TODDLER APPROVED: Baked Salmon, Herb and Butter Rice and Avocado, Corn Salad

Yum Yum!

My son loves rice. I use Rice-A-Roni, Herb & Butter Blend because the boys love it and who can argue with that!

Follow the box directions (approx 30 mins)

Bi-Lo actually has decent cuts of Salmon for not too expensive... Publix does as well. 

All you need is a lemon, tin foil, some herbs, garlic (minced) and butter!

Preheat oven to 365 degrees.

In a sauce pan, melt butter and mix minced garlic (use just a pinch) and herbs of your choosing. ( I used thyme, basil, salt & pepper)

In the meantime ready a foil packet for salmon. (coat with non-stick spray, lay salmon fillets on top... top salmon with lemon slices)

Pour melted butter mixture over salmon and close foil packet.

Place in oven for 15-20 mins. 

Make a salad...

I chose to use avocado, corn, grape tomatoes and fresh greens! 

I am a mixer, I like to mix everything on my plate into one bite every time. This was perfect for that. The salad tasted good with the rice, the rice tasted good with the salmon, everything tasted great together and I loved it. 

P.S. If you get a late night craving... eating the leftover salad with avocado is just as filling as a grilled cheese but way better for your body. Just saying! 

TODDLER APPROVED: Zesty & Light Shrimp Scampi

Oh man, Ashton couldn't get this one in his mouth fast enough! You know its a good meal when you have to grab the camera for photographs of your child digging in!

This is an easy, 30 minute, light & delicious yummy yummy in my tummy!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 lb of Shrimp, peeled and de-veined

1/4 cup white wine

1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

3 cloves Minced Garlic

Salt & Pepper to taste

Fresh Lemon juice

1 Tsp Lemon zest

8 oz Linguine (I used whole wheat, whatever linguine you choose will be great)

1 Tsp Fresh chopped Parsley

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

Prepare Linguine according to package

Set aside

Over medium high heat, melt butter

Add shrimp, red pepper flakes and minced garlic

Let cook for 3-5 minutes or until shrimp has turned pink

Add white wine and bring to a simmer (I used Pinot Grigio) for a moment or two

Add lemon juice, zest, the pasta and parmesan cheese

Mix well and serve. Top with fresh parsley

Sooooo delish! Enjoy!

TODDLER APPROVED: Honey Garlic Pork Chop...Sauteed Zucchini & Sweet Potato Frites

Easy, Tasty & Healthy: 

Pork Chops are one of my favorites... so easy to prepare and easy to accompany!

Keep it simple and enjoy!

Ingredients:

Pick up some boneless pork chops (Or bone-in if you wish)

Salt & Pepper to taste

2 Tbsp Honey

1 Clove Minced Garlic

1 or 2 Zucchinis - cut into nice round pieces

1 Sweet Potato

3 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

Herbs of your choosing

Directions:

Pork Chops:

Marinate Pork Chops in Honey, Salt & Pepper, and Minced Garlic. (4 hours if able)

Pan sear at medium high heat with 1 tsp of Olive Oil for approx. 7 mins on each side.

Zucchini: .

Sautee with 1 tsp of Olive Oil, Butter and herbs of your choosing until tender.

Sweet Potato Frites:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 

Cut Sweet Potatoes into strips. 

Place in zip lock bag with Olive oil and Cinnamon. Close bag and toss until coated.

Place on baking sheet and bake for 30-45 mins. 

I hope you enjoy this recipe... Its always a winner in my household! 

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Surf & Turf: Succulent Lobster Tails are EASY!

I love Lobster tails although I am new to cooking them. After a little bit of research, who knew how easy they are to prepare? Maybe some people shy away from them because they think they are too expensive. The Lobster tails I purchased were $4.99 each at Publix. This is not too shabby in my opinion. 

Prepare your favorite steak and vegetables the way you like them and follow these easy steps to put the Surf in your Turf!

There are many ways to cook Lobster. Broil in the oven, grill, steam, boil... whatever you fancy but all these ways are quick!

I decided to boil mine. 

I brought a large pot of water to a boil. 

Added 2 Bay Leaves, Himalayan Sea Salt & Old Bay seasoning to the boiling water.

After a moment or two I added the Lobster Tails (still in their shell).

They will turn bright orange almost immediately. 

Let cook for 3-5 minutes depending on the size but when they are to curl up, they are ready. 

Remove them and set aside to cool.

Once they cool to the touch, use meat scissors to cut down the spine of the shell and separate meat from the shell. 

Top with your preference of finishing butter, melted.

Serve on top of your favorite steak and vegetables!

Yummy! 

Moriarty's Irish Pub - Soft Opening

Sherlock Holmes's, Moriarty, is nothing short of a "criminal mastermind" according to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The character inspiring the name of the newest addition to Columbia, SC's Vista culture. 

Described by Doyle as the "Napoleon of crime" the phrase can be turned to describe the nature of Moriarty's Irish Pub as the "Napoleon of the pint." 

With a vast variety of pint selections, an atmosphere smoothing your transition from pants to kilt, and food that makes your Irish tastebuds dance, Moriarty's Irish Pub is the best new, locally owned Restaurant & Bar to visit this Spring. Here are a few photographs from the soft opening Saturday, March 12th 2016! 

Visit Moriarty's Irish Pub and get your PINT ON!!!

EASY & TASTY: Melt in your mouth Ribs with Sweet Potato Mash & Cucumber, Tomato & Feta Salad

Mmmmmmmmmm! My boys love this one! I do not like to order ribs in restaurants because this recipe is fool proof for perfect, melt in your mouth, fall off the bone, BBQ Ribs! Why go out when you can make the best Ribs in town in your own kitchen? While Ribs are not the healthiest of dishes, these compliments of Sweet Potato Mash & Cucumber, Tomato, Feta Salad are great for your body!

These are easy and my own recipes! 

Ingredients:

Rack of Pork Ribs

BBQ Sauce

Pinch of Salt & Pepper

Pinch of Ground All Spice

2 Sweet Potatoes

Ground Cinnamon

1 Tbsp Butter

1 Tbsp of Heavy Cream (optional)

1/2 cup diced Cucumber 

1/2 cup or several small Sweet Cherry Tomatoes

1/2  cupCrumbled Feta Cheese

Pinch of Salt & Pepper

1 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

1 Tsp. Olive Oil or Infused Oil of your choosing

Ready Crockpot for Ribs by turning on low for 8 hours or high for 6 hours...

Melt in your Mouth Ribs

Cut rack into small 3-4 rib sections

Sprinkle with Salt, Pepper & Ground Allspice

Place small racks in Crockpot with meaty sides against the sides of the Crockpot

Drizzle BBQ Sauce over ribs 

Cover for remainder of cook time

After 8 hours in the Crockpot

Carefully remove racks from Crockpot and place on a baking sheet

Ready oven for Broil

Broil on high for 3-5 minutes

Remove and enjoy!

With approximately 1 hour left for the Crockpot...

Sweet Potato Mash

Heat oven to 400 degrees

Poke holes in Sweet Potatoes and place directly on rack

Bake for 1 hour (oven will be heated for broiling the ribs)

Remove from oven and place in bowl

Remove skin (should come off quite easily)

Mix in Butter, Cinnamon and heavy cream until smooth

Serve & enjoy!

At any point through out the day...

Cucumber, Tomato & Feta Salad

Dice Cucumber & Tomatoes

Place in Bowl

Sprinkle with Salt & Pepper

Add Feta Crumbles

Stir in Oil & Red Wine Vinegar

Thoroughly mix & enjoy! 

This is a great snack as well!

I hope you enjoy! Like my recipes?! Tell your friends on Facebook by giving me a share! Thank you for tuning in... more to come!  

Toddler Approved: Chicken Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Spinach in a Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

This recipe was soooo delicious I just had to share!

Easy, Tasty & Healthy

Cooking this dish had my husband saying "Dang, that smells good"&"Looks yummy".Which are words us family chef's like to hear.  If you are like me, we want our family to be excited about the food we are making. We recently decided to begin eating healthier and being more mindful of what we put in our bodies so this seemed like a good recipe to try. 

This dish is full of bold flavors that make your tastebuds dance in delight! Garlic, Basil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & crushed red pepper flakes give the dish depth while topping it with the Cauliflower Cream Sauce is the icing on the cake. 

I wasn't sure about the Cauliflower Cream Sauce since I had never made nor tasted anything quite like it before, but I was pleasantly surprised. It is a GREAT substitute for Alfredo Sauce and actually tastes kind of similar. I made extra so I can try some on some Spinach Ravioli which I am making later this week. This sauce is great for refrigeration & re-heating.

What makes this dish is the Sun-Dried Tomatoes & using the reserved oil from the jar to cook the chicken. Talk about Flavor! YUM! 

You can use pasta of your choosing. I used Gluten-Free Fettuccine but homemade Zucchini Noodles would be yummy too! We sprinkled a tiny bit of Parmesan on top as well! 

My husband and toddler loved this meal and I will definitely be making it again! 

Here is the link to the recipe...

http://juliasalbum.com/2015/01/chicken-pasta-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-and-spinach-in-a-creamy-cauliflower-sauce/

Enjoy!