Last Decal Lab
Today was our last cooking lab...
Yesterday night was so stressful but it's probably becase I'm already stressed so last night didn't help...
In decal class last night we were told it was open lab (we got to decide what to cook & the TA has to shop for the food) so i got out of class at 7pm & harry had to decide for our lab cuz susan & stella weren't there...so he just said fine do that salmon you always talk about...
So...I went home & figured out a menu after trying to figure out if i wanted the salmon to go asian or mediterranean or etc...i decided a kinda mediterranean-ish menu...
so the broiled salmon was to be plain w/ maybe a squeeze of lemon & a citrus salad & couscous...
so at about 9pm i took the bus to college ave safeway...got there...shopped & when i got to the meat section there was no freaking salmon...there were a few signs but no salmon..i was so pissed i didn't know what to do...cuz tuesday i had class & then i was gonna go to ieor day (which i ended up not being able to go cuz we had a group meeting scheduled later & i needed to spend at least a few hrs at work) & then work & then group meeting for 171 & then cooking lab....so i had no idea what to do...it was already 11pm! & i had spent like $50 on purely food for the class (for the party friday & i thought TA's had to do the final too so i bought ingredients for that...i didn't buy a single thing for myself...but now that i know i'll make falafel & hummus & cucumber salad for myself hmph haha anyways)
so i was flipping out...i called back adam cuz i kept putting it off & i just kept kinda getting mad at him & calling him "useless" merely cuz he couldn't bring me salmon...hahha i'm sucha bitch but he knows i was was kinda kidding:P
even chris went to work in florida trying to find me a solution..he called his friend who he said usually had salmon in her freezer & called boris to give me a ride but he didn't pick up...
so i ended up asking erick who was disgusted at the thought of salmon beh but whatever...first we went to andronico's cuz it was closer...it's sup'd to close at 12 but nooo it decided to close early (good thing i didn't walk there i would've killed myself...or them:P) & so we headed to shattuck ave safeway & they had it (which i found out today was skin on (it didn't say on the label..bastards haha)..i've never skinned a fish before...& this fish was huge it was probably the length of my arm..i didn't even know where to put it cuz my cutting board was too small...those darn scales suck! anyways)
the meal ended up being under 30 minutes...when i told chris my menu he was like wow that's such a date meal...& he's totally right...the salmon took under 10 minutes & so did the couscous & the citrus salad took like 15 minutes...it was darn amazing & it was yummy too...looked nice...if i was rachel ray i would've made a dessert too:P
so the sad part was the couscous was a box mix cuz that's all they had at safeway...plain couscous is just as easy though...just boil broth instead since plain has no flavor like the box one & add in some herbs...throw in some pinenuts &/or raisins at the end...or maybe some gorgonzola & chopped walnuts or something...good stuff...couscous is yummier than i remember...anyways...i will put the recipes below so you can impress your dates!
(this is the same broiled salmon recipe that i submitted for the decal cookbook & the citrus salad recipe is my wannabe version of the food network one from my cookbook from di:) i just didn't want to put in jicama cuz 1, safeway doesn't carry they don't even have freaking salmon yes i'm bitter...2, it's sup'd to be water chestnut-y & water chestnuts are one of the few few things i don't particularly seek out...i just wouldn't eat a chunk of it..love it in dim sum)
Broiled Salmon
Ready in: about 10 minutes
Ingredients:
Salmon filets, boneless & skinless
Olive oil
Salt, pepper
Extra seasonings (optional)
(scale as you like)
Directions:
1. Preheat the broiler.
2. Mix some olive oil with salt, pepper, and any other spices you wish.
3. Place the salmon on a broiler safe dish (make sure it?s broiler safe! Usually glass dishes are not & will crack).
4. Brush or spoon on the oil mixture. (Just enough to coat.)
5. Place in the broiler for about 5 minutes. Flip the fish, coat with oil mixture, & cook the other side for about 2 more minutes. Use your judgment because each broiler behaves differently. (Done is a lighter pink than raw.) Don?t forget about it! It can burn. (You can use some creativity here in the last few minutes of cooking you can sprinkle on some grated parmesan for a crust or add a few lemon slices for a tart bite.)
6. Remove from broiler. Serve & enjoy.
Citrus Salad
Ready in: about 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon minced red onion
2 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoon honey
? teaspoon kosher salt
2 naval or blood oranges
1 medium grapefruit
1 small jalapeno
? cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Directions:
1. Whisk oil, juice, honey, & salt together.
2. Cut oranges & grapefruit into segments & add to dressing.
3. Stem, deseed, & mince jalapeno.
4. Stir jalapeno & cilantro into bowl.
5. Pat onions dry & stir in.
Enjoy everyone...
Supposedly the cooking decal party will be crazy...we'll see...i'm planning to make a fruit salsa w/ cinnamon sugar chips (it's sup'd to be a sweet version of chips & salsa) & an appetizer erick talked about when we were all studying...it sounded so good that i'm gonna try to make it...it's i think baguette? smeared w/ roasted garlic & topped w/ brie, pear, & candied nuts....
i'll be making the candied walnuts early in case i don't have time...oh crap i just realized i'll only have 2 hrs to cook these things up...
i guess i will make a game plan (sara moulton style)
2 or 3 days ahead: candied walnuts
1 day ahead: make cinnamon chips, roast garlic
morning on the day of: cut up fruit for salsa, cut brie
before the party: mix the salsa, layer the baguette things, plate!
ok sounds good...crap i need a cheap large plate that i won't want to keep to bring this stuff...hmm maybe to the dollar store i go sometime this week..probably thursday after work
i'm kinda nervous cuz i've never actually drunk more than a couple glasses of wine...
what if it's my truth serum! hahha...eh whatever i'll never see these people again..sadly the calories is kinda scaring me too...we'll see