Smoked Salmon Eggs Florentine & Healthy Hollandaise

Last night we went to a housewarming party where, apparently, a bottle of wine was the price of admission.  Needless to say, this morning was a bit rough.  And the best way to overcome a rough evening is with a hearty breakfast.  No cereal, no fruit cup, no yogurt...you need something much more caloric and hearty.  And this delicious Salmon Florentine is the perfect meal for such an occasion.

Baked Coconut Chicken Nuggets

I've been on a coconut kick!  The use of my leftover coconut milk in my Roasted Root Vegetable & Coconut Milk Soup with Fried Sage inspired me to experiment in new and different ways.  So I decided to take the classic chicken nugget and dress it up a bit.  These babies are a hybrid between coconut shrimp and chicken nuggets, and are definitely a bit hit with the hubs for lunch.  The pup looked pretty envious as well....

roasted root vegetable & coconut milk soup w/ fried sage

Whenever I cook with coconut milk, it seems like I always have a little bit left over.  Not being the biggest coconut fan, I typically only bust it out for Thai recipes or coconut shrimp.  Occasionally I'll use some to make Almond Joy Pancakes or oatmeal, but I usually end up throwing it out.

But today was different!  I thought to myself, "Self, you may not have fish oil or cilantro, but you can do something with this!  Just use what you have lying around....and make soup!"  Go self.

blue cheese mashed cauliflower

My husband loves his mashed potatoes, but I am only a holiday partaker.  Therefore, I often cook up mashed cauliflower to accompany comfort foods.  It's a vegetable serving with the consistency of potatoes, and when seasoned up with blue cheese & topped with green onions, it satisfies even his manly appetite!

Blue Cheese Mashed Cauliflower (2 servings)

• 1 lb cauliflower
• 1 tbs fat free cream cheese
• 1/4 c blue cheese
• 1 tbs fat free milk
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• white pepper & salt to taste
• 2 tbs green onions

Place your cauliflower in a steamer and cook until ready....then cook another 3-4 minutes until very soft. Transfer to a food processor and add remaining ingredients.  Process ingredients together, adding more milk if necessary, until very smooth.  Top with green onions and butter if desired.

Roasted Red Pepper & Blue Cheese Mini Meatloafs

I absolutely love stinky blue cheese.  The smellier, creamier and bluer, the better.  And when I buy blue cheese, the hubs always wants a hamburger.  Beef and blue...the two make such a killer combo, it's almost impossible not to throw them together on a bun.  But once upon a time, I decided to try a different take on the partnership by making meatloaf.  Oh man, good idea.  Generally we make the standard bread pan so there's plenty for leftover sandwiches (soooo good) but we didn't have enough beef for a full recipe.  Hence, muffin tins for fun size meatloafs!  Plus, that way they're so perfectly portioned, and cute to boot.

Strawberry, Brie & Peppered Turkey Panini w/ Grilled Walla Walla Onions

When the hubs and I got married last year, we received a panini press as a wedding gift.  Now, we hadn't registered for one, but bless the guest who thought they knew best, because this thing is rocking!  It is used constantly in this home for sandwiches, veggies and fries.  It's the classy, married version of the undergrad George Forman everyone seems to have.

"Corked" Red Wine Vinegar Reduction

We have had a very bad run of luck in our household.  Three bottles of wine...two days...all corked....in a row!  YIKES.  Needless to say, there are some you can exchange and others you can't.  Everyone has that happen from time to time, and it sucks.