Lake Superior Herring, Mushrooms and Crucifers

For dinner tonight I was going to marinate and cook some local herring and serve that with some of the vegetables from the soup I made yesterday.  Then I saw an 8 oz. package of lonely, neglected mushrooms.  Okay, sharpen my knife, wash them quickly and pare off the scary parts.  I almost pitched them - but now I'm really glad I didn't.  They'll saute' up well with the fish.

I thawed and marinated 8 oz. of herring I bought a while ago in one of our fancier grocery stores.  When I need a luxurious food field trip, my car knows the way! They always have lamb there, so I started going when I had a craving for my rosemary lamb, barley and vegetable soup, which was inspired by a can of Campbell's Scotch Broth a decade or so ago!

MARINADE:

3 sliced green onions

1t - 1T grated frozen lemon

1-2 T rosemary infused EVOO

salt and pepper

Wash the fish, pat dry and cut into 2" pieces.  Roll around in the marinade, coating it well with all the ingredients.  Let it stand for a half hour, tossing it once or twice with a fork.


Meanwhile, after about 20 minutes, start slowly sauteing the mushrooms in a little more of the oil.  When the mushrooms are looking about half done, and a bit golden brown, make a circle of them, around the edge of the pan.  Stir a couple tablespoons of warm water into the marinade bowl if it's dry, then put the fish and all the marinade into the center of the pan.  Cover and cook on low heat a few minutes then turn the pieces over and repeat.

At the very end, make room in the pan and add the vegetables.  Turn off the heat, cover and leave on the burner for a few minutes just to heat everything through.  Makes 2 servings. . .Lin 

Pork Rib Stew

This started out, in my mind. . .as just meat, potatoes, onions and a little garlic sea salt and pepper, with a thick, simmered-reduced broth for gravy.  I bought the meat a while ago and freezer burn was starting to set in.  However, I peeked into the 'fridge and there were vegetables just CLAMORING to get into the pot!  So. . .Now it's stew! 😃 YEA!!  I love spontaneous cooking surprises!

1¾# seasoned pork ribs

½ an onion - minced

2T sunflower - coconut oil

a little water

⅓c white wine or Vodka

¾ of a poblano pepper

2 stalks of celery - sliced

2 big carrots - cut in chunks

1½ onions - in cut ¼ or ⅙ wedges

3 medium red potatoes cut in ⅛ chunks

1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes and juice

finely ground red and black pepper

2T powdered beef soup base

fresh ground garlic sea salt

1t sugar

Start by searing-browning the meat and onion in the oil.  Keep it moving!  Just before it starts to stick, add the water and wine or Vodka (or you can substitute chicken or beef broth.)

Next add the vegetables, in the order they're given, which takes their cooking time into account.  The pepper actually cooks fast, but if added now, will impart much more flavor.  Simmer, covered after each vegetable addition for 10-15 minutes, as you go down the list.

Simmer, covered an additional 20 minutes after the last group of ingredients.  You can thicken the 'gravy' if you want, with a little corn flour or corn starch.  If you haven't tried cooking with corn flour - (not corn meal) - give it a try!  I love it!  It gives the food an earthier flavor than wheat flour, and it's gluten-free!

Today has turned into A Wonderful House Day for me.  Pre-rainstorm-pensive!  My favorite kind!  My lawn guys were here early this morning, so my yard looks wonderful.  I've cooked, gotten started on some long-neglected paperwork, finished a couple easy projects and later, I'm going to have a little bowl of this interesting stew and curl up with my dogs and cat for a while. 😊

Happy Monday Everyone! 😀 . . . Lin

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Peas and Carrots Rice. . .

I love the Kirkwood Cilantro Lime Chicken I buy at Aldi's!  It inspired this Peas and Carrots Rice recipe.  Oh my. . .the two together were DYNO-MITE!!  Thaw and slowly cook the chicken in a covered pan, simmering with a little water or dry white wine and lots of fresh garlic.  While that's doing its thing, combine the following ingredients in a 2 quart pot.

¼c dried spit peas - green or yellow

2 med. carrots - scrubbed and chopped

½c 20 minute-cooking long grain white rice

1 med. sweet onion cut in segments

1t-1T Rosemary Seasoning * 

1½c water

2T butter

Simmer the rice and other ingredients, covered, until the water is absorbed.

When the chicken is cooked, slice and serve with a big scoop of this amazing rice!  😋 . . . Lin

Mushroom Crab Cakes w/a Chopped Salad

8oz. crabmeat
8oz. finely chopped mushrooms

2 beaten eggs

1/2 chopped med. purple onion

5 minced garlic cloves

1/4c mayo

1T fresh lemon or lime juice

1-2T seedy brown mustard

1t Hungarian hot paprika

1-1/2t Old Bay Seasoning
1t fresh snipped chives

2t fresh snipped dill

1/2c bread crumbs

extra bread crumbs

Combine all measured ingredients in a medium glass bowl.  Using a 1/2c measure, scoop out the mixture and form into 'patties'.  Cover with bread crumbs.  Place in a buttered 9x13" glass baking pan.  Bake 18-20 minutes @ 375°.  Makes 8 patties.  Any leftover patties will freeze well for future dinners. . .Lin

Sweet and Spicy Curry Mayonnaise

2T chopped spicy sweet pickles

2T chopped red onion

1t red curry paste

3/4c± mayonnaise

Mix together and use as a sauce for the crab cakes. . .Lin

serve with:

Chopped Salad

1 lg. carrot

2 lg. cauliflower florets 

3 stalks celery heart

1/4 chopped purple onion

3 lg. radishes

Chop these vegetables (or any you have) into a medium glass bowl and coat lightly with your favorite dressing, add fresh ground pepper, toss then let stand and toss, several times in the next 10-15 minutes to marinate and blend all the flavors. . .Lin