Tag Archives: lemon

pickerel in brown butter sauce

28 Sunday Oct 2012

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Pickerel is such an easy fish to prepare and eat. It’s not too fishy, has a nice firm flesh and goes with any side side I can think of. Here is another great recipe from High Plains: The Joy of Alberta Cuisine. This is a simple yet flavorful way of preparing your pickerel. I double the amount of lemon juice in the sauce as I like mine very ‘lemony’. Today, I served the fish on a bed of brown rice with a side of salad.

Pickerel in Brown Butter Sauce

1/2 cup flour (I use spelt flour or whatever freshly milled flour I have on hand)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1-1/2 lb. pickerel fillets

3 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 cup butter

juice of half a lemon

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Combine flour, salt, pepper and paprika in a shallow dish. Dredge the pickerel fillets in the seasoned flour, coating both sides well and shaking off any excess flour.

Heat canola oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. When fat is sizzling, add the fish and panfry until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes on each side.

Remove fish from pan and serve on a warm platter. Add remaining butter to pan and cook until it begins to brown. Mix in lemon juice and parsley then immediately pour sauce over fish and serve. Enjoy!

Resource:

Chavich, C. (2001). High Plains: The Joy of Alberta Cuisine. Calgary, AB: Fifth House, Ltd.

 

spelt pasta with gremolada

11 Wednesday Apr 2012

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I have been making my own pasta for quite a few years now have been having a lot of fun experimenting with various recipes. Now that I am milling my own flours, my pasta will be even more fresh and flavorful. This spelt pasta was my first experiment using the spelt flour that we milled just minutes before with our WonderMill. If you’ve never tried fresh pasta (not including store-bought, which has preservatives), it is worth either making your own or taking a special trip to the farmers market to get some!

Spelt Pasta

about 2-¾ cups spelt flour

3 medium eggs

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Place the eggs and oil in the mixer bowl and attach the flat beater. Mix until thoroughly combined. Add the flour a little at a time just until the dough begins to form a ball (you may not need the full amount of flour). Exchange the flat beater for the dough hook and knead at medium speed for 5 to 8 minutes, and a smooth, elastic dough has formed. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces, wrap with plastic wrap and allow it to chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Attach the pasta roller to the mixer and adjust to setting 1. Pass the dough through the roller at low speed (dust with flour first if dough is sticky), then fold in half. Do this four or five times. When the dough is no longer sticky, adjust setting to 2 and roll the pasta through. Do not fold in half this time. Continue rolling the dough through four to five times at each setting until the desired thinness is reached. Place on a clean tea towel or over a pasta rack. Repeat with the other portions of dough.

Change pasta roller for the desired pasta cutter attachment. Feed the flat pasta dough through the cutter and place back on clean tea towels or over a pasta rack. Pasta dough can be frozen, dried or cooked immediately in a pot of salted, boiling water.

Gremolada

Grated zest from 2 large lemons (about 2 teaspoons)

Grated zest from 1 orange (about 2 teaspoons)

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

1-½ teaspoons lemon juice

¾ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 pound pasta (linguini, fettuccini, capallini, etc.)

In a glass jar, add the grated lemon and orange zests, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper and olive oil. Cover the jar with the lid and shake vigorously to mix. Let stand until ready to use. (Can be made the day before.)

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta until just done. Drain and toss with the sauce. If desired, add parmesan cheese, capers, olives, minced and cooked Italian sausage or anchovies. Enjoy!

Resources:

Halsey, K. (2003). The Essential Mixer Cookbook: 150 Effortless Recipes For Your Stand Mixer and All of its Attachments. London: Quintet Publishing Ltd.

Hill, J. (1996). Food & Wine Magazine’s Quick From Scratch: Pasta. New York: American Express Publishing Corporation.

clear fish soup

12 Monday Mar 2012

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This light, refreshing and ‘brothy’ soup is tangy with lemon, capers and olive. Served with crusty brown bread it is a nice light meal. I have been making this soup for over 20 years and it has always remained a favorite!

Clear Fish Soup

1 cup coarsely chopped onions

1 bay leaf

2 sprigs parsley

3 teaspoons salt

2-1/2 lbs sturgeon, halibut, salmon or haddock steaks, cut 1-inch thick

4 tablespoons butter

2 cups thinly sliced onions

1 medium cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded and diced

2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced (to peel, soak in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and the skins will peel off easily)

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

4 teaspoons capers

1 lemon, thinly sliced and seeds removed

2 tablespoons parsely, finely chopped

12 black olives

In a 3-4 quart pot, combine 6-1/2 cups water, the chopped onions, bay leaf, parsley and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil over high heat then add the fish. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 6 minutes, until the fish is firm to the touch. Remove the fish and break it into 1-inch pieces. Strain the stock through  a fine sieve set over a bowl, pressing down on the onions and herbs with the back of a spoon before discarding them.

Rinse out the pot, then use it to melt the butter over high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until the onions are soft but not brown. Stir in the cucumber and tomatoes and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour in the strained fish stock and season with the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and white pepper. Drop in the fish and simmer gently for a few minutes, until the soup and fish are heated through. Off the heat, stir in the capers, lemon, parsley and olives. Taste for seasoning and serve. Enjoy!

tuscan kale with anchovy

06 Tuesday Mar 2012

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I had a nice bunch of kale to cook with and wanted to try something new. The addition of the lemon and anchovies add a nice kick of flavor to this dish. I served this over brown rice and topped it with a bit of shaved parmesan cheese to make this a fully satisfying meal.

Tuscan Kale with Anchovy

4 bunches of kale

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 gloves garlic, minced

8 olive oil-packed anchovy fillets, drained and minced

sea salt

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons lemon zest, shredded

Trim away the rough ends of the kale and chop into bite-sized pieces.

In a wok over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering. Add the garlic and anchovies and cook, stirring, just until garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Add the kale, salt and 1 cup of water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until kale is tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in red pepper flakes, lemon juice and zest. Transfer to a platter and serve at once. Enjoy!

Resource:

Attenborough, A., & Kimm, J. (2008). Williams-Sonoma: Cooking fir Friends. Menlo Park, CA: Oxmoor House.

lemon buttered chicken with thyme

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

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This dish is so simple to make and always turns out moist and delicious. This is one of those no-fuss dishes that are great when cooking for large groups. I love the lemon-butter-thyme combination of flavors with the chicken. Of course, the entire house smells wonderful as it roasts in the oven!

Lemon Buttered Chicken with Thyme

About 8 chicken thighs (organic, free-range, if possible)

4 tablespoons olive oil

4 tablespoons butter, melted

juice of 2 lemons

8-12 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed (must be fresh, dried will not do)

1 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper

Using your hands, rub oil all over each chicken thigh and place in an oven-proof baking dish. Generously grind salt and pepper and then sprinkle the paprika over the chicken. Spoon a bit of melted butter over each piece of chicken, then follow with the lemon juice. Liberally sprinkle the thyme over the chicken. Roast in a 425 degree (F) oven for 35 minutes. During this time, spoon more melted butter and lemon juice over the chicken twice. Serve immediately with rice or pasta and vegetables. Enjoy!

zesty caesar salad

11 Saturday Feb 2012

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Zesty Caesar Salad

1 head Romaine lettuce

2 cloves garlic

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

2 hard boiled eggs, mashed with a fork

bacon, cooked and chopped (optional)

1/2 cup bread, cubed

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Mince the garlic and place in a small jar along with the olive oil, lemon juice, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Shake well.

Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet and saute the bread cubes on all sides until brown. Place on a paper towel to drain.

In a large salad bowl, place the lettuce, mashed egg, bacon (if desired), croutons and the oil mixture. Toss well and serve immediately. Enjoy!

spiced green lentil soup with spinach and lemon

25 Wednesday Jan 2012

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I love this soup and make it often. The addition of lentils make this soup a hearty meal -especially when served with a wedge of homemade crusty brown bread.  Lentils are high in protein, fiber and iron. They are also an excellent source of essential B vitamins.

Spiced Green Lentil Soup with Spinach and Lemon

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 celery stalks, diced

2 medium potatoes, diced (note: I used yams today)

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 cup green lentils

6 cups organic vegetable (or chicken) stock

1 lb spinach or swiss chard

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Heat the oil in a large, heavy-based pot. Add the onion, garlic, celery, potato and cumin and cook, stirring frequently, over medium low heat until the potato is tender, about 10 minutes.

Increase the heat to medium. Add the lentils and stock and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat, partially cover and simmer gently until the lentils are tender, about 20-30 minutes.

Add the spinach or chard and cook until wilted but still bright green, about 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into warm bowls and serve hot. Enjoy!

Variation: Hearty Green Lentil Soup with Bacon and Red Wine Vinegar

Omit the ground cumin. Add 4 chopped bacon slices with the onion, celery and potato to the pot. Cook as directed. Replace the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar.

Resource:

Elliott, R., & Trueille, E. (2001). Organic Cookbook: Naturally Good Food. New York: Dorling Kinderley.