Twenty-one years ago, I went to Memphis for Labor Day weekend to play at a music festival and spend time with the guy I had started dating. His birthday was the following week, so I offered to cook him a homemade birthday meal. I went all out with several courses and outfit changes and was as extra as could be. So extra. I can laugh about it now. I wanted to share the main course recipe with y'all, and it struck me that I should make it for my hubster's birthday and record it for our channel. Twenty-one years ago, I made him this meal in hot pants. Now, I'm more of a yoga pants gal. It's a good thing we had a shared love language… Food!

I love salmon. It's not the hubster's favorite fish, but he enjoys most of the various ways I make it. This recipe is one of his favorite ways I prepare salmon. I love the zing of wasabi in the sauce it cooks in. Wasabi. It's fun to say and a tasty way to clear your sinuses. When I lived in Nashville, my friend Joe would visit the town on business, and we would always go out for sushi and saki. The first time I took him to my favorite place for sushi, there was a big blob of it in one of our rolls, and when it hit, our eyes teared, and the way he said the word "wasabi" through tears made us both laugh, and to this day, it still makes me smile to say wasabi. This recipe will make you smile.

My daughter and I went to see a movie with friends last week and of course we had to stop and have a meal at the Silver Diner first. I had a sandwich that came with a side of coleslaw. There was corn in the coleslaw. I was surprised. I had never had corn in slaw before. So, when I wanted to make fish tacos, which I absolutely love to eat, but usually make with a mango slaw, I decided to make my own corn slaw, and I have no regrets. Not only was it the perfect accompaniment to this taco, but I could eat it by the spoonful. OK, full disclosure, I did. You will love this and add it to your repertoire!

I love to eat fish. I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to food, generally speaking. I will try just about anything once. Maybe twice. If you enjoy sushi, you'll love this!

This amazing recipe is quick, simple, and thoroughly scrumptious. Ahi tuna is known for its high-fat content, rich flavor, and meaty texture, while Albacore tuna, the one you find canned and made salad with, has a milder flavor and softer, more delicate texture. Searing fish is a very simple process. The most important aspect is the quality of the fish. Buy the good shit! You can marinate the tuna for up to 1 hour before searing. If you marinate it longer, the fish protein will actually "cook" in the acidic ingredients. That's science! I won't blind you with it.

This is Mama Miche, and today, in my magic kitchen: Presto Pesto!

Pesto is easy. Like so easy. Anyone can do it! Like Chef Gusteau says in Ratatouille, "Anyone can cook!" That's not to say anyone can be a great gourmet chef. Not everyone has the magic touch of even the best home chefs. TLC is an ingredient. Period. Full stop if you don't get it, you don't get it, and your meals will always lack something. In cooking, you do need more than love, but it is what takes it over the top. Some skills are involved, but they develop over time with practice.

This is Mama Miche, and today in My Magic Kitchen: Grilled Lobster Tails with Garlic Butter for Momster on her birthday, 9/1/23. This year, she would've turned 84.

My Momster. You hear a lot about this woman not just because she was my mother, from whence I came, but also because she was my very best friend. I can't celebrate her birthday with her anymore. It will be 10 years since she left for the great beyond this coming October, making Fall difficult for me to get through. It remains my second favorite season, but it's also my least favorite since she died.

She wouldn't want me harping on the negative, so I always find myself looking for ways to celebrate her in her absence. It's usually through food. Maybe it's a Jewish thing or just an “us” thing. On the anniversary of her birthday this year, my daughter asked me what her favorite food was, and without hesitation, I said, "Lobster." The funny thing about my Momster and lobster is that she was very allergic to shellfish, and lobster caused the most severe reaction: her eyes and lips swelling and her lips tingling or numb. It was always worth it to her. She would deal with the allergy whenever she treated herself to lobster.