finally cooking again

Salmon w/lentils: Salt & pepper the salmon, preheat oven, heat oil in skillet you can put in the oven. Place salmon seasoned side down and don't move it. cook for about 3 minutes, flip and put skillet in oven to finish for about 5-8 minutes depending on how done you like your fish. rinse lentils, boil lentils in chicken stock, meanwhile saute carrots, celery, onion, thyme, salt, pepper in a little butter. once veggies are soft drain lentils and add to pan to finish cooking. serve salmon on top of lentils.

Grilled Chicken & Avocado: Marinate chicken in soy sauce, grill on bbq, serve with avocado sliced on top. the heat will melt the avocado a little and make really yummy. serve with simple salad and crusty bread. or tater tots - which is what i'll probably do.

Orzo Salad: cut in big chunks your favorite veggies (i use zucchini, asparagus, bell peppers, snow peas) oil, salt and pepper and roast in oven at about 400. Boil orzo until soft. drain and rinse. dress with italian salad dressing, salt, pepper and add veggies. You can add a protein that you have left over, salmon or chicken would work really well. you can add some chopped basil and feta cheese at the end but some in my household don't like that so i leave it off.

BBQ Shrimp: i use frozen but whatever you can get is good. defrost frozen shrimp in colander by running room temp water over them. pat dry. toss in olive oil, cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes (just use S&P for the kiddies). put on bbq for a few minutes until pink. serve with wild rice and green beans or corn and bean salad.

Bratwurst: boil in water for a few minutes and then put on grill or in skillet to brown skin. serve on a bun with condiments and with fries or tater tots.