His and Hers Salmon

There are times in a relationship, when no matter how well you communicate, you just can't come to an agreement. There are times when, even though it will win you martyr points, you don't feel like you can compromise. Here is a story of such an occasion, but this time it has a happy ending.

You see, last Tuesday my wife and I decided to make salmon for dinner. When discussing how it should be prepared, we couldn't reach an agreement. Fortunately for us, the recipes were simple enough that we could split the fillet in half and make both.

Here are two simple recipes for enjoying salmon:

His : Maple Soy Salmon
with Maple Soy soaked rice... yum!

Combine ingredients, bring to a boil until it just starts to thicken. Brush onto salmon to coat, pour the remainder of the glaze over medium grain white rice. Bake the fish at 425. Break up fish into pieces and serve 'His Style' in bowl over sauced rice with chopsticks.

• 1/2 cup maple syrup


• 1/4 cup soy sauce


• 2 cloves crushed garlic

Hers: Sweet and Spicy Rubbed Salmon

First referenced April 2008

Brush salmon with olive oil. Combine equal parts chili powder and brown sugar. Rub over salmon. Bake at 425. Serve over medium grain white rice.

• olive oil


• chili powder


• brown sugar

Hopefully this tip will serve you well the next time you have a disagreement about how to prepare the salmon...

When Not To Cut Corners

Food shopping is full of trade-offs. Take for example the cheaper, generic, supermarket-version of pretty much every item in the store. What makes the name brand of flour any better than the Stop&Shop brand? Why would I spend more money on something that I really know nothing about? I have no idea, but I do.

Aside from the name brand vs. generic dilemma, there are other situations where I decide when not to cut corners. Given that I don't have the money to feed my family of five all the top-of-the line groceries they deserve, there are still two specific instances where I will drop some cash: maple syrup and parmesan cheese.

I always buy 100% pure maple syrup, never the more popular brands like Aunt Jemima. If any of you have ever priced out pure maple syrup in the supermarket, you know that this is not a small sacrifice. It's pricey! Still, it's worth it.

Another place I've learned not to skimp is with parmesan cheese. I always buy a fresh block and keep it wrapped in saran wrap in the fridge. Whenever I want to use it, I grate it. Once you've experienced this, you'll never go back to that funny green cylinder again. It's well worth the price -- and the effort of grating.

What items are worth the extra mile for you?