Honey Walnut Crusted Salmon

As a visiting nurse I hear many pearls of wisdom from my patients. Recently a patient said something to me that was particularly noteworthy. He said, “You know, I was a kid in the Depression era. At Christmas time I would get one toy for the year – and I would love it, I would play with it, and I was happy. I didn’t need toys, because I had the outdoors and I had friends. My grandkids get all of these toys, phones, and gadgets, and I don’t think they’re as happy as I was.”

As a parent and as a consumer there really is something to be said about his statement. We’re always getting barraged with advertising of every kind possible, and I don’t have to walk far out my front door to see status symbols like the pricey Mercedes next door. It’s easy to allow one’s identity to get wrapped up in the things that we have or want. The more we have, the more we want, which in the end produces a vicious cycle of discontentment. The truth is, it’s not what we have that makes us happy, but who we are, how we view ourselves, how we view God, and who we love.

“The folly of endless consumerism sends us on a wild-goose chase for happiness through materialism.”

Honey Walnut Crusted Salmon

Seves: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes                    Cook Time: 9-11 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lb wild-caught Alaskan salmon
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2/3 C finely chopped walnuts
• 4 Tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• dash of cayenne pepper
• dash of black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400º F. Cut thawed Alaskan salmon into 1 inch strips, place on a baking sheet skin side down, and then lightly brush with olive oil.

2. In a small bowl combine your chopped walnuts, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, cayenne, and pepper.

3. Top each piece of salmon with a layer of the walnut mixture.

4. Place fish in your preheated oven and cook for 9-11 minutes, then immediately serve.