Salmon in Tomato and Feta Sauce - Pinterest Pick #21

This recipe is a great way to keep salmon moist while adding lots of flavor. I found the recipe while perusing Pinterest, and you can find the original pin HERE. I did make some minor adjustments to the recipe, like leaving out the parsley and fennel, and you can compare the differences to the original recipe which can be found HERE. I served it with yellow rice (I use Vigo brand) and my Parmesan Green Beans (find that recipe HERE). It is a quick weeknight recipe as neither the tomato sauce or salmon takes long to cook.

Salmon In Tomato and Feta Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tbs red pepper flakes
• 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• 1 tbs dried dill
• 1 lb salmon
• 1 cup crumbled feta
• salt & pepper

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400. Saute the onions in olive oil over medium heat. Add in the garlic, cook an additional minute. Stir in the red pepper flakes and then add your tomatoes. Cook for five minutes and then add your dill. Place salmon on foil lined baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Top with tomato sauce and sprinkle with crumbled feta. Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Simply Sides 23 - Cheesy Roasted Tomatoes

I have noticed a trend that side dishes with cheese attract me the most...  This recipe will be no different!  I was scrolling through Pinterest and I saw a recipe for roasted Parmesan tomatoes.  I though to myself, I don't have fresh parm, but what if I use my shredded provolone and mozarella blend?  And instead of fresh herbs, which I also didn't have, use garlic salt and fresh cracked pepper to season them?  Do you know what the result was??? DELICIOUS!  They tasted just like crustless pizza.  Seriously, I would not lie to you.  This is a great recipe if you are eating low carb.  It's a great recipe for a fairly healthy snack or side dish.  It's a great recipe if you are looking for something super simple to make.  Frankly, it's just a great recipe in general!  It really satisfied a pizza craving I was having, without all the extra crust calories. Make this, you won't be disappointed!

Cheesy Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients:

• 3 tomatoes on the vine, slice into 4 slices each (total of 12)
• 4 oz shredded cheese (I used a mozzarella/provolone blend - highly recommend)
• olive oil (about 1 tbs)
• garlic salt (I use Lawry's)
• fresh cracked black pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.
Place tomato slices on foil lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle lightly with garlic salt and pepper.  Bake for 10 minutes. Then, drizzle lightly with olive oil. Top with cheese. Bake another 10 minutes til cheese is browned and bubbly. 
Enjoy!

Salsa - Home Cooked Recipe 61

Who doesn't love salsa??? You can get it in any form of heat, from no spice at all to blow your head off hot.  It is fresh, low in fat and calories, and a great condiment for many things.  Plus add some chips and you have a great snack.  
I have never made my own salsa before.  There are so many great jarred varieties out there that I never really thought about it.  I have made my own pico de gallo before, but it is different than a salsa.  So now that I decided it was time, I looked up some recipes online, got inspired, and made my own.  You can adjust the heat level to your specific taste.  I made this version at a medium heat level.

Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 14.5 oz can diced petite tomatoes
• 2 jalapenos, 1 deseeded
• 3 garlic cloves (preferably minced)
• 1/4 of a red onion, diced
• 1 handful cilantro
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• dash of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
• pinch of sugar

***All of these ingredients can be adjusted to taste

Directions:
In a food processor or mini chopper combine all ingredients (I had to do it in two batches in my mini food processor).  Pulse for a minute then let stay on for another 30 seconds.  Refrigerate for an hour to let flavors blend.  Serve with tortilla chips.
Enjoy!

Simply Sides 5 - Oven Roasted Tomatoes

Summer is the time for tomatoes!  They are out in abundance, and are juicy and fresh.  A lot of people can them at the end of the summer so they can have them all winter long.  I decided to go with another approach, and that is to roast them in the oven.  You know I'm obsessed with roasting this year!  Roasting tomatoes gives them another dimension of flavor.  By caramelizing them a layer of sweetness and depth comes out.  Use them as a side dish with a nice fish or chicken dish.  You can puree them to make sauces or add them to sauces.  They are great toppings for wraps/sandwiches. And they make a nice healthy snack!
Here's how I made them:

Oven Roasted Tomatoes

Ingredients:
3 large tomatoes quartered (don't cut them any smaller or they shrivel up too much)
1 head of garlic, separated into cloves and peeled
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325.
Line a baking sheet with foil.
Place garlic cloves and tomatoes on sheet, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss so tomatoes and garlic are covered with olive oil and spices.
Roast for 1 hour, then check every 10 minutes after that until tomatoes are done.  See picture below as guideline.

Enjoy!