Steamed Salmon

Well, wedding weekend is over.  As happy I was to see (in person or in pictures) two close friends and another friend happily married, it went so fast.  I can't believe it is over already.  There are still small reminders sitting -- well, hanging -- around the house.

I must say, besides crazy busy-ness and fun, wedding weekend also meant amazing food.  Oh my goodness.  The best stuffed shells I've ever had in my life.  I want to know how they make them that wonderful.  I think stuffed shells are coming in the near future.  And eggplant parm.  That too.  But that's been in the works for a while.

And now I'm home.  I have a kitchen again.  And it's really summer.  Finally.  I'm so glad to be home, as strange as it was to leave college for the last time.  It's an area that I've really gotten to know even more in these past few months and I'm going to miss it.  I already missed having the beach right there and I've only been home for two days.

Anyway, I'm home.  I really wanted to make roast potatoes for my parents.  I love those things.  So, mom and I planned dinner this evening around the potatoes.  I feel like I do that a lot: I choose a side dish and then fill in the meal around it.   I think that I could just eat side dishes for meals.  I would totally be ok with that.   For a while at least.

Unfortunately, the potatoes didn't go as well tonight as they have in the past.  This was the first time I had made more than one serving at once, so it was a little interesting.

First of all, I used purple potatoes.  They were a really pretty color (one of the weddings' color, mom chimed in).  However, either they didn't cook as fast as the red potatoes I have used or I just didn't boil them long enough.  I was trying to do the shaking step -- which I think it one of the most important parts of the recipe -- and it was a heavier pot than I'm used to.  So I shook and well, I shook harder because it didn't seem to be breaking up the edges as much as I was expected.  Then, they exploded all over the place.  Oops.  I made a mess.  End of story, they didn't work as well.  Some of them crisped up enough to make the centers seem creamy, but not all of them.  I'll have to try it again . . . next time with either a bigger pot or less potatoes in the pot at once.

The salmon we chose to go with the potatoes went much better.  Mom found the recipe in Good Housekeeping, but I tweaked it a little to fit my tastes.

Steamed Lemon and Thyme Salmon


1 lb. salmon fillet
1 lemon
approx. 1 1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 cup water

Thinly slice the lemon and arrange it a glass baking dish.  Sprinkle the thyme over the lemon slices.  Pour 1/2 cup water over the lemons and thyme.

Cut the salmon into 3 or 4 pieces and arrange them over the lemons.   Cover.

Microwave for 8-10 minutes or until the fish is flaky when poked with a fork and looks somewhat dry.

We decided that fish and mircowaves get along very well, as strange as that sounds.  I like fish well enough, but I don't like it as much when it's grilled.  I like grilled fish, I guess, but I would prefer chicken or steak or something like that on the grill.  In the microwave for a quick, elegant and easy dinner, though?  I'll take fish.

We finished off the meal with nutella microwave cake.  I guess we gave the microwave a good bit of exercise tonight.  Now my parents finally understand why mug cakes were such a popular choice in our apartment this year.  They gave it good reviews.

It's nice to be home.  And back in the kitchen.  Even if dinner was 45 minutes late.  Oops.