Halibut with Tomato Nectarine Salsa

This last week was a serious doozy. I have this class you see, Arabian Days, and it is seriously kicking my butt, big time. There are about 6 students in the class and I'm probably one of 2 or 3 undergrads. I'm probably also the only one who isn't well versed in this subject as well. I've taken a class from the professor before and got an A in the class, which was also one I didn't know anything about so I thought I'd be okay. The grade is based on two in class essay tests and two papers. This past Wednesday was the first in class test and I studied like mad! First off, my books arrived very late so I had to read like a mad man to catch up and then had to scour the pages for information that might be useful for the essay prompts. Tuesday night I stayed up till 2 and woke up at 6:15 to go to school and study before my 9:40 class. I'm not sure how I did on the test but I'm very glad it's over. I'm savoring these few days before I have to start working on the first paper next week.

Anyway, Tuesday night Jason and I had a study break that involved some Halibut and Tomato Nectarine Salsa. We have some great friends, one of whom gave us a ton of fish from a trip their Dad went on to Alaska. So, we had a Halibut fillet that probably would have cost $25 from the store. It was huge, and very thick! So this is what we did:

The last pic is a little dark and blurry, but what can I say? It was about 11:00 pm when we ate this, so not too much light, and I didn't really think to turn on the other lights in the apt for the picture (I was a little dingy from too much studying). Anyhow, this was so delicious. At least, the salsa was. I have been able to successfully cook most other meats, but I struggle a little with fish. It was okay, just a little overcooked. But there was enough salsa to mask all that. And, let me tell you, homemade salsa is amazing, but home made tomato and nectarine salsa? Even better.

Halibut with Tomato and Nectarine Salsa

Makes 2 servings

2 firm nectarines, pitted and diced
Small handful grape tomatoes, halved
1 small shallot, diced
2 tablespoons parsley or cilantro
Juice from about 1/2 lemon, or to taste
2 4-ounce halibut filets
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

In a small bowl, mix together the nectarines, tomatoes, shallot, and parsley. Add the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper, adjusting the seasonings as necessary.  Let the salsa stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to come together.

In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Season both sides of the filets with salt and pepper. Cook for two minutes per side until nicely browned on the outside and just cooked through on the inside.

Serve the halibut warm topped with the salsa.

After the halibut Jason and I studied some more. When we were done we were both so tired and a little crazy one of our conversations went a little something like this:
Me: "I don't want you to lick my armpit, I don't want you to die"
Jason: "I won't die"
Me: "I don't want you to pass out"
Jason: "I won't pass out"
Me: "I don't want you to be violently ill"
Jason: "I don't want to be violently ill"

I don't know why, but we always tease each other about licking. Like, Jason will lick my face, or try to. Or, if I'm going to kiss him, he'll just stick his tongue out (it's very romantic and endearing (extreme sarcasm there) and I'll admit, it is funny, until your face is sopping wet). Anyway, the preceding conversation is a result of this weird licking thing we do and our frazzled minds.

The Land of Nod

The Land of Nod

The Land of Nod is CB2's Children's line. CB2 is a pretty cool furniture and home decor company and I wish we had a store here in SL. I can't really afford any of their furniture right now, but I know that in my future home I will most likely have one of their sofas at the very least.

Anyhow, The Land of Nod is adorable. It's Pottery Barn Kids times 1,000! I'm one of those people that finds extreme joy in children's things such as stuffed animals, kids furniture, play rooms and toys. After checking out the website I put myself on the catalog mailing list and boy and I glad and mad at myself for doing that. I LOVE everything in the catalog but I WANT to BUY everything in the catalog. Never have I wanted a lunch box more in my life than after flipping through the pages, nor a rocking chair. Here are all the things I really want right now (I didn't post any of the wall art because then this post would be a mile long).

As soon as I saw the rug (especially when they have it displayed in a room in the catalog) I immediately wanted to buy it. Too bad it's, like, $200. Unfortunately the rug will have to wait. And so will the armchair rocker, but the lunchbox and stegosaurus pillow may be mine in the coming future.

Seriously though, I am considering the rocker as one of my major purchases in the coming years. Who needs a baby to have a rocker? Not me. But for the record, when I do have a baby, this is where all of my things will come from. Let's hope and pray that I'm rich enough to afford all this by then, either that, or I'll be adopting a baby when I'm 70 and have saved up for a room from here.

I Lied

Oh, H&M, you are one deceptive little devil. Apparently, the website will let you and lead you to believe you can buy from them, but apparently "Online shopping is not currently offered in your market. Please visit your local H&M for availability."


I am so disappointed. Really, truly I am.

Did You Know?

Did you know that H&M has a much better website? I remember the first time I discovered H&M (a few years ago) and then desperately tried to shop their website with NO LUCK. It was the worst clothing website I had ever come across. But, apparently (and I don't know when, since I didn't want to disappoint myself with looking at it again) they have updated it since and it's now great.

Check it out here

Also, if you didn't already know, SLC will be getting an H&M. I don't know when, but sometime before I'm 80 I hope.

Weekend Update

(I like SNL's weekend update, that is what I'm calling my weekend pic posts)

The top picture is an entry in the creative arts section at the Utah State Fair. It would have won our special "worst craft" award except that would be a "special needs category" rule breaker. A very creepy "felted vessel" (felt vase?) with a face at the bottom probably won, no picture though. The second two pics are also from the Fair at Jungle George's booth where you can get a maggot melt (pictured) as well as a chocolate covered cricket (not pictured but shared with Dad) and python and yak and all sorts of crazy things I wish I was brave enough to try. The bottom pictures show my very first plant! Woo! It's a tiny fern that kind of looks like moss but it's very cute and I now have something living in my apartment besides myself and the times when Boyf is there. The last picture is of henna on my hand that I had painted on at the Eid Al-Fitr festival at the Library this past Saturday.

All in all it was a filling weekend and that wasn't even all I did. I had a great first attempt at an ipod dance party (you know the old ipod commercials with the silhouettes dancing awesomely? Well we attempted to have everyone synced up with a play-list and then dance with our ipods, head phones in, it was fun, need to iron out the kinks).

Also on Thursday (which is not a day in the weekend, I know) I had a nasty spill off my bike, RUINED my jeans and definitely ruined my knee. I have a lovely purple bruise all around it as well as a nasty scab and it still hurts to put weight on it. Definitely reminded me I might need a helmet when I bike around.