Asian Sesame Salmon - and Mommy's Secret Helper

Come September, I think just about every mom is ready for a bit of peace.  While summer may have been absolutely fabulous with no alarms to wake up to, a bit of travel, a few days lounging by the pool, and no strict schedules, I know the thought of a day all to myself with the kids back to school and my husband back to work sounded like a little slice of heaven.

I had grandiose ideas of planning healthy, well rounded meals, leisurely shopping at midweek Farmer's Markets, and our family sitting together around the table enjoying a fabulous dinner created by me.  Sketching out the menu would be done as I sipped my morning coffee, then I'd toss the breakfast dishes into the dishwasher and fold up the last of that laundry.  There would be time for the gym, walking the pups, and with all of my organization, perhaps even a lounge in the sun with one of the magazine from my every growing unread stack.

This is about the point where all of those fantasies fell apart...  Enter my driving schedule which has me on the road multiple times a day, never driving very far, but the mere fact that I'm jumping behind the wheel every few hours to deliver some child to some new destination interrupts my organization and takes time.

Add to that, the fact that my husband has been on vacation for some 19 days (having him home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no schedule at all...), and I have even less of an organized life.  Yes, we've had time for a few lunches together and we've walked the dogs along the beach, but by the time those two activities are done it's time for me to jump back in the car for school pick up and I still haven't planned dinner.

As the kids arrive home from school hungry and with only a short time before they need head back out the door, I needed something quick, easy, and on the table in a flash.

Here is where I am thankful to be a part of DailyBuzz Food's Tastemaker Program.  With an offer in my email box to try McCormick's Recipe Inspirations, I hit "reply" within mere seconds as my subconscious begged for meal-prep help.  Within days a box arrived on my doorstep hefting some 10 samples of McCormick's Asian Sesame Salmon Inspiration packages.

Salmon, always a favorite with our family, is a staple in my freezer and just happened to be thawing as the box of seasonings arrived after school.  Seizing an Inspiration Package I whipped up the handy recipe on the back in less than 3 minutes, placed the thawed salmon into the glaze, and popped the fish into the oven.  Setting rice on the stove to boil and tossing together a quick salad, I was looking like a hero with dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.

Pre-measured portions of spices, sesame seeds, and dried garlic and onions bring wholesome, real ingredients (with no added sodium) to the recipe while combining with a few additional commonly stocked items in your pantry.  Honey, soy sauce and freshly sliced green onions finished off the recipe, and served with the rice and salad, a healthy meal set the kids on their way for the evening activities.

Thanks DailyBuzz Food and McCormick for making me shine like a superstar.  Oh, and please accept my apologies for not mentioning to the family that it was really you that made the fish so good...

Asian Sesame Salmon - McCormick's Recipe Inspirations
From the back of the Inspiration package:

1 package Asian Sesame Salmon Recipe Inspirations including:
     2 Tsp McCormick Gourmet Collection Toaste Sesame Seeds
     1 tsp McCormick Minced Garlic
     1 tsp McCormick Minced Onions
     3/4 tsp McCormick Ground Ginger
     1/2 tsp McCormick Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
2 Tbs soy sauce
2 lbs salmon fillets

1.  Mix honey, green onions, soy sauce and all of the spices except the red pepper in a small bowl until well blended.  Stir in the crushed red pepper to taste, if desired.  Place salmon in a 13x9-inch baking dish.  Spoon honey mixture evenly over salmon.

2.  Roast salmon in preheated 375º oven for about 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork, basting occasionally with the honey mixture.

Serve!

Liv Life's Grilled Asian Sesame Salmon featuring McCormick's Recipe Inspirations
My family found McCormick's recipe to be a bit sweet for our tastes, but with a little tweaking and a splash of lime, our savory version has become a family favorite.

1 package Asian Sesame Salmon Recipe Inspirations including:
     2 Tsp McCormick Gourmet Collection Toaste Sesame Seeds
     1 tsp McCormick Minced Garlic
     1 tsp McCormick Minced Onions
     3/4 tsp McCormick Ground Ginger
     1/2 tsp McCormick Crushed Red Pepper (optional)
1 Tbs sesame oil
1 - 2 Tbs freshly squeezed lime juice
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs honey
sliced scallions for garnish

Heat gas grill to medium/high heat.

Mix sesame oil, lime juice, soy sauce, honey and all of the spices except the red pepper in a small bowl until well blended.  Stir in the crushed red pepper to taste, if desired.  Place salmon in a 13x9-inch baking dish.  Spoon honey mixture evenly over salmon.

Allow salmon to marinate for 15-20 minutes.  Place salmon, skin side down, onto the pre-heated grill and reduce heat to medium.  Depending on the thickness of your fish, cover and grill for 4-6 minutes.

Sliding a spatula carefully between the fish and the skin, remove the fish (leaving the skin on the grill) and flip.  Grill about 1 minute more and remove from grill.  (At this point I usually heat my grill to high for about 15 minutes to burn off the salmon skin, then clean).

Serve over a bed of rice, garnishing with the freshly slice green onions if desired.

Enjoy.

Thanks McCormick!!