Yummy Stuffed Salmon :-)

So I made this dinner a few weeks ago for a date, and the food was good, well what we could eat of it, but I learned a few things while cooking it. Like never broil salmon in a glass pan, because the pan will shatter if you do.
Its not like I intended to burst the glass pan, but the directions said only to heat the oven to 400, which I know glass can handle. So we were baking it or whatever, and my date was getting impatient, since it was taking a while for it to cook, and decided to turn the heat up to broil and let it set for another 5 minutes or so like that. As he went to take it out, the pan shattered in his hands. Thankfully neither one of us was hurt, but there was definitely glass all over the kitchen, and in the stove. Not fun to clean up. So we ended up eating what we were able to salvage from the pan, which wasn't a lot, rice pilaf and a salad. It was an experience, and definitely a dish that I will cook again, I've cooked stuffed chicken, and this was my first attempt at salmon, so I'd say it was a fail. LOL. I'll let you know when I cook it again, and how it comes out.


What you need:
2 (5 ounce) salmon fillets
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
1/2 (10 ounce) package baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon prepared pesto
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 1/2 teaspoons pine nuts




Directions (best on a gas oven)
-Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
-Make a slit two-thirds of the way through the center of each salmon fillet making sure not to cut all the way through.
-Season each fillet with the salt and pepper.
-In a bowl, combine the spinach, pesto, tomatoes, and pine nuts.
-Spoon 1/3 cup of the mixture into each slit.
-Arrange the fillets on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray.
-Roast for 8 to 10 minutes or until the spinach mixture is heated through.

Melt in your mouth brownies by Mrs Karla Stephens :)

So I admit, I "borrowed" this recipe from one of my good friends Karla. She has her own blog on here, and is actually another one of the many inspirations to why I started my own. If you're looking for some amazing recipes, and want to see the most adorable All American Family, definitely read her blog. She is extremely talented, and I love reading about her family and trying her recipes. And I would challenge anyone to find a child that is more adorable than her two precious girls. So on to the recipe, and I would post pictures, but I haven't gotten around to uploading any yet. The first recipe is the one that she does, and the second part will be my modifications, so try either one. The second one I will warn you is a lot more fattening....

What you will need:

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs *3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 bag of chocolate chips (to taste - I used about 1/2 a bag - for the original recipe)
*Fudge frosting

*for the modified version

Directions:

Melt butter.
Stir in sugar, egg and vanilla. Beat in cocoa powder, flour, salt and baking powder.
Stir in chocolate chips
Spread into pre-greased pan. (I used a 9x13 glass, but if you want nice thick brownies you should use a 9x9)
Bake about 30-35 minutes at 350, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.



So those are the Original, and trust me, as she calls them, they are Melt in your Mouth (SERIOUSLY) brownies. But, here's my twist to it. For a fluffier brownie, you add 1 more egg. After you bake them let them cool for about 15 minutes. Take the fudge frosting and coat the brownies in it. It makes it feel like a Brownie Cake. After the frosting, add the rest of the chocolate chips for even more of a chocolatey taste. You can leave them out, I've made them with the extra and without, its your choice. Make sure you have a tall glass of cold milk to drink with them because they are super yummy, and super chocolatey :) Enjoy!!!! If you like them, tell Karla, because I borrowed this from her :)