My husband and I will celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary at the end of March and in that 5 years he has spent over 800 days at sea on a nuclear submarine between 2 6+month deployments and many, many 30+ day underways. In the beginning I hated cooking for myself because I hated leftovers, so I lived pretty much on snacking, cereal and Panera. Then, I had a baby and realized I needed more food to fuel my body for breastfeeding and just being able to keep up with a busy toddler. But, I also wanted fast and easy meals that make for easy clean up because who wants a sink full of dishes especially when it’s just me doing the dishes and I have very little time to get a meal together so the faster the better.

I have always baked my asparagus because I feel it makes it more crunchy as opposed to boiling or sautéing it on the stove top. I have cooked salmon many different ways but in the oven seems to be my favorite also, I love that the sides get a little crispy but the middle is still juicy. This is one of my favorite meals that I would make for myself when my husband was gone but, it is also one of our favorite meals to have now that he is home all the time.

One pan 30 minute Lemon Pepper Salmon and Asparagus:

Ingredients:

~Salmon ( I use 3 pieces but you can use however many pieces you need for just you or your family)
~1 tbsp olive oil (for salmon)
~1 tbsp olive oil (for asparagus)
~2 tsp ground pepper
~juice of 1 lemon,
~whole lemon sliced (not necessary, unless you like extra lemon flavor)
~1 bunch of asparagus (or more if you have a large family)
-Seasoning (I used Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning, but you can use whatever seasoning you prefer)

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven 425 degrees, Place salmon and asparagus on Copper Chef Copper Crisper Pan or just a sheet pan.
2.) Mix olive oil, ground pepper and lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk together with a fork and brush over the top of the salmon then place the sliced lemon on top.

3.) Next brush the remaining olive oil over the asparagus then add seasoning to the top. I add a generous amount of seasoning because I feel like most of it cooks off.

4.) Put the pan in the oven and cook for 17-18 minutes.

This is one of my favorite recipes, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!