This meal is simple but absolutely AH-mazing!  It’s 3 little processes put together to make for a lovely celebration or to make any day special.  The wild rice takes the longest to cook, almost an hour so let’s start with that.

1 cup wild rice

5-6 baby Bella mushrooms, chopped

2 shallots, minced

2 1/3 cup water or a combination of water and chicken stock

1 TBSP butter

Into a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, add butter to melt.  Add chopped mushrooms and shallots.  Cook and stir til tender, about 5 minutes.  Add rice, stirring to coat with fat and to get a little browning action (read FLAVOR).  Then, add your chosen liquid to the hot pan.  It’s going to steam up immediately so keep your hands and face back!  Bring it to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and place lid on pan.  Give it 55 minutes or until all liquid has been absorbed. Optional:  Stir in a few leaves of chard that have been sliced into thin confetti once the cooking is complete.  This makes it green and gorgeous and even more delish!

Now, the salmon!  Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place the salmon filets, skin side down, on your lined pan.  Sprinkle a coating of Old Bay with Blackened Seasoning over the top.  (If you have regular Old Bay, just add a bit of brown sugar, honey or molasses.)  If you have balsamic vinegar, brush it on and smear the spices around to coat all the way to the edge.  I used Con Olio’s Espresso Bean balsamic vinegar and a swirl of their Blood Orange olive oil.  Yeah, baby!  For a final flourish, sprinkle with garlic salt flakes.  Now, into the pre-heated oven it goes!  Switch from conventional heating to broil (the pre-heating will begin to cook the fish through while the broiler browns the top.)  This should take 6-8 minutes, but watch closely so it doesn’t burn or over cook.  You can find specialty oil and vinegar shops in larger cities.  I found Con Olio on my last trip to Austin and went a little beserk (in a good way!).  Here’s a link if to their website for online shopping:   http://www.conolios.com/

For the zucchini shreds, you will need approximately 1 zuke per person.  Just wash and shred.  So easy!  You are going to love this!   Heat a large skillet to medium high heat and add 1 TBSP coconut oil.  When the oil is shimmering, add the shreds.  Salt with good salt (Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt) to taste.  Stir and coat all shreds for 3-5 minutes, or until preferred doneness.

To plate:  Create a bed of the zucchini and top with the broiled-to-perfection salmon.  Spoon the wild rice next to this loveliness and get busy!

My Dad is absolutely the most optimistic person I have ever met.  It is an adventure to simply be in his presence.  I have been told I have his smile, and maybe I do.  But, more likely, I think I have his inherent enthusiasm for life.  I would normally say “joie de vivre”, but he’s not French (neither am I) and he doesn’t go much for fancy talking.  When I say he is optimistic and enthusiastic, I mean he absolutely expects the best possible outcome from any situation.  This is a wonderful gift.  With this knowing, the outcome may or may not be what you are hoping for, but there is a deep trust that the Universe is in control and things are as they should be.  He’s a terrible planner.  Wait, maybe he’s a fantastic planner.  He’s a “planner” – but, you have to know that “the plan” will be changed numerous times.  Details, phone calls, what if’s and everything affecting “the plan”.  Maybe that makes him a really great planner?  I don’t know.  I have very rarely heard him speak badly of anyone.  If he did, I can guarantee he or she really did do something to warrant his comment.  He loves a good joke and can call up a dozen that apply to any given situation.  He loves to laugh and he laughs with his whole face.  His eyes light up, his mouth opens and out comes a sound of pure joy.  I love to make my Dad laugh and he always laughs at my jokes, no matter how corny.  Just as I have at his over my entire life.  He has amazingly good luck.  I believe this comes from the previously described expectation of goodness.  When you are throwing around that much positive energy, a lot of it circles back to you.  He looks for the good in people and  when he witnesses otherwise, tends to forget.  Seriously!  He just doesn’t quite remember most “bad” things that happen, especially if some time has passed.  We can talk about old ski trips and any sort of fun we have had but, the negative stuff is mostly just filtered out along the way.  It’s really a great way to live your life.  He’s generous, caring and smart (although he might disagree).  If you have been a friend of my Dad’s for a while, he’s going to remember your birthday and call you on that day to wish you a Happy Birthday.  If he loves you, he will sing.  His life has not been without some pain.  He lost his own Dad when he was in his early 30’s and a daughter, my older sister, almost 5 years ago.  But, he’s one of those people that make you think “Nothing bad has ever happened to this person” because that’s exactly what he projects.  I love him and so do a whole lot of others.  I just got really lucky in the Dad Department.  xo