Happy Birthday, Lemon Pantry!

This week Lemon Pantry officially turns one year old!  I just wanted to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has read, commented, shared, cooked and tasted any of my posts.  Your support has made continuing this project that I thoroughly love that much easier.  I can't wait to see where this creative outlet will lead!  While the majority of my posts are and will likely continue to be recipes, I've had fun with some of the alternative posts such as my 2014 Reading List or DIY posts.

So thank you all again!  Let's see where the next year takes us!  Happy, healthy cooking!

XOXO,

Ali 

Grilled Fruit with Balsamic Reduction

If you haven't tried grilling fruit yet this season, put it on your Summer Goals List pronto.  Typically, I simply grill the fruit on a lightly greased grill and serve it plain since the sweet flavors are perfection as is but for the blog I thought I'd amp it up just a tad.  

The balsamic reduction was actually very easy to make but it does require a close eye.  Once finished, it adds a slightly tart but sweet flavor and the saltiness from the feta compliments the fruit nicely.  Some of my favorite fruits to grill are pineapple, watermelon and mango but get creative!  If I was a huge nerd I might say, "If you can dream it, you can grill it!" but I'll refrain.

Hope you all are having a lovely summer!  See you back here soon!

Grilled Fruit with Balsamic Reduction
by Ali Caron, RD
Serves 2-4

Ingredients:
3-4 cups cubed fruit (such as mango, watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe or pineapple)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup feta cheese crumbles

Directions: Prep grill by cleaning and wiping lightly with a olive oil on a paper towel.  Allow grill to come to medium heat.  If using wooden skewers, soak in water for several minutes.  Place fruit onto skewers, alternating types.  Grill for about 10 minutes total, rotating about five minutes in.
Place on serving dish and drizzle the balsamic reduction and sprinkle with feta cheese.  Enjoy immediately.


Balsamic Reduction:  Heat 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar over low-medium heat for about 25-30 minutes.  Stir every few minutes until reduction starts to thicken and resemble syrup.  Watch very closely towards the last 10 minutes.







Nutrition Facts: 121 Calories, 2g Fat, 22g Carbohydrates, 3g Protein, 2.5g Fiber, 113mg Sodium, 114mg Potassium

Easy Avocado Pasta

This dish is creamy, delicious and so, so easy to make.  Need I say any more?  Okay, I will!  It's also low in salt, sugar and a good source of Vitamin C, poly- and monounsaturated fats.  The avocado sauce works well on pasta, fish and I am looking forward to trying it on "zoodles", or zucchini noodles, too.  You can bulk up this into a one dish meal too, by tossing in some cooked chicken or shrimp.  Add this to your list of quick, go-to meals for after work that your whole family will likely love.

Easy Avocado Pasta
by Ali Caron, RD
Serves 2

Ingredients:
4 oz cooked pasta
1 avocado
1-2 cloves garlic
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
Approximately 1 tablespoon pasta water or olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:  Prepare pasta according to packaging.  Cut avocado in half, remove pit and scoop into a food processor or blender with a spoon.  Add garlic, olive oil or pasta water, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, adding additional oil or water until desired consistency.
Place pasta in a bowl with avocado sauce and toss with tongs until pasta is evenly coated.  Serve immediately.
Optional: Add cooked chicken or shrimp to dish.

Nutrition Facts: 371 Calories, 21g Fat, 40g Carbohydrate, 8g Protein, 7g Fiber, 21mg Sodium, 596mg Potassium

Lemon Pantry DIY: Wedding Emergency Kit

It's wedding season!  I was recently the Maid of Honor for my friends Mary and Chris' wedding and as a first time MOH, I wanted to do thing right.  Bridal Shower - Check. Bachelorette Party - Check.  For the day of, I wanted to be ready and then some.  I scoured Pinterest and even considered buying a  Shemergency Kit for $35.00.  The result is my list of must haves for the day, for less than $35.00!
After pulling some inventory of what I had already and a quick trip to grab a few remaining items, I came up with a list of items that were travel size and possibly necessary on Mary's big day.  I kept these in a blue makeup bag while we got ready and then pulled a few items to keep in my clutch for the reception along with lipstick and lip liner in her color.  Along with the other bridesmaids, I was able to quickly address any need that came up so we all could get back to enjoying the fabulous party.
Hope you all have a safe and happy Fourth of July!  See you back here soon!






















Wedding Emergency Kit
First Aid kit
Listerine
Gum
Eye Drops
Paper Clip
Lotion
Safety Pins
Earring Backs
Tums
Advil
Deodorant
Concealer
Hairspray
Floss
Tampon
Makeup Wipes
Q-Tips
Tissues

Lemon Pantry DIY: Furniture Rehab

Hello again! I thought I'd try something different in the upcoming weeks.  Since the weather is finally warm enough to enjoy being outside I have a couple DIY posts coming your way! 
This week I've been enjoying the fruits of my labor on a dresser I found.  I liked this particular dresser because of the size and the drawers are slam-proof.  I got a great deal on it but didn't love the yellow/tan stain that was on it.  I currently have a vanity and bedside table that are stained white with some distressed, antique-y vibes so I decided to try my best and match them. 

I took pictures of my beside table and brought it to my local unfinished furniture store.  After a couple questions the gentleman there kindly directed me on what materials to use and walked me step-by-step through the process.  I think he could tell I was a newb. 
I ended up with a quart of "Snow White" waterbased paint (my recent obsession with Once Upon a Time was tickled) and a pint of "Vandyke Brown" waterbased glaze, both from General Finishes.
I also made a stop into Wal-Mart for some denatured alcohol, a paint brush and some water based polyurethane to help protect my dresser without it yellowing over the years.

First, I washed the dresser with a mixture of water and the denatured alcohol.  Next, up I sanded the entire thing.  I started out with sandpaper but soon moved to a sander to speed things up.

After wiping the dresser down, I began the first of 3 coats of Snow White paint.  Each layer took 2-4 hours to dry. 

Next up, was the more intricate part.  I watched a few YouTube videos for help and used the advice from the furniture guy to help me get the exact look I was going for.  Eventually, I ended up with a method that worked for me.  1) Paint a small section of the dresser with the brown glaze.  2) Wipe away excess with a damp cloth.  3) Go over with a dry paper towel to achieve a lighter glaze in some areas. 

Once the glaze was completely dry and looking the way I wanted, I worked quickly to apply a thin coat of the water based poly. 

Finally, I purchased some new knobs for each drawer and screwed them in. 

Materials:
1 large bucket
1 or 2 cloths
1 quart denatured alcohol (plus equal parts water)
Sandpaper
2 inch paint brush
3 inch paint brush
1 quart Snow White water based paint (General Finishes)
1 pint Vandyke Brown water based glaze (General Finishes)
8oz water based polyurethane (I used clear satin)

Pear and Fig Pizza Appetizer

Hope you all had a great weekend!  I went for a nice hike with my mom and dog, refurnished a new dresser I bought and enjoyed some R&R around the house between coats of paint.  After our hike on Saturday morning my mom and I stopped at the Blue Hill Co-Op as usual and they had some beautiful fresh figs for sale.  Now, figs can be pretty pricey, and by that I mean these were 15 dollars a pound(!).  You'll be happy to know this recipe only calls for 3 figs which comes in around a couple bucks and the flavor they add is totally worth it.
I made a recipe similar to this one a few years ago but since figs weren't in season at the time, I settled for fig jam and used it as the sauce for this "pizza".  Fig jam is a much more economical way to make this pizza but keep in mind it also is much sweeter. 
This recipe makes a great appetizer that is really easy to prepare.  You can cut it into rectangles or into triangles to serve.  Or if you're like me you can enjoy a whole one for yourself with a glass of wine and an episode of Will & Grace after a long day of furniture rehab. 
Have a great rest of the week!  See you back here soon!

Pear and Fig Pizza Appetizer
by Ali Caron, RD
Serves 4

Ingredients:
2 peices Naan bread
3 fresh figs, sliced
1 pear, sliced
1 cup arugula
1 oz goat cheese
1/2 Tablespoon olive oil

Directions:  Preheat oven to 375 degrees Farenheit.  Place naan on pizza stone or baking sheet.  Place half the arugula in a layer on each peice of naan.  Arrange pear and fig slices on top of the arugula.  Using your fingers, break up the goat cheese and sprinkle it on top of the fruit.  Drizzle olive oil over each pizza and place in the oven for about 10 minutes or until goat cheese just starts to brown.  Let cool slightly and slice into strips or triangles. 

Nutrition Facts: 224 Calories, 6g Fat, 36.7g Carbohydrates, 7g Protein, 3.6g Fiber, 168mg Sodium, 159mg Potassium

Salmon Cakes with Old Bay Sauce

So, I have a routine where I buy two pieces of salmon and grill them on Monday, eat one and have the other for dinner on Tuesday.  It's been a good routine, and a delicious one I may add, but after several months I've started to crave a little variety.  On a whim this week I decided to make some salmon cakes (or salmon burgers).  It may have had something to do with the crab cakes they were serving in the cafeteria at work which sound good but aren't all that healthy (or tasty if we're being honest.)
My version is lighter and pan fried in just a bit of olive oil.  Serve them with a side of Greek yogurt mixed with Old Bay seasoning or on top of a salad and you have a perfect ten minute dish for summer!

Salmon Cakes with Old Bay Sauce
by Ali Caron, RD
Serves 1-2

Ingredients:
100% olive oil spray
5oz salmon, cooked
1/3 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 Tablespoons 2% plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon lemon juice (plus wedges for serving)

1/4 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

Directions:
Heat non-stick spray or olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat.  In a small bowl, combine salmon, breadcrumbs, yogurt, lemon juice and seasonings with a fork.  Using your hands, make two patties from the mixture and place in saute pan.  Cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown.  Meanwhile, mix together remaining yogurt and Old Bay seasoning.  Serve each salmon cake with about a tablespoon of Old Bay sauce and a wedge of lemon.

Nutrition Facts: (for 1/2 recipe) 381 Calories, 13.5g Fat, 26g Carbohydrate, 40.5g Protein, 2.8g Fiber, 921mg Sodium, 568mg Potassium