Mini Dinner Party! Friday my bff from Ottawa, who now lives in TO, came over for dinner. She’s a pescatarian (doesn’t eat meat but enjoys fish on occasion) which is great because I love an excuse to cook fish. I opted for a blackened salmon, broccoli and rice with an avocado, cilantro, lime cream. I found this recipe for the salmon on Pinterest.

http://whatsfordinner-momwhatsfordinner.blogspot.ca/2012/10/blackened-salmon.html
Before I get to the rest of this dish I should mention that I bought a cast iron pan! I bought the “Lodge” brand because it’s affordable and came highly recommended. You can spend a fortune on cast iron pans but this puppy only set me back $35. Make sure they give you instructions when you buy one and READ them. You don’t want to ruin your brand new pan by soaking it in soapy water.

I cooked some long grain white rice that turned out perfectly. I always seem to have trouble with rice but this stuff was bang on. I added a splash of avocado oil, sliced green onion and salt and pepper to it for extra kick. The avocado cream was super simple too. Blend 1 avocado, couple large scoops of plain yogurt, juice of 1 lime or half lemon, kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder and small handful of cilantro. Again, the cilantro is optional but I find it very mild in this. Pour over your salmon and enjoy! I think this is the first time I’ve made blackened anything and I want to make it again and again. The avocado cream cuts the spiciness of the salmon and adds flavour to the rice. We paired this with a lovely sauvignon blanc called “Waka Waka”. It’s affordable at $11.95 and quite nice.