Well, if you are dining solo for the day and you have a toaster oven…never fear, we have some delicious treats you can cook up in flash. These are guaranteed tasty treats, and the bonus is there’s no leftovers to taunt you from the dark corners of the fridge the next day!
1. Panko Crusted Salmon Fillet
1 salmon fillet, approx 6 ounces 2-3 Tablespoons panko crumbs 1 teaspoon finely chopped chives 1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley Finely grated lemon zest of 1/2 lemon (optional) 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise salt and pepper
Toaster oven setting: 425 degrees Salt and pepper both sides of the salmon fillet. Lightly grease the baking sheet for your toaster oven. Place the salmon fillet on the baking sheet and brush with the mayonnaise, so the entire fillet is lightly coated. Mix the panko crumbs, chives, parsley, lemon and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix well and pat the crumbs evenly over the top of the salmon fillet. Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes until the salmon is medium-rare. Serve with a tossed green salad.
2. Roasted Red Pepper and Zucchini Frittata
2 eggs 1/2 cup finely julienned zucchini (about 1/2 small zucchini) 2 Tablespoons finely sliced roasted red pepper 1 small garlic clove, minced (optional) 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese (or 1 tablespoon grated) 1/2 teaspoon herbs de provence (or thyme) Pinch of salt and pepper
Toaster oven setting: 400 degrees Crack the eggs into a small bowl, mix well with a small whisk or a fork. Pour the mixture into an oiled small cast iron skillet (6” across), or a creme brulee dish. Bake for 8-10 minutes until the frittata is just set in the centre.
3. Garlic Prawns
1 dozen large prawns 1 large clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon olive oil Freshly grated zest of 1/2 lemon
Toaster oven setting: 450 degrees Peel and devein the prawns, if not done already. Toss the prawns in a small bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest and garlic. Let sit 30 minutes to allow the garlic to absorb the flavours. Place the prawns on the toaster oven baking sheet. Roast until pink and just beginning to firm up, about 5-6 minutes. Serve with roasted sweet potato and a tossed green salad.
4. Roasted Sweet Potato
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2” dice (approximately 1 cup) 1/2 small onion, cut into 1/2” dice (approx 1/4 cup) Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon olive oil
Toaster oven setting: 400 degrees In a small bowl, toss the sweet potato with the onion, salt and pepper and olive oil. Place the sweet potato on the toaster oven baking sheet, and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the sweet potato is soft.
5. Fresh Berry Marscapone Gratinee
1/2 cup fresh berries – slice strawberries, raspberries or 1/4 cup marscapone cheese 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream 1 Tablespoon Marsala wine (or brandy) 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar (or light brown sugar)
Toaster oven setting: Broil Arrange the fresh berries in a gratinee dish (or a shallow heat-proof bowl). In a small bowl, mix together the marscapone cheese with the heavy cream and Marsala until smooth and spoonable. Spoon the marscapone cheese mixture over the fresh berries, and sprinkle the turbinado sugar evenly over the top. Broil until lightly browned and bubbling on the top, about 2 minutes.
Conclusion
I suggest whipping a couple of these up, and enjoying over a good movie. My picks? Something along the lines of “Snatch”. Or if you are looking for a love story with a twist, try “Delicatessen”. (Just wait until after you’ve eaten to hit “play” on this one…) (Photo credit: A frozen pizza heats in the oven via Shutterstock)
