Quick and Easy Broccoli Soup

I’m not feeling so hot today and, despite the heat, I really wanted something warm and packed with good stuff for lunch. The soups I had on hand were just not doing it for me…and all I could think about was broccoli soup. Considering I wasn’t going out and was hungry NOW, I decided to make up a quick and easy broccoli soup recipe.

• 1 12 oz. bag of frozen, steam in the bag broccoli florets (I like Birds Eye)
• half of a yellow onion loosely chopped
• 1 cup of chicken stock (I used one Pacific Natural Foods 8 oz carton)
• Salt/pepper
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon ground flax
• shredded mozzarella cheese to taste
• dash of paprika to finish

This takes about 10 minutes total, maybe less. This recipe serves two.

Put broccoli in microwave for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop onion and add to a teaspoon of hot olive oil in heavy bottomed pot. Salt and pepper the onion while it cooks until soft. Once soft, add the stock, yogurt, chia seeds, flax and stir. The broccoli will finish right about then. Tear open the bag and add it to the pot, liquids and all. Turn off the heat. With a hand blender, turning the pot at an angle, puree the mixture until blended to your desired consistency. I don’t mind a little bit of chunk so this went very quickly for me. Dish it into bowls and then top with the mozzarella and paprika. Very satisfying, healthy and it took about as much time as it would take to make a sandwich.

Mom’s Salmon

On Tuesday I made my “mom’s” salmon (she surely got it someplace fabulous but I don’t know the source) and it was easy and delish (and pleased my very picky with fish hubs):

• skin on salmon filets (I cooked for 4 adults with some leftovers…so almost 3 lbs)
• 1 cup finely chopped parsley
• zest of 3 lemons
• 1/2 cup panko/breadcrumbs
• 2 teaspoon ground flaxseed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons whole grain dijon
• vegetable oil

First, preheat oven to 425. In a bowl mix panko, parsley, zest, salt/pepper. Drizzle mixture with oil until it is soft and combining. Heat vegetable oil in ovenproof pan (I had enough salmon that I had to use two pans — my cast iron and my stainless steel frying pan). With skin side down on a plate or cutting board, brush the salmon flesh thickly with mustard and then pat mixture on top (mine ended up about 1/2″ thick). Sear skin on the stovetop for about 3 minutes on med/high heat. Then put the pan in oven (being careful not the spill the oil) on a higher rack for 5-7 minutes (my salmon took a bit longer to cook but my oven SUCKS).

I sided it with sauteed brussels (with balsamic and white onion) and broccoli with parm, and all of the above covered with some toasted pine nuts.

No picture on this one (I stupidly deleted it) but let me tell you….it was GORGEOUS!