SANDRA’S WILD ALASKA SMOKED SALMON-CRIMINI FETTUCCINI ALFREDO

This particular recipe photo 
was requested to be added to 
 Foodielicious on Flicker
@ http://www.flickr.com/photos/
46684675@N05/5320442551/
in/pool-foodielicious; and later
@ http://freeimagefinder.com/
detail/5320442551.html

Serves: (4)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: 10 to 12 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons light olive oil
¼ onion, minced
4 crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups milk
2 cups prepared, skinless and boneless Alaska smoked salmon strips, broken into chunks
(or kippered salmon fillets)
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
½ cup parmesan cheese, grated (divided)
½ lb. prepared fettuccini

--Garnish with 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped; including a few whole sprigs

METHOD

Begin preparing fettuccini according to package directions, which takes about 10 mins.

Meanwhile, melt butter with olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add onions, and crimini mushrooms, and sauté until onions are translucent. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Reduce heat under skillet to medium-low. Add flour slowly while whisking until incorporated; cooking for about 1-2 minutes for flour flavor to cook out. Slowly add cream, and milk while whisking a few minutes, until a thickened sauce forms. Add smoked salmon, and gently stir with a wooden spoon (so salmon pieces do not break up), just to heat through. (Please do not boil or cream might curdle.) Gradually sprinkle 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese over salmon-crimini sauce, and gently stir, just until cheese has melted. Taste for seasonings, adding sea salt and ground pepper, to taste (be careful, as the both the salmon and cheese tend to have a faily high salt content). Remove skillet from heat.

Drain fettuccini (while reserving a ladle full of pasta water), toss drained pasta lightly with a drizzle of olive oil, and pour hot pasta onto a large platter. Check consistency of sauce, adding pasta water to thin, if needed (test the consistency by dipping the backside of the wooden spoon into sauce, and running your finger through it and it should hold its shape, you do not want it too thick).  Spoon salmon-crimini sauce over top of pasta and lightly toss, and sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese. Garnish with chopped parsley, and a few whole parsley sprigs placed in the center of entree. – Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: I like to serve this with glasses of quality white wine, and individual garden salads drizzled with vinaigrette.

MAX'S BRAISED CHICKEN and MUSHROOMS with ROASTED ASPARAGUS

This method of cooking the poultry is what 
makes it very tender and oh so flavorful...

Servings: (6)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: Just slightly over 1 Hr.

Posted by of Max via Sandra

INGREDIENTS

*Braised Chicken and Mushrooms
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 medium-size boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half lengthwise
kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
1 garlic clove, minced
2 (10.75 oz. cans) cream of mushroom soup (Campbell Brand)
1 (0.87 oz. pkg.) dry pork gravy mix (McCormick Brand)
1 cup celery, chopped
8 fresh crimini mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons yoshida sauce, (or for recipe, click here: Sandra's Homemade Yoshida Sauce)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, (or for recipe, click here: Sandra's Poultry Seasoning Blend)
1 handful fresh parsley, chopped

--3 cups prepared steamed rice

***Roasted Asparagus
1 bunch of pencil-thin asparagus, tough ends removed (roasting time may vary, depending upon thickness)
olive oil
kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste

METHOD

*Braised Chicken and Mushrooms:
Heat olive oil in a dutch oven, or large heavy-bottom skillet, to medium-high heat. Add the halved chicken pieces, and sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste, and sear on each side, until golden brown. Remove excess grease with a spoon, while retaining 1 tablespoon in dutch oven.  Add the garlic and saute for 30 seconds. Add all the remaining ingredients, and bring to boil, and then reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and continue cooking for 1 hour, while occasionally stirring.  Taste for seasonings, adding additional kosher salt and ground pepper, if need be.

**Prepare the steamed rice, and the following Roasted Asparagus; so they finish cooking at the same time the Braised Chicken and Mushroom mixture is due to be done.

***Roasted Asparagus:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove rough stems from ends of asparagus by bending them to find their natural breaking point. Place in small ovenproof baking dish and drizzle lightly with olive oil, and sprinkle with kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste. Toss to coat, and spread out asparagus spears evenly into one layer, and roast for 15 to 20 minutes, just until crisp-tender, depending upon thickness.

To serve, place the steamed rice on a plate, and ladle the Braised Chicken and Mushroom mixture over the top, along with placing the Roasted Asparagus on the side – enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: Max says this recipe also works excellent using most poultry as well.

SANDRA'S GRILLED FRESH VEGETABLE MEDLEY

I was inspired by my brother 
who barbecued
while visiting me here in Juneau 
when he grilled a similar side dish...

Servings: (2 to 4)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Grill: 10 to 15 Mins.,
depending desired crispiness

Posted: by Sandra at:

Special Equipment: 
--Grilling Basket
--Charcoal Grill (preferably)


INGREDIENTS

1 red onion, chopped into 1” pieces
1 red bell pepper, chopped into 1” pieces
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped into 1” pieces
1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise, and chopped into 1” pieces
1 cup of crimini mushrooms, quartered lengthwise
--(or button mushrooms)
2 teaspoons olive oil
kosher salt, and ground pepper, to taste
½ cup store-bought yoshida sauce
--(or for Sandra’s recipe, click here: Sandra's Homemade Yoshida Sauce)

METHOD

Set an empty heatproof medium bowl aside with the grilling basket inside of it, including another small bowl with containing just the yoshida sauce with a basting brush, and a set of tongs.

In a large ziploc bag, place all the cut up veggies into it, and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle them with kosher salt, and ground pepper, to taste. Toss to coat inside the veggies inside bag, and pour into the grilling basket sitting inside the medium bowl (this is to prevent drips while transporting back and forth to grill).

Place just the grilling basket of seasoned veggies on the grill over indirect heat, and using the pastry brush – dip it in the yoshida sauce and let the sauce drizzle over the veggies, an then give them a gentle toss with tongs. Repeat every 2 minutes, until your desired crisp-tender doneness is achieved; about 10 to 15 minutes. – Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: This sounds like a lot of veggies, but believe me they cook down quite a bit.  I’m sure you’ll love this recipe – it’s one of our “go-to” side dishes for sure. Also, you might wish to incorporate 1” pieces of summer squash, asparagus, green beans, etc. Let your imagination go wild! Further,  feel free to roast them using a baking pan at 400 degrees in the oven for the same amount of time using the same method to drizzle the sauce every couple of minutes.

SANDRA'S ALASKAN BEER BATTERED MUSHROOMS with GRUYERE CHEESE

My husband and I had a similar appetizer 
at a local eatery
so I just had to replicate them, 
and these
Beer Battered Mushrooms 
with Gruyere turned out identically yummy...

Servings: (6)
Prep: 10 mins. |
Cook 10 to 15 mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

Note: Allow mushrooms to come to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking, as cold mushrooms tend to condensate upon removed from refrigerator.

2 lbs. medium button mushroom, stems intact, cleaned with a dry paper towel
--(batter does not stick to wet mushrooms, so do not rinse with water)
peanut oil, for frying
¼ cup gruyere cheese, grated (or swiss cheese)
1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley

Local
Alaskan Brewing Company
'Alaskan Summer'
Ale

***Beer Batter:
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted through a sieve
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian herb seasoning blend
1 bottle dark beer, cold (I use Alaskan Beer ;-)

---Serving options:
-Lemon wedges
-Ranch dressing, for dipping sauce
--(See recipe here: Ranch Dip or Dressing)

METHOD

Place a ovenproof serving platter in the oven at 275 degrees to warm.

Pour about 2 inches of oil into a deep fryer or electric skillet, and heat to 375 degrees.

Meanwhile, make the beer batter by sifting the flour and baking powder through a sieve into a medium bowl. Add the kosher salt, ground pepper, garlic and onion powders, paprika, italian seasoning, and beer, whisking until smooth.

Don’t over crowd the pan, and fry in batches. Begin by ‘lightly’ dipping dry mushrooms into batter, then carefully immerse into hot oil. Fry the mushrooms for a total of about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping half way through, until they are evenly golden brown. Drain the mushrooms on a paper-towel lined plate.

Meanwhile, remove the warmed serving platter from the oven, and turn the oven up to 350 degrees. Place hot mushrooms on warm platter and sprinkle with shredded gruyere cheese. Place in oven for a couple of minutes, just until cheese is slightly melted. Remove from oven, and warn guests that the platter is hot, sprinkle with parsley, and serve with lemon wedges, individual forks and plates, and small bowls filled with ranch dressing for dipping. Squeeze lemon over mushrooms, eat while hot. ~ Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip: Thinner batter makes for a lighter coating, and thicker batter makes for a heavier coating (all batter recipes may vary depending upon humidity in your area – so adjust to your liking by adding more beer to thin it, or more flour to thicken.) Also, this batter is very good for deep-frying onion rings and veggies, such as zucchini, broccoli, etc.