The Care and Feeding of Teeangers

No matter how old our children get, one thing we will always do is feed them. Food is a central focus of family gatherings and even teenagers appreciate a good meal.

Recently Reuter's carried a story about Swedish research showing that boys aged 15 who ate fish regularly gained marked improvement in cognitive skills. (Follow this link for the full story http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52F4XH20090316 ) Anyone who has ever had a 15-year-old male living in their house knows this is a great discovery. The fatty fishes, such as salmon, have the most beneficial effect. The good news is that it is good for all of us.

So, instead of grabbing a carry-out hamburger or pizza, why not try some salmon instead. Getting the kids to eat it should be easy enough, as it is very palatable, especially with great seasonings. Here are a few recipes to try out on the males in your family from 15 to 50:

Salmon Pate
1 small onion, quartered
1 15 1/2 oz. can salmon, drained with skin and boned removed
1 8 oz. package fat free cream cheese, room temperature
2 or 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 heaping tablespoon horseradish
2 teaspoons dried dill
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
dash of Tobasco
salt and pepper
Pulse onion in food processor. Add all the other ingredients and pulse until smooth. Serve with wheat crackers.

Italian Pasta Salmon Salad
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
Dash of pepper
1 cup cooked small shell macaroni
4 radishes, sliced (leave out if your kids hate radishes)
1/2 green pepper cut into 1/2 inch squares
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1 can 6 1/2 oz. pink salmon, drained
8 cherry tomatoes, halved
In a small bowl combine oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, mustard, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate one hour. In a large bowl toss macaroni, radishes, green pepper, green onions, and carrot. Just before serving pour dressing over pasta and vegetables; toss. Add salmon and cherry tomatoes and toss gently.

Grilled Salmon
4 salmon fillets
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sherry
Make a marinade with the brown sugar, margarine, soy sauce and sherry. Pour over fillets and chill for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare coals to medium heat. Spray grill with non-stick cooking spray. Grill salmon for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn and pour remaining marinade over fish; continue grilling another 3 to 5 minutes until slamon flakes and is light pink in color, or until desired consistency and cooked through.

If all else fails, try the salmon burgers from Whole Foods on whole wheat buns. They're great!