Lately

 Beautiful blooms in the front yard

 I agreed to go to Cabela's with Brian but only if I can hang out on this ridiculous camo chair. If it wasn't camo I would have seriously considered buying it. It was THAT comfy!

 Brian smoking a stogie and cutting the lawn for the first time

 And I was there for moral support :)

 I had to document this blue sky

 Brian's bonsai mini worlds

 Red vans ready for some summer strolling

 Record player slowly being assembled

Baked Salmon & Broccoli Mash

After a weekend of eating pretty poorly I was ready for something more on the healthy side. Salmon and broccoli mash did just the trick! I had never made broccoli mash before and I was very happy to find it was delicious and will definitely make it again!

Salmon 

• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 2 tsp dark sesame oil
• 2 oranges (juiced)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 scallions (chopped)
• 1 tbsp red chili pepper (minced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced) 
• 2 tsp sesame seeds (toasted)
• 1 tsp sriracha
• 2 salmon filets (skin on)
• non-stick cooking spray

• Mix together all of the ingredients except the salmon. Place the salmon in the marinade and cover in the fridge for 2 hours
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
• Remove salmon from the fridge while oven is preheating. Transfer salmon to the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until done. 

Broccoli Mash

• 3 large bunches broccoli
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• salt 
• pepper

• Steam 3 large bunches of broccoli in a pot with water until tender
• Saute 4 cloves of garlic in a pan with olive oil and butter, until golden
• Add broccoli, garlic with oils, 1 cup of ricotta cheese to a blender or food processor and season with salt and pepper to taste. Blend to consistency of mashed potatoes. 

Served with pillbury crescent rolls...because I love them!! 

Dream Vacation

There are too many places on my list of dream vacations but lately I keep seeing tons of people vacationing in Mexico. I have always wanted to go, especially to Mexico City and visit Frida Kahlo's house, and now after seeing these pictures the capital of Yucatán. Here are a couple of my favorites, but you can see all of them from the link.

http://www.cntraveler.com/food/2012/07/photos-merida-yucatan-mexico-food-art-culture-mayan-ruins_slideshow_item2_3

What's For Dinner

Thai Beef Stir Fry with Mango Carrot Salad

 Ingredients:

• vegetable oil
• 2 red chilies 
• 1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
• 1 pound beef sirloin-fat trimmed and thinly sliced
• salt
• 1 tbsp worcestershire
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1-2 cups fresh basil leaves, plus more to garnish
• rice-to serve

For the mango carrot salad

• 1 ripe mango-julienned
• 1 large carrot-julienned
• 2 scallions-thinly sliced
• 2 limes-juiced
• 1 tbsp honey
• pinch of salt

Directions:

• Heat a large skillet (I used my wok) over high-heat with a few tbsp of oil. Add the chilies and ginger and cook for about 30 seconds. Stir in the beef and saute for about 2 minutes or until no longer pink, seasoning with salt.
• Drizzle in the worcestershire and soy sauce and toss to coat. Remove from heat and stir in fresh basil.
• Serve with rice and mango carrot salad
• For mango carrot salad- toss together the ingredients in a bowl and serve room temperature or chilled.

 I thought this recipe was super easy and fun to make! I tend to steer clear of Asian dishes because I don't have any experience but when I found this dish I knew I could make it successfully. 

Can you believe I finally remembered to take a picture?!