Salmon and Yellow Rice

Hello and Welcome Back or if you're here for the first time let me welcome you officially to the blog of Cooking with a Jersey Girl which is hosted directly from the Tiny Ass Kitchen in West End, NJ. I have a quick and easy dinner ready to share with you, so lets get to it.

When I began my quest to lose weight January of this year I quickly learned that in weight watchers land that meat held a lot of points that I didn't want to spend. I began substituting pork, chicken and beef with lots of fish, grains and beans. I'm living proof that my idea worked since I have lost 25 pounds since January and I'm still losing.

Because of that I still eat a lot of fish. My husband fishes off the beach and when he catches something it can feed us for a good long time, his summer hit of 10 pounds of blue fish is still being gobbled up by us. I do buy some fish at the supermarkets, although I do purchase fresh fish it only happens when I make the 30 minute trip to Whole Foods where their seafood department gets in fresh fish daily, something I love.

But when I can't get up there I go to my staple (you guessed it) Aldi and buy frozen Salmon, Whiting, Shrimp and Scallops.

Today's menu has some salmon and yellow rice topped with salsa. It's a quick fix dinner, something I'll make on my nights where I don't get off till 6.

But first I start with the rice since it will take the longest....



I really like Goya Rice, I get it at Shop Rite all the time and I like it not just with beans but I do think it goes well with seafood like salmon and scallops. It's also great when I make my pretend paella.


Because I was feeling a little lazy (this weeks theme) I decided to cook my rice in my rice maker, this way I didn't have to constantly stir the rice making sure it's cooking correctly and not sticking.

After that I basically leave the room until the rice is cooked. This is a good time to do the following things:

1) Read your mail and throw away all the junk from the cable company trying to tell you a luxury is a necessity.
2) Nag your husband to pick up his clothes which are all over the living room.
3) Finally change out of your work clothes.
4) Refill the Brita because your husband is getting on you about how you never do it but you're always in a rush and why can't he do it once in a while?
5) Spice the salmon.
6) Get a drink of water
7) Check your email.

And after all of that the rice should actually be completely done give or take how much email you have to read.



Gracie will also let you know when the rice is done. Although she doesn't care for the rice, she seems to like the smell of it cooking and thinks she wants it anyway...



I have since spiced the salmon with just a touch of salt. You'll find I am a fish purest as my husband likes to put it. I'm not really one for fancy sauces and tappanades, I just like my fish. I am a fan of fisher fish but I like fish as it is, I appreciate it and I think sometimes if you jazz it up to much it loses what it is suppose to be.



I also am putting my salmon on my tiny George Forman grill, it does the job quick and is one nice machine. It's Danny's but I use it once in a blue moon, mostly when I want grill marks which this does very nice.

The fish is only on the grill for about 4 minutes and it is cooked through, I do check my fish anyway as I do on the occasion I make meat, I just like to make sure it's cooked.



After that I scoop some rice onto dinner plates, put the fish on top and then top the salmon with a heaping teaspoon of salsa from my favorite Mexican place, Juanito's which is located in Red Bank, NJ on Monmouth Street past Count Basie Theater and before the train station so if you are in the area check them out. I had this salsa left over from takeout that Danny surprised me with a few days earlier and I didn't want to go out and buy more chips for fear I'd eat them all and this just seemed like a better solution.

The finish product I have to say was really tasty, with the cilantro and the fish it gave it a nice flavor and just a little bit of heat. I'll be making it again.

Just so you know, please check back this week because I will be making some cookies for the dreaded Thanksgiving holiday (don't worry Mom, I don't dread you, I actually love you) and I'll be taking some pictures along the way.