Natural Network : Slow Food Challenge

This Saturday, September 17, Slow Food USA is inviting you to be a part of their $5 Challenge, and the Natural Network Blog Hop wants to kick it off and invite you to join us!

The challenge is to take back the 'value meal' by getting together with family, friends or neighbors to enjoy a meal that costs no more than $5 per person (the cost of the average fast food meal).  Slow Food USA says that slow food shouldn't have to cost more than fast food, and they're right!

If you want to join in, you can sign up for the challenge over at Slow Food USA.  If you're a blogger, join us by sharing your favorite slow food meal ideas and linking up with to our Natural Network Blog Hop at the bottom of this post!

My meal is for salmon, asparagus and baked potatoes.  We are feeding a family of 5 - two adults and 3 children, two who eat like adults!

Cost breakdown:
$8.99     Salmon $5.99/lb (1.5 lbs)
$2.75     Asparagus (1 lb)
$2.50     Potatoes (2 med, 3 small)
$2.00     Misc. Cooking Seasonings
Total: $3.25/person

Salmon
1/3 Cup Soy Sauce
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1-2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic (adjust to taste!)
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Warm the soy sauce in a measuring cup (I used the microwave) and then add in the brown sugar, garlic and lemon juice.  Stir.

Place your salmon on a sheet of foil, you'll want it to be large enough to fold over the fish to create a package with room for air flow.  I had a full 1.5 lb piece of salmon, so I used a piece of foil on bottom, and then a piece on top, crimping around all of the edges to seal up the 'package'.

One you place your salmon on the foil, lift up the edges to prevent liquid from coming out and then pour the soy sauce mixture over your salmon.  You can use a brush to be sure to coat everything.  Lightly salt the salmon and then use a blackened seasoning to lightly 'pepper' the salmon.  You could use black pepper for this.

Seal up the salmon in the foil leaving space in the package and bake for 15 minutes.

Asparagus
1 Pound of Asparagus
2-3 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
2 Teaspoons Minced Garlic
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Pepper
Dash of Lemon Juice
Sprinkle (1 Teaspoon?) Parmesan Cheese (I used the shake type)

Trim and rinse the asparagus.  In a measuring cup, warm olive oil and butter (I used the microwave).  Add the other ingredients and mix.  Spread the asparagus out on a baking sheet or dish and pour the mixture over it, use your hands to coat the asparagus well.

Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, shuffle around the asparagus to be sure everything is still well coated and then bake for 10-15 minutes more - depending on your desired firmness.

Start the asparagus first if you make this with the salmon!

Want more?
We used baked potatoes, but add whatever you like!  Sweet potato fries, brussels sprouts, green beans?

Join the Natural Network Blog Hop:

1.  Follow the first five blogs in the Linky, these are your hosts. Be sure to leave us a comment so we can follow you back!
2.  Leave a link to your Blog Post so we can follow you!
3.  Feel free to grab the linky code and post it on your blog blog post!