Baked salmon and New Year's resolutions

Baked mustard salmon

Happy New Year! Back to blogging after fun and crazy holidays (which ended with a day in bed sick from a bug...). At any rate, I'm back with something that I actually made during the holidays that's a perfect healthy meal. Speaking of healthy...(the recipe will follow in a few), I wanted to hit on my New Year's resolutions for 2011. I think my husband stated it perfectly when he said that a New Year's resolution should be three things (I believe the saying is even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while? just kidding - love you honey!) :

1. Something that you want to stop doing;
2. Something that you want to do better; and
3. Something that you want to learn.

While I have many things I'd like to work on this year, I've narrowed down my three things. #1 involves punctuality, or getting off "Chenail time" as I like to call it. #3 is learning to ski...to be continued and #2 involves food. Specifically, introducing more/different healthier foods to my family. I have to admit - we've definitely gotten better. But I've found that a lot of weeks recently (especially when Brett travels) the kids have been eating a lot of scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, etc. for dinner. I'm not looking to eliminate those nights from our life completely. Quite honestly, I need them or I just may go crazy. What I'd like to do is find a balance where we're continually getting good healthy meals (that everyone will eat) and the kids are getting a wide variety of options. I'm afraid of getting stuck in a rut where the only things I'm offering them are "kid friendly" meals. I'm guessing 75% of the time that's all they'll eat (Bodie at least), but I want to keep trying so that I don't end up with a 13-old who eats nothing but Kraft mac and cheese (and I'm guessing 4 boxes at a clip at that age!)

So here goes....

Actually this one is more of an adult meal, but since I made it in 2010 all resolution bets are off. If you have a kid that eats salmon (Adela will take a bite or two) I salute you!

Where this recipe came from
A long long time ago Brett and I were eating at this great restaurant/pub and I had this amazing mustard salmon. The restaurant version was more of a "powdery-mustard" topping, but this one tastes just as good and is super simple to make.

Making the recipe
This takes 3 minutes to prepare and bakes for 20-25 minutes. That's it!

the results
Brett and I love it...in fact, it's generally the only way I make salmon. As I mentioned, Adela will take a bite of it here and there...Bodie won't touch it.

The recipe
3/4 lb salmon fillet (this serves 2, so increase depending on how much you need)
juice of 1 lemon, divided
3-4 tbsp mustard (this time I used a spicy mustard, but any kind you like...wasabi mustard is so good with this!)
1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
2 tbsp butter (I used brummel and brown), melted
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Line a baking sheet with foil, sprayed with cooking spray. Place salmon on baking sheet and squeeze juice of half of the lemon on top. Next, spread on a generous layer of mustard.

Mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and salt and pepper.

Cover the salmon with the breadcrumb mixture and pat down. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on the thickness, or until done. Squeeze the rest of lemon over the top and serve.

*PS...What the "plated-photo" does not show is the kid's leftover mac and cheese Brett and I enjoyed with this dinner. What was that I was saying about my kids eating something other than Kraft mac and cheese?? Here's to 2011! Cheers!