Salmon Sweet Potato, and Arugala...oh my!

Over the past few weeks I have out done myself with the baking. A change needed to made! I decided a savory dinner dish would be my next mixer project. But what to make that 2 vegetarians (well 1 vegetarian, and 1 pseudo vegetarian) can eat? I spent a lot of time trying to decide on a dish (which is nothing new since I have a very hard time making decisions) and finally decided on salmon cakes. Not just any salmon cakes, but salmon cakes that include sweet potatoes!

The recipe seemed easy enough, until I actually tried it. Not that it was hard, but I have come to realize I am not the neatest cook. The only changes I made were that I used oats instead of saltines. And to keep things consistent, I decided to use the same guinea pig as before to try my creation (thank you!)

This recipe brought a few firsts for me. First time poaching fish, first time using my mixer for something other than a sugary dessert, first time cooking a real meal, from scratch, for someone that I actually don't want to give food poisoning to (just kidding, kind of). 
So here it goes... Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes

Lots of the ingredients, not a lot of work space

Poaching salmon for the first time and I will do it more often.

Cooked it perfectly!

Everything in the mixer, ready to go.

My mixer in action! Everything is so much better when mixed with a Kitchen Aid :)

Almost ready to go - olive oil, 3 minutes on each side

Tomato, onion, and garlic topping

The finished product! Salmon cakes with arugula salad.

NOM!

  

 Looks like he is enjoying it!

Success! The salmon cakes were DELICIOUS. The recipe made about 5 cakes. If you are in a hurry, make sure you boil the potato ahead of time. I was a little impatient after a while and decided to nuke mine. Otherwise, the recipe was easy to follow (despite my outburst of "I don't know what I am doing!" amid a cloud of oats). Next time I might need to go back to desserts.





Here we go....

Here goes nothing!

It's April and I am finally getting on top of my 2011 New Year's "goal" of using some creativity as a medium to self-fulfillment. My first attempt, a weekly photoblog, failed miserably after only 3 postings. So I am going for a different route that involves 2 things I enjoy - photography and my new love, the Kitchen Aid Standing Mixer!

My mission: attempt to make 1 thing from "The Mixer Bible" (or something with my yellow beauty) each week, photograph the process and finished product, and post it on here along with why it has to do with my life journey.

I decided to by my Kitchen Aid as a present to myself last weekend. I have always wanted one, and making the purchase made me excited, and gave me reason, to attempt this whole blogging thing again.

Day 1

I love birthdays, so I like to celebrate big. When a special someone was celebrating his big 3-0, I needed to make sure his birthday cake was amazing. So, by request, I attempted to make a double-layer chocolate cake with banana buttercream frosting in the middle, covered in chocolate buttercream and fresh strawberries. The process was messy and challenging, with a few mishaps (cake pans of different sizes, egg shells being dropped in, and falling icing) .

My photography skills on this first one are lacking. I think I was way to excited about using my new mixer!

The banana buttercream was by far the best part of the cake. I was nervous to how it would turn it out, but it was delicious!!

The finished product was beautiful!

If I can brag for just a moment, the cake turned out delicious!! Just look at the approving face of the birthday boy!  

Happy Birthday!!!

Now that the first mess is cleaned up, it's on to the next one!

Better pictures and recipes in the future!!