Monkey Marathon Bites (1 Banana Difficulty)

Well, 'this monkey' will be running his first ever marathon in 1 week.  But I am NOT about to tell you that 'anymonkeycan' run a marathon.  Maybe they can, but who am I to say.  After struggling at the end of a couple of the long training runs, I figured out that I need to consume more calories along the run to keep my energy levels up.  I wasn't a big fan of the GU packs, so I thought I'd make up my own marathon snack. 

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:
1 c. Mixed Nuts
2 T Sunflower Seeds
1 Medium Banana
1-2 T Honey
1 T Blackstrap Molasses (optional)
Salt to taste
Graham Crackers
***RECIPE CAN BE DOUBLED OR HALVED AS NEEDED***

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO:

1.  Chop Nuts & Seeds in Food Processor until they are gritty (about 3 min)

2.  Add Banana to Food Processor & Mix until gooey (about 60 sec)

3.  Add Honey & Molasses, Mix until Smooth & Dark Brown

4.  Spread on Graham Crackers, Freeze overnight, then with a Chef's Knife, cut into small pieces

I actually think this tastes really good and have been making sandwiches with it.  Another snack I carry are frozen Clementine wedges.  I will lay the wedges on a small cookie sheet and freeze overnight.  Then right before the run, I place the Clementines and the 'Monkey Marathon Bites' in their own ziplock bags.  Just in case, I still carry 1 pack of GU and an energy bar!

Enjoy!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts - (1 Banana Difficulty)

After speaking about the magic of roasting cauliflower, a friend told me that Roasted Brussels Sprouts were amazing.  Seriously?!  The much maligned Brussels Sprouts also undergo a flavor transformation when roasted?  I guess I have to see it to believe.  Today 'This Monkey' is going to roast up some Brussels Sprouts.  Here's how you do it:

Brussels Sprout Scepter

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED:

1 - "Scepter" of Brussels Sprouts - Try to find 1 where the leaves are compact
3-4 T of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 t of Kosher Salt or to taste

Pre Roast

Black Pepper to Taste

HOW YOU DO IT:

1.  Pre heat Oven to 400 Deg F

2.  Pull off each individual Brussels Sprout

3.  Cut off the ends & remove any yellow outer leaves

4.  Rinse in a colander, pat them dry, place them in a large bowl

5.  Drizzle the Olive Oil & Sprinkle the Salt & Pepper over them

6.  Spread them out on a Roasting/cookie pan

7.  Roast for 35-40 min shaking every so often for equal roasting

Post Roast

8.  Salt & Pepper as needed, then serve

SERVING IDEAS:

1.  Serve as is.  They're Great!
2.  Cut in half, drizzle with Balsamic Vinegar & sprinkle on Cheese
3.  After they cool, quarter them & add them to a pasta salad.

As is

 OTHER THOUGHTS:

The Edamame Orzo Salad came about by accident.  I wanted to make a "Jim's" Corn Salad-Salsa for a Super Bowl party & ran into an Asian Grocery store by my house.  They didn't have regular corn, but they had the Baby Corn & Edamame as well as the Bell Peppers I needed.  The "Jim's" Corn Salad-Salsa had become "AnyMonkey's" Edamame Salad-Salsa.  It was really good, so with the leftovers I added some of the Brussels Sprouts (quartered) & Orzo.  It turned out great!


with Balsamic Vinegar & Cheese



 Well, that about does for today.  Roasting continues to dominate vegetables.  Enjoy and "anymonkeycan" roast some delicious Brussels Sprouts!







Edamame Orzo Salad



Banana Ratings - Recipe Skill Levels

Even though most of the recipes I have posted (and hope to post) follow the mantra of 'good food made easy' some in fact are super easy and some take a little more effort and time.  So, here is the rating system I have devised.  Hopefully it is less confusing than the color scheme the US Government was using for the "Homeland Security Advisory System."  Mine is simply & appropriately 'Going Bananas.'

Gorilla

1 BANANA - The easiest of the easy-  A gorilla can make it.

Baboon

2 BANANAS - Pretty easy-  A Baboon can cook it.

Orangutan

3 BANANAS - Medium-  Your pet Orangutan could prepare the recipe.



Chimpanzee



4 BANANAS - Medium-Hard-  The Skill of a Chimpanzee is what your need.

Rhesus Macaque 

5 BANANAS - Difficult-  Better call in backup from "Sam the NASA Monkey"

Seasoned and Seared Salmon

Cooking fish for the first time is intimidating.  From the kitchen confessional I will admit my first attempt resulted in a small fire in my oven that was quickly contained causing only some charring to the fish. Maybe I used the wrong oil for the recipe or perhaps I thought adding tequila to the marinade was a good idea, but the broiling of the fish resulted in a flambeed, blackened dish!  Anyway...

Salmon is one of the easier fish to cook.  And before you say 'I don't like fish', just keep in mind that there is a myriad of different fish with a multitude of different ways to prepare.  Here's an easy way to make Salmon:

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 lb Salmon Fillets cut into 3-4 pieces*
2-3 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil (half for fish & half for skillet)
1-2 t Kosher Salt
Pepper to Taste
1 T Brown Sugar

*Ask at the fish counter if they can cut up the fillet for you*

WHAT YOU DO:

1.  Place an oven rack to the middle position & Preheat oven to 300 deg
2.  Drizzle each fillet with Olive Oil & Sprinkle with Salt & Pepper
3.  Sprinkle each fillet with Brown Sugar

4.  In a 12 in OVEN SAFE skillet, heat the Olive Oil to Medium High

5.  Place fillets flesh side down in the skillet until well browned (1-2 min)

6.  Carefully flip fillets skin side down and cook for 1 more min.

7.  Remove from Stove Top and place directly in the oven.

**if you do NOT have an oven safe skillet, you will need to move fish into a pyrex dish etc**

8.  Cook until translucent (about 8-10 min)

**about 125 deg F**

WHAT YOU NEED TO REMEMBER:

Salmon continues to cook once removed from the over so err on less time because...

Over-cooked Salmon is NOT good!!

This is a very basic recipe, but it is QUITE good.  Different glazes can be added to the fish before putting the fish into the oven.

SERVING IDEAS:

Serve as is, it's very good.

On top of Cous-Cous or Rice

Seriously, anymonkeycan make "Seasoned & Seared Salmon!"  Enjoy!