Holy Heat!  Last day of vacation was yesterday and the weather was a scorcher.  The humidity level was so high -  you would sweat standing still.  No complaints here except I would have loved some air conditioning in the house.

To combat the heat we were on the move looking for house fixtures.  We are having a hard time deciding on our flooring so hopefully we will make up our mind soon.  In addition to the flooring it is soon time to make some fixture decisions for the bathroom(s) and kitchens.

Heat up the Pan – It’s Salmon Time

I really love salmon!  It is so simple to cook and very quick when you are in a pinch and your stomach is growling.  For this dish, I was wandering around the kitchen and I noticed some nice navel oranges sitting out.  I thought that this would make the basis for a great sauce.  Add a little brown sugar, splash of water, some pepper and some corn starch and you have a 60 second sauce that will impress anyone.

To go with the salmon, I chose to steam some yellow beans.  One of my favorite summer vegetables when you pair them with a bit of butter and fresh ground pepper.

Ingredients

• Salmon
• Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup fresh Orange Juice ( some zest as well )
• 2 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• Black Pepper
• 1/2 Tsp. Corn Starch
• 1 Tbsp. Water

Method

1. Preheat pan over medium heat then add olive oil.



2. Season salmon with black pepper and add to pan; sear on one side ( About 3 minutes )



3. Once brown, flip over and cook for another two minutes.
4. Remove salmon from pan and add orange juice, brown sugar and bring to a slow boil



5. Add cornstarch/water mixture to thicken slightly and simmer
6. Add salmon back in the pan and serve.





7. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: The one common mistake with preparing salmon ( and other fish for that matter ) is that it is often overcooked.  Once the salmon turns opaque it is done.  Don’t forget that the salmon will continue to cook once you remove it from the heat.

I hope you enjoyed the salmon dish and that your Thursday is great.  Summer seems to be quickly coming to an end as you can see school flyers in the newspapers so make sure you enjoy it while you can!

Take care

zesty

Zesty is back in the kitchen

I am still technically on vacation and loving it.  I woke up this morning and had no rush to go anywhere.  I welcomed the opportunity to try some Almond Butter from the gift bag received from the summit.  I really like it!

After breakfast I drove out to the house site to see how the guys were doing.  The plumbers were installing the drains for the garage floor and the septic crew was there staking out the site for the septic system.  All the while the construction crew were working on the second floor getting ready to put up the walls.  Things are coming along great.  Check out some updated pictures below.

Back to the basics with a simple chicken breast and some summer fresh raspberries.

I love cooking savory dishes and adding fruit.  I find it adds a very blended flavor and makes a great sauce.  I have grown to know that it is all about the SAUCE!  This dish consists of grilled chicken topped with a simple raspberry reduction and fresh potatoes.

Ingredients

• Chicken Breasts ( Bone-In)
• 1 Cup of Raspberries
• 1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. Fresh basil
• Splash of Water

Method

1. Grill the chicken on the barbecue until done.





2. For the sauce, warm a saucepan and add the brown sugar and butter and begin to melt.  Once combined add the raspberries and cook over low heat.
3. Add balsamic vinegar, splash of water and basil; let reduce and simmer for 4 minutes



4. Finish off with some fresh raspberries and spoon over grilled chicken.



5. ENJOY!!

Zesty Tip: If you find the sauce not thickening to your liking – you can add a little cornstarch and water and bring to a boil again.  Make sure you mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of water separately to avoid lumps in your sauce.

House Update

As I mentioned earlier, the builder made great progress while we were away.  I thought I would share with you a few pictures of my visit yesterday.  I hope you enjoy them.

Have a great Tuesday and I will see you all tomorrow.

Take care

zesty