my mom’s friend lori gave this recipe to my mom a few years ago.  lori’s recipe is for pistachio fish.  i do not like fish, but when my mom made this recipe using fish, i thought it made the fish taste bearable and had to try it with chicken.   whether you like fish or chicken, you will not be disappointed.

• 1 c dry-roasted pistachios, chopped
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp dill weed
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• basil pesto
• 6 6 0z. pieces of salmon or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved.

1. preheat oven to 425° (for fish) or to 375° (for chicken)
2. combine nuts, brown sugar, lemon juice, dill weed and pepper. set aside.
3. place salmon in foil-lined 9×13 pan or chicken in a greased 9 x 13 pan.  make sure that the chicken does not overlap or it will not cook evenly.  the same goes for the fish, i suppose.
4. spoon pistachio on top of the chicken.
5. press down to form crust.
6. bake the fish for 6-8 min, chicken for 25-30 min.
7. serve with basil pesto.

enjoy!

this is another “food i miss from michigan” post.  mcdonald’s breakfast down here excludes sausage, egg and cheese bagels on its menu.  the only good reason to have mcdonald’s breakfast is to splurge, and i think the bagel is the best way to do it.

this recipe may be slightly healthier than mcdonald’s.  i can tell you that it is pretty darn delicious and is available after 10:30 a.m. .

this recipe prepares two bagels.  you can adjust the recipe accordingly.

• 2 thomas bagel thins, toasted
• 2 slices of co-jack cheese, melted on bagels in toaster oven
• 6 oz. breakfast sausage (half a tube), quartered and formed into very thin patties, slightly larger than the bagel.
• 3 eggs
• salt and pepper to taste

1. cook the breakfast sausage patties until brown all of the way through. place on a paper-towel lined dish.
2. place bagels into the toaster oven, with cheese on one half.
3. whisk together eggs, salt and pepper.  place in medium sized frying pan and cook as if you are cooking an omelette, minus the filling and folding in half.
4. using spatula, cut the “omelette” in half. remove pan from heat.
5. place patty on bottom half of bagel, top with egg, folded into thirds and top bun.

enjoy!

so this guy named paul often comes over to our apartment and more times than not, raids the mountain dew in the fridge.  it was paul’s birthday last week and to celebrate, i made up a batch of mountain dew cupcakes.  i thought it was the only appropriate way to celebrate such a cool guy.

happy birthday, paul!

adapted slightly from slush

cupcakes (makes 1 dozen)

• 1 stick butter
• 1 c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c mountain dew
• juice from 1 lemon and 1 lime
• zest from 1 lemon and 2 limes (separated into two piles)
• 3/4 tsp orange extract
• 1 1/3 c flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/8 tsp salt

1. beat butter on medium for 30 seconds.
2. add sugar and zests.  beat on medium-high until light and fluffy.
3. add eggs one at a time, scrape sides of bowl in between additions.
4. whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.  add to mixer bowl.  turn on low for 5 seconds.
5. add the mountain dew, lemon and lime juice and orange extract.  mix to combine.
6. scoop into cupcake liners until 2/3 full.
7. bake for 18-20 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. cool.

mountain dew buttercream frosting (be prepared to eat this by the spoonful)

• 1 stick butter, at room temperature
• 2-3 c powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp mountain dew
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• lemon and lime zest from second pile (above)
• 1/2 tsp orange extract
• yellow and green food coloring

1. beat butter at medium-high speed until creamy.
2. add half of the sugar, mix until blended.
3. add the mountain dew, zest and orange extract.  beat until combined.
4. add food coloring to the desired color (i did 2 drops each of yellow and green.)
5. gradually add remaining sugar until you get to the consistency and sweetness you like.  (i prefer to beat frosting on high until it is light and fluffy.)
6. frost cupcakes, by placing 2 tbsp of frosting on each cupcake and smoothing with an icing knife.

enjoy!