Ode To Baked Salmon

My sister was over the other day. My house smelled fishy because I had left some out earlier. I've never cooked fish in my life. It was just some frozen Gorton's that I had microwaved for lunch. Pretty sad, I know.

Anyway, she thought I had cooked it myself. "Wow," she said, "I've never cooked anything 'fancy' like that before. I have no idea how to make fish."

Well, neither did I. I felt the same inadequacies about preparing fish as she did, but I didn't tell her so. I just let her believe I had the skills. But by taking credit for the Gorton's I had sealed my fishy fate. I knew I would have to make the real thing in order to feel like less of a fraud.

So yesterday I hopped on over to recipezaar.com for a little lesson on baked salmon. Holy cow, was it ever easy! My sister and I had been silly to fear fish. All we needed was a little education.

Here is the Baked Salmon Recipe, which is easy, healthy, and inexpensive. Not to mention, it tasted "fancy" in a good way. Even Katelyn liked it. I have a feeling this will be my new staple dinner recipe. Go Mediterranean!!

Baked Salmon
Serves 2

Ingredients

2 cloves garlic, minced
6 tablespoons light olive oil
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
2 (6 ounce) salmon fillets

Directions
1. In a medium glass bowl, prepare marinade by mixing garlic, light olive oil, basil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and parsley.
2. Place salmon fillets in a medium glass baking dish, and cover with the marinade.
3. Marinate in the refrigerator about 1 hour, turning occasionally.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Place fillets in aluminum foil, cover with marinade, and seal.
6. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake 35 to 45 minutes, until easily flaked with a fork.