Andrea's Amazing Salmon Salad..

I never really had a thing for smoked salmon (unless it came on a ritz cracker smothered in Philadelphia Cream Cheese).. that is, until I tasted my friend Andrea's Amazing Smoked Salmon Salad! Now, I'm simply hooked!

Ingredients:

100g smoked salmon per person

Plenty of rocket leaves

Chopped fresh dill

boiled eggs - sliced (2 per person)

lemon juice

extra v olive oil

sea salt

cracked black pepper

What to do:

Toss rocket in a  bowl with olive oil & lemon juice

Divide leaves onto plates to serve

Top with slices of Salmon, sliced eggs, and season with salt and cracked pepper.
Sprinkle with chopped dill

Squeeze over a little more lemon juice & drizzle with extra virgin olive oil

Such a simple dish, easy to prepare.. but it is the most wonderful combination! Try it! :)

 

Very easy to prepare, looks impressive & tastes amazing!

Father's Day Lunch

Just a little something my mum whipped up for Father's Day Sunday Lunch:

 

How could I ever compete with this?! ;) Mum is a brilliant cook!

 (click on image to enlarge)

And my sister & niece's cupcakes:

Delicious!

Happy Father's Day

x

Squid Risotto!

Today I went fishing for Squid in Fremantle on a friend's boat! Had an absoloute blast and all together we caught about 11 squid and quite a few Herring (that Phil kindly filleted for me, Yay!)

I had never attempted this dish before, but I decided I would make a Squid Risotto for John, who had just come back from an 180km cycle! Thought he could do with a nice home cooked meal, and I was really inspired to cook with the freshly caught squid! A quick phone call to mum and she gave me this basic recipe:

1 large onion diced (or 2 medium, or 3 small) basically, lots of onion as it gives this dish a real sweetness

1 garlic, chopped

1 cup arborio rice

Olive Oil (and a bit of butter)

Squid, cut into small pieces

1 cup white wine

1 cube vegetable stock in about 2 cups boiling water

Salt & Pepper

Ok, so I did things a little differently to what mum explained over the phone.. but it went like this:

In a heavy based pan:

Heat olive oil (and a bit of butter - optional) in a pan, add the onions (I added a shallot as well) and cook for a really long time on low/medium heat until the onions are soft, sweet & caramelised. (Half way through this process add the garlic)

Add the squid and cook for a few minutes.

Add the rice and stir through for a minute or two

Add the cup of white wine and simmer, stirring until the alcohol evaporates (1-2 minutes)

Now, just like a normal risotto, add stock slowly while stirring constantly...as stock evaporates in the pan, add more stock a bit at a time, always stirring.. season with salt & pepper.

My risotto cooked in about 20ish minutes, and I used the full 2 cups stuck plus a dash more water...but this will vary. Basically, only cook the rice till it's all dente....

For someone that doesnt usually really like seafood risotto, this was pretty good! The flavour is mild, not too fishy, sweet from the onions and you can really taste the wine! It's yummy!!

Fab-ulous Steamed Fish with Lemon Sauce!

Stole this recipe off my sister, Fab :)

It's easy...

Steam rice (and while you're at it some greens as well) to serve with the fish:

Ingredients:
Sliced lemons, lemon juice and lemon rind
Fish fillets
Garlic
Chicken Stock
White wine
Small carton cream (whipping/pouring cream)
Pepper

Method:
Put sliced lemons and a bit of water in a pan. Place fish fillets on top of lemons and steam with lid on until fish is cooked. (Should take about 10 minutes - Don't overcook the fish).

In another pan, saute the sliced garlic in olive oil for a few minutes, careful not to burn the garlic. Add the 1/2 cup or so of white wine and cook for a few minutes.
Add a cube of chicken stock, half a lemon's juice and rind and some fine ground black pepper.
Add cream and slowly stir and bring to boil. This will thicken the sauce.

The longer the sauce is cooked, the thicker it gets... I only simmer mine for about 5 minutes.
Then serve the steamed rice, with fish fillets and the lemon sauce on top with your greens!

Yummm...