Blackened Salmon with Mango Salsa

Friday, 22nd November 2013

Largely based on this, but with salmon filet rather than steaks and a slightly different spicy mixture.
Cooking this at the temperature and time indicated filled the kitchen with aromatic smoke and took the skin side of the salmon beyond "blackened" to "burnt". And the centre of the fish was still slightly undercooked. So a slightly lower heat and longer cooking would be better (plus open windows). Very tasty though, especially the mango salsa, and not too spicy. Served with sautéed potatoes and a salad of lamb's lettuce, feta, walnuts and toasted pine kernels.

Roast Chicken

Saturday, 27th July

I've lost my touch with roasting chickens and this was no exception. I put a lemon in the cavity and used a honey and lemon glaze, but it was actually a bit dry and not really very flavourful. Two excellent salads made my Monika though. Peppers and onions in one and mango and seeds in the other.

Pan Roasted Halibut

Saturday, 29th June 2013

We are enjoying a very fishy weekend, after visiting this excellent Wild Salmon Smoker, and buying a large selection of smoked fish, and some lovely Halibut.
I used this recipe, for the Halibut, which was nice and simple, but very tasty. Browning on the stove-top and finishing in the oven, continues to be a winning technique. I did overdo the lemon juice in the sauce, but that was a minor problem.
We had this on the balcony, taking advantage of a few sunny hours amongst the recent incessant rain, with a salad of lamb's lettuce, tomato and walnut, and some olive bread.

Quail Breasts with Wine and Rosemary

Friday, 21st June 2013

I had got hold of 10 quail breasts, which was just right for two, and found this recipe.
The wine sauce came out a little sour, possibly because I used a Pinot Gris instead of Chardonnay, but the meat was perfectly cooked, tender and flavourful. The roast potatoes were cooked just right, but a little dry for my taste. More sauce was needed. Salad of Lambs Lettuce, Bacon and different type of cherry tomatoes.

Chicken and peppers in rice.

Friday, 23rd November 2012

Brown the chicken and quickly fry the slice peppers then set aside. Fry the rice with onion and then add wine, stock and tomatoes, bring to the boil and return the chicken a peppers. Simmer until the liquid has mostly gone.
I server this with a salad of leeks, sliced red pepper and olives, and anchovy stuffed mushrooms. The salad was delicious and definitely the best part.

Bratwurst with Creamy Mustard Sauce

Thursday, 8th December 2011

We were looking for something relatively simple and my partner suggested fresh bratwurst. Then I went and complicated it all by making a mustard sauce, potato and onion cakes and a salad with parmesan and bacon.
For the potato cakes I par-boiled some potatoes, then chopped them up with some onions, formed them into thick cakes and fried them very gently in butter for 20 or 30 minutes.
The sauce was just softened onions and garlic, cooked in a little wine for a while, with mustard and cream added at the end and heated through.
This was a very nice meal - I particularly liked the potato cakes.

Pasta and Salad

Thursday 17.03.2011

Fresh made pasta from the local Italian deli with a bacon, mushroom and cream sauce, salad of mixed leaves, tomato and parmesan shavings. With a nice bottle of Prosecco.  Quick and absolutely delicious.

Honey Glazed Poussins

Friday, 14th January

Honey Glazed Poussins - Sainsbury book of Chicken Dishes p34. Roast Poussin glazed with honey, garlic and wine vinegar.  Served with chip-shaped roast potatoes, stir-fried fennel with a sweet pepper sauce and salad of lamb's lettuce, thinly sliced white onion, diced feta and diced fig salami.  Used too much fat for the potatoes so they didn't really crisp up the way I wanted, but they were still tasty.  The salad was especially good.  Together with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot a very nice dinner indeed.