Weeknights mean rushing. You know the drill–after work, after school and then it is time to get to a meeting or pick the kids up. So much to do and so little time. How are you supposed to get dinner on the table?
If you read our blog, you know we are committed to family meals and have often quoted the benefits of sitting down at the table for dinner. The dinner table is where you share family traditions and studies have shown that children who have a family dinner will have better grades, are less likely to be overweight, will have less delinquency, and gain so many other benefits.
Alas, suddenly, the news is not so good. A study by North Carolina State University revealed that dinnertime is stressful. Some folks feel pressured when money or time is tight and they are not sure how to get dinner on the table quickly. Worse, our ideal of what is a perfect dinner is accented by unrealistic ideals and fantastic TV shows.
We understand! We have busy families, too, and dinner doesn’t magically appear. Some nights it is hard. One of the best tips we can offer is to have some easy recipes that you can turn to at a moment’s notice. Post the recipe so whoever gets home first and begin. Keep the pantry stocked so you can cook a great meal, quickly. Plan ahead, maybe making the grocery list and stocking up on the weekend so dinner can be quickly prepared on a busy evening. Use the slow cooker, like the recipe posted just a couple weeks ago for Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken with Pasta.
It may sound surprising, but this is one of those easy meals. I love fresh salmon, but since it is hard to find in the Midwest, keep frozen salmon fillets in the freezer. The sauce on this salmon sounds very gourmet, but it will be ready in just 2 minutes in the microwave oven and all of the ingredients can be found in a pantry.
Honestly, in less than 30 minutes you can have a great dinner, ready to serve. Best of all, it will taste wonderful!
Bourbon Glazed Salmon
1/3 cup bourbon
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 salmon fillets, about 5 to 6 ounces each, fresh or frozen, thawed
Preheat oven to 400° F.
Combine bourbon, brown sugar, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper in a 1 cup glass measuring cup. Microwave on High (100%) power for 2 minutes or until hot and bubbly and sugar dissolves, stirring every 30 seconds. Set glaze aside.
Heat oil in an 8 to 10 inch cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Pat salmon dry. Place salmon, skin side down in skillet and cook 5 minutes. Do not turn salmon. Place skillet, with salmon, into the preheated oven and roast, uncovered, 4 minutes.
Carefully remove skillet from the oven. Stir the glaze, then carefully pour the glaze over the salmon fillets. Return skillet to the oven and roast, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.
Makes 2 servings
Tips:
Check the cooking progress, especially if the salmon fillets are quite thin or thicker. Thinner fillets will cook more quickly so you may find you need to reduce the cooking time.
If using frozen fish, check the package directions for thawing tips. Often, you can place the frozen fish in the refrigerator as you leave for work so it will be ready to cook when you get home from work.
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