The Ballad of the 16-lb King

Last we met, there was a slight discussion of the Salmon Fishing Season.  I capitalize this for 2 reasons; 1.)  It's a 3-month long national holiday for my Partner in Crime and for almost everyone we know - and 2.)  It's a creative playground for The SkinnyBitch herself! 

So, this is where we begin the story, nay, ballad of the 16-lb King. 

For anyone that knows me outside of cyberspace, they would be more than happy to tell you that I'm not necessarily the "fishing type".  I enjoy a lot of things, but smelling like fish guts, bait and boat gas is not on my Top-10 per se.  But this is a story about falling in love - so have faith and come along with me < insert Barry White or some Marvin Gaye >. 

My Partner in Crime, God bless his soul, decided that a trip out salmon fishing would be the IDEAL way to celebrate my 22nd birthday - the cat's pajamas - the bee's knees!!  He was so proud of the idea; I didn't have the heart to tell him that all this girl wanted was a trip to the local Mexican restaurant for a self-induced carb and lactose coma.  But I kept my lips shut and went along on the hour and a half drive to the boat launch. 

Now, if you have never been salmon fishing, I will attempt to describe it to you in a few short words:  windy, cold, bumpy and something everyone should do before they die.  Period. 

After our long and jarring boat ride to "The Honey Hole" (whatever that means .. must be boy code), we set the lines and waited.  We didn't have to wait long - it's as if The Birthday Gods were looking down on my cold, crumpled self on the deck of that boat and said, "Here ya go, kiddo.  Have a fish."  And did they ever give me a fish - after a 22 minute Battle Royale, this SkinnyBitch had reeled in a 16-lb King Salmon. 

We returned to the boat launch not long after (our all-male "crew" was not as lucky as The Birthday Girl) and I was broken in in the "fish shack" as to what happens AFTER you catch a fish.  We won’t get into that, though - I'm still traumatized. 
Upon waking up the next morning, there was a hush over the house.  16. Pounds. Of. Salmon. 

What is the SkinnyBitch going to do with 16 pounds of salmon?!  So I set to work at my favorite post: the kitchen table.  Take my hand and let me share with you a couple of the recipes that were created in the hopes of making a dent in the deliciously fishy contents of my freezer. 

Caramelized Onion-Salmon Dip

Ingredients -
1 large onion, sliced into rings
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
4T butter
1T salt
1/2T pepper
1T Italian seasoning
1t red pepper flakes
4-4oz salmon filets (dry rubbed in 1t each of salt, pepper, thyme and drizzled with 1/4c soy sauce prior to roasting)
1 block of cream cheese; softened
1/2c sour cream
1/2c mayo
1c shredded pepper jack cheese

Directions -
Roast salmon in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes - cool to room temperature (again, easier to peel the skin off) While that's happening, melt your butter (yeah, yeah, yeah, I know it's a lot AND it's BUTTER; but trust me, you'll be glad you used it!) and adding the onions, garlic and the spices.  Saute gently for about 10 minutes or until the mixture is a light golden brown.  Add the mix to a bowl and allow to cool slightly.  In the meantime, combine your cream cheese, sour cream and mayo; fold in the onion, garlic and spice mixture.  Gently flake in your salmon filets and fold in the cheese!  Enjoy warm or cold with crackers, chips, or eat with a spoon (guilty as charged).  Store in the fridge in an airtight container!


Asian Salmon Pasta Salad

Ingredients -

Salad
1lb cooked, drain and cooled bowtie pasta
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
6 scallions, chopped (I use the whole scallion, but some people only like the tops - you can do what tastes good to you, of course!)
1 medium English cucumber, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
4 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2c fresh cilantro
About 2c pre-cooked salmon (roasted, broiled, grilled, sauteed, etc.)

Dressing
1/2c soy sauce
1/2c rice wine vinegar
1/4c stir fry sauce
2 garlic cloves (grated)
1/2 inch hunk of ginger (grated) - this is an EXACT measurement <eye roll>
1t red pepper flakes

Combine the dressing ingredients in a large enough bowl to house the finished salad (less dishes for YOU!); then mix together all of your vegetables and cilantro in the dressing.  Fold in the cooled pasta.  Serve!      Now, wasn't that easy?

Now, I will warn my lovely readers that they will be seemingly inundated with salmon recipes over the course of the next 16-pounds of salmon - but I will attempt to pepper in other culinary ventures as to not bore you all into reading OTHER blogs!  FOR SHAMEEE. 

And so ends The Ballad of the 16-lb King for the time being; and this SkinnyBitch will sign off for now, but give these a try! 
Until then..

XOXO