Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day weekend! Hubby and I stayed in and tried another new recipe – actually a couple of them. The main course was Boubon-Glazed Salmon – recipe HERE. I didn’t have fresh ginger (although it would have been better), so I used ground ginger instead, and we didn’t add onions. I don’t like onions of any kind, so I usually omit them in most recipes. Instead of tossing the marinade, we saved half of it to pour over thie salmon before serving. I still have no sense of taste (more on that below), but hubby gave this one a big thumbs up. It was an easy recipe to put together and had tons of flavor, but we used a grill pan instead of broiling the salmon and even though it was nonstick, cleanup took some scrubbing. For the side dish, we tried hasselback potatoes. It was a simple recipe of olive oil, minced garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper brushed over the potatoes, but neither of us cared for it. No flavor at all for me, and hubby said it needed something, so I’m not even listing the link.
Last week, after a commenter mentioned articles about physical therapy for the nose for folks who still haven’t regained their sense of smell after COVID (thanks, Tessa!), I did some research and bought essential oils. A few articles suggested buying four different types and smelling them twice per day. A lot of people must be trying the same thing for their snouts because the two stores I went to had pretty slim pickings. I could only find peppermint, orange, and lavender, and so I added in a bottle of cinnamon spice for the fourth. While walking through the parking lot back to my car after leaving one of the stores I wrinkled my nose because someone was smoking – then realized I could actually smell the cigarette smoke. Not my first choice of aromas, but at least it’s progress.
A little bit of self promotion! Darlene Foster, author of the delightful children’s series, Amanda Travels, interviewed me on her blog Saturday. Click HERE to read. After visiting Canada last year, I read Amanda in Alberta and enjoyed learning more about some of the places we visited while there.
Have a safe and healthy week!
Books and Such 
Sorry about the dinner!
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Part of it turned out really well, so we’re not complaining.
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Sorry about the smoke smell, but that’s progress, and that’s a good thing. Fingers crossed it’s all coming back now.
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Exactly! Hope it continues this week. I’d sure like to smell chocolate again.
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It was great idea to try new recipe for Valentine’s weekend. It’s great most of dinner turned out really well.
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At part of it was a keeper! Won’t be trying that potato recipe again, but it was nice to stay in and away from the crowds.
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Thanks for the shout out! You´ve had many comments on your interview. Thanks for responding to the comments. I hope you get your sense of smell and taste back again soon. The salmon recipe sounds great!
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You have such nice blog visitors, Darlene – some I knew and others I enjoyed meeting. I’ve seen some adorable pics of Dot and new addition Lia on IG!
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Like most new parents, we take lots of pictures of the newest kid, I mean dog. I have great blog followers and they loved meeting you. Thanks for those great answers.
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Nose therapy, I’ve never heard of such a thing, but it totally makes sense. (Oh, haha, “sense.”) I hope the best for your poor nose!
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Sense – haha! It really does make sense after so many still haven’t regained it after COVID. For the past two days, all I’ve been able to smell is smoke. But there’s no smoke in the house, of course. It’s maddening.
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I didn’t know you contracted covid, Teri. Cigarettes’ aren’t the best smell, but I’m glad you’re on the mend.
Congrats on the interview. Heading over now…
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It was in early December, Jina, but I was fortunate to only have mild symptoms. It’s the lack of smell and taste that keeps hanging on. Hoping it keeps improving.
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Hubby and I cooked too. We did a Geoffrey Zakarian recipe with a rosemary pork loin in a sauce. I’m not a fan of pork, but this I actually liked!
It’s promising that you were able to smell the cigarette smoke. It’s a start, and I hope the essential oils help. I hope you get your sense of taste back, too. That has to be awful!
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The pork loin sounds wonderful, Mae. We haven’t done one of those in quite a while, so maybe it’s time to add to the list. Being able to smell the smoke is encouraging – hoping for more pleasant smells soon!
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Yay! You smelled something. Cigarette smoke wouldn’t have been my first choice either but it’s something. I hope the smelling therapy (scent therapy? I still have no idea what to call it) continues to help 😊
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At first I couldn’t distinguish between peppermint and lavender, but it’s gotten much better. So it must be helping, right?
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I’m going to say yes. ❤️
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I hope you’re smelling the roses soon, Teri!
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Roses would be much more preferable than cigarette smoke, lol!
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I have to admit – when I saw “snout therapy”, I pictured an adorable pig nose sticking through a fence. LOL.
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Sorry – no pigs here, Sue, lol. But that would make a cute pic!
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I’m glad your nose is coming around. Here’s hoping for continued improvement. I don’t know how I missed Darlene’s interview but going there now.
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It’s a start, so maybe this time next week I’ll have more smells – and better ones.
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Yes. Cigarette smoke is not what I would like towage up my smeller with for sure. 😁
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Bourbon glazed salmon sounds wonderful. Too bad you couldn’t smell/taste it, Teri. But hopefully the therapy will help and you’ll be able to smell something less gross than cig smoke. And your interview was great. I enjoyed it. 🙂
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Hubby gave it a thumbs up, and I knew I liked everything in it (except the onions), so it’s a keeper. I figure the oils can’t be hurting. I have to hold them right up to my nose to smell them, but it’s better than nothing.
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A weird side effect, isn’t it? Keep up the nose therapy.
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Hope you continue to recover with something more appealing to sniff.
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Agreed!
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Wonderful news about smell. My nephew still cannot discern different smells, even though he feels well. I hope you continue to heal and thrive! ❤️
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Thanks, Gwen! Physically, I also feel fine with no other lingering effects. This virus is just bizarre. Glad to hear he’s doing well.
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That salmon sounds delightful. We’ve found lining pans with parchment paper is a good way to reduce cleanup when baking or roasting meat, chicken, or fish in the oven. It’s not just for cookies and similar.
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Hubby says it was full of flavor, Audrey. Parchment paper can be a lifesaver, but even through the recipe said to broil the salmon, we had potatoes in the oven and had to use the grill pan instead. What a mess! Next time I’ll broil the salmon and do the veggies on the stove.
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I really hope your sense of smell will be back but it’s encouraging.
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Looks like it’s going to be baby steps, Sophie. But I’ll take it.
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Glad to hear of any improvement, even if you discovered it by an unpleasant aroma.
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Definitely unpleasant, but also an improvement!
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I don’t like fish much, Teri, so I’ll pass on this one. I have been reading that this loss of smell following covid continues after you recover. Not very nice, smell is an important and gratifying sense. I hope your bottles of smellies help.
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I seem to be in the percentage that’s taking longer to get it back, Robbie. My friend works with someone who’s coming up on a year – really hope it doesn’t take that long for me.
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I hope not, Teri. No sense of smell impacts your taste too.
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Sure does – I can’t taste much of anything.
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That’s wonderful that you seem to be starting to smell things again. Shame your first scent had to be something nasty like cigarette smoke, but at least it’s something, and hopefully soon you can be smelling all the nice scents in the world again. I hope your sense of taste comes back too, so you can enjoy all the meals you’re trying with hubby fully.
My hubby made me vegan pancakes with maple syrup for breakfast for Valentine’s Day. Pancakes are one of the things he does well, so I was delighted with it.
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Cigarette smoke wouldn’t have been my first choice of smells, but it’s a start.
So sweet of your hubby to make you pancakes on Valentine’s Day! My youngest son and I are pancake lovers, but we like them gooey inside. I know that’s disgusting to most people, but what can I say. We’re just weird that way, lol. Have a great weekend, Tori!
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To each their own. LOL!
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I am extremely late commenting on this post, but sounds like a delicious meal. I don’t seem to have the knack for cooking salmon. I tend to overcook it, then it’s dry, but with this marinade, I might succeed in cooking an edible meal. 🙂 Glad your smell is returning and it makes me happy that the solution is essential oils. I have an entire container of them in my home at all times and use a diffuser every day. Great therapy!
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Hubby does a fantastic job cooking salmon whether it’s on the grill or using a grill pan – never overcooked. Me? Not so much. I hope the marinade helps, Jan!
I’m still sniffing those essential oils every day. Not sure if it’s helping, but it can’t hurt.
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