My husband is the best....seriously (Salmon Teriyaki with Cucumbers and White Rice)

Okay so as most of you know, I am FINALLY home in Florida for a WHOLE MONTH!!! I actually came early to surprise my best friend for her birthday, seeing as I had to miss it last year due to being in Hawaii.... I told her I was coming today, when in reality I landed on Monday evening, and surprised her at her college on Tuesday. She was so surprised and it made me so happy! I have been spending this whole week seeing my friends and spending time with my family, and it has been awesome!

A few days before I left, I had to stock up the kitchen with "husband friendly" meals, especially because Cory doesn't really cook. He knows how to cook, he just leaves it to me... So naturally I stocked up on Hamburger Helper (I know right...), chicken breast, and pasta. My amazing husband blew me away the other night by making an amazing meal. He called me and asked me if we had Sherry, and I'm just like, uh why do you need this? He told me his dinner plans and I was literally in utter shock... I know he can do chicken breast and extra meaty spaghetti, but this man decides to make a salmon dish. I was bragging about him to everyone who would listen! I told Cory that he absolutely had to take pictures of his meal (and even the picture he took was really good; man of many hidden talents I guess) and I am so excited to share the recipe with you all, as well as my trip home so far!

Salmon Teriyaki

Ingredients:

~1 c white rice

~2 large cucumbers sliced

~1 green onion chopped

~2 tbsp. distilled white vinegar

~½ c. soy sauce

~1 tbsp. soy sauce

~2 tbsp. sugar

~1 tsp. sugar

~pepper to taste

~½ c. dry sherry or mirin (Japanese rice wine) (He used white wine)

~1 tbsp. honey

~4 salmon steaks

~1 tbsp. Toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Arrange oven rack 4 inches from heat source. Preheat broiler. Cook rice as label directs.

2. In large bowl, combine cucumbers, green onion, vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate.

3. Make teriyaki sauce: In small saucepan, heat sherry, honey, 1/2 cup soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons sugar to boiling on medium-high. Cook 10 minutes or until reduced by half, stirring occasionally.

4. Meanwhile, line 15 1/2" by 10 1/2" jelly-roll pan or broiler pan with foil. Sprinkle salmon with 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to season both sides, and arrange on pan. Broil 4 minutes. Turn salmon over and broil 2 to 3 minutes longer or until just opaque throughout. Divide rice, cucumber salad, and salmon among 4 dinner plates. To serve, spoon teriyaki sauce over salmon and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

As you can tell, this recipe isn't in my words, and I couldn't add any of my little notes like I usually do because I obviously did not make it and I didn't even get to eat it (thanks babe..... :( ) I hope you guys try it, I can not express enough how proud I am of Cory for making this, now he just needs to make it for me. I will add that Cory said he thinks he added too much pepper, and it was a little spicy (he doesn't like spicy things) so just add the pepper to taste.

Anyways, more about my first week back home! I have been trying to see as many people as I can and spend as much time with my family as I can. I have so much time to make up for. I finally started running again (probably sooner than I should, as my ankle is still swollen), and I am so thankful to have my dad and one of my best friends, Hailey to run with me again!! I can't wait to cook for my friends and family, and show them how much I have improved since the last time I had made dinner for them all. I will keep you guys updated on my trip home, so stay tuned!

~S

Mom, Tyler, and I

Hailey and I

Hailey, Dad, Cindy, and I

Amy and I

Circle B Bar Reserve