Lemon Dill Salmon

This Lemon Dill Salmon is so delicious and elegant. The ultimate culinary trifecta of lemon, dill and tender fish makes for a great meal that is simple enough for a weeknight dinner and fancy enough to entertain with.

The flavors are refreshing and bright, packed with the taste of spring that I have been craving in this endless winter!

I absolutely LOVE salmon -- it is by far my favorite fish, and it is packed with good nutrients for your body. I have also been on a kick with dill...I've used it in these steak sandwiches and it is the ultimate flavor boost in this white bean dip. It seemed logical to combine all of my favorite things, and the results were just what I was craving.

Oh, and of course, there's a compound butter involved. Just wait until you see how easy this dish is:

Lemon zest and fresh dill are combined with a bit of unsalted butter. Dynamite.

Compound butter gets spread over a well-seasoned salmon filet.

The butter is topped with thinly sliced lemons and additional fresh dill. The flavor train can't even handle this!

All that is left to do is bake, wait, and enjoy!

This salmon would be delicious served on top of a bed of rice pilaf with steamed broccoli for a yummy healthy dinner. Or pair it with a light salad for a tasty lunch. Ingredients below will serve 2, but this can be easily doubled to yield 4 salmon servings. Either way, let's get our salmon on!

Steak Sandwiches with Quick Pickled Onions

Steak and sandwiches. Are there two foods in this world that you cannot live without more than steak and sandwiches?

I didn't think so.

When Jeff Mauro AKA The Sandwich King won the seventh season of The Next Food Network Star, I realized that I was rooting for him the whole time. First of all, he's a hoot and a holler. He makes these silly jokes that I would make if someone stuck me in front of a camera while I was cooking, and when I watch his show on Sunday mornings I cannot help but laugh out loud. Also, he always has bloopers at the end of his show. This reminds us that Food Network personalities are real people too.

The second reason I was rooting for the Sandwich King is just that -- he is literally the king of sandwiches. What a fun and unique idea it is to be inspired by all sorts of meals and create fun, flavorful sandwiches from it.

I've learned a lot from Mr. Sandwich King, and I wanted to channel some of that in today's post.

These Steak Sandwiches with Pickled Onions were quick to make and even quicker to eat. Tangy onions pair well with a bright lemon and dill mayo and soft baby romaine leafs. Top round steak was on sale at my grocery store this week, and it was a great cut of meat for this sandwich. Flank steak would also be a great choice. You may recall, I actually really love flank steak.

Sandwiches are a great weeknight meal choice because they come together really quickly. Just add a bit of good high quality ingredients, like a delicious fresh baguette from a local bakery, and they can feel like sophisticated and composed dishes--plus they are great for entertaining.

Pickled onions are an easy and elegant component to any sandwich. I soaked thinly sliced red onions in hot vinegar and water with sugar, salt, and pepper. Let them rest for 30 minutes on the counter, then either use immediately or refridgerate overnight.

Instead of going through the labor of making my own mayonnaise, I simply dressed up the store-bought kind with chopped fresh dill and the zest of one lemon. I may start making this spread more often, it's that good!

The steak is seasoned well then grilled until desired doneness. For me, that's be medium...closer to a medium rare...as I like steak to be very tender for sandwiches.

I picked up this beautiful baby at the bakery. I love baguettes.

A light toast is all this needs and then it is time to build the ultimate steak sandwich.

Bottom half of the bread, with a healthy smear of lemony dill mayo. Swoon.

Thinly sliced steak...so juicy.

The pickled onions.

Baby romaine lettuce. Be still my heart. More lemony dill mayo on top? You guessed it.

We gobbled these sandwiches right up and I already can't to have some leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Fresh bread, juicy steak, bright lemon, fresh dill, tangy pickled onions. And it can all be yours in under 30 minutes!

Creamy White Bean Dip

I need to talk to you about this dip ASAP.

It may have bypassed hummus on my list of delicious spreads that I would dip anything in.

This white bean dip is creamy and dreamy. It is packed with fresh herbs and bright lemon juice. A bit of olive oil and pureed white beans make this thick and smooth.

There is this amazing restaurant in Boston called Rustic Kitchen. I've eaten there three times in the past year and the meal has never disappointed. To start off dinner, they serve a delicious homemade foccaccia bread with a white bean dip. This was the inspiration. I love the white bean dip there...I've asked for a second helping on more than one occasion.

Go big or go home, they say.

Yesterday, we hosted an Oscar viewing party to celebrate the 85th Academy Awards. As I was trying to think of a fun menu for the evening, my mind immediately went to white bean dip. It is elegant and unassuming. Fresh dill, parsley, and rosemary make this dip the perfect compliment to a homemade foccaccia bread (coming soon!!) and English cucumbers and carrot sticks and pretzels.

This dip starts the night before you plan on serving it. White beans are soaked in cold water overnight. The next morning, they are boiled for 1 to 2 hours until tender. After that, it's all about blending everything together.

The beans and a generous amount of their cooking liquid are the base. Extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice add texture and tang. Garlic, dill, rosemary, and parsley are the secret flavor weapons. Salt and pepper finish it off for good measure.

It's that simple! In no time at all, you have a delicious dip to bring to cocktail parties or the big game. Hummus is great, yes, but White Bean Dip is the dip of the future. I could barely stop myself from eating it out of the serving bowl with a spoon. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think!