Bang Bang Salmon Bowls

We love Bang Bang Shrimp so we wanted to try out some Bang Bang Salmon Bowls!

This is a perfect summer meal. Light, flavorful, and refreshing. Make up some jasmine rice, slice up some cucumber, shred some carrot. 

Then make up the delicious Bang Bang Sauce: mayonnaise, Thai sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and rice vinegar. Gosh is that sauce good!

The chunks of salmon get tossed in a simple seasoning blend of garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper before getting doused in the Bang Bang Sauce.

We loved this and will be eating it on repeat all summer long! I'd like to try a shrimp version and maybe even a chicken version.

Bang Bang Salmon Bowls

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

by Jessica Merchant

Serves 4

For The Salmon: 

2 pounds salmon, cut into chunks

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 cup sliced cucumbers, for serving

1 large carrot, finely grated, for serving

jasmine rice, cooked and ready for serving

For the Bang Bang Sauce:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/3 cup sweet Thai chili sauce

2 teaspoons Sriracha

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon rice vinegar 

For the Salmon: Cut the salmon into 1 inch chunks. Season all over with salt, pepper, paprika and garlic powder. making sure all sides are seasoned. Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the salmon pieces in a single layer (you may have to do this in a double batch so they all fit). Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until deeply golden brown. Flip each piece of salmon and cook on the other side until golden. At this point, the salmon should be done but you can check by cutting into a piece or two. Transfer the salmon to a large plate and repeat with the remaining salmon if needed. Cover the salmon all over with green onions, sprinkling a few more into the bang bang sauce.

To Make the Bang Bang Sauce: Whisk together all the ingredients until creamy and smooth and combined,. This stays great in the fridge for a few days.

To Assemble the Bowls: Spoon some rice on the bottom. Top with the cucumbers, carrots, salmon. Drizzle the Bang Bang Sauce over the ingredients and top with more green onions, if desired. Enjoy! 

Healthy Bowls @ IHCC!
 

photo credit

One Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp and Orzo {Perfect For Busy Weeknights}!

We all need more quick and easy weeknight dinner recipes in our back pocket and this One Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp and Orzo is a good one to add to the list!

You need just a handful of ingredients: shrimp, garlic, lemon, olive oil, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, orzo, and parsley. 

All you need to do is marinade the shrimp in a mixture of olive oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. While that marinading you toast some orzo in a skillet with butter and more garlic. Then you cook the orzo with chicken broth, stirring so the pasta becomes creamy and almost risotto-like. When the pasta has absorbed the broth you simply add the shrimp, cover and cook a few minutes until the shrimp are pink and cooked through.

A quick, easy, one pot meal that is perfect for spring! We loved this and I would probably double the recipe next time so there was more of it! I would definitely make this again. 

 One Pot Garlic Butter Shrimp and Orzo

Recipe from How Sweet Eats

by Jessica Merchant

Serves 2

1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 lemon, juiced and freshly zested

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salt and pepper

1 cup orzo

2 tablespoons butter

2 garlic cloves, minced

2-1/4 cups chicken stock

3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

lemon wedges, for spritzing

Note: The recipe as written makes 2 nice servings. I highly suggest doubling it if you want enough for 4-6 people.

In a large bowl, combine the shrimp with the olive oil, lemon juice, zest, garlic, red pepper flakes and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Stir and let sit for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large skillet (a 12 inch works great) over medium heat. Once melted, stir in the orzo. Cook, stirring often, until the orzo is slightly golden and toasty. Stir in the 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.

Pour in the chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Reduce it to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook until the orzo absorbs all the liquid and is fluffed up, about 12-15 minutes.

Add in the shrimp mixture to the orzo and stir. Cover the pot again and cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and opaque and cooked through.

Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a spritz of lemon. I like to stir in another 1 to 2 tablespoons of melted butter for optimal flavor, but this is up to you. Serve immediately!

 One Pot Wonders @ IHCC

Michael Symon's Shrimp with Pineapple Glaze

 
Symon said this Shrimp with Pineapple Glaze was one of his favorite summertime grilling recipes so I wanted to give it a go. 

The pineapple glaze consisted of pineapple juice, sherry vinegar, brown sugar, jalapeno, ginger, crushed garlic, toasted coriander and cumin seeds. I was a little worried the pineapple glaze would be too sweet, but it was actually on the mild side, both sweet and smoky.

We enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I'd make it again. It's hard to beat a good buttery garlic shrimp!

Shrimp with Pineapple Glaze

Michael Symon's 5 in 5 

by Michael Symon

Serves 4-6

1 cup pineapple juice

1/4 cup sherry vinegar

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 jalapeno (split lengthwise)

1 garlic cloves, smashed

1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger

1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and ground

1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground

24 medium shrimp (about 1 pound) shelled and deveined 

salt and pepper

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for the pan

Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

Put a nonreactive large saucepan over high heat and add the pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, jalapeno, garlic, ginger, coriander and cumin. Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to reduce until thickened while the shrimp is cooking, about 4 minutes.

Thread 3 shrimp onto each of 8 skewers (if wooden, soak in water about an hour before), season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Put the skewers on the grill, cover, and cook until the shrimp turn pink, about 2 minutes per side (I found that this took less time than the recipe called for).

Remove the shrimp from the grill and put them on a platter. Strain the pineapple glaze into a bowl, brush it on both sides of the shrimp, and serve.

Light & Easy @  IHCC

Hot Honey Roasted Salmon

 This is such a fun and easy recipe! If you want to hop on the hot honey trend, this is a good way to do it. You don't need to buy any hot honey because you're gonna make it yourself! And...it's easy peasy. Just honey and thinly sliced jalapeno that simmers for about 5 minutes on the stove-top and you're all set. The honey gets a little spicy and the jalapeno slices get all candied and all kinds of delicious.

 The salmon gets seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and lemon slices, then topped with the hot honey before getting roasted and after. It's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy and those candied jalapenos are tasty as ever.

Give this one a try if you're in the mood to shake things up!

 

Hot Honey Roasted Salmon

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

by Jessica Merchant

Serves 4

1/2 cup honey

1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced

1 (2 pound) salmon filet

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 lemon, thinly sliced

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. 

Heat the honey and the jalapeno in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Let the honey come to a light simmer then turn off the honey. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Strain the honey through a fine mesh sieve to remove the peppers and the seeds.

Place your salmon filet on the foil and sprinkle it with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Spoon a few tablespoons of the honey on top. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Before serving, drizzle a bit more honey on the salmon and add the peppers if you wish. Serve with an extra spritz of lemon.

 

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Louis

I love a good retro recipe, especially one that's been given a modern spin. Classic shrimp cocktail usually calls for the shrimp to be boiled and served cold with a zippy tomato-based cocktail sauce. That classic recipe was a staple for years, served at every party, and is well and good. Except... nowadays we've learned that boiling doesn't do much to develop flavor and some would argue it doesn't do wonders for texture either.

Enter Ina Garten's Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Louis. Ina roasts the shrimp, serves them warm, and introduces a different kind of sauce..a creamier, dreamier, cocktail-based sauce consisting of: mayo; chili sauce; lemon juice; lemon zest; horseradish; Sriracha; Worcestershire; capers; and scallions.

After tasting this recipe, I think it's time for shrimp cocktail to make a major comeback. Everyone is always looking to make something that's really quick, fairly healthy, and delicious. Not to mention, we live in a sauce-obsessed world. We are always dunking and dipping our way through meals. This recipe fits all those criteria and then some.

Give this a try the next time you're entertaining or hosting a gathering.

Roasted Shrimp Cocktail Louis

Adapted from Cook Like A Pro

by Ina Garten

Serves 4-6, depending

2 pounds large (16 to 20ct) shrimp, peeled, deveined, with the tails

olive oil

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1-1/4 cups good mayonnaise, such as Hellman's

1/2 cup Heinz chili sauce

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1-1/2 tablespoons bottled grated white horseradish, drained

2 teaspoons Sriracha

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup minced scallions (2 scallions)

2 tablespoons capers, drained

Note: I halved the recipe and it worked out just fine. If you make the entire recipe, you will need to use two sheet pans for the shrimp (don't crowd them on the pan or they won't cook properly).

Preheat the oven to 400F. Dry the shrimp well with paper towels. Place them on a sheet pan with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, toss well, and spread them out in one layer. Roast for 10 minutes, until firm and just cooked through. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, chili sauce, lemon zest, lemon juice, horseradish, Srirarcha, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir in the scallions and capers. Arrange the shrimp on a platter with the sauce in the middle for dipping. Offer a separate bowl for the discarded shrimp tails.

*I made a half recipe. When Ina makes the full recipe she roasts the shrimp on 2 sheet pans and adds a garnish of lemon pieces on the serving platter. 

Under The Sea @ IHCC

Jalapeno Garlic Butter Shrimp

 

This week I'm doing some spring cleaning in the kitchen; cleaning out the fridge, the freezers, and the pantry. I have lots of shrimp in the freezer that needs to be used, as well as a huge bag full of hot peppers from a friend's garden last summer. A quick peruse through my Half Baked Harvest books and I found just the recipe to help me use up some ingredients, Tieghan's Jalapeno Garlic Butter Shrimp. 

I mixed up a quick marinade for the shrimp: olive oil, honey, garlic, jalapenos, lime juice, and lemon juice. I did give pause here because I know that lemon and lime juice cooks fish and seafood and I've never marinaded any seafood or fish before.

Tieghan says to marinade the shrimp for 15-30 minutes. I marinaded my shrimp for exactly 15 minutes before searing them in a very hot cast iron pan. The shrimp cooked quickly, but after searing them she says to add the marinade into the pan. I followed the directions and as soon as all that liquid hit the pan I regretted it. Instead of sauteing, the shrimp were now boiling and steaming in the marinade, not necessarily the vibe I was going for.

I pulled a shrimp out and tasted it. It was overcooked. My guess is adding the marinade which made the shrimp boil and steam, turned them into rubber. It was either that or marinading the shrimp in lemon and lime juice, or a combination of the marinading and the steaming/boiling. The flavors were ok, the jalapenos gave the shrimp just the right amount of heat, but I also didn't care for the addition of the honey. 

Half Baked Harvest struck out last week and is striking out again this week. I am definitely going to cook with a different chef next week.

As far as shrimp recipes go, I think I will definitely stick to my very favorite shrimp dish of all time, Rick Bayless' Quick Fried Shrimp with Sweet Toasty Garlic, because the garlic is front and center and the shrimp are cooked to perfection. I still remember the first time I made this and accidentally inhaled the entire dish straight out of the pan.

Jalapeno Garlic-Butter Shrimp

Adapted from Half Baked Harvest Super Simple

by Tieghan Gerard

Serves 4

1 pound large, raw tail-on shrimp, peeled and deveined

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons honey

4 to 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1 lemon

4 tablespoons butter

 salt and freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

In a large zip-top bag (or mixing bowl if you don't use bags), combine the shrimp, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, the honey, garlic, jalapenos, lime juice, and lemon juice. Turn to coat Marinate in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes.

In a large skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, use a slotted spoon to scoop the shrimp and garlic out of the marinade, reserving it, and transfer them to the skillet. Cook until the shrimp are pink, about 2 minutes per side. Add the reserved marinade, butter, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the garlic turns light golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cilantro.

Serve this shrimp by itself, or over rice, or stuff into tacos and finish it off with your favorite slaw!

 

Spring Cleaning (the fridge, freezer, and pantry) @ IHCC!

Ina Garten's Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli {Foodgoals 2022}

 

I love the fresh start that the new year brings. I like to make all manner of goals, from reading goals to work goals to cooking goals. This year my cooking goals are to continue eating healthy dishes like this Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli with Basmati Rice.

I also have some other food-related goals, such as really delving into some baking (both cakes, pies, and other various baked goods, but also possibly breads). Another goal I'm hoping to explore more is to take make some of my "staple dishes" gluten free so my son can enjoy them. In the past few years, gluten-free options, such as all-in-one flours, have flooded the market and made gluten-free cooking so much more accessible, so I'm really hoping to create more foods that he can enjoy! 

Of course, all of these things are subject to the world around us, such as continuing overwhelming illness, food shortages, and quite simply lack of motivation, but I am hopeful to at least grow in all these areas.

Speaking of motivation, if you want to excel at cooking healthfully, it is very helpful if you to have nutritious ingredients on hand and lots of quick, easy, and healthy recipes up your sleeve. If you can get really good at having the right ingredients and the right methods, then half the battle is already won.

Ina's Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli is one of those recipes. It really couldn't be any easier. Cook up some rice, make a quick teriyaki sauce out of olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, maple syrup, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes, get out a baking sheet, place the salmon on it, pour the sauce over it, bake for a few minutes, add some sliced broccolini or broccoli and roast until cooked to your liking. We're talking beginner level cooking here. Plus, easy clean up!

Plate the salmon with the rice and the broccoli or broccolini and you're all set! Quick, easy, and totally painless, BUT also healthy, delicious and flavorful. The perfect weeknight meal! 

Salmon Teriyaki & Broccoli with Basmati Rice

Adapted barefootcontessa.com

by Ina Garten

Serves 4

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)

1/4 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

4 skinless salmon fillets (2 to 2-1/2 pounds total)

salt and pepper, to taste

1 pound broccolini, lower third of stems discarded (*or broccoli)

steamed white basmati rice (recipe follows)

Preheat the oven to 400F. Arrange two racks evenly spaced in the oven.

In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and hot red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, lower the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Set aside off the heat.

Arrange the salmon fillets, rounded sides up, in a baking dish just large enough to hold them with a little space in between the fillets. Sprinkle the salmon with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and spoon the soy sauce mixture evenly over the fillets. Roast the salmon for about 12 minutes for rare and 15 minutes for medium, depending on the thickness of the fillets.

Meanwhile, prepare the broccolini (or broccoli). Place the broccolini on a sheet pan, drizzle it with 4 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss with your hands. Ten minutes before the salmon is done, roast the broccolini on the second oven rack until crisp/tender.

Divide the hot rice between 4 shallow bowls and top each with a salmon fillet and some broccolini. Spoon the sauce from the salmon over the salmon and rice and serve hot.

Steamed Basmati Rice

1 cup white basmati rice, such as Texmati

1-3/4 cups water

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon salt

Combine the rice, water, butter, and salt in a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice is tender and fluffy. You may have to pull the pot halfway off the burner to keep a simmer. Fluff with a for and serve hot.

Food Goals @ IHCC

Spicy Salmon Poke Bowls {Summer Slim Down Series #10}

This is my last recipe in the Summer Slim Down Series. When I started this series I thought I would have the entire summer to myself. I wanted to put a lot of effort into these meals. Then I got a call that the school needed help and I worked most of my summer away, and wow...what an incredibly busy summer it was. I think I ran harder than I do throughout the school year. Now summer is drawing to a close and I want to go out with a bang, so I chose Spicy Salmon Poke Bowls. 

This dish speaks to me on so many levels. Fish and seafood were always something I loved, but now they have become a huge part of my new lifestyle, shrimp and salmon especially. I have built many meals around these two proteins with wonderful success. Mostly I pair them with vegetables for a really beautiful and colorful meal that is hugely satisfying. Every once in awhile I throw in a healthy gluten-free grain, such as rice or potatoes. This meal is a representation of all those winning go-to ingredients. I love the spicy mayo-Sriracha drizzle to give things a little extra flavor. A little bit of sauce and/or drizzle goes a long way in building flavor and making things extra-special!

I absolutely loved this recipe! In fact, it is probably my favorite Summer Slim Down recipe and I highly recommend it. There is flavor from the spicy sriracha mayo and loads of crunch and texture from all the veggies. I love spicy food, but I found the chunks of avocado were essential in cooling everything down and adding some creaminess. The whole dish is served room temperature or cold and it eats like a really fancy but more substantial salad. I can definitely foresee myself making this many times in the future and even packing it in my lunch as it would keep very well!

I'm so happy I finally got around to making this delicious recipe and I'm also really happy to end the Summer Slim Down Series with something that is so tasty!  

Spicy Salmon Poke Bowls

Adapted from Skinnytaste Meal Prep

by Gina Homolka

Serves 4

Spicy Mayo

1/4 cup light mayo

1-1/2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce

Salmon

Previous cooked salmon

4 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari

1 teaspoon Sriracha sauce

Bowls

2 cups cooked rice 

4 Persian cucumbers, diced into 1/2" cubes

1 medium Hass avocado, sliced

1/2 cup shredded red cabbage

Jarred pickled ginger (optional)

2 scallions, green parts only, sliced for garnish

1 tablespoon furikake or black sesame seeds

soy sauce or tamari, for serving

Sriracha sauce, for serving

In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise and Sriracha and thin with 1 tablespoon water to drizzle.

Flake or cut the cold salmon into large chunks. Drizzle with the soy sauce, sesame oil, and Sriracha and gently toss to combine. Set aside while you prepare the bowls.

Place 1/2 cup rice in each of 4 shallow bowl. In each bowl, arrange 6 ounces of salmon, one-fourth of the diced cucumber and avocado, 2 tablespoons of the red cabbage, some pickled ginger (if using), and one-fourth of the scallion greens.

Drizzle with the spicy mayo, then top with the furikake and serve with extra soy sauce and Sriracha on the side (if using). 

Cajun-Style Broiled Shrimp {Summer Slim Down Series #9}

 

One of my very first memories is looking down and watching my little toddler feet walk up porch steps with my mom hovering over me telling me to "hurry up before the alligators get you."

I went to Houma, LA when I was 2 years old. My mom's dad lived there and we went for a visit. My mom used to call me Turtle because I was real slow and she was deathly worried I would get eaten up by alligators just walking up the porch steps. She must've talked about those gators until she was blue in the face because it's all I remember about my first, and only, trip to Louisiana. 

New Orleans has been at the very top of my list for travel destinations for as long as I can remember. I mean the culture, the swamps, the architecture, the history, and the food...it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. You just know it's going to be a wonderful time! 

Our family hasn't had a chance to take our usual summer vacation this year, but we are really hoping we can get to New Orleans this fall during our fall break from school! If we do, I am going to want to eat ALL the things. Isn't that what you do in New Orleans? Beignets, Muffalettas, Etouffee, Gumbo, Jambalaya, Red Beans and Rice, Po'Boys, Bananas Foster, Pralines, and all the shrimp.

One does not go to New Orleans to be healthy for the week. It is all about the decadence! Until then, however, I am still practicing my healthier lifestyle (and by the way, I have lost 25 pounds - woohoo!) One of the things that has really helped me lose weight has been eating shrimp at least once a week. Shrimp is something that you can really indulge in as it is really low in calories. If you chose the right preparation as I did here with Mark Bittman's Cajun-Style Broiled Shrimp, you can really eat like a king!

All you need to do is get some shrimp and make a flavorful paste of: garlic (lots of garlic), salt, cayenne, paprika, lemon juice, olive oil, and lots of black pepper. Then you just slather that flavorful paste all over the shrimp and broil it. It might not look like there is much seasoning on the shrimp, but wow! The shrimp are full of garlicky cayenne flavor! This really does make for a wonderfully light and flavorful summertime meal. 

Let the good times roll!

 

Cajun-Style Broiled Shrimp

Adapted from Mark Bittman

NY Times Cooking

Serves 3-4

1 garlic clove* (more like 5)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

1 teaspoon paprika

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

lots of black pepper

1-1/2 pounds peeled shrimp

lemon wedges and hot sauce, for serving

Notes: I have no idea why Bittman only wants you to use 1 little clove of garlic in this recipe. I used at least 5, maybe eve 6 or 7 cloves. Also, feel free to add more cayenne, or less, and don't be afraid to make it your own!

 Turn on the broiler, and put the rack close to the heat. Mash 1 garlic clove (or 5 cloves) with 1 teaspoon salt until it forms a paste. Add it to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons olive oil and lots of black pepper. Rub paste all over 1-1/2 pounds peeled shrimp. Broiler, 2 to 3 minutes per side. 

Serve with rice and veggies and/or serve alone with bread. Enjoy!

Vacation Eats @ IHCC

Sheet Pan Parmesan Shrimp and Veggies {Summer Slim Down Series #6}

Inspired by the fireworks on the 4th of July, I wanted to make something really colorful that would pop with flavor. When I stumbled across Giada's Sheet Pan Parmesan Shrimp and Veggies... I knew it was perfect. It starts with a colorful arrangement of vegetables: broccoli, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower, purple onion, and then, of course, the shrimp. Not to mention, roasting veggies and shrimp really helps to bring out the flavor and get everything popping in your mouth, just like the fireworks.

This was one our favorite slim down meals so far this summer! The shrimp are coated with Parmigiano Reggiano, as well as garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and Italian seasoning. They are oh so delicious served over the flavorful roasted vegetables and make for such a satisfying but somewhat light meal. Plus, it is so easy and comes together so quickly. You can't go wrong. This is totally worth turning your oven on for!

YIt's worth noting that I read the directions wrong and completely removed the veggies from the ssheet pan after they roasted for 15 minutes. I was supposed to leave the veggies on the sheet pan aand continue to roast them when I added the shrimp, but it all worked out ok. Of course, this is also why I have no pictures of the meal on the sheet pan, but nevertheless, it still tasted delicious!

Sheet Pan Parmesan Shrimp and Veggies

Adapted from Eat Better, Feel Better

by Giada De Laurentiis

Serves 4

 1 small broccoli crown, cut into 1-inch florets

1 red onion, cut into 1-inch dice

1/2 medium cauliflower, cut into 1-inch florets

4 tablespoons olive oil

1-1/2 teaspoons salt

1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano*

2 tablespoons panko*

1 lemon

Note: I omitted the oregano and used Italian seasoning, garlic powder and red pepper flakes instead. All to taste, no specific amounts.

 Preheat the oven to 450F. 

In a large bowl, mix the broccoli, onion, cauliflower, tomatoes, 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Spread the vegetables on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 15 minutes, until cooked through and just beginning to brown.

Meanwhile, combine the shrimp, Parmigiano, oregano, the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt to the same bowl that was used for the vegetables. Toss well to coat evenly in the cheese and oregano. Remove the vegetables from the oven and scatter the shrimp on top. Stir gently to combine andsprinkle with the panko, if using. 

Return to the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. Grate the zest from the lemon over the mixture and toss to combine. Cut the zested lemon into wedges and serve with the shrimp and veggies.

 

Ina Garten's Baked Cod with Garlic & Herb Ritz Crumbs

 
 

When you're landlocked in central Kentucky, it's a next to impossible to get quality fish and seafood. I have looked high and low for center cut fillets of cod that look worthy of Ina's Baked Cod with Garlic and Herb Ritz Crumbs.

Then one day I was ordering produce from Imperfect Foods (of which I'm a big fan) and I noticed that they carried wild-caught Alaskan cod fillets, so I ordered them. I had my hopes up, but they arrived quite thin and small. What's a girl to do?

I went ahead and made the fish anyway. I will tell you that this dish has the opportunity to be outstanding as far as fish dishes go, but you really need the center cut fillets with some thickness to stand up to all the Ritz crumb topping. My fillets were thin and while it was good, they didn't really stand up to topping. So, if you can get your hands on some quality fresh fish, then go for this recipe and do yourself a favor and roast the asparagus right in the pan with it. Asparagus love crumb topping and they pair most excellently with this fish!

Baked Cod with Garlic & Herb Ritz Crumbs

Adapted from Modern Comfort Food

by Ina Garten

Serves 4

good olive oil

4 center-cut bonesless, skinless cod fillets (6 to 8 ounces each)

salt and pepper

1/2 cup Ritz cracker crumbs (15 crackers)

1/3 cup panko

2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley

2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves)

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

3 tablespoons butter, melted

1/4 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

lemon wedges, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400F. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 9x9 dish (or a cast iron skillet) and tilt the dish to coat the bottom with oil. Place the fish fillets in the dish and turn to coat both sides with the oil. Sprinkle the fish with 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the cracker crumbs, panko, parsley, garlic, lemon zest, and 1 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until evenly moistened. Set aside.

Remove the fish from the oven and pour the wine and lemon juice directly on the fillets. Pat the crumb mixture evenly onto the fillets, pressing gently to help them adhere. 

Return the pan to the oven for 12 minutes, until the fillets are just cooked through in the center, depending on the thickness of the fish. Sprinkle with salt and serve hot with the pan juices and lemon wedges. 

 

Ina's Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo

Yes, this is my sixth recipe from Ina's latest cookbook, Modern Comfort Food. 

I don't feel bad about it. 

If there was ever a time for comfort food, this is it. I am pandemic-ed out!

Fra Diavolo means spicy, like the devil, and we love spicy in this household. If I'm at an Italian restaurant then I am most likely going to be having Shrimp Fra Diavolo. However, since we are in the RED for the coronavirus in Kentucky, our restaurants are currently closed for indoor dining and I wouldn't dare risk it anyway, so it is really fortunate that I can make this dish at home. 

Now, the good thing is that this dish can be made with ingredients that one would normally keep on hand. Linguine, shrimp (I always have some frozen in my freezer), Rao's tomato sauce, panko breadcrumbs, parsley, garlic, onions, and Pinot Grigio. Look, we're in a pandemic, I hope you have some wine. If not, you need hit up a drive thru and stock up.

Ina says that you can make your own Arrabiatta Sauce and I normally would, but I wanted to try the Rao's Arrabiatta Sauce that she recommends in the book. It is about $8.99 a jar, which is absolutely ridiculous, but I'm over Ina and Jeffrey being the only ones good enough for it. The rest of us can enjoy that fancy sauce too. 

This dish was perfectly seasoned and had just the right amount of heat. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it, although I would say that I enjoyed it even more because I had the leftover Pinot on the side.  

And, it was a good thing I had a few glasses of Pinot because my camera and my computer took a dive while I was trying to write the post so I had to put piece this post together with blown up pics from my phone and a different computer. Isn't that fun? How 2020 of my camera and my computer to take a dive at the same time. I tell ya...2020 can shove it. Now, pardon me while I get back to my Pinot.  

Shrimp & Linguine Fra Diavolo

Adapted from Modern Comfort Food

by Ina Garten

Serves 6

3tablespoons butter, divided

1/3 cup panko

8 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided

salt and black pepper

1-1/4 pounds large (16-20 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups thinly sliced red onion 

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

2/3 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

Arrabbiata Sauce, homemade or 1 (24-oz) jar Rao's

1 pound linguine, such as DeCecco

Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a medium (10 to 11-inch) saute pan over medium heat. Add the panko and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until nicely browned. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 1/4 teaspoons salt, and a pinch of black pepper and set aside. 

Place the shrimp on a plate and pat them dry with paper towels. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the olive oil in a large (11-12-inch) pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute for 4 minutes, until it begins to soften. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for one minute. Add the shrimp in one layer and saute for one minute on each side, until they start to turn pink but are not cooked through. Add the wine and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes to reduce the liquid. Stir in the arrabbiata sauce and heat until it simmers. Stir in the remaining 6 tablespoons of parsley with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and turn off the heat.

Meanwhile, fill a very large pot with water, add 2 tablespoons salt, bring to a boil. Add the linguine and cook according to the directions on the package for al dente. Reserve a cup of the pasta water, drain the pasta, and add it to the sauce. Toss the pasta, sauce, and shrimp together with tongs or big spoons and allow it to simmer for one minute for the pasta to absorb the sauce, adding enough pasta water to make a nice sauce and coat the pasta. Transfer to a large, shallow serving bowl, sprinkle with the toasted panko, and serve hot.

Ina's Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli and Emily's English Roasted Potatoes

Inspired by my latest cookbook, Ina Garten's Modern Comfort Food, I'm cooking up a meal that I have been dying to try, Ina's Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli alongside her rather fussy Emily's English Roasted Potatoes, which is heaven sent.

If you don't own a copy of Modern Comfort Food yet, what are you waiting for? It is hands down my Cookbook of the Year! It may very well be my favorite cookbook in a couple years. To prove that, I am making four recipes from it this week, which you will see soon,  AND I haven't quit making the Kielbasa with Mustard Dip from last week. I made it Sunday for my blog, then I made it again yesterday as a hearty treat before trick-or-treating. Then I ordered some more kielbasa for more grocery pick up today. We are obsessed.

Anyway, back to seared salmon gone all crispy on the outside and tender and flaky on the inside with a garlicky, spicy, creamy and brilliantly hued red pepper aioli that pairs so wonderfully with the salmon and potatoes you'll be swooning. Why haven't I thought of this before? I mean what else can you dip into this magical concoction?

While the salmon is as easy as 1-2-3, Emily's English Roasted Potatoes are as fussy as a colicky baby. Peel the potatoes, cut the potatoes, boil the potatoes, bash the potatoes, dry the potatoes, and finally bake the potatoes on a smoking hot baking sheet sizzling with hot oil before sprinkling them generously with sea salt and parsley. I mean they are super fussy, but they are also super delicious. Flavorful and crispy on the outside but oh so creamy and dreamy on the inside, they are easily worth the fuss.

Dip the salmon and the crispy, creamy potatoes into the spicy red pepper aioli and prepare to be swept off your feet!

Seared Salmon with Spicy Red Pepper Aioli

Adapted from Modern Comfort Food 

by Ina Garten

Serves 4

2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 2 cloves)

1 tablespoon (canned)chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers,seeded and chopped

1 cup good mayonnaise, such as Hellman's

salt and black pepper,totaste

4 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless, center-cut salmon fillets

olive oil

1 lime, quartered, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400F. 

For the aioli: Chop the garlic and chipotle pepper together on a cutting board to make a coarse paste. Place the paste in a food processor, add the lime juice and roasted red peppers, and puree. Add the mayonnaise,1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and process until smooth. Set aside. 

For the salmon: Place a large (12-inch), dry cast-iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes. Place the salmon fillets on a board, pat dry with paper towels, and rub all over with olive oil. With the fillets  rounded side up, sprinkle them with 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper.

To cook salmon: Place the salmon in the skillet rounded side down and cook over medium-high heat for exactly 2 minutes without moving! Using a large metal spatula,turn the fillets rounded side up and place the skillet in the oven. Roast for3to 4 minutes, until the centers are rare. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil and allow the salmon to rest for 3 to4 minutes for medium-rare or 5 minutes for medium. Serve the salmon hot with the aioli and a wedge of lime for squeezing.

Emily's English Roasted Potatoes

Adapted from Modern Comfort Food

by Ina Garten

Serves 6 to 8

salt

3 pounds large Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and 1-1/2" to 2" diced

1/2 cup vegetable oil

sea salt or fleur de sel

minced fresh parsley

Preheat the oven to 425F. Bring a large pot of water with 2 tablespoons salt to a boil. Add the potatoes, return to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 8 minutes. Drain the potatoes, place them back in the pot with the lid on, and shake the pot roughly for 5 seconds to rough up the edges.Carefully transfer the potatoes in one layer to a baking rack set over a sheet pan. Set aside to dry for at least 15 minutes. (They an sit uncovered at room temperature for several hours or in the fridge for up to 6 hours).

Pour the oil onto another sheet pan, tilt the pan to distribute the oil, and place the pan in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes, until the oil is smoking hot. Transfer the potatoes carefully into the oil (I use a large metal spatula) and toss them lightly to coat each potato with the hot oil. Evenly spread out the potatoes and lower the oven temperature to 350F. Roast for 45 minutes to one hour, turning the potatoes occasionally with tongs, until very browned and crisp on the outside and tender and creamy on the inside.

Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle generously with 1-1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt and parsley and serve hot.