Dishing It Up!

by Victoria Mattson

Victoria Mattson is a local cook, confectionaire and writer. She offers healthy and nutritious recipes and food tips in each issue of North County Outlook. Phone (360) 658-9903 or e-mail victoria@northcountyoutlook.com.

As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day with traditional expressions of heartfelt love, another celebration is also occurring. And that is the celebration of a happy, healthy heart! Just last week we were all asked to wear red on Friday to shine the spotlight on the benefits of a healthy heart.

Ayla Riggle is dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle and teaches others to do the same. About a year ago, Ayla started her own company, Thrive Fitness Personal Training. She started her fitness company after being inspired by the impact that exercise and eating wholesome food had on her own health. She explains, "I went from being fatigued, stressed out, overweight and frequently ill to having energy, mental clarity, feeling healthy and 30 pounds lighter."

Heart disease is among the highest causes of death in America. Ayla believes our increasing inactivity, portion sizes and abundance of drive-thru restaurants are largely to blame. She reminds us that heart disease is highly preventable with lifestyle changes. Making everyday changes like taking the stairs, parking farther away, going on three 10-minute walks and eating heart-healthy food can help you live a long, healthy life.

You can stop by Let's Dish! and meet Ayla in person. She will be at Let's Dish! for Girls Gone Dishing Night, Thursday, February 19. Stop by-no appointment necessary--between 4 and 7 p.m. to dish up a meal and talk to Ayla personally about how she can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle. You can also find out more about Thrive Fitness by visiting her Web site at www.thrivefitness.info.

(Ed. Note: Ayla will also be featured in North County Outlook, beginning this issue, as she takes over the Get Fit! column for Jen Chesnut, who has moved out of the area.)

Ayla urges you to get started on the path to a healthier you by trying her recipe for Broiled Almond-Crusted Asian Salmon, which she recommends serving with brown rice and broccoli. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential to our diet. They also have been proven to fight heart disease by lowering triglycerides and improving blood flow. Brown rice is whole grain and contains fiber, which helps with weight control, and the oil in brown rice has been shown to lower cholesterol. Broccoli has phytonutrients, which have anti-cancerous effects and optimize the body's natural detoxifying systems.

Broiled Almond-Crusted Asian Salmon with Brown Rice and Steamed Broccoli

1 scallion, minced

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar/miring

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Sriracha/Asian hot sauce (optional for extra spice)

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

1 pound center-cut salmon fillet, skinned, and cut into 4 portions

1 teaspoon toasted almond slivers



1. Whisk scallion, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sriracha and ginger in a medium bowl until all mixture is dissolved. Place salmon in a sealable plastic bag, add 3 tablespoons of the sauce and refrigerate, allowing it to marinate for 15 minutes. Save the remaining sauce.

2. Preheat broiler. Line a small baking pan with foil and coat with cooking spray.

3. Transfer the salmon to the pan, skin-side down. (Discard the marinade.) Broil the salmon 4 to 6 inches from the heat source until cooked through, 6 to 10 minutes. Drizzle with the remaining sauce and garnish with toasted almonds.

4. Serve with brown rice and steamed broccoli.



Victoria Mattson is owner of Let's Dish!, a "make and take meal kitchen" located at 11605 State Ave. in Marysville. Phone 360-658-9903 or visit www.letsdish.com.