Salmon for Dinner

There are so many ways that you can enjoy salmon.  Sides, toppings, and breading are just some of the different recipes that we have found below.  Salmon is a great healthy choice for dinner, and it is very easy to make special.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.


Salmon is full of good fats and is easy and quick to cook, making it a great choice to have in your regular dinner rotation. But just having a plain piece of seared, baked, or grilled salmon can get

boring quickly, so here are five easy ways to jazz it up!


1. Herbs

Herbs add a ton of fresh flavor that enhance the fish without overpowering it. Toss whatever herbs you have on hand with a little oil and citrus juice and you're golden. Don't have the time? A store-bought pesto is just fine too.


Recipe: Quick Salmon & Couscous with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Recipe: Chimichurri Sauce
Recipe: Baked Salmon with Herbs & Lemon
How To Make Classic Italian Gremolata
How To Make Perfect Pesto Every Time

2. Breadcrumbs

A coating of crunchy breadcrumbs instantly makes salmon more like those guilty-pleasure frozen fish sticks. Dip salmon fillets in beaten egg or brush with a mustard-mayo mixture before coating in fresh breadcrumbs or panko, then pan fry or bake until golden brown. Feel free to add some of your favorite herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs too.


3. Compound Butter

Is there anything that butter doesn't make better? Mix butter with lemon zest and black pepper or some Creole seasoning and place a pat on the salmon fillet after it's cooked. This flavorful butter will melt and mingle with the salmon juices, creating an instant sauce to sop up with some bread or rice. In fact, make extra compound butter and freeze it in small portions to make life even easier.
Recipe: Broiled Salmon with Spiced Butter
Recipe: Maple-Bourbon Butter
Recipe: Herb Butter


4. Yogurt or Crème Fraîche Sauce

A creamy but slightly tangy sauce works really well with salmon, and it's why sour cream-dill sauce over salmon is such a classic. Try mixing in curry powder, Sriracha, or scallions into yogurt or crème fraîche for an easy, elegant salmon topper.
Salmon in Parchment with Curried Yogurt Sauce
3-Ingredient Recipe: Magic Summer Sauce
Recipe: Smoked Salmon Potato Cakes with Herb Crème Fraîche


5. Glaze or Marinade

Finally, a glaze or marinade made with condiments you probably already have in the fridge is a simple way to infuse the salmon with different flavors. If the glaze or marinade has sugar, it'll help the salmon caramelize on the outside even more as it's cooking.


Recipe: Simple Salmon Teriyaki
Recipe: Mustard-Glazed Salmon

How do you like to make your salmon more tasty? We'd love to know in the comments!

Harvest Weekend in Bothell

What are you doing in October? Make sure to mark the Harvest Weekend on your calendar for October 11th.  This harvest weekend in Bothell will take place at the Country Village Shops.  It is a great event for all ages, and it will get you ready for fall.  You can learn more at the Country Village Shops website.

Come celebrate the fall season on the weekend of October 11th & 12th! The festival will run from 11:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.


Stroll the grounds decorated with corn stalks and pumpkins while you enjoy unique craft booths featuring one-of-a-kind items made by local artisans. Paint a pumpkin! Pumpkins and paints are included. Also, face painting, pony rides, train rides and much more!


The Eclectic Cloggers will be performing on Saturday in addition to other live entertainment throughout the weekend!

If you would like to be a craft vendor, fill out the attached application below.

Take Your Pick! Apple Orchards Near and Far

Whether you're known for your delicious homemade apple pies or you simply enjoy apples are a healthy snack, you live in one of the best places to enjoy them. Washington's many you-pick apple orchards are now open for the fall season. So we wanted to pass along these 10 orchards close to (and not so close to) the Bothell area that let you pick your own apples, go on orchard tours, and host festivals. So get your bags ready and make your pick!

Apple Creek OrchardAs of October 3, 2014 Apple Creek Orchard is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for pick-your-own Jonagold, Mutsu and Snowsweet apples for $15 a bushel. The farm provides buckets and carts, but remember to bring boxes to transport the fruit of your labors home.

5367 Barr Rd.
Ferndale, Wa 98248
360-384-0915
Online: applecreekorchard.com or on Facebook

Jones Creek FarmsJones Creek Farms offers u-pick apples from September to November. This year’s annual Harvest Festival will be taking a hiatus, but you can still enjoy the popular hay rides every Sunday in October.

32260 Burrese Rd.
Sedro Woolley, Wa 98284
360-391-3904
Online: skagitvalleyfruit.com

The Farm at Swan’s Trail
The Farm at Swan’s Trail in Snohomish includes an acre of Jonagold and Honeycrisp apple trees. You can take the kids on a wagon ride out to the u-pick orchard. But the season only lasts for a few weeks, so be sure to call before you go. Good to know: The orchard’s Honeycrisp apples begin to ripen in early September.

7301 Rivershore Rd.
Snohomish, Wa 98290
425-334-4124
Online: thefarm1.com or on Facebook

BelleWood AcresBelleWood Acres is a working farm that offers pick-your-own apples in one of the largest apple orchards in western Washington. They also offer tours for families aboard the Apple Bin Express and lessons for kids on best practices for picking. Watch the packing line, visit the cider press and peek into the bakery, then stop in the on-site store and bring some apple goodies home with you. Choose from 20 delicious apple varieties including Jonagold, Sansa, HoneyCrisp and Golden Supreme. Harvest season begins in late August and runs through early November; check their ripening calendar for more details.

6140 Guide Meridian Dr.
Bellingham, Wa 98264
360-318-7720
Online: bellewoodapples.com or on Facebook

Lattin’s Country Cider Mill and Farm
If the kiddos are craving fresh cider, look no further than Lattin’s Country Mill. Lattin’s is open year-round and holds an Apple Festival every weekend in October with games, a maze and demonstrations for the whole fam. While they don’t offer U-pick, you can sample the farm’s award-winning cider, visit with animals, and bring home a pie or two.

9402 Rich Rd. S.E.
Olympia, Wa 98501
360-491-7328
Online: lattinscider.com or on Facebook

Wilson Banner Ranch
Wilson Banner Ranch uses natural growing practices and has apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, cucumbers, flowers, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums, pumpkins, tomatoes, honey from hives on the farm and a cider mill! Are you excited yet? They also have a petting zoo. This farm is well worth the drive and is open on Fridays and Saturdays.

16397 Highway 12
Clarkston, Wa 99403
509-758-2664
Online: wilsonbannerranch.com or on Facebook

Stutzman Ranch
Open daily through October, Stutzman Ranch is a fourth generation orchard and farm stand in Wenatchee. Galas are ready to pick first, with Fuji following in mid-September. Remember that Stutzman Ranch is cash-only and staff suggests that pickers wear closed-toe shoes and leave pets at home.

2226 Easy St.
Wenatchee, Wa 98801
509-667-1664
Online: thestutzmanranch.com

Johnson OrchardsThis family owned and operated orchard has been in business since 1904, offering several varieties of cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums and apples. U-pick apples (including Gala) are available August through December, but call ahead to check which varieties are available before you make the trip. Fruit is sold by the pound, box or bin; gift boxes are available in season.

4906 Summitview Ave.
Yakima, Wa
509-966-7479
Online: johnsonorchardsfruit.com

Becerra GardensBecerra Gardens is a great place to grab lunch: You can get most of what you need right there. Becerra grows asparagus, cucumbers, flowers, herbs, melons, peppers, pumpkins, winter squash, tomatoes and some already-picked produce. There’s also a picnic area and a concessions/refreshment stand. And starting on Saturdays and Sundays in October, you can enjoy the mazes, games, pumpkin painting and activities.

9074 Rd. K N.W.
Quincy, Wa
509-989-1298
Online: becerragardens.com and on Facebook

High Country OrchardGreen Bluff High Country Orchard is stocked with pre-picked cherries, peaches, raspberries, apricots, pears and apples. You’ll also find a country store with gifts and antiques. Save room for something sweet, the orchard serves fresh baked pies, pastries and ice cream. And starting in late September, enjoy the orchard’s annual Apple Festival offering a large variety of cooking apples, fresh pressed cider and other produce as well as live music, craft booths, corn and straw mazes, pony rides and more.

8518 E. Green Bluff Rd.
Colbert, Wa
509-238-9545
Online: highcountryorchard.com

How to Fall-ify Your Apartment's Decor

With the start of fall on the horizon (starting on September 23), it's time to transition into that "cooler" mindset. As the leave start to change color and the weather gets a tad cooler, it's a great opportunity to give yourself a fresh start and a change of scenery. After all, the decreased daylight hours can be a real bummer sometimes!

Here are some tips we found on ApartmentGuide.com on how to transition your apartment from a summer style to a fall theme: 

Fall Cleaning
Before you settle onto your couch for the remainder of fall and winter, clear out the cobwebs and dust so you have a fresh, clean space to relax in throughout the cooler months.

Focus on Color

In the warmer months, we tend to decorate with bright colors like turquoise and yellow while using lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton. When autumn hits, update your apartment’s décor by swapping out these accents for darker, fall-appropriate earth tones. If you have a neutral-colored couch, add throw pillows in colors like burnt orange, deep red and olive green. Switch your gauzy window treatments with heavier ones that will still let light in while keeping warmth inside your home.

Scentsational

Create your own home fragrance to fill up your apartment with a warm and cozy aroma. Bring a cup of apple cider and a cup of water to a simmer in a small saucepan on your stove. Toss in a tablespoon of ground cinnamon and a few cloves and before you know it, your home will be filled with a spicy, apple pie fragrance.

Lighten Up

With the daylight hours getting shorter and shorter every day, you’ll want to keep things bright inside your apartment by turning up the lighting. Setting up mood lighting is one of the easiest ways to make your apartment feel warm and cozy, whether you’re having a dinner party with friends and neighbors or just settling in for a night of reading. To brighten up a small space like a bathroom sink or a fireplace mantle, a row of tea lights, either placed individually or contained in a trough, can really go a long way. If you have more room to work with, like a dining room table or an end table, a cluster of lanterns makes a great centerpiece.

Click here to read the full article on ApartmentGuide.com!