Grilled Mustard Salmon with Mashed Potato and Asparagus

Sunday lunch with J. He cooked and I made dessert. He suddenly got an idea to cook for lunch, while I try to fulfill my colleague's dessert crave : mango pudding, but more on that later. As you can see in the title, yes, he made Grilled Mustard Salmon with Mashed Potato and Asparagus. It was pretty easy and somehow it looked wonderful, not to mention healthy :)

Serving for two

Grilled Mustard Salmon with Mashed Potato and Asparagus 

Ingredients (there is no exact proportion, cook according to portion you serve)

Salmon Fillet

Dijon Mustard

Italian Seasoning

Olive Oil

Asparagus

Potato

Butter

Milk

Oregano

Salt and Pepper

1. Prepare for the marinate first : in a small bowl, combine dijon mustard and italian seasoning, enough to cover your salmon. Add salt and black pepper. Cover with cling wrap and leave it in the fridge until you ready to cook.

2. Meanwhile, you can prepare your side, mashed potato. Peel the potatoes and cut in medium size, then pop them in a pot filled with cold salted water. Cook them until soft when you can easily part the potato with fork, about 20mins. When potatoes are done, strain the water and covered the pot with tea towel for 5mins, so it can absorb the steam. 

3. Mashed to potato with masher (or fork), add room temperature butter and milk, combine them well. Season with oregano, salt and pepper to your taste. Mashed potato done. 

4. Preheat your grill skillet, add olive oil. Grill the fish on medium heat until desired doneness. Do not overcook or it will be dry and unpalatable. Salmon is done when it feels firm when pressed gently with the back of fork. If you like your skin crispy, turn the salmon to skin side on the skillet and hold it with spatula for about 2-3mins. 

5. While your salmon is almost done, add asparagus on the side, season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3-4mins, stirring often, until the spears turn bright green. Remove salmon and asparagus from heat. Serve it immediately. 

The best part : crispy salmon skin

Banana Whoopie Pie with Chocolate-Peanut Frosting

At some weekend, J asked me to bake pie. Out of nowhere.

Well, because he's gonna cook for the weekend, I asked him if he want me to bring some dessert. And pie is what he asked for. Why pie? I don't know. Really.

Anyway, and so I search "pie" at Tastespotting and Foodgawker. But another "pie" came out. And I kinda like this "pie" better. You know, with the frosting and the cakies (cake-cookies, yeah I just created that word). I mean, who doesn't like frosting, you just gotta ignore the calories and you're good to go for it. Go. Now.

Wait.

I haven't share the recipe yet. It's from Martha. The Banana Whoopie Pie.

And about the chocolate-peanut frosting, err.. I kinda forget where I got it. Basically, I just put a tablespoon of butter, sugar and a lot of sugar to the chocolate-peanut spread. Mix them together. Done.

Enjoy :)

Side note : I'm thinking to change my header. A lot of ideas in my mind. But I'm not sure which one suit The Butterism. You have an idea?