Salmon Foil Packets

When Bryan and I were in college, I was still a novice at cooking. I had seen my fair share of cooking shows, but I still had fears of cooking. But in an effort to impress my then boyfriend, I decided to try out this whole cooking thing.

One of the first recipes I made for him was salmon foil packets. I recently recreated the dish I made from our first Valentine's Day. Fish, lemon and asparagus, just in time for spring. 

Salmon Foil Packets with Lemon and Asparagus

1 lb salmon filet, sliced into 3 filets

2 lemons, sliced into wheels

1 lb asparagus

2 tbsp olive oil

Salt and pepper

Lay aluminum foil on a flat surface. Spray foil with cooking oil. Lay one filet on foil. Add asparagus spears and lemon wheels and drizzle with olive oil and add salt and pepper. Wrap into a packet by lifting foil above salmon. Fold over top and fold over sides. Place in 350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until salmon is cooked. 

Sorry no pictures of end result, too hungry.

Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan

Thanksgiving in Sacramento

I'll be brief, not only because I'm about a month late on this post, but because I'm running out of time. Sometimes you just need weekend with your girls. I keep telling myself that I'm going to move out west to be closer to them, but life keeps getting in the way. But sometimes, life lets you remember what you're missing out on.

I flew to Sacramento on Thanksgiving day. I give thanks to all of my loved ones, including the ones that hosted me during my favorite holiday. There isn't much to document: a few laughs here, a could of stories there. But there is something about spending time with old friends that get you, that makes you realize how much you've been missing. 

Bunny book and Nana

Baggage claim, is hilarious in SMF

Bestie and me, and her dad in the background

Thanksgiving dinner

My contribution

Old high school girls! I miss them so much

My undoing

Hangover cure, blue dressing fries

Getting ready to go out again

90's cover band time

Back in the airplane

Familiar sight: O'Hare at Christmas

Thank you to all my lovelies to hosted me and took care of me during my unfortunate trip back to my younger years. I can never forgive myself. 

-Akemi

New Years in Chicago

It's the new year, 2016. So many things happened in 2015 that it's hard to keep them all straight. We changed jobs, lost loved ones, had many adventures and lots of eat. Our last moments of 2015 (and the first of 2016) were spent in the Lincoln Square district of Chicago with our good friends from U of I. Most of it was drinking and talking, but there were a few pictures too. 

Dinner at The Bad Apple

Fried cheese curds, cuz we're in the Midwest

Quinoa salad

Charcuterie plate

Shawn and our bubbly

Board games and bubbly YAY!

Cordelia and my Goof

Ringing in the New Year at Gannon's Pub

Guiness, Champagne and Jameson.... death

The next morning at Monty Gael's, with my hangover juice 

Chicken and waffles with cherries and marscapone... yum

Happy 2016 everyone. It;s going to be a good year, I can feel it. 

-Akemi-chan

St Patrick's Day: Buttercream for Lucky Charm Cupcakes

Happy St Patrick's day! I didn't drink today, trying to be a responsible adult and limit my drinking. But it doesn't mean I can't have fun. Cupcakes anyone? 

The cake mix was okay, but the buttercream frosting came out amazing. Top with Lucky Charms cereal and we got a mini celebration. 

Buttercream Frosting:

1 cup softened butter, room temperature

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

5 tbsp heavy whipping cream

4 cups powdered sugar

In a stand mixer, of in a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream butter with vanilla extract and salt. Add whipping cream and mix slowly. Add powdered sugar in 8 parts while mixing. Whip until smooth. 

I scooped the frosting into a zip top bag and cut off one of the bottom corners. Makeshift piping bag! Pipe onto cupcakes and top with Lucky Charms cereal. Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan

January/ February Randoms

I'm over Winter. When will the warmth come? I'm trying to keep spirits up, and honestly we've had a couple of days of sunny and 60 degrees, which I am grateful for. But I can't wait for continuous sunshine.

We're currently training for the Illinois Marathon 5k. I know to some people a 5k seems like a piece of cake, but this will be my first official run. I'm proud of the progress we've been making and training and conditioning has given me something to look forward to every week. Plus it helps me keep track of my food consumption, which we all know about my monster appetite. 

Here are some random pictures from the first two months of the year. Enjoy!

Pulled pork toast with fried egg and salsa verde

Matching my baby

Roasted root veggies: radishes, carrots and fennel

Bone broth, yum

Yeah I ate pie with Doritos and wine. Sorry not sorry

Steak sandwiches

Grease fruit and bacon egg bowls for breakfast

Snow bing, coffee and macaron for scrabble date night

Shrimp spaghetti with tomato basil sauce

Frozen lake and Crystal Lake Park

Witches hats, I ate like five

More snow bing

Meat and cheese from Pizza Antica

Getting fancy at Art Party Studio

60 degrees and drinking outside in shorts. So Midwest

Soon it will be Spring and I'll head home for a week and run a 5k. Many things to look forward to, including my last birthday as a 20-something year old. Eekkkk!

-Akemi-chan