Salmon Cakes with Creamy Ginger Sesame Sauce

Description:
Had a mini feast today hehe. We had some leftover roasted salmon but not enough to feed 2 so I decided to just make them salmon cakes. Partnered with some rice, and leftover Ramen Coleslaw, yum yum!

Ingredients:
Salmon Cakes:
6 slices bread, whole wheat, removed crust
30 ounces salmon, remove skin and bones
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
5 scallions (green onions), set aside 1 stalk
1/2 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
3 tsp olive oil, divided

Ginger Sesame Sauce:
1/2 cup yoghurt, fat free, plain or 6 tbs Greek-style nonfat yoghurt
2 tbs mayonnaise
1-1/2 tbs ginger, fresh, peeled, grated
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp soy sauce


Directions:
Salmon Cakes:
1. Remove crusts from the bread, break into pieces, and process in a food processor until you get a fine bread crumb
2. In a large bowl, flake apart the salmon with a fork. Add the egg and mix well.
3. Finely chop 4 of the scallions and add to the bowl. Add the water chestnuts, cilantro, pepper, and the bread crumbs and mix well.
4.Shape the mixture into 12 patties.
5. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil over a medium heat. Add 6 patties and cook for 5 minutes on each side.
6. Transfer the cooked patties to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
7. Add the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil to the pan, and cook the rest of the salmon cakes, 5 minutes on each side.
8Chop the remaining 1 scallion. Serve salmon cakes with the sauce and garnish with scallion.

Creamy Ginger-Sesame Sauce:
1.If using regular yogurt place the yogurt in a strainer lined with a paper towel. Put the strainer over a bowl and place in the refrigerator to drain and thicken for 30 minutes.
2. Place drained yogurt or Greek-style yogurt into a small bowl. Add mayonnaise, ginger, sesame oil, and soy sauce.
3. Whisk until smooth.
Yield = 2/3 cup

Ramen Noodle Coleslaw

Description:
An awesome twist to the classic coleslaw. Carrie brought this to the cookout and I simply loved it

Ingredients:
Slaw:
2 1-lb bags of cole slaw or broccoli slaw (or similar amount of cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, broccoli, etc. that you process yourself)
1 bunch of green onions (optional), sliced

Dressing:
2 packages of Ramen noodle seasoning
1/3 cup cider vinegar or rice wine vinegar
½ cup sugar (more or less to taste)
½ cup oil, add a few drops of sesame seed oil

Crunchies:
2 packages Ramen noodles, broken up (Oriental flavor - or 1 oriental, 1 chicken)
4 oz. package of almond slivers
4 oz. package of sunflower seeds (shelled)

Directions:
Combine salad ingredients and dressing ingredients separately. Toss salad with dressing and crunchies right before serving.

Do not add dressing until just before ready to serve. If taking this dish away from home, transport the dressing and the noodles/seeds/nuts in a separate container.

Quick Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

Description:
Had some leftover chicken breasts and a package of shrimp so I decided to extend these by making them part of a pasta dish.

Ingredients:
1 package thin spaghetti
1 package shrimp, cut into small pieces
leftover chicken breasts, cubed (about 1 big piece or 3 pcs of chicken tenders)
1-1/2 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. garlic, minced
1 medium onion, diced
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bottle Prego Onion, Garlic and Herb pasta sauce
1 small can of black olives, sliced
sausage, fried, sliced (optional)
1 cup water
salt
pepper
Italian seasoning
1 bayleaf
Parmesan Cheese
Breakfast or Italian sausage, cut into small pieces (optional)

Directions:
In a large skillet, heat on medium high the olive oil and add garlic. When slightly browned, add onions. Saute for about a minute then add the can of diced tomatoes. Simmer for about 2 minutes then add the cubed chicken. Season with salt and pepper, italian seasoning and bayleaf. Lower heat and simmer to cook chicken (if chicken is already cooked, simmer for about 2 minutes).

Cook pasta as directed in the box. Once done, drain but leave some pasta water. Set aside.

Once chicken is cooked, add shrimp. Cook until slightly pink then add the pasta sauce and water. Simmer until sauce is slightly bubbly. Season to taste. Add the sausage and olives. After a minute, lower heat and add pasta with the pasta water.

Toss to coat pasta. You may add some parmesan cheese or you can serve the cheese as topping to the pasta when served.

Enjoy!

Spicy Apple Cake

Updated this recipe as I found a better one. This one I brought to the cookout at Rob's and I must say, it was a BIG HIT!!!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup milk
2 cups apple - peeled, cored, and chopped
1/4 cup shortening
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/4 cup evaporated milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch square pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the chopped apples.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

To make the frosting: In a medium bowl, combine 1/4 cup shortening, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Beat until light and creamy. Beat in the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until desired spreading consistency is achieved. Spread over top of cooled cake.

The frosting can be quite sweet so instead of making the frosting, top cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. I assure you it's equally yummy!

Alcoholic Hot Chocolate

From the kitchen of Nigella Lawson. First time I saw the episode, I wanted to try this. It reminds me of Starbucks moments with Vivian and Abby. Drinking it in my Nigella cup only makes it more tasty!

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3 1/2 ounces best-quality dark chocolate, bittersweet or semisweet, as preferred
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons dark rum, or to taste

Directions:
Put the milk into a saucepan and break the chocolate into pieces and add to the milk along with a cinnamon stick, honey, and sugar and heat gently until the chocolate is melted.
Add the vanilla and mix with a small hand whisk and still whisking, add a spoonful of the rum first and taste to see if you want more. Add more sugar if you want this sweeter, too. Take out the cinnamon stick and pour into 2 cappuccino or caffe latte cups.

Sauteed Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits with Black Bean Salsa

Had this at Carrie's and it is sooo good I'm trying it out this weekend! Truly Southern cooking!

Ingredients:
2 cups milk
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup quick-cooking grits, uncooked
3/4 cup chopped smoked Gouda cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus 2 tablespoons salt
3 tablespoons butter, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 cup beer
1 tablespoon olive oil
Black Bean Salsa, recipe follows
1/2 cup sour cream
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
12 fresh chives, cut into 1-inch pieces

Black Bean Salsa:
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained
2/3 cup picante sauce
2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon iodized salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
3 tablespoons chopped green onions



Directions:
Stir together milk and 3/4 cup water in a 1 1/2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Stir in grits, cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring constantly, 9 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter. Pour grits into a lightly greased 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Cover and chill 3 hours or until firm. I recommend overnight.
Combine flour, 2 tablespoons salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Pour beer into a small bowl.
Cut grits into 2-inch squares. Dip grits squares into beer; dredge in flour mixture, repeating procedure twice.
Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat; stir in 1 tablespoon oil.
Cook grits squares, in batches, in hot butter mixture 5 minutes on each side or until golden, adding butter and oil as needed.
Arrange 3 grits squares in center of 6 individual serving plates.
Spoon Black Bean Salsa evenly over grits squares. Top evenly with sour cream. Sprinkle evenly with tomato, parsley, green onions, and chives.

For the salsa:
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic, and saute until tender. Stir in beans and next 6 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 3 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in parsley and green onions.

Chocolate Banana Snack Cake

This was what I gave away last Christmas. I think everybody liked it so I'm sharing it here. And as advertised, it's sooo easy to make!

Ingredients:
2 very ripe medium bananas
1-1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar (you can reduce this to 1/2 cup if you don't want it too sweet)
1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. white vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Stir in the rest of the ingredients except for the chocolate chips and walnuts.
2. Pour batter into an ungreased 8-inch square pan. Sprinkle choco chips and walnuts over batter.
3. Bake 35 to 3 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 45 minutes.