Love at First Bite: Spice-Rubbed Salmon with Cucumber Relish & Capers and Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Cheesecake

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to get out your old standby recipes, but also a great time to try something new. These easy and fun recipes are from my Valentine's Day Dinner Date Cooking Class, enjoy these and all of my other recipes and cookbooks at: http://www.ginameyers.com

Have a great time,

Gina

Spice-Rubbed Salmon with Cucumber Relish & Capers

The bold spice rub works well with rich-flavored salmon and would also be tasty on pork. Serve with an angel hair pasta, mashed potatoes or even a spinach salad.

1 Tablespoon of brown sugar

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 teaspoon of dried oregano

1 teaspoon of ground cumin

1 teaspoon of chili powder

1 teaspoon of paprika

½ teaspoon of salt, divided

¼ teaspoon of dried thyme

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skinned

Extra virgin olive oil or Olive Oil Cooking Spray

2 cups of chopped cucumber

½ cup of chopped red bell pepper

¼ cup of chopped onion (red preferred or white onion)

2 Tablespoons of chopped fresh mint

1 Tablespoon of capers

1 Tablespoon of cider vinegar.

Directions: Preheat the broiler. Combine first six ingredients, ¼ teaspoon of salt, and dried thyme; rub evenly over fish. Place fish on a jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Broil eight minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Combine ¼ teaspoon of salt, cucumber, and remaining ingredients; serve with fish. Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 fish fillet and about ½ cup of the cucumber relish)

Calories: 312, 39% from fat, 13.6 grams (saturated 3.2 g, mono 5.7 g, poly 3.3 g); protein 37.3g, fiber 2.3 g, Chol 87mg; iron 1.7mg; sodium 450mg; calc 53mg.

Easy Chocolate Raspberry Mocha Cheesecake

2 teaspoons of espresso powder

1 package of cream cheese, softened

2/3 cup of sugar

3 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1 container of whipping cream

1 graham cracker pie or chocolate pie crust

1 pint of fresh raspberries, washed.

Directions: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese, espresso powder, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract, mix until smooth. Fold in the whipping cream, mix well. Spoon mixture into prepared chocolate pie crust. Refrigerate for three hours. Dust with cocoa powder or powdered sugar.