Busy Days Equal Quick Meals

Last week was a busy week for me.  I had personal chef clients, I taught 2 days of classes for people wanting to be personal chefs and I was at the mall Saturday and Sunday as a product specialist for KitchenAid.

I cannot eat well without menu planning and I try to do it on Friday to carry me through to Saturday.  We normally grocery shop after church on Sunday.  This schedule works for me.  For meals last week I pulled out Quick Fix Meals by Robin Miller.  The recipes are generally easy, light and pretty good.

One night we had Salmon Chowder with Yukon Gold Potatoes.  I also try and make sure I use what I have in the freezer and for some reason I have a lot of salmon.  We like it though.  This is not a thick chowder, it's a soup. 

Salmon Chowder with Yukon Gold Potatoes by Robin Miller

• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 2 leeks (white part only), rinsed well and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried tarragon
• 2 medium-size Yukon gold potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups leftover salmon broken into pieces
• 1 (12-ounce) can evaporated fat-free milk or lowfat milk
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the tarragon and cook 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the potatoes and broth and bring to a simmer. Partially cover the pan and simmer until the potatoes are fork-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the salmon and milk and simmer 2 minutes to heat through. Remove from the heat, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

I did not have leftover salmon, I had salmon with skin on, so I sprayed a non-stick skillet with cooking spray and cooked the salmon quickly on the stove.  If the salmon had been skinless, I would have cut it in chunks and added it to the soup when I added the potatoes. 

This week is a little slower so I've been trying to make things that take more time. Last Friday I saw that I had planned Salmon en Croute and I was wondering what was wrong with me.  After two days of teaching, that was not going to happen!  We had frozen pizza from Publix!  Your freezer can be your friend.

I made the salmon on Sunday and it was good.  Nothing difficult, just more than I wanted to do on Friday.  I wrapped the salmon in puff pastry, added some spinach to it, sealed and baked.  Great with a green salad. 

We did go to Trader Joe's on Saturday since I received the new flyer in the mail and I saw things that I needed.  Ha!  I did pick up a few things for the freezer and some Maple Cream Cookies that are very good.  Great with a cup of tea.  This is a dangerous store for me but I didn't go too crazy.  They also have a grapefruit soda that I enjoy every so often.  I'm not a big soda drinker.

Today is the library and I need to plan my route for my trip to Washington D.C.  I'm leaving I think next Thursday for my Women Chefs and Restaurateurs conference.  Can't wait!