Foil Packet Salmon

June 3, 2013: After our fabulous getaway to San Diego, our friends, Keri and Bradley, had invited us to join them at a benefit for Lena Pope Home's charter school, Chapel Hill Academy. I actually had interned at Chapel Hill for my Practicum I class in graduate school at TCU, so I was extra exceed about the event.  The benefit, Rock the Fort, had many sponsors, one of which was Keri's childhood neighbors and Texas Jet owners, the Pigmans. The Pigmans had offered Keri and Bradley a handful of seats at their table, and we were graciously asked to join. 

Bradley, Keri, Andy, and me at Rock the Fort

The benefit was at the Heart of Texas Ranch in the new Edwards Ranch area in Fort Worth. There were four food trucks and Charlie Robison headlined. Our tickets got us drinks, and yummy food from trucks boasting barbecue, tacos, loaded fries, and ice cream. We knew a lot of people in attendance, and the benefit was a huge success with over 700 attendees! We spent the evening chowing down and jamming out "in my hometown."

Andy and me at Rock the Fort

The morning after we rocked the Fort, I was going to the store. When I asked if Andy had any requests, he said, "Fish!" Andy and I were in full-blown fish mode from our getaway to San Diego.  Poor guy, I think he gets tired of my fixing chicken breasts every which way every week. So off to Kroger it was, and they happen to have salmon on sale. I had seen on The Today Show just how easy grilling in foil packets can be, so I found this recipe for Foil Packet Salmon. The fish turned out perfectly- moist, full of flavor, and clean up was a breeze!

Charlie Robison performing at Rock the Fort

Foil Packet Salmon

Servings: 2; Wight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 7

Foil Packet Salmon with Grilled Red Potatoes and salad

• 4 salmon fillets (4 ounces each)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Foil Packet Salmon with Grilled Red Potatoes

1. Lay out 4 pieces of foil, large enough to wrap up and form a packet around each fillet
2. Place each fillet in the foil, skin side down
3. Sprinkle the garlic powder, lemon-pepper seasoning, curry powder, and salt atop the fillets, distributing evenly
4. Fold foil into a packet around each fillet
5. Grill on medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side (longer for thicker fillets)

Foil Packet Salmon

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Grilled Red Potatoes

June 11, 2013:  Andy was asked by his boss at the Texas Department of Insurance to attend a conference in San Diego, California. Being a beach lover and always wanting to go on vacation, I immediately asked if I could tag along. Being a nice boyfriend, he said yes, so onto the American Airlines website I went. I booked a seat on his flights there and back, and made sure I could be out from work. All systems were go.

Andy and me on Coronado Island looking back at San Diego

We went to San Diego on the morning of Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Andy didn't have to do any conference-ing that first day, so we went on a few adventures. First, we used our handy dandy Yelp app to find some lunch. We were staying at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, so we were right on the bay and around the corner from the Gaslamp Quarter.   We went to a highly recommended place called Spike Africa's Fresh Fish Grill & Bar and it was delicious.  I had fish tacos that were incredibly fresh, and quite frankly put other fish tacos to shame. We asked the manager for other restaurant suggestions in the area, and he suggested quite a few and even took the time to write them down for us. After lunch, we stopped by a few clothing stores in the quarter, and I bought two new great dresses.

After lunch, we headed to the ferry to go over to the island of Coronado. We wandered around the shopping village, and then rented bicycles to ride around the island. After pedaling for an hour or so, we started to get chilly and decided to head back to the mainland to change for dinner. One of my co-workers, Linda, had suggested The Fish Market. This was where I had my first of San Diego meals that came complete with red potatoes.

Our pool at the Marriott Marquis on the Bay in San Diego

On Wednesday, I woke up and went to get a massage at Premiere Massage. I had found a Groupon for Premiere Massage, and it ended up being the best massage I have ever gotten. Oswell was fabulous, and I highly recommend him to any San Diego peeps out there! I went back and laid out for a bit until Andy's meetings were over. That night we went to a Padres game. The stadium was beautiful, and it was a cool, crisp great night for baseball!

Andy and me at the Padres Game

Thursday I woke up and went to the shopping village down the boardwalk from our hotel, the Marriott Marquis on the bay. I wandered around and had lunch on a sunny patio- blackened chicken salad complete with a bloody mary. I then spent the entire rest of the day laying out by the pool at the hotel with a berry mojito in hand. We had many recommendations for happy hour and dinner, so we went to Vin de Syrah for happy hour, and it was unbelievably awesome! It is an Alice in Wonderland themed bar with a hidden entrance, fresh rustic bruschetta, and affordable happy hour specials. Then we had an amazing Italian dinner at Cucina Urbana. I was fat and happy- San Diego's food is spectacular.

Petco Park- Go Padres!

As if all of that wasn't enough, Andy only had a half day on Friday, so we got to have a lunch date on the boardwalk. We ate at a restaurant that was adjacent to our hotel, Roy's, where we had an appetizer of Roy's Original Hawaiian Blackened Island Ahi. It was hands down the best fish I have ever had! For lunch, I had the Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi, and Andy had a rice Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish. We left feeling stuffed, but full of Omega 3s and jealous that California has such wonderful seafood.

Andy and me on the boardwalk on the bay in San Diego

When we got home, Andy was still on his fish-kick, and he wanted more salmon and more red potatoes. I googled a recipe for Grilled Red Potatoes because the grill was already going to be on for Foil Packet Salmon, and I had never grilled little potatoes on the grill before. Stove top, yes- in Spicy Potatoes, but never on the grill. They turned out so well that we had them about once a week since. So we may not have crazy-fresh seafood here in Tejas, but the red potatoes will always remind me of San Diego!


Grilled Red Potatoes
Servings: 2; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 6

• 6 red potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Foil Packet Salmon and Grilled Red Potatoes

1. Wash potatoes thoroughly
2. Slice into halves
3. Microwave for 6-8 mins
4. Combine olive oil, garlic, and salt in a large ziplock bag
5. Add potatoes, toss until coated (careful, they're hot!)
6. Grill on medium heat, 20-30mins (30mins for crispier potatoes)

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine

New Orleans Shrimp

Baby Charleigh and me

April 23, 2012, was a big weekend for two of Andy and my favorite couples.  First off, as I check Facebook in the morning while grogg-ily laying in bed, I suddenly sat up wide-eyed.  My childhood friend, Chaney, had posted a Facebook status that said, "Prayers for a sfe and wonderful dlivery of sweet baby CHARLEIGH! Your mom and dad are ready to meet you!"  Full-well knowing there was only one Charleigh Marie en route, I quickly sent our friend, Thomas, a text, and asked him if Natalie was in labor.   (Thomas & Natalie are mentioned a lot on the blog, they're kind of awesome).  Thomas told me that, indeed, Natalie had gone in the wee hours of the morning, and their little bundle of joy should be arriving any time.  A baby to play with? Yes, please! I am so so excited for the McDaniels and their new baby girl.  Charleigh Marie came into this world on April 23, 2012 at 4:17pm.  She was 7 lbs 1 oz and 20.5 inches, "and both mommy and Char Char are doing great!!" Thomas' Facebook later pronounced.

Later that night, as I was preparing this New Orleans Shrimp for dinner, I saw another Facebook post.

Keri and me with the Easter Bunny at the Fort Worth Boat Club
She's my oldest friend! We met when we were 4 on our boats, Cracker Jack and Keronca.

In fact, my phone had been going insane with alerts, so I wiped the chili powder from my hands and went to go see what all of the fuss was about.  My other childhood friend, Frances, had posted a status that said, "My best friend is engaged!!"  Fran was talking about yet another one of our childhood friends, Keri, who was currently on vacation with her boyfriend, Bradley.  (Side note: Bradley went to high school with Natalie and Thomas... small world!)  Bradley, Keri, and two of their friends had been spending the last few days lounging around Little Dix Bay with frozen concotions in hand, when Bradley suggested Keri and him "get dressed up and go watch the sunset."  I learned all of this, of course, when I frantically picked up my phone, ignored the fact that she was out of the country, and called my oldest friend to ask her the details about Fran's facebook post.

Bradley, Keri, me, and Andy at The Grove in LA, October 2011

Per Keri, she "threw on a little sundress, no makeup, of course," and told Bradley, wet-hair and all, that she was ready.  "What's the big deal?"  she thought, "We're on vacation in the islands, who cares what I look like!"  To Keri's surprise, once atop the mountain to watch the sunset, Bradley had a ring to put on Keri's finger and a photographer to capture the moment.  "I would've gotten more dressed up if I'd known there'd be pictures!!" Keri exclaimed to me.  Nah, capture the moment.  Even without "getting more dressed up," Keri looked gorgeous in the pics, smling away with a bright and shiny new piece of bling on her left finger.  My oldest friend is engaged!! I am so so excited for Keri & Bradley, and I am even MORE excited because this means my LA-stolen friend is going to be moving back home to good ol' Funkytown!

Bradley, Keri, me, and Andy at Keri's apartment in LA, October 2011

Andy and I talked about the baby and the engagement over our dinner of New Orleans Shrimp that night.  We boasted how proud we are of our friends for their happiness and blessings in their lives, and how happy we are that things have turned out so well for them.  I think we may have even cheers-ed to the four of you, too ;-) ...well, 5 if you count Charleigh! Congratulations to Natalie, Thomas, Keri, and Bradley- two couples and four friends who we are SO glad have had such happiness brought to them!

Bradley, Keri, me, and Andy with the Hollywood Sign in LA, October 2011

New Orleans Shrimp
Pinterest.com
Servings: 4; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 6

• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp ancho chili pepper powder *this is different than chili powder!
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp sugar (or sugar subtitute)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 lbs shrimp- peeled & deveined
• 5 tbsp unsalted butter (or butter substitute, such as Smart Balance Light)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 scallions (aka little green onions)

1. Mix the paprika, ancho chili powder, cumin, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl
2. Add the shrimp to the spices and toss to coat evenly.  Set aside.
3. Melt butter over medium heat in a large skillet
4. Add the garlic & cook, stirring for 1 min -do not brown the garlic!
5. Add shrimp and continue cooking over medium heat, stirring frequently for 3-4 mins
6. Add the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and 2 tbsp water 
7. Cook until shrimp are done (1-2 mins more)
8. Top with scallions

Serve atop rice, we prefer Zatarain's Jambalaya-Style rice.

Keep on cooking'!

-Katherine