You know how I talked about my love of meal planning? Well, it’s true. I LOVE it. Unfortunately, I often get a little too ambitious/excited about all the delicious things I could be making, so I make a crazy long list and then don’t really follow through. I often get tired after a day of work or upset about something, and end up eating random stuff instead of following through with the plan.
This week, however, I was on a mission to finally make things that have been on my to-make list for AGES. I bought the ingredients weeks ago and this week was the week!!! Wanna see what I’ve been up to in my kitchen? Come, come!!
Jen posted about these salmon burgers last August during her burger week and raved about them. I love smoked salmon and thought it was such a fun addition to the mix.
Unfortunately wild salmon is very lean and I overcooked these. They tasted like dry smoked salmon patties – the sauce was the only saving grace. I mixed greek yogurt with sriracha and diced grape tomatoes. They added some spice and freshness. 
The next night I wanted to make something with goat cheese. I cooked some ww pasta, sauteed mushrooms and spinach, threw in some leftover lamb sausage and then topped it all with creamy sundried tomato and goat cheese sauce.
I was a bit disappointed with how thin the sauce turned out… but it ended up thickening significantly as it cooled.
Adam actually said this was one of the best things I’ve made in a while! After a few bites I was hooked too – creamy and slightly tangy, with a pronounced sun-dried tomato flavor and just a hint of nuttiness from walnuts.
Btw, I only used 2-3T of sun-dried tomato olive oil (from the jar the tomatoes were in) instead of 7. This was plenty rich as is!
Next up, a craving hit. I NEEDED cheesecake asap. Although I live across the street from the Cheesecake Factory, I stay away from their 1,000+ calorie slices.
Instead, I went with an old (healthier!) favorite – honey yogurt cheesecake bars (ick, my photos have improved over the years, huh?).
I did have some meyer lemons so meyer lemon cheesecake bars were born (I added a bunch of juice and zest and subbed agave nectar for honey to let the lemon flavor stand out).
Can you see how light these are? They taste decadent but also very airy unlike the more traditional dense cheesecakes. I really love this recipe!
Agave isn’t as sweet as honey so these weren’t sweet enough for my liking (and the meyer lemon flavor was still lost) so I drizzled some maple syrup over the bars once cooled. I guess they ended up being maple syrup cheesecake bars! 
Whatever you call them, these were delicious! How would you make the lemon flavor be more pronounced? I was afraid about too much liquid if I continued to add lemon juice….
Last recipe! I told you I was busy in the kitchen this week!!! GRANOLA.
While most of you (from what I read 
) seem to be obsessed with cereal and granola and need a lock on your cupboards, I’m much more of a trailmix/nut/cookie girl. Cereal, as delicious as it is, isn’t a “trigger” food for me.
That was apparently because I’ve never made homemade granola – totally different ball game! I made Flour Bakery
So this week I tried again. I followed NY Times’ recipe for olive oil granola (found through Tri to Cook).
I thought you could just throw everything in and bake, but I learned a lesson here. Yeah, someone didn’t read the instructions well! 
Add the dried fruit at the end - my beautifully sweet dried apricots turned into rocks!!! No worries, I picked them out and carried on with my newly established granola obsession.
Adam said it was the best granola he’s ever had!! I actually can’t choose between this one and Flour’s – both are fantastic. A little salty, crunchy, nutty. Yeah, I’m going to be honest – this granola has been enjoyed more often than not, straight out of the jar. And I’m ok with it
If you meal plan, how often do you deviate from the plan? I was so proud for following through because there is not much better than a delicious homemade meal. 
On next week’s agenda – take ice cream and granola bars off the list. I hope to report back next week with some pictures for evidence
those cheesecake bars look delicious. i have been loving the meyer lemons this spring!
Looks like a wonderful week of eating! Too bad the salmon burgers dried out, they look good anyway. Your photos have gotten so much better!! Did you take any classes or just teach yourself?
Hehe, you’re sweet. No classes. Just a better camera, natural light and practice
Oh and I used lightroom to edit them – increase contrast, play with white balance, etc.
gimme cheesecake!!!
This whole post made me drool. I recently started eating fish again, and I love smoked salmon!
Okay, basically everything on this post is calling my name! I’ve never had a salmon burger but now I NEED one! And that cheesecake…send me a slice (or ten)???
The pasta looks and sounds wonderful!
Wow, it looks like you’ve been keeping busy in the kitchen this week!
Haha, I can so relate. I always meal plan and rarely stick to it. I just like to have ideas!
I do the SAME thing! I’ve been trying to plan everything lately but then get a last minute invitation to do something and struggle with how to answer. Is it lame to say, “I already have dinner planned”? But if I don’t, the food goes bad! Ahh, life
Great job on sticking to your plan. Could you try to rub some lemon zest into the crust of the bars to help make it more lemony?
I am just like you…I meal plan but sometimes get a little too ambitious! I’m definitely making the pasta!!
I love your crate and barrel bowls. I have the same ones and they are so sunny and happy and I love eating out of them.
Oh I definitely deviate from meal plans from time to time! The constant inspiration from other food blogs is partly to blame
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In terms of the cheesecake bars, maybe try pure lemon extract? Either that or more zest. They look great!
I’m anal retentive enough that I almost always stick to my meal plan…also I just never have time to go grocery shopping so whatever ingredients I bought at the store that week are what I’m stuck with! I”m loving these recipes…especially those salmon burgers. WANT.
Those cheesecake bars look fabulous! I love how light and airy they are!
Did you use the zest in those cheesecake bars? You’re right, you don’t want to add too much juice, but the zest should’ve helped! they look amazing. as does pretty much everything in this post
that granola is amazing, i need to make it again! and i had those salmon burgers bookmarked too- great minds!
hope you’re having a great weekend! *hugs*
HOPPY EASTER !!!
Everything you made looks and sounds fantastic- you were quite busy in the kitchen.
I don’t really meal plan. I just pick a few new ingredients I want/need to use this week and then I just go with it and try to not waste too much food. Maybe since my husband and I eat dinner really late and usually separately I don’t feel compelled to do so but would like to give it a shot one of these days.
I need to get back to planning weekly meals. Definitely makes life easier, when you start to get busy. Great dishes
My gosh, that salmon burger looks great! Have you tried this sriracha sauce? It is really good…better than the rooster sauce. Preservative free!
http://organicvillefoods.com/products/condiments/sriracha-sauce/
I love sriracha. Have been drizzling it over salads lately. SO good!!