Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Now, I don't say this lightly because it's an idea I am still trying to fully convince myself to believe, but, sides are the showcase of any meal. I mean, they should not be hiding in the shadow of a main course, they each need their own distinct voice, while still becoming part of a fuller complex melody... Too much of a choir reference? Not sorry! Obviously this concept is becoming truer as we convert into the new and vastly improved notion that our protein should make up only 25% of our plates at any given meal. I know I can't be the only one who grew up in a house where the chicken got 50% and the mashed potatoes got the other half! Talk about a hard habit to break. A delicious, buttery, habit...

7 Minute Pan Seared Salmon

You heard it here first, or second, you can cook a salmon dinner in 7 minutes. I mean, if you want to, it's totally possible. I'll tell you how...

First of all, start with some salmon... obviously. I have the amazing luck of living in the Pacific Northwest and have the privilege of having a father who is quite a fisherman. He is always calling me and letting me know he has a drawer full of fresh salmon, or crab, or halibut, or some other amazing that I can help myself to. So, naturally I drive right over and grab a beautiful, caught-that-day, king salmon fillet. If you can think of something that represents the western coast of Washington better than salmon I would be shocked. I mean, I guess there's Starbucks, and Micro Soft, and Amazon... But whatever, we're talking about SALMON, people, don't get smart!
In the beginning there was a salmon fillet:

Garlic Citrus Green Beans

Summer side dishes are in full swing in my house! They definitely take up more of the plate than the main dish and I usually make sure they pack a punch. These green beans bring more to the table than you thought possible for a little green veggie. Yum yum yum!

For a while now I have been using a lot of citrus in my cooking, I recently realized that I have been under-utilizing my zester and quickly remedied that situation by zesting EVERYTHING. This particular dish has a hearty dose of orange zest along with orange and lemon juice. I have always loved the sweet-tartness of citrus paired with savory flavors, so in this recipe I used garlic for the balance.