Mustard and Spice Salmon

As spring approaches I figure it's time to get creative, while staying simple, so that I have more opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather outside. This recipe fulfills those goals. I made my own spice mixture that gave the salmon a bit of pop but I stayed away from making it actually spicy. Then a mix of honey and mustard rounded out the flavors and added a bit of texture. Simple yet tasty! Perfect for spring.

I wanted to stick with flavorful but simple for the rest of the meal as well, so I boiled up some cous cous with some fresh herbs tossed into the finished product for added flavor. Then I roasted some brussels sprouts with honey and mustard, giving them complementary flavors to the salmon but staying away from adding extra spice that would confuse overloaded taste buds. All in all, it worked out exactly as planned and would be an excellent meal out on a patio as the sun sets with a nice glass of wine.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 15 min
Cost: $16.23

Butternut Squash Ravioli in a Lemon-Sage Brown Butter Sauce

Stop reading and start shopping for the ingredients for this right now. While I'm understandably a biased source (yet still a genuine fan) about the food I make, this one is topping the charts. From the delicious, savory yet sweet filling to the light ravioli skin (and faster prep) allowed by the wonton skins to the drizzled sauce, packed with flavor while using simple ingredients, this ravioli was near-perfect. Everyone who chowed down was quick to declare this a favorite and is already clamoring for more.

You'll see in the recipe that I made these ravioli with wonton skins rather than a full dough. It provides a different flavor and taste, but also makes it a bit faster and easier to make the ravioli, a nice bonus. This is still a time-consuming recipe, but far less than it would otherwise be. So pick up some wonton wrappers and get creative. They work extremely well as ravioli, so this is the time to experiment. Just don't forget to share your favorites in the comments below!

Difficulty: medium-hard
Cost: $20.58 (includes pecan trout that I made with fish)
Time: 1 hr 30 min

Salmon and Squash Curry

Simple and spectacular! What else is there to really say? This dish combines fresh salmon and yellow squash in a delightful, homemade curry, that flavors the fish and provides a bold burst in your mouth without overpowering the natural flavors of the fish and vegetable. It is great for dinner, coming together quickly, but also makes a lot of food and re-heats very well for lunch the following days. You can purposefully make this in large quantities if you want leftovers for days to come!

The curry is served over basmati rice in my recipe, but you can substitute another rice, or even another grain, if your prefer. Personally, I'm a big fan of the long-grained basmati and the rice soaked up the delicious curry, providing joy in every single bite. There's no need to serve this meal with anything else, but check out my samosas in the appetizer section if you are feeling ambitious!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 30 min
Cost: $20.92

Caprese Risotto

Once again, risotto proves amazing. The luscious, creamy rice this time was full of a fresh caprese salad - fresh, thick buffalo mozzarella, ripe cherry tomatoes, and luscious fresh basil. What else do you need? You can even sprinkle on some balsamic vinegar and olive oil if you like, but I chose to let the fresh ingredients stand on their own, creating a delectable meal.

The risotto was the star of the show, but I sauteed some macadamia nut crusted tilapia and baked up some spaghetti squash, tossed with diced tomatoes, to go along with the risotto.

Difficulty: medium
Cost: $29.51
Time: 40 min

Mango-Ginger Turbot with Tofu Pad Thai

Pad Thai! Who doesn't love pad thai? It's delicious - full of noodles, egg, peanut... it's simple yet delightful. Unfortunately, it's also often full of calories and a vast over-abundance of salt. This recipe cuts back heavily on the msg and trims back the calories while still producing a delicious final product. I used tofu in mine, but feel free to substitute shrimp if you prefer. This is easily a full meal in and of itself, so there is no need to cook anything else, but I did prepare some fish to go along with it.

In my case, I sauteed some fresh Turbot, one of my favorite white fishes, and served it smothered in a delicious, chunky mango and ginger sauce. The fresh mango and ginger is light and bursting with flavor. Their asian influences also paired well with the pad thai, although these are not necessarily dishes you would normally see paired together. Keep any leftover sauce you have and put it on a sandwich or over your favorite protein the following nights.

Difficulty: medium
Cost: $15.71
Time: 1 hr

Blackened Tuna Caesar Salad

Perhaps not nearly as complicated as many of my other dishes, but this one still hits the spot. Fresh tuna (from my fish market!) is grilled with a homemade blackening blend and served over a bed of caesar salad. And this isn't just any caesar salad, but a homemade, healthy version of the classic. It skips the anchovies and raw egg, so no worries if you also shy away from such things, and the homemade dressing mimics the classic taste without the huge volume of salt, fat, and calories.

Speaking of salt... I made my own blackening rub that is listed below. I'm a big fan of mixing up my own spice mixtures so I can play with taste and emphasize (or de-emphasize) certain spices. Aside from the fun and authenticity, though, is salt content. Most pre-made spice blends are stuffed solid with salt that not only overwhelms the other flavors and leaves you quite thirsty, but also wreaks havoc with your body. Most likely you're already getting far more salt than you should, so go my route, mix up your own, and skip the salt altogether. Trust me, it's really not needed. This blackening rub already includes a lot of flavor! And if you want a bit more, just add some more chili powder. Mine is light on it since I prefer milder (but still flavorful) blends, but you can certain spice yours up some more.

Finally, I served this with some fresh, homemade cheesy garlic bread.

Difficulty: easy
Time: 40 minutes
Cost: $19.50

Tuna w/Avocado Aioli and a Parsnip-Apple Soup

That's right - a parsnip and apple soup. Perhaps not the combination that you usually put together, but it worked wonderfully. The slight sweetness of the two paired well, with a light crispness added by the apple and a bit of natural (healthy) creaminess brought into the mix by the parsnip. It provides an incredibly different sensation that is light and delicious. Make it when you're looking for a thick, delicious soup that hits the spot while providing a bit of flare.

To go with the soup, I sauteed some fresh tuna in a grill pan, flavored with some fresh black pepper, and served it with an avocado aioli. It paired perfectly and provided a delicious dinner. Finally, I whipped up some homemade beer bread, sliced thick and warm with raspberry jam. Delicious!

Difficulty: easy
Time: 1 hr
Cost: $20.12

Creole Rockfish and Tofu with Veggie Jambalaya

Wow, creole seasoning is good! I used the same spice mix on the fish and tofu, and it worked amazingly with both. I even tossed a bit of it into the jambalaya, which added a burst of flavor that perfectly complemented the veggie-filled rice dish.

Although you can purchase pre-mixed creole seasonings, you will see below that I mix my own. Personally, I think half the fun comes in developing the flavors yourself. However, even if you don't find that fun, I would still strongly urge you to go this route. Most Creole mixes that you can buy are filled with salt; it's the primary ingredient. However, when I make my own, I leave salt out entirely. You can put in a tiny bit if you insist, but you do NOT need salt to make this delicious and flavorful. And, it's healthier without it. Try my route and I promise you won't miss the MSG!

Difficulty: easy-medium
Time: 1 hr 20 min
Cost: $12.99