Back to life

Back to reality.

Restoring normality in 5...4...3...2...1

Ahhh, there we are.

Yesterday was a funny strange day. Woke up to 5 or so inches of snow and was really looking forward to getting out in it and playing, sliding down the steep hill that is our street. Got busy taking care of the typical morning stuff, looked up at 10 and damn if all the snow wasn't melted on the street and most of the yard.

I think I am going to have to start referring to Baby as the Kid from now on. Yesterday she told me that the snow was in fact frozen water and slyly maneuvered to head out the door because she was thirsty. Not very baby like behavior really, is it?

The Kid eventually went out and played-dressed in only a jacket-no shirt, a ballet skirt-no tights or pants, canvas tennies-no socks, a hat and gloves. Before you gasp in outrage remember our forefathers lived and thrived with much less in the way of insulation and central heat and air. She was fine and still is. She stayed out long enough to throw some snow, eat some snow, yell at neighbors over the fence and burn off some of that cooped up energy that kids(and lets be honest here, adults too)accumulate on snow days. I myself sat outside on the, by then, dry steps in jeans, a thermal shirt and bare feet soaking in the sun. That was really nice by the way. Then we came inside and the Kid had a nice warm bath with her Barbie friends.

I ended up piddling away the afternoon online whilst children's programming alternately amused and bored me, and only occasionally kept the Kid entertained.

Big Daddy D came home with coffee, eggs and YAY a metal bed frame! More on that in a moment.

Since we were all home at the same time I made a weekend recipe for supper.

Broiled Salmon

In a large zip top bag combine:

3 TBSP soy sauce
1 1/2 TBSP honey
1 1/2 TBSP orange juice, or dry sherry(I prefer the OJ but sometimes- like last night- substitutions must be made)
1-2 inches fresh grated ginger(you already know to have this in your freezer and grate it while frozen right?)
A pinch or more to taste of red chili flakes

Smoosh it around to combine and add in:

1lb of salmon fillets-cut into about 4oz pieces(I leave the skin on cause it is good when it gets crispy, people you should try it at least once)

Let marinate at least 30 minutes though an hour is better(I know most people say no more than 30 minutes but trust me on this)

Set your oven to broil

put one of your cooling racks(if you don't have one it's okay this time, but really, you should have one by now) in a rimmed baking sheet and put the salmon flesh side up on the rack.

Reserve the marinade-we'll get back to that.

Broil the salmon on the highest rack in your oven for about 3 minutes, then flip and broil another 3-4 minutes til the skin is nice and crispy.

In the meantime put the reserved marinade in your smallest sauce pan and bring to a boil, reducing it til it has the consistency of say ketchup or bbq sauce. It should be ready by the time the salmon is done. Serve along side.

I serve this with

Chinese Coleslaw

In a large bowl combine:

2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
2-3 Tbsp brown rice vinegar( substitutions can be plain rice vinegar, followed by white vinegar-nothing else provides the right flavor)
1-2 Tbsp sugar
a pinch of red pepper flakes or more to taste

stir til sugar is dissolved

Put into bowl:

One bag of coleslaw mix(preferably one with carrots and red cabbage)
Fresh cilantro-about a third of a bunch, torn into smallish bits

Toss to coat, can be served immediately though I like it to sit a bit and usually make it before I start the salmon.

I'll share a recipe for leftover salmon, maybe tomorrow cause I know you think there is no way to eat salmon the next day or two.

Right now I have to call the bed frame people because ours came with a major manufacturing defect and we slept on the floor again. Not well I might add. I am not happy about that people!