Two Healthy Practices for the New Year

It’s a new year and time for fresh starts and a renewal of healthy practices.  Here’s an easy, delicious and healthy recipe from Not By Bread Alone, the church cookbook of the Presbyterian Church of Western Springs.

Cook this tonight!  Most of the ingredients are in your pantry already and this one is taste-tested to please both adult and child palates.

Honey-Ginger Grilled Salmon

Serves 4

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp garlic powder

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup orange juice

¼ cup honey

1 scallion, chopped

1.5 pounds salmon filet

In a large self-closing plastic bag, combine the first 6 ingredients and mix well.  Place salmon in bag and seal tightly.  Turn bag gently to distribute the marinade.  Refrigerate at least 15 minutes, turning the bag occasionally to distribute the marinade evenly over the fish.  (You can also prep this several hours ahead and let the fish marinate longer.  It will be delicious and have a stronger marinade flavor.)

If the weather is good and there is no Polar Vortex in sight, you can grill this.  Lightly grease your grill rack and preheat the grill to medium heat.  Remove salmon from the marinade and reserve the marinade.  Grill 12 to 15 minutes per inch of thickness or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.  Brush with reserved marinade during cooking.  Discard leftover marinade.

If the weather isn’t grill-friendly, don’t despair.  Cook it in the oven with spectacular results!  Follow all the prep steps listed above.  Instead of grilling, preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place the salmon on the foil-covered baking sheet.  Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes, just until fish is flaky but still moist.

Suggestion:  Serve with vegetables and white sticky rice (Calrose rice).  Prepare an extra portion of marinade (untouched by any fish) to drizzle on the sticky rice.  Flavorful and delicious.  Plus have we mentioned easy?  Easy is always good during the busy dinner hour.

This recipe is based on the one shared by Jane Norman in the PCWS cookbook Not By Bread Alone.  This cookbook was lovingly prepared by the Presbyterian Women group and includes hundreds of recipes from PCWS members.  Love a good church cookbook?  Copies are for sale in the PCWS office.  Stop in or call for more information.

Besides healthy eating, the new year also brings along renewed commitments to exercise and mindful care of our bodies.  Join us for Holy Yoga Sundays at 4pm and Tuesdays at 9am.  All are welcome and there is no need to register in advance.  Simply drop in and join us!  Bring a yoga mat if you have one; if not one will be provided.  Classes are $10 per session.  Join us for a chance to reflect, renew and refresh body and mind.

Here’s what you need to reach us:

In Person:  5250 Wolf Road in Western Springs

Phone:  708-246-5220

Web:  www.presbyws.org

Twitter:  @PCWS

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Sunday Worship is at 9:30am, with infant and young child care provided in our nursery.  We look forward to seeing you!