Lovely Bones

I am not an enthusiastic cook. Put it this way, we consistently eat at 7 p.m. or later because every day that I'm expected to cook, I procrastinate until the last minute as if by magic someone will appear at our door with a fully cooked meal. Hey, I'm not asking for much, I'll be glad to cook the rice. And this shows that I'm a hopeful and optimistic person, doesn't it?  And it HAS happened--ok, so maybe only twice in my thirty odd years of cooking--but it's not totally impossible!  Remember that rather annoying comedienne Judy Tenuta? Her line was "It can haaappen!"

This is the KitchenAid set from Costco.

So being an apathetic and reluctant cook, I was only vaguely aware that people used scissors in the kitchen until just a few years ago when I heard that there are many people who use scissors in the kitchen more than they use knives.  When we saw a set at Costco for about $20, I figured it was a good opportunity to see what the fuss was about. I'm glad I did! Using kitchen shears means one less piece to wash because you don't need a cutting board so that's one less mess to clean up. 

So what do I use the shears for?  Have you discovered salmon bones yet?  If not, check your market's fish department or better, go to Sam's Club Keeaumoku where they have salmon bones all the time--that is, they've had them every time we've checked for the past year or so.  We're not crazy about salmon, necessarily, but we are crazy about salmon bones...especially if there's some skin attached.  It's like a gift that salmon bones cost less than salmon fillets because they're so much more delicious!

Salmon bones are not just bones

So here's what I do when I get my salmon bones home:  get out the nifty kitchen "cleaver" scissors and cut the salmon into smaller pieces depending on your preference.  I cut mine about 3 inches wide.  You'll be amazed at how easy it is to cut with these scissors, especially when you learn to cut between the vertebrae.  If you don't have kitchen scissors, it's fairly easy with a knife also.


You can fry them, but broiled is best!

Put the salmon pieces in a stainless steel bowl and drizzle with olive oil, tossing the pieces to moisten evenly.  You can then season the way you prefer.  I use garlic powder, salt, and pepper.  Place the pieces on a foil-lined baking pan or broiler pan and broil, watching closely.  We like ours very brown and crispy.  Turn the pieces over and broil the other side.   You can also grill or fry them if you prefer. Not only are they delicious, but they're "good for ya"!  Everyone knows by now that salmon oil is healthy oil and because they're crispy, you can eat most of the bones also---calcium!!  So there you go, a healthy, delicious, and inexpensive dish that's good for either a week night dinner or weekend cook out.  It may not be gourmet, but it's one of our favorites!