The Emerald Foodie Gal : Parchment Poached Salmon Pouches

The good thing about today is I do not have to work. Since my company runs with the educational system, we get school holidays off. So, that being said, Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I thought that working from home would get better. It's not. It still is difficult waking up at 5:00am/5:30am to work. Tonight I made Simply Gourmet's Parchment Poached Salmon Pouches.

Anyways, I made some goals for 2015. I'm excited to accomplish them.

1. No Excuses -

I have a gym in my apartment complex, I can work out 6 times a week. I have been doing pretty good on this one.

2. Make new friends -

I don't know a lot of people out in Seattle. I want to get to know some people so I can hang out with them ever so often.

3. Stay Connected -

I miss my friends and family back in Michigan and want to try and make an effort to stay in touch.

4. Explore Seattle -

This is a brand new city and I want to explore it.

5. Leave town with no plan -

because...why not? It would be fun to be adventurous for a day!

6. Hike to a sunset or sunrise viewpoint -

I think it'd be beautiful to see the sunset or sunrise near the ocean.

7. Learn how to clean a fish -

I want to up my cooking game. Since I'm in the pacific northwest, might as well learn how to clean a fish!

8. Cook a lobster -

Again, something I have always wanted to try at least once. I think it might be hard to kill a live lobster but I'm willing to learn how to do it.

9. Make more time for ME -

I think the past couple of years I have been lacking on this. I need to put myself as a priority. My health, my happiness comes first. Then those I care about.

10. Eliminate my undergraduate student loans -

I AM SO CLOSE! CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THESE ARE DONE.
11. Get back into soccer
I haven't played in a long time and I think it'd be a good way to get to know people. Might check out some of the open leagues in the summer. We'll see though.

Yesterday, the Seawhawks game was crazy! I watched some of the game and we were sucking SO bad. Then it was a complete turn around! People ask me if I am a Seahawks fan. I like watching them play but I wouldn't say I'm a football fan. I guess, I'm a Seattle fan? I'm fine joining the bandwagon in this instance. I can enjoy watching the games and getting fired up.

Growing up, I just had the Detroit Lions to watch. It was fun during Thanksgiving with my family, but I never got hardcore into it. I guess, I would say, I can see myself being more a Seattle Sounders fan. I know more about soccer than I do football. Either way, I am really excited though to watch the Super Bowl. I've never experienced a Superbowl playoff in the actual city and I think it could be a lot of fun here.

I went and worked out this afternoon and it felt great. I made some cucumber mint detox water.

For dinner, I decided to make some salmon tonight. I've been craving fish and have been wanting to get back into cooking. I think it'll help alleviate the work stress if I cook again. Aside from being at home, cooking is another zen place for me. When I cook, I get in the zone. It's like everything is in slow motion but I'm moving at lightning speed in my Zen mode.

Now, I can't remember how I stumbled across Simply Gourmet's recipe. But I found it again in my recipe binder and thought why the hell not. I want to make some fish and I want to try making something with Blood Oranges. I think it is because at all the grocery stores have blood oranges on display. I guess they're in season now? Did you know that Blood Oranges become a maroon red because they grow at nightly low temperatures? I did not know that and thought it was an interesting tid bit.

Anyways, let's get started!