Recipe(tried): Cedar Grilled Salmon Pasta (TGI Friday's Copycat Recipe)

I looked for this recipe all over the internet and finally decided to make it myself. Everything I used was purchased at the local grocery store. So it shouldn't be hard to find everything you need :) I modified my version a bit but feel free to make it how you want to your liking. I think I got very close to the TGI Friday's version so for me it turned out great and will definitely be a repeat dinner!

CEDAR GRILLED SALMON PASTA
(TGI FRIDAY'S COPYCAT RECIPE)

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Fettuccine noodles (or whatever noodles you prefer)
Salmon
Zucchini
Bruschetta marinara sauce (I substituted a can of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes flavored with Basil, Garlic and Oregano)
Lemon juice
EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

SEASONINGS:
Salt and ground black pepper
Garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic if you prefer)
Parsley
Simply Asia Sweet and Smokey Hibachi seasoning
Cayenne pepper - totally optional, I like a little spice in my pasta ;)

FOR THE ALFREDO SAUCE:
1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream
2 Tbsp. butter
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (I used the grated kind but any kind will do)
1 teaspoon Garlic powder

First thing I did was cook the pasta and set it aside.

Next, I season my salmon. I didn't go out and get cedar planks to grill my salmon on (this seemed time consuming so I opted out lol :p ) I just baked my salmon in the oven. To get a smoky flavor I used Simply Asia Sweet and Smokey Hibachi seasoning. I coated the salmon with the Simply Asia along with garlic power and set it aside for 10 minutes to soak up the seasonings.

I pre-heated the oven at 350 degrees F and did a mixture of EVOO and lemon juice in my baking dish. I didn't use a lot of juice, just 4 or 5 tiny squirts. I then placed my salmon filets into the dish and covered with aluminum foil. I baked my salmon for 25 minutes. I would recommend fresh salmon, not the frozen filets. I was able to find some affordable salmon filets at Kroger. You can get it cut to whatever thickness you prefer. Fresh ingredients always taste better!

Next I made the Alfredo Sauce. I like to make my own because I hate the way the premade sauces taste (yucky!) I grabbed this off of Pinterest awhile back. In a saucepan melt down your butter and add your garlic powder, let it cook for a minute or two and combine the heavy cream and cream cheese. Simmer this until all is melted, mixed well. Add the Parmesan cheese. It will start to thicken, so watch your heat! You don't want it to burn. Simmer this for 15-20 minutes on low. You may wish to season with a little salt and pepper. I added parsley and used cayenne pepper for a nice spicy kick!

The zucchini! This didn't take long at all, so if you want you can cook it early and set it aside as you're preparing everything else, took me only 4-5 minutes. I chopped one zucchini squash into halves. In a small skillet I heated EVOO and added some of the Simply Asia seasoning to my zucchini and sauteed til tender.

Now you should have everything ready for tossing! In my pot of noodles I added the alfredo sauce, zucchini and my can of Hunt's Diced Tomatoes flavored with Basil, Garlic and Oregano. I opted for the diced tomatoes because I love tomatoes and wanted a more chunky tomato in my pasta. But again feel free to use the marinara sauce if that's what you want. I then did a quick taste test (drool lol) and added a little more salt and garlic powder for taste.

Finally, grab a plate and add your pasta, then top it with your salmon. Grab a fork and dig in!

This was fun to make and it tasted wonderful. I also topped my meal off with a little more parsley and fresh diced tomatoes. I took a picture to show it off lol! I hope everyone enjoys it!