I’m a true Northwestern-er and my love for delicious fresh salmon is definitely in my blood. Grilled, poached, baked or raw – any way you serve it is always a treat!

That being said, I have a new favorite salmon preparation: Citrus Marinated Slow-Cooked Salmon. Perfect to serve to a crowd, quick to prepare, and oh-so delicious!

Smear a side of salmon with a flavorful mixture of mustard, honey, lemon zest, fresh herbs and olive oil. Then lay out super thin slices of lemon and oranges – alternating between orange and lemon slices for a truly beautiful presentation. (I also like to slip in a bit of shaved fennel for a tasty twist too!).

The fish is baked at 250 degrees for about 40 minutes, depending on how thick your fillet is. This low-and-slow method makes for a very moist and succulent preparation and great center-piece dish for your next get-together. –Kathy

Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®.

Sunkist® Citrus Marinated Slow-Cooked Salmon
This salmon preparation is perfect to serve to a crowd. Slices of citrus baked over the top, and the low-and-slow cooking method keep it moist.

Makes about 6 servings

Salmon
1 small side of salmon with skin, (about 2 – 2 1/2 pounds)
1 Sunkist® navel orange
1 Sunkist lemon

Marinade
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 Tbsp. local honey
zest of 1 Sunkist Lemon*
2 Tbsp. chopped minced fresh dill
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh chives
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. fresh-ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F°.

Bring fish out of refrigerator 20 minutes before cooking. Cut 2 pieces of heavy-duty wide foil to fit a baking sheet pan. Stack the pieces shiny side down. Spray generously with cooking spray.

Pat fish dry with paper towels. Place the salmon skin side down in the middle of the foil. If the salmon is to long for your baking sheet or if the tail end is thin, tuck the tail under.

Slice the orange and lemon each into 8 thin slices. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together marinade ingredients. Spoon the marinade over the salmon, coating well.

Lay the sliced citrus over the top of the salmon arranging in a “scale-like” pattern. Cook salmon for approximately 40 – 45 minutes, depending upon desired doneness and the thickness of your salmon.

* To make lemon zest: Zest is the outer peel of the fruit with no white pith attached. You can make fine zest with a zesting tool, microplainer or fine grater.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios for Sunkist®.

Summer is definitely here. This weekend just so happens to be the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year! What do you do with all that extra daylight? Fire up the grill, of course!

Above anything else, make sure that you’re cooking at the right temperature. Not everything should get cooked full blast! Things like chicken may take longer so a lower flame is needed. Steak, on the other hand, can be cooked hot and FAST! That’s how you get that delish crisp sear on the meat and still keep it juicy pink inside.

Cooking with charcoal? Throw in a few sprigs of rosemary or thyme on the hot coals to give an herby smoke to your grillables.

Having friends over? How about an Assemble-Your-Own-Kebabs station, great as a fun DIY dinner get together theme. Lay out dishes of cherry tomatoes, petite mushrooms, chunks of garden fresh zucchini, bell peppers, sweet onion chunks, chicken breast pieces, shrimp, and slices of steak to thread on your skewers. Put out an array of seasonings and rubs for flavoring up your kebabs.

Out of skewers but have a drawer full of wooden disposable chopsticks? Try those for a quick substitution. Just remember to soak any kind of wooden skewers in hot water for at least an hour before you cook with them. This will keep them from burning.

Almost anything can be skewered to go on the grill and flavor combinations are endless. Try my easy recipe for Sassy Chili Rub – it’s just the thing to spice up your summer grilling. –Kathy

For other seasoning ideas, try my French Seasoning Salt,
Cha Cha Chipotle Lime Seasoning, and Fragrant Star Anise Rub!

Sassy Chili Rub
Makes about 3/4 cup

3 Tbsp medium chili powder
1 Tbsp granulated garlic
1 tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 Tbsp dried whole leaf oregano
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
3 Tbsp kosher salt

Mix all ingredients together well and store in an airtight container.

Recipe © by Kathy Casey Food Studios

Nothing says summer like a refreshing glass of lemonade. These days, we’re seeing lots of creative takes of this American staple.

Start with the basics and switch it up a bit: fresh squeezed lemon juice, sugar, and water. Add some sparkle to your lemonade and lightening it up by adding a big splash of sparkling berry water (I love the strawberry and raspberry lemon sparkling waters at Whole Foods). Or instead of making it with traditional sugar, sweeten it with organic agave or local honey.

Fresh Squeezed Lemonade!
Photo by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Get creative with the classic Arnold Palmer made with equal parts iced tea and lemonade by switching out classic black tea with green tea or chai.

One of my favorite lemonade flavor profiles is lavender-mint. The lavender is beautifully complemented by sweet mint. (Perfect for using up from your garden!) Or try adding just a dash of rose water or orange blossom water – it adds a lovely floral essence!

Summer fruits are plentiful this time of year: Muddle in mouth-watering watermelon, juicy peaches, sweet cherries, or tart raspberries. Or get herbalicious with your lemonade and add in sprigs of fresh picked rosemary such as in my Rosemary Lemonade Cooler.

Cool off with a refreshing glass; cheers! –Kathy

Rosemary Lemonade Cooler
Zesty lemon syrup and fresh rosemary make for a refreshing drink, perfect for outdoor entertaining. It’s also make a great summer cocktail by adding 1 – 1 /2 ounces of vodka per serving.

Makes 8 to 10 servings
Prep time: 30 minutes

3 Tbsp lemon zest
4 -6 large sprigs of fresh rosemary
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
————————————
1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
3 cups water or sparkling water

Garnish: lemon wheel or wedges and small fresh rosemary sprigs

Combine the zest, rosemary, sugar, and the 2 cups of water in a saucepan. Bring to a quick boil over high heat. Boil for 1 minute then remove from heat. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow the mint to steep and the syrup to cool.

Remove and discard rosemary from syrup. In a large pitcher, combine the cooled syrup, lemon juice, and the 3 cups of water (or sparkling water if serving right away). Serve over ice in a tall glass garnished with lemon wheels and rosemary.

Recipe developed by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Summer means grilling and nothing boosts the flavor goodness on grilled meat, seafood and veggies like a fantastic marinade. They are simple to make and give an easy flavor jolt to your dinner dishes with only a few ingredients.

(Photo courtesy of Country Living)

Take inspiration for your marinade from different cultures. Chipotle, lime, and agave add instant cha-cha-cha to your chicken. Or try ginger, thai basil, sesame oil, and hot chili paste for a bit of zen for your dish.

My biggest marinade tip is: Make it strong! The bolder the flavor; the bigger the taste. If you make your marinade and it tastes good – then it’s not bold enough. Pump up the flavor even more with spices, garlic, herbs, etc. Get creative!

Citrus juices are common in marinades and add a big hit of brightness to smoky grilled flavors. Keep in mind that marinating with citrus juices for too long can begin to “cook” your protein, particularly fish, before it even hits the heat. I like to use orange juice concentrate to really get a citrus punch in my marinade.

Another quick tip: If your marinade contains sugar or honey, be sure to grill on medium-low heat to prevent burning. Honey or sugar can scorch on high heat.

I’ve included a great chart for making marinades with a basic recipe and then add-ins for you to customize. I also put together some marinating and grilling tips for your next patio party to be grilling-successful!

So this summer, jazz up your cooking with some mouth-watering marinades. –Kathy

Basic Marinade for Grilling
Marinates 4 to 6 portions of protein

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or other fresh herb
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1/3 cup olive oil or salad oil, depending upon which herbs you are using
1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper or 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
4 to 6 portions of protein, such as chicken breasts, steaks, pork loin chops, salmon, or large shrimp, or large portobello mushrooms for a vegetarian option

In a small bowl, whisk together all marinade ingredients.

Lay out protein in a shallow, non-aluminum baking pan. Spoon half the marinade on the top side of each portion and rub it around, then flip the protein and spoon on the remaining marinade, being sure that all surfaces are covered.

Cover pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

When ready to cook, heat grill to medium-high heat, then brush grill lightly with oil. Be sure grill is hot before placing protein on it. Sprinkle both sides of protein with kosher salt, and grill on the first side, being sure not to move it until there is a good charred grill mark. (The biggest mistake that home cooks make is to “touch” what they are grilling too much and move it around before it is ready; this causes sticking.)

Grill to desired doneness. No specific time can be given as it will depend upon your heat and what you are grilling. Typically, if there are nice grill marks on each side, the food is probably close to done. You can refer to internal cooking temperatures on the Internet, but I think that most government-determined temperatures are too high. So, until you are a seasoned griller, get a small paring knife and cut a tiny “peek “into the center of what you are cooking. For poultry you will want to see no pink; fish should be just cooked and not dry; shrimp should be just pink on the outside and barely opaque inside; and steaks should be the way you like them!

This marinade is a basic one, so get creative here, too, when you feel ready. Practice makes perfect. And grilling is “rustic,” so if you make a mistake, it is not the end of the world—just jump back in and try it again soon.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Marinade Customization Chart

In a small mixing bowl, use a small wire whisk and combine together your acid component, Dijon mustard and salt. Then slowly whisk in the oil, adding it in a thin drizzle. This technique is to emulsify (make smooth and combined) your marinade. Then add your flavoring components.

You can keep the unused marinade refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Experiment with different flavorings and combinations. Discard after using the marinade.

Marinating tips:

Created by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Lemon & Caper Marinade for Seafood or Chicken
Makes about 1/3 cup

2 teaspoons finely minced fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh basil
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh chives
2 tablespoons capers, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Whisk all ingredients together well.

Keep refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Marinate fish, shrimp, scallops or chicken breasts for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Cider Marinade for Chicken or Pork
Makes 1 cup

1/4 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes
1 teaspoon rubbed dry sage or 1 Tbsp. fresh sage finely minced
1 teaspoon dry thyme leaves or 1 Tbsp. fresh thyme finely minced
3/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons finely minced lemon zest
1/2 cup apple cider
4 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup salad oil

Whisk all ingredients together well. Keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Marinate chicken breasts or pork chops for at least 4 hours or up to 8 hours before cooking.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Citrus Mojo Chili Marinade for Poultry, Pork or Seafood
Makes 3/4 cup

2 teaspoons finely minced orange zest
1 orange
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoons finely minced garlic
2 tablespoons finely minced onion

Zest the orange and then cut off the peel and white pith from it. Cut orange into large chunks. Place in a food processor or blender with the remaining ingredients and process until as smooth as it will get.

Will keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Marinate fish, turkey breast slices, chicken, shrimp or pork for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®

Chermoula Marinade for Prawns, Chicken, Veggies or Steak
Makes about 1/2 cup

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and process until almost smooth.

Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Marinate chicken breasts, shrimp, or beef steaks for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios®