Spinach Stuffed Salmon

This is my favorite recipe. It's easy and full of good Omega 3's and protein. If your kids eat salmon they will eat this recipe even if they say they don't like spinach. Again, just like the tilapia. Be sure to buy wild caught salmon. Do not buy farm raised salmon if you can help it since the fish farms are killing the wild fish and polluting the waters and shorelines. Cast your vote at the check out stand.

Salmon (as much as you need)
1 bag fresh baby spinach - rinsed, dried and coarsely chopped up.
2-3 TB pesto. (I usually buy Buitoni brand but fresh pesto is best)
2 TB sundried tomatoes (I use oil packed but you can use dried tomatoes)
1 TB pine nuts, slightly toasted
Ground black pepper

Arrange the salmon on a broiler pan or cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Mix the spinach and remaining ingredients and spread over top the spinach. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 min. or until fish flakes.

Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf

Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf...I know I wasn't thrilled about turkey burgers or turkey meatloaf at first, I wanted beef. But after learning what red meat does to your body my family made the switch. Most beef we buy in the grocery stores are cows fed antibiotics, steroids, and do not get the natural herbavore diet they should get. This in turn does not give us natural beef. In addition red meat takes a long time to fully digest. The American Cancer society has seen an increase in lower colon cancer from patients who eat a lot of red meat because red meat is high in protein and fat and is hard to digest. This does not include processed meats, which is much worse, so eat with caution. If you do eat red meat place your vote at the check out line and buy the good quality range fed, organic meats. It will make a difference in your health.

So, here is my recipe for cheesy turkey meatloaf. Nature's promise turkey is a no steroid turkey meat which is what I use. I have clients who request this meatloaf everytime I chef for them. Enjoy!

Cheesy Turkey Meatloaf
2 pounds ground turkey
1 cup milk
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 pound Colby cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup ketchup (optional) I do not use this.
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). In a bowl, mix the turkey, milk, bread crumbs, and eggs by hand. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese cubes into the mixture. Transfer to a loaf pan, and top with ketchup. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C).

Tues. Dinner

It's going to be a busy Tues. and will need to have dinner ready before I leave for the baseball game. What should it be, fish, chicken, or neither? Anna's been asking for Parmesan Tilapia so I think I have my answer.

I have issues with farm raised fish so I have been trying to buy wild fish. The fish farms are killing our wild fish and creating a mess on the shores. Farm raised fish are fed corn inside a fenced area. The uneaten corn falls to the ocean floors along with their fish waste. This mess is creating sea lice which is what is killing our wildlife surrounding the farms. In addition the fences are sprayed with pesticides so the farm fish do not get sick. Buying wild fish is a way to cast your vote against the farm raised. You can choose.

Here's my tilapia parm recipe: It's easy, delicious, and kids like it too.

2 lbs tilapia fillets
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter softened
3 Tbl. mayonaise
2 Tbl. fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. dried basil
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. celery salt

Preheat broiler and line and grease a cookie sheet wtih aluminum foil. In small bowl mix together the parm cheese, butter, mayo, and lemon juice. Season with basil, pepper, onion powder and celery salt. Set aside. Arrange fish in a single layer on the prepared pan. Broil a few inches from heat for 2-3 min. each side. Remove fish from oven and spread parm cheese mixture on top. Broil for 2-3 more min. or until the topping is browned and fish flakes easily with a fork. Be careful not to overcook the fish. Enjoy.

What's for Dinner?

It's a hot Monday and turning on the oven is not an option. Meatless Monday's have become the norm in this house so I'm going to make Blackbean Sweet Potato Burrito's. Instead of putting them in the oven I'm going to heat them on the grill. yum. Here's the recipe.

Onion
Garlic
Ginger
Cumin
Black Beans
Sweet potatoes
Red pepper
Parsley
Frank's Red Hot
Lime
Montery Jack
Whole Wheat Tortillas

I saute an onion with some garlic, ginger and cumin and then add a can of black beans rinsed well. 1-2 sweet potatoes (diced small and cooked in microwave for about 8 min) and add the diced red pepper. After it's all cooked, add some parsley, Frank's Red Hot, and a little lime juice and zest. Wrap it up in a whole wheat tortilla. (I usually heat them real quick in a little canola oil.) but it's not necessary. Then heat in the oven or for tonight...on the grill. Serve with guac, sour cream or salsa. Whatever you like. Enjoy.