Dinner under 30: Salmon with Summer Squash Salsa and Orange, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Baked Salmon with Summer Squash Salsa

I love food and like the other Sisters, I love to cook. However with a full time job and a busy and active life, that includes a 10 year old boy and a husband, I cannot spend tons of time getting a meal on the table. But I want to feed my family really good nutritious food. So my challenge is always to get a meal on the table in 30 minutes or less. Yep, 30 minutes from start to table. And no, I'm not prepping it all on the weekend and reheating during the week - - although that would be smart but I don't always have even that much time. So today, I'm going to share a quick meal that you can make: Salmon with Summer Squash Salsa, and a Beet, Orange and Goat Cheese Salad. Oh and this is one of those loose recipes that I've talked about before...there isn't anything exact here...

Salmon with Summer Squash Salsa and Orange, Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

• 4 Salmon fillets (or other thick fish would work)
• 2 Lemons, sliced
• Salt/herb blend
• Butter - - the good stuff
• 1 Yellow Summer Squash
• 1 Zucchini
• 1/4 Red Onion
• Jalapeno
• Lime juiced
• Garlic
• Salt/Pepper
• Prepared Guacamole, or slices of avocado
• 2 Navel oranges
• Cooked beets
• 1/2 of herb goat cheese log (I had a log of goat cheese I had rolled in herbs and refrigerated in wax paper earlier in the week)
• Salad greens for 4-6 people (leftovers are awesome)
• Balsamic vinaigrette (purchased)
• Crusty bread (purchased)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. I use a convection toaster oven as it doesn't heat up my kitchen in the summer as my big stove. It cooks a little hotter so if you are using a regular stove, cook at 425. 

Favorite salt rub and good butter

Pat dry the salmon and rub with salt/herb blend. I used a rub that has rosemary, basil and salt in it. But really anything would work - - even just salt and pepper. Slice lemons and lay them on a baking pan covered with foil. They will be the base for the salmon to sit on. Lay out the salmon on lemons, skin side down. Squeeze any leftover lemon over them if you have an end wedge. Top each salmon fillet with a pat of butter (use real and good quality butter, not margarine or spread). Bake in oven for 15 minutes.

Ideally you would make the salsa in advance so the flavors meld a bit, but you can make it and the salad while the fish cooks. Chop the squash, zucchini and onion into small chunks. Mince 1/2 the jalapeno or to taste. Add all the salsa ingredients together. Add the lime juice, a dash or two of garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Orange, beet and goat cheese salad. 

Now for the orange, beet, and goat cheese salad. Quickly section 2 navel oranges and set aside. Chop the beets. I love the brand "Love Beets" in the Honey&Ginger flavor. Cut up the goat cheese. Combine all the ingredients and serve salad with the balsamic vinaigrette dressing.  


Okay, the fish should be done. Remove to serving platter or dinner plates. Top each fish with a small amount, maybe 2 TBS, of guacamole. Spoon the summer squash salsa over it. And serve! And enjoy a quick summer meal in under 30 minutes. All the best - Christy 

 

We Are Back with Re-purposed Vintage

Apologies to readers, the Three Sisters Four blog was on hold for a short bit. We had a death in the family and all our extra energy had been focused elsewhere for obvious reasons. We are all still sad and heartbroken over the loss of our loved one, but as life does, we are getting back to things. That feels weird and right all at the same time...

Peacock at the ranch

Our heart is going out to those in Texas and Oklahoma, near Candace, who are suffering with the torrential rains and flooding. Candace and her hubby are battling flooding at the Alpaca ranch - - the dam on their property keeps flooding over and washing out their entrance road. So far they are otherwise safe but the rains are expected to continue in the next few days. Last week during another storm, this peacock took refuge at the ranch. They are not sure where he came from but he seems to have moved on with the newest storms. I also missed blogging about shearing time at the ranch back in early April, but hope to have pics to share with you all soon. 

So the Three Sisters Four are really into vintage. Vintage everything. I have several things to share in the future around projects, but we all have fun creating something new and interesting out of the old. 


Glenda was in Montgomery, AL last weekend and found this antique office chair on the left that completes a set on her screened porch, and then this really cool old vintage African violet stand. On the right, you can see the details of the holder and that Glenda re-purposed it as a candle holder with old blue Mason jars. 

Oh big tip: put a little bit of water in each jar under the candles. It keeps the melted candles from sticking to your jars. 

Overall, I love this vintage candle holder and know that it looks awesome at night. This would look great as a focal point on a table top too. 

Oh and just so you know, we love Mason jars. Look for more info soon on our latest Mason jar loves...pies, coffee holders, and more. 

And finally, here are some final pics of ongoing vintage projects that you'll hear more from us in the future.

Candace just acquired this antique couch.
Look for a future posting of its transformation. 

Glenda took an old necklace chain and added vintage jewelry
and buttons to create her OOAK statement necklace.
Look for a future posting on how you can make one too. 

And sometimes vintage is just a way of life...
Here is Christy and her son prepping for a Colonial Day event. 

All the best to you and chat with you again soon. Hugs from the Three Sisters Four - Christy

Recycled Spring Carrots

Note: not a sponsored post for Restoring Piece or Annie Sloan paints, but they are favorites of "Three Sisters Four." 

Glenda spent a fun evening last Friday with a group of women at Restoring Piece, a unique shop in downtown Northport, AL, owned and operated by Brandon and Jeni Bowen. 

She and her friends painted a wooden carrot that Brandon made from recycled wood salvaged from the recently demolished Kilgore House on the University of Alabama campus (info on the old Kilgore house: http://tour.ua.edu/tourstops/kilgore.html). 

They used Annie Sloan paints, glazes, and wax to create their door decorations. The group has also done Christmas trees and a Valentine heart all made from salvaged wood and tin.

Hope you enjoy this great spring craft and are inspired to recycle and reuse materials to create something new and beautiful. Enjoy - Christy

Little Library

Just a quick post today to share our neighborhood Little Library. 

In Charlotte, the weather has turned spring-like and the temps have improved. On a recent sunny day, the neighborhood was filled with the sounds of kids outside playing, walkers and runners filled the sidewalks and lawn mowers fired up for a first grass shearing of the season. And with out-of-town family visiting, we did our own loop of the neighborhood and finished our walk at the neighborhood's Little Library. While it opened in the late fall, I am not a fan of the outdoors in the cold weather, so I just honestly had not taken the time to visit this little gem. And what a gem it is! Located in a small cul-de-sac, the library was built by a neighbor who is a fabulous general contractor, and now managed by his lovely wife Jen who has become the "librarian." 

And the library is just filled with donated books. A whole shelf is designated to children's books and the adult shelves have so much to choose from. I walked away with a gently used copy of Peaches for Monsieur Le Cure by Joanne Harris (author of Chocolat - - loved that book and the movie). Something to read as the rains come in over the next few days. But I must say, I really love the library not only because I love to read, but because of the sense of community it creates. Because as we stood there that day picking out books, we were joined by three other groups of neighbors. People visited and caught up on each other's lives. We shared, we laughed and we lived. It was awesome and so was the sunshine! 

If you are interested in your own Little Library, Pinterest has tons of Pins on how to build and design one. And of course you can Google Little Library and find tons of info and plans. Also check out this group who provide tons of info on this movement: http://littlefreelibrary.org/. Enjoy! - Christy

Farm Girl/Rancher Woman Biscuits

Enjoy for breakfast or lunch. 

This is not a sponsored post.

It is a cold and rainy day at the ranch in Texas, the morning chores and animal feeding are done and it is time for a little human lunch. So Candace just made what she calls her "Farm Girl/Rancher Woman Biscuits." These look fabulous and it makes my hungry just viewing the pics. You could do variations of this to suit the biscuits you have on hand, and if you wanted sweet or savory. Candace went sweet using the Immaculate brand Cranberry Orange biscuits (again not a sponsored post, but we sisters love this brand as you don't feel as guilty not making your own dough with these), but you could add oregano, bits of ham, and take this in a whole different direction. This is what I call a loose recipe, so you can alter as to what you have on hand. 

Let us know if you make them. I sure wish I was in Texas for lunch today. Enjoy! - Christy

Biscuits in popover muffin pan. 

First step: Spray pan. Candace uses a coconut oil spray. Smoosh in those Immaculate biscuits into the popover muffin pan (a popover pan is bigger and holds more, but a regular type would work too). It doesn't have to be perfect or uniform.  



Second step: Add your cheese. Candace used Colby Jack and Muenster today. Then she added a fresh egg to each cup. (The eggs came from a neighbor farmer. Only swans and guinea hens on the Alpaca farm right now.)  Then she added a bit more cheese on top of the egg. 

Add cheese, then a fresh egg. 

Bake at 350, 10-15

Third step: Bake them at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from pan. 















Final step: Enjoy! Candace served hers with fresh milk from the local dairy and coffee. She added a sprig of thyme from the garden for peppery taste. She also, as you see from the top picture, smothered it a bit with a raspberry/cranberry jam that she got at the farmers market. A side of bacon completes this fairly quick and yummy lunch.  

Who are we?

Who are these Three Sisters Four? You'll get to know us soon, but we are three sisters and their niece (you know, the "fourth"). Glenda lives in Tuscaloosa, AL and manages a district office. Candace lives in TX and owns/runs/lives on an alpaca ranch. Melany is a kidney transplant coordinator in Birmingham, AL. And Christy is a Director at a Financial Institution in Charlotte, NC. 

I like to think that we are creative and interesting people. We have diverse interest and eclectic taste. We are passionate about our jobs, our family, and honestly just about everything else we allow in our lives. Since we are separated by miles, we constantly share things with each other via text and emails. And honestly some of it is just too cool to keep to ourselves any longer. So we are now releasing our ideas, ponderings and musings to the web. Hope you all enjoy. We are looking forward to our blog and getting to know our readers. -Christy