WEEK 24: Fish Food is Brain Food

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I'm getting much more adventuresome in my cooking these days and am so excited to share my newest recipe for salmon. I have recently cooked fish twice which is about how many times I'd ever done it prior to this week. I have never felt confident with fish and have just left the smelly creatures to my husband on the grill. However, with trying to eat more fish recently, I found that I wanted to be able to do it myself.

FOOD DESCRIPTION
I did quite a bit of research and created this recipe below based on various sources and ideas. I purchased the salmon frozen from Trader Joe's and just thawed it in the fridge the day before.

PROCESS

• Maple-Glazed Salmon Prepare your seasoning and gather the glaze ingredients ahead of time and this will just take minutes to throw together. I served with soaked brown rice and steamed broccoli.

• 1 TBS oil (I used coconut) 
• 1/4 tsp all-natural liquid smoke
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 TBS cider vinegar
• 4 salmon fillets, skin removed
• 2 tsp My Seafood Seasoning (see below)

1. Move your oven rack to the top and pre-heat the broiler on high.
2. In a small pot, bring the liquid smoke, maple syrup and vinegar to a boil and reduce over high heat, stirring for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
3. Season both sides of the salmon with My Seafood Seasoning.
4. Heat oil in a large, ovensafe skillet on medium-high. Cook the seasoned fish top-side down for 3-4 minutes.
5. Turn fish over and pour the maple glaze over the top and place on top rack under broiler for 3 minutes. 

• My Seafood Seasoning Combine all ingredients and seal in jar.

• 1 TBS Black pepper
• 1 TBS Dry mustard
• 2 TBS Sea salt
• 1 1/2 TBS Ground bay leaves
• 1 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
• 1 tsp Cloves
• 1 tsp Ground ginger
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1 tsp Cayenne pepper

WHAT I LEARNED
I can do it. I can cook fish myself indoors. It didn't even smell.

REACTION
I loved it and both boys enjoyed leftovers for lunch. The fish and broccoli are also great for new fork-learners as well. The soft, flaky salmon is also a great texture for early eaters.

SUMMARY
The salmon and the glaze have so much flavor that I just did butter in the rice and it went well with the broccoli. Salmon is such a good source of brain food that I will definitely be making this again and again.

Please share your thoughts or ideas, or even better...more recipes to share!
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