Sesame Seared Tuna

One of our favorite special occasion dinners is this Sesame Seared Tuna.  It seriously competes with anything that you might order at a fine dining restaurant but for a fraction of the cost.

1/4 c Bragg's Liquid Amino's
1 T mirin or white wine
1 T honey or coconut nectar
2 T sesame oil
1 T rice wine vinegar or rice vinegar with an additional 1 tsp sugar
4 tuna steaks approx 6 oz a piece
1/2 c sesame seeds
gf wasabi paste
1 T olive oil

Combine soy sauce, mirin, hone and sesame oil.  Divide into two equal parts.  Stir in rice wine vinegar into one to make the dipping sauce.  Set aside for serving.

Pat the tuna steaks dry with a paper towel.  Spread sesame seed on a plate.  Coat the tuna steaks with the other soy sauce mixture.  Press each steak into the seeds and set aside.

In preheated cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over high heat until almost smoking.  Turn heat down.  Immediately place tuna in skillet and sear for 30 seconds per side.

Slice thinly.  Serve with dipping sauce and wasabi paste.

Mustard BBQ Sauce

1/2 c Dijon mustard
2 T honey or coconut nectar
1 T brown sugar
3 T rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1 t Bragg's Liquid Aminos
Dash of Tabasco Sauce to taste
1/4 t salt
1/4 t ground pepper

Whisk together in bowl.  Store in airtight container in refrigerator between 1 hour and 24 hours.  Remember the longer a sauce rests, the better the flavors blend.  Bring to room temperature before using.

I use this sauce for either chicken or salmon although beef, pork or shrimp would also taste good.  I will either grill under the broiler or on the grill.  Both are delicious!  When grilling or broiling, continue to brush the chicken or salmon with the sauce every few minutes.  Serve with some sauce on the side.

Banana Almond Smoothie

1 large ripe banana
1 c almond milk
1 c ice cubes
1 T honey
1/2 tsp vanilla

Blend in blender until smooth.

Cranberry Pork Chops

4 pork chops
1-2 T olive oil
1/3 c dry red wine (can also use balsamic vinegar)
1/2 c honey
1 c fresh cranberries

Trim pork chops of excess fat.  Pat dry and set aside.  Mix red wine and honey completely.  Preheat skillet for 30 seconds before adding olive oil.  Heat oil for 30 seconds.  Add pork chops. Cook pork chops UNTIL 1 minutes after the juices begin appearing on top of the meat.  Turn pork chops over.  Add liquid and cranberries.  Bring mixture to a boil.  Cook for 1 minute when cranberries begin popping.  Remove from pan and serve.

NOTES:

Serve with a green salad or another green veggie as well as quinoa.

Lemon Ginger Chicken Thighs

From Better Homes and Gardens, September 2010
35 minute cook time

1 lemon
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp Bragg's Liquid Aminos
8 chicken thighs, bone in
2 tsp vegetable oil
sliced green onions and lemon wedges (optional)

(1) Finely shred peel from lemon and juice lemon.  In bowl combine the lemon peel, ginger, and salt.  In another bowl combine lemon juice, honey soy sauce, and water.

(2) Rub lemon peel mixture under the skin of the chicken thighs.  In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.  Place chicken, skin down, in the hot oil.  Cook 7 minutes or until well-browned; turn chicken and add lemon juice mixture.  Reduce heat; cover and cook 14 to 18 minutes longer or until no pink remains (180 degrees).

(3) Transfer chicken to plates.  Skim fat from pan juices, if desired.  Drizzle chicken with some of the pan juices.  Top with green onion and serve with lemon wedges.

Serves 4.

Notes: 

(1) I freeze my ginger as I cannot use it fast enough.  When I need fresh ginger, I just take the ginger out of the freezer and grate it with the peel.  A nice rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon = 1 inch of the ginger root.

(2) I used some Bragg's Liquid Aminos.  The main ingredient is non-GMO soy sauce which did not effect my daughter negatively.  Be very careful if you are allergic to soy.  I am not endorsing that you use this.  I am just saying that it worked for us.