American countries this month. Geneva chose Argentina. Here is her presentation. We are extremely proud of her hard work and even more impressed (once again) by her school and her teachers. 

If you have young children, I would encourage you to consider a language immersion education. We believe that choosing to expose our children to the Spanish language and culture in this way is one of the greatest gifts we have been able to give them.

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I Love Her Sense of Self

Geneva: Do you know what's so special about me, Mom?

Me: What's that, Honey?

Geneva: When I blow air out of my mouth--it's always warm.

What can I say? The kid is super special!

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Gifts From My Mothers

From my mother, Shannon, I am grateful for my creativity and appreciation of all things crafted with love from bits of this and pieces of that. Also, for my instincts in the kitchen.

From my great-grandmother, Ellen, who had a sharp eye and a sharper tongue, I am thankful for the lesson of knowing my own opinion.

From Inez, the grandmother who's home was my home, I have a passion for books and learning. I also learned the value and the joy of a good bargain.

From Trudy, the grandmother of special holidays, summer camping trips, and birthday cards never-forgotten, I was shown the beauty of gentleness, which I aspire to.

From Diana, who lovingly mothered me every-other-weekend during those formative years between three and thirteen, I know the time and effort invested is far surpassed by the lasting impact of a holiday morning made wonderfully special for the pure enjoyment and delight of children.

From Debbie, who demonstrates intelligence and capability in moments and projects big and small, I am learning how to take life head-on. I thank her for the lessons of consistency and strength.

From Kathy, my "other mother" from 3rd grade to 12th grade, I am grateful for a gift I really needed during that time: a view of what a "traditional" family looks like from the inside. It's a beautiful thing, sometimes messy, often loud, occasionally bad-tempered, always honest, unconditionally safe, and absolutely not perfect in all the most meaningful and real ways.

Motherhood is a journey and I am truly enjoying the trip thanks to all the mother figures who have come and gone from my life over the years.

Happy Mother's Day

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