| I am German with Italian influences and so that means that Christmas Eve Dinner is about the seven fishes, one of which I will describe today. It’s a roasted Salmon with tea rub and cranberry walnut sauce. I hope you will try this-it’s easy and has amazing depth of flavor. I would serve this with wild and brown rice and sautéed Brussels sprouts and garlic-also a 7 or 12 grain roll which you can buy at Whole Foods Markets- For those of you who are vegetarian this recipe can be made using chicken or plane flavored Sietan treating it as the salmon and using vegetable or mushroom broth(you can find this at Whole Foods Markets also)in place of the chicken stock-remember the best chefs will look at a recipe and take the principles of the recipe and tweak it to their way of cooking. In other words, if the recipe calls for meat and you are a vegetarian use the soy or wheat products that have the consistency of meat and adapt the ingredients to fit the profile. Have fun with your cooking and stay loose-we want to feel more happiness in our lives-rules can be sometimes bent but never broken !! Remember as always read the recipe twice and go slow-you can do anything if you believe in yourself- Have a spectacular Christmas-find love and goodness in someone and take Your God into your heart more often. Bon Appetito |
| now let's cook..... Roasted Salmon with Chai Tea Rub serves 6 5 lb center cut piece of Wild Atlantic Salmon (or farm raised if that’s all that’s available) 2 tea bags of Celestial Seasonings Decaf India Spice Chi 2 t. salt 1 t. black pepper ½ t. cayenne pepper 1 t. dried dill 1 T. dried cranberries (continued below) |
| 2008 Best Beer Selection in New Jersey America-On-Line |
15 South Orange Avenue
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 762-7077
www.gaslightbrewery.com
South Orange, NJ 07079
(973) 762-7077
www.gaslightbrewery.com
| Open the tea bags and put the tea and all other ingredients into a spice grinder (coffee grinder) and process until finely ground to create a "rub" Remove and wash the salmon, the pat with olive oil on both sides Work the "run" on both sides of the fish. Place fish in a very hot pan sear both side with a little olive oil and butter-about 1 T. of each Use more olive oil if need; Watch that the butter does not burn Browning with butter will give a nutty flavor but don’t burn the ! If you need to just turn the fire down a little-to medium- Next, place the fish on a oven proof platter and top with a few pats of butter and finish in the oven for about 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish. Remove and plate. |
| Cranberry Walnut Sauce 2 T. olive oil 1 T. butter 1 cup finely dice white onions 2 cloves of garlic finely minced ½ t. chili flakes salt and black pepper to taste 1 c. fresh cranberries ¼ c. dried cranberries 1 t. each of finely minced rosemary and thyme(fresh) 1 c. white wine 1 c. sour cream 1 c. toasted walnuts In the pan that you sautéed the fish, add a little more oil and butter-about 2 T. of olive oil and 1 T. of butter Add onions, garlic, salt and black pepper, and chili flakes and sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables are transparent and soft Next add the fresh and dried cranberries with the rosemary, thyme and wine- sauté until the fresh cranberries pop open Add a till water up to 1 cup if necessary-meanwhile toast the walnut in a 400 degree oven until browned lightly about 10 minutes (do not burn them).Cool the nuts and chop coarsely. After the cranberries pop remove from heat and allow to cool slightly then put in a food processor or blender set for course(don’t puree smoothly). Add in the sour cream-you can add a little white wine or chicken stock if necessary- to make the sauce loose. Reheat the sauce slowly over low so the sour cream doesn’t break and then add the walnuts last. |
| Wild and Brown Rice with Roasted Brussels Sprout Brussels Sprouts 1 lb. Brussels Sprouts 2 T. olive oil Salt and Black pepper to taste 1 pinch of chili flakes Trim off the outer leaves of the Brussels sprouts and cut in half vertically from top to stem. Then cut each half into thirds vertically-rub all with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and black pepper and chili flakes. Roast covered with aluminum foil at 400 degrees for 30 minutes then uncover and finish to tender about 20 minutes more. Test to see if done then cool slightly. |
| 15 South Orange Avenue South Orange, NJ 07079 (973) 762-7077 www.gaslightbrewery.com |
| and as always,...... remember you can do it! Just read the recipe twice and go slow. |
| So until the next time we meet and discuss the finer things in life and love- be well. Live Long, Love Often, Be Happy and Eat Well Cynthia |
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| Cynthia Soboti Executive Chef Gaslight Brewery and Restaurant |
It’s Sunday morning about 6am. I’ve been up for
about 2 hours already. I put two chickens in a pot
to cook for my chicken and Stout pies. There is a
blanket of snow on the trees and it’s cold-the
perfect day to spend baking and having fun in the
kitchen. It’s also great because I’m home alone,
which I love. I realize howerver that it’s a rather sad
time for some people-those that have lost their
jobs, have illness in the family, are alone or have
just lost their faith in the future. I pray God will find
a way of brightening the lives of those who walk in
darkness.
Now to set the stage-Christmas music, a pot of
orange, lemon, cinnamon and nutmeg with a little
red wine diluted with water on the radiator. When
the heat is on the aroma will permeate the air and
the sweet smell of all the cooking. After I finish I’m
going to put on the DVD of Scrooge and then
maybe---no I simple can’t spend another Christmas
with “A Christmas Story". I can't tak thepink bunny
outfit, PJ’s, shooting your eye out, lamps with legs,
tongues sticking to metal poles and of course
looping off the heads of ducks in Chinese
restaurants. It's nostalgia but not my cup of tea.
Speaking of tea I just created the best cup of
Christmas Chi Tea. it’s my own creation and it goes
like this: place one tea bag each of Celestial
Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile and Decaf
India Spice Chi in a teapot with one Lipton Yellow
Label tea bag(you get this at an India Market Store)
or you could use regular Lipton’s but the Yellow
Label is a bit sweeter). Next, add about 2
Tablespoons of dried cranberries or if you have it a
few dried Hibiscus flowers. They both add a bit of
zing to the flavor and vitamin C-pour over 4 cups of
boiling water and let steep for about 5 minutes.
Pour into a cup and enjoy with a little honey and
milk. Tea is a simple pleasure, one we should get to
know more often.
(continued top next column)
about 2 hours already. I put two chickens in a pot
to cook for my chicken and Stout pies. There is a
blanket of snow on the trees and it’s cold-the
perfect day to spend baking and having fun in the
kitchen. It’s also great because I’m home alone,
which I love. I realize howerver that it’s a rather sad
time for some people-those that have lost their
jobs, have illness in the family, are alone or have
just lost their faith in the future. I pray God will find
a way of brightening the lives of those who walk in
darkness.
Now to set the stage-Christmas music, a pot of
orange, lemon, cinnamon and nutmeg with a little
red wine diluted with water on the radiator. When
the heat is on the aroma will permeate the air and
the sweet smell of all the cooking. After I finish I’m
going to put on the DVD of Scrooge and then
maybe---no I simple can’t spend another Christmas
with “A Christmas Story". I can't tak thepink bunny
outfit, PJ’s, shooting your eye out, lamps with legs,
tongues sticking to metal poles and of course
looping off the heads of ducks in Chinese
restaurants. It's nostalgia but not my cup of tea.
Speaking of tea I just created the best cup of
Christmas Chi Tea. it’s my own creation and it goes
like this: place one tea bag each of Celestial
Seasonings Honey Vanilla Chamomile and Decaf
India Spice Chi in a teapot with one Lipton Yellow
Label tea bag(you get this at an India Market Store)
or you could use regular Lipton’s but the Yellow
Label is a bit sweeter). Next, add about 2
Tablespoons of dried cranberries or if you have it a
few dried Hibiscus flowers. They both add a bit of
zing to the flavor and vitamin C-pour over 4 cups of
boiling water and let steep for about 5 minutes.
Pour into a cup and enjoy with a little honey and
milk. Tea is a simple pleasure, one we should get to
know more often.
(continued top next column)
December - 2008
| To Cook the Rice 1 1/3 c. Wild Rice 1 1/3 c. Brown rice 1 large white onion finely diced 2 cloves garlic finely minced salt and black pepper to taste(about 1 t. of each) 2 T. olive20oil 1 T. butter 1/3 cup of white wine 8 c. of water In another pan big enough to hold the rice-about a 4 quart sauce pan with lid-heat the oil and butter-add the onion and garlic and sauté till soft-deglaze with 1/3 c. of white wine-now add both rice and sauté 5 minutes-add the water-bring to a boil and cut back to a simmer-place the cover on and cook for about 30-45 minutes-if the rice is done and there is still water strain out the excess liquid and discard-fold in the Brussels sprouts and adjust the salt and black pepper to your liking. In another pan big enough to hold the rice-about a 4 quart sauce pan with lid-heat the oil and butter Add the onion and garlic and sauté till soft. Deglaze with 1/3 c. of white wine. Now add both rice and sauté 5 minutes-add the water-bring to a boil and cut back to a simmer- Pace the cover on and cook for about 30-45 minutes. If there is still water strain out the excess liquid and discard. Fold in the Brussels sprouts and adjust the salt and black pepper to your liking. |
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