Sesame Salmon

This recipe from the folks at Wok Woks does not actually require a wok...

Recipe

1 lb salmon fillet(s)
1 tbsp gomasio salt
juice of 1/2 a lime
1 tbsp sesame seeds
1 leek, shredded
2 carrots, shredded
1/4 lb snow peas, shredded
rice (optional)

Put the salmon in a (foil-lined) roasting pan and sprinkle with the salt, sesame seeds, and lime juice.  Bake for about 20 minutes at 425 degrees.  Meanwhile, shred and toss together the vegetables.  Serve the salmon and veggies together, with rice if you want, with the pan juices poured over the top.

Notes

The salmon is simple enough.  I don't have fancy gomasio salt, so just went for regular salt with some sesame oil for the flavor.  The recipe specifies skinless salmon, but whatever.  Anyway, the veggies are a nice touch though, as much as I'm not familiar with leeks.  After one attempt, I think it makes the most sense to grate the carrot and process the leek and snow peas.  All in all a good dinner.

Tofu Tacos

Yeah, I think I'll keep this intro brief and just present the links without comment: here and here.

Recipe

Tacos

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 handful cilantro, chopped
1 brick extra-firm tofu
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp tomato paste
salt, pepper
6 corn tortillas
optional:
cheddar cheese, shredded
avocado, thinly sliced
tomato, chopped

Heat the oil in a deep pan, then saute the onions and cilantro, seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper.  Crumble the tofu into the pan, add the tomato paste, and cook 3-5 minutes.

Line a baking pan with tin foil with three pockets for your tortillas.  Fill each tortilla with the tofu mixture and top with avocado, tomato, and cheese.  Bake for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Papaya salsa

1 whole papaya
1/2 a red onion, finely diced
1 tomato, coarsely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
juice of half a lime
1 tsp Mexican seasoning (or sprinkles of paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, red pepper, oregano, salt, pepper, cinnamon, cloves)
salt

De-seed and -skin your papaya and chop into bite-size chunks.  Mix together with everything else.

Notes

As expected, it's really not quite as good as the real thing.  But it does have some nice things going for it - it's cheap and fast, feels very healthy, works well as a team effort, and (relatedly) I assume there's a reason you were looking for something vegetarian...  It came out as four big tacos.  Also just be aware that you'll have way more salsa than you need, so definitely plan on other ways to finish that off.

Almond Cookies

Here's an "old Dutch Colonial," recipe not house -->

Recipe

3/4 c butter (not a misprint - that's a stick and a half)
1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c almonds, crushed

Cream the butter, sugar, and almond extract.  Sift the flour with baking soda and salt.  Beat together the butter/sugar and flour mixtures.  Roll the dough out into about a 12" square.  Brush just enough of the egg onto the dough to cover in a light layer, then sprinkle the almonds on top.  Cut into squares and separate.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Notes

This was totally not my dinner tonight...

Asian Turkey Meatballs

I found a new bunch of recipes online courtesy of (the kind of hilariously-named) Eat to Perform.  Here's the first one.  It's Asian, so insert a meathead "ninjas really know how to perform" joke here, maybe?

Recipe

1 lb ground turkey (they say lean...)
2 tbsp grated ginger
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 c bread crumbs
1 egg

1/4 c scallions, chopped
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 c stock

1/2 tsp sesame oil
3 tbsp vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp dried chili flakes
1/4 c scallions, chopped

Combine the first group of ingredients and make some meatballs, about 2".  Heat your oil over medium-high and brown the meatballs on both/a few sides, about 2 minutes each.  Move the meatballs to a pan for the oven and pour in the stock.  Heat at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine the bottom set of ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, then simmer until it thickens.  Drizzle the glaze over the meatballs (once they're out of the oven, maybe over some rice) and you're ready to eat.

Notes

A few things:

• I un-paleo-ed the original recipe a little bit but I hope it's still healthy!  Cause it's pretty good. 
• I also used the old cast-iron skillet to brown the meatballs, flipped 'em a last time, poured in the (veggie) stock, and popped the skillet in the oven.  Even cutting out the extra pan, it's still a lot of dishes to clean up.
• The recipe is a little ambiguous on where the scallions go.  In the meatballs?  Into the glaze?  Sprinkled on top?  I went with option B...