grace grits and gardening - ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

Glazed Salmon with Spinach Salad

January 14, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

This glazed salmon and spinach salad recipe has an impressive list of health benefits longer than the ingredients. I listed all the vitamins and other superfood powers at the end of the post so you can see for yourself. And as an added bonus, your family and/or guests will think you slaved over this delicious meal. You can tell them how quick and simple it really was… or not.

Ingredients: (serves two)

two pieces of salmon (about 8 ounces each)
4 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups baby spinach and arugula mix
2 hard-boiled eggs
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
6 cherry tomatoes, halved

Method:

Boil eggs.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Whisk together soy, vinegar, sugar, ginger, lemon juice and mustard. Place salmon in baking dish. Pour glaze over salmon and turn once to moisten both sides. Bake with skin side down for approximately 15 minutes, basting frequently. (Oven times may vary.)
While salmon bakes, arrange greens, onion and tomato on dinner plates. Top with egg slices.
Serve salmon over spinach salad. The glaze will serve as a dressing. If desired, squeeze additional lemon juice. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

Health Benefits:

Omega-3
Protein
Essential fatty acids
Anti-oxidants
Vitamin D
Vitamin E
Vitamin Bs
Vitamin A
Vitamin K
Zinc
Iron
Copper
Manganese
Selenium
Calcium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Fiber

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Alone and Lonely

January 13, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

“White wine, please.” She sits at the end of the bar and blends in with the other faceless people. She is alone. Alone and lonely yet surrounded by laughter and dancing and music so loud the wine vibrates in her glass. Everything feels forced—the energy in this place, the smiles plastered all around, even her breathing—inhale, exhale. She takes a sip, feels the coolness slip down her throat and silently toasts the New Year. Things can only get better…

“Bourbon rocks.” He claims the next stool. The faint smell of his cologne almost invokes a memory, but not quite.

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

This post was written especially for Write Tribe – 100 Words on Saturday, Prompt: Strangers in the Night.

Musical Pairing:

Frank Sinatra, Strangers in the Night

Welcome to My Garden!

January 12, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner

Yay! A garden. Ten days into the new year and I’ve already crossed off something that’s been on my virtual bucket list for years. I am the proud new gardener of this 50+/-sf plot of land at Promise of Peace’s Imagine community garden. There’s no room for anything more than container gardening in our tiny Dallas back yard, so a plot in this community garden close to our home is ideal.

Okay so right now it doesn’t look like much. This is where the imagine part comes in. Last week I spent a few hours hanging out, thinking and planning and watering my soil (in case there is anything hibernating under there…)

I do have sorrel and a fancy lettuce growing in the far corner. (In case you aren’t familiar with sorrel, it’s a lemony flavored leaf much like lettuce.)

Sorrel growing. Promise of Peace Imagine Garden

While watering and weeding, I met a lady who has a well-established plot near mine. While we chatted she transplanted a lettuce and celery plant right from her dirt to mine. Just like that. The perfect example of a community garden.

Did you notice the little bluebird in my bed? He was left behind by the prior gardener. I consider him a good sign.

Promise of Peace Imagine Community Garden

Native Americans considered bluebirds to be sacred, a symbol of happiness, joy, hope and contentment—all things I feel when I work with the soil. According to legend, bluebirds were originally gray until one bathed in a lake. The lake water colored his feathers blue. (Possibly my favorite Lake Norfork?)

On second thought, my bird may actually be a bluejay. Since the bluejay symbolizes energy, determination and curiosity, I’m good with that too.

Look at this plot next to mine. I need to become acquainted with this gardener’s green thumb…