Sunday Recipe #8: Lemon Salmon

Hello everyone!

Hope you've all had a great week. I survived my first week at the new job! Moreover, I actually really enjoyed it, and I think I picked a good company to work for. I picked a good week to start, too - we launched our company this week and had our summer party at the horse races yesterday. I just feel so blessed to finally be doing what I want to do, even if it did take me a while to get here. :)

As for today's recipe, Mr. G and I bought a huge slab of fresh atlantic salmon on sale yesterday at Cub, so I decided to try my hand at it. I've cooked salmon a couple times before, but I've never cooked it fresh, and let me say - it is a million times better fresh. Honestly. I used a very simple recipe with only the following ingredients - olive oil, lemon juice, lemon pepper seasoning and rosemary. I cut a couple strips of the salmon, basted it in a small amount of olive oil and lemon juice, and sprinkled with the spices. After about 15 minutes in the oven at 375, I added a little more lemon juice and pepper then let it cook 2 more minutes before taking it out. In my oven, 17 minutes was perfect - the salmon was flaky and tender but still juicy. We ate it with sides of rice and broccoli, and it was a perfect summer meal.

I also made chocolate chip cookies tonight (as requested by Mr. G), and I think they were my best batch yet! I used the recipe on the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chip bag, but I added a little extra brown sugar, substituted some pancake mix for flour, and I didn't use the entire bag of chocolate chips. Also, they only took about 8 minutes to cook. Definitely will be making these again!

In other news, Mr. G and I joined a gym! We had been waiting to see what kind of insurance I got at my job, which turned out to be a good decision because it will pay most of our (already severely discounted) membership fee each month. :) We joined L.A. Fitness, and the one we go to is a huge facility that never seems very busy, so it's perfect. However, we do have to go at least 3 days a week in order to get insurance coverage, so we will be working out a lot. Maybe now I'll finally get in shape! If I stop baking cookies and cupcakes, that is...

Hope you have a good week!

<3 Mrs. G

Cabin Vacation & Holiday Weekend

Hi everyone!

I hope you've all been enjoying the long weekend and have fun plans for tomorrow! As for me, I'll be going to a nearby lake with Mr. G and some friends (and Molly, of course). We'll be grilling hot dogs, swimming in the lake, and watching fireworks. Pretty standard 4th of July stuff. I'm excited, though - the weather finally warmed back up in time for the holiday weekend.

While we were at the cabin last week, it was chilly and rainy basically all week. We were pretty far up north at Lake Vermillion, but I was still hoping for warmer weather. We got one nice day and took full advantage of it - Mr. G and I came back burnt and bug-bitten. But we still had a good time. The guys went fishing a lot, and I even went a few times! It was my first time actually fishing, and I ended up catching a total of 10 fish - 9 in one day. They were all small perch, but I was still pleased with myself. :)



my best catch - a fat perch


As for the rest of the week, I spent it reading, playing Wii with the kids, watching McHale's Navy, and I even fit in some shopping. I finally read a book my mom gave to me back when I moved to Connecticut - Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter. She had read it as part of her book club and even got to meet the author, Lisa Patton, who happens to live in my hometown. She gave it to me because it's about a Southern girl struggling to adapt to life in New England (Vermont, specifically). Although the New England portrayed in the book was nothing like the New England I experienced (less maple syrup; more Jersey shore), it was still a fun read that was perfect for a vacation up north. Also, I did survive a couple nor'easters in CT, and they were bad even by New England standards, so I think (hope) I'll be ready for my first Minnesota winter!

All in all, we had a fun, relaxing cabin vacation. But I must admit it was very nice to come home to my bed...

Here are a few more photos from the trip:

Mr. G and me at a local restaurant

happy Molly on her first boat ride :)

In other news, I have officially started my internship at the ADA, and so far it's going well. I've even gotten a work perk already - free Twins tickets! Mr. G and I went to the game last night with some friends, and even though the Twins lost (in the freaking 9th inning), we had a fun time and I got to wear my new Twins shirt. :)

I'm sad to say that I won't be making cupcakes for the 4th. :( I was hoping to make festive blueberry and strawberry cupcakes, but Mr. G and I have stayed busy all weekend with friends and family. Plus, we'll be outside all day tomorrow, which isn't the best condition for cupcakes if you don't like them melted. But let me know what you're baking for the holiday! I'd love to hear your patriotic recipes. :)

Happy 4th!

<3 Mrs. G