Arctic Char in Sustainable Lemon Cream Sauce

Lemony, flaky goodness...

The cherry blossoms were beautiful, and finishing the 10 Mile Race was a sweet topping-off of all the work that went into training to become a runner. I think I'll hang up my spurs for a while though, so that I can give my full attention to other pursuits...

One of these other pursuits, as you may have deduced, is cooking sustainable and delicious food, for myself and others. Right on the heels of running that race, I was already brimming with ideas about supper clubs and cooking classes- I'm sorry, is that my multipotentiality showing? Good!

One of the things I tried out on myself was a recipe from Elise at Simply Recipes: Arctic Char with Lemon Cream Sauce. Elise adapted it for salmon, but the original recipe from the Country Cooking of Ireland used Arctic Char, a sustainable alternative to most of the over-fished or inefficiently-caught salmon out there (not that there isn't good salmon-- it's out there, too!).

The recipe is fairly simple: lemon juice, chicken stock, and heavy cream combining and reducing to form a warm and piquant accompaniment to the crispy-skinned, flaky-fleshed arctic char. YUM. I loved how the defrosted fillets had such glistening colors on the skin side- don't be afraid to say it: fish scales can be beautiful!

As Elise notes, it's best to 1) fry the skin-side-down first, to crisp it up and 2) turn on the fan above your stove, since frying fish tends to leave a lingering, odiferous signature.

Skin-side down first

There are an awful lot of details involved in judging whether a fish species is being overfished or caught in a way that doesn't harm other species, so I leave it to Seafood Watch, a widely-trusted program of the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which I visited on a field trip as a kid in California. They study, research, and verify claims of sustainability to protect the health of the ocean's seafood species.

Now, I have come across some conflicting reports from supposedly trustworthy sources- Whole Foods for example, listing their fish as a yellow (not great) when SFW lists them as red (avoid). Any ideas about how to determine who's right? This might be a question for Twitter... (yes, I've joined Twitter. It's kind of exciting!)

Ready for its close-up

Where are you on sustainable seafood? Is it not an issue where you are? Are you confused about who is a good authority? Or are you waiting on a few, good fishmongers to show up in your neighborhood? (Me, too!) Let us know in the comments if you've found some good sources of info which you can share!

Oh, and by the way, the cream for this was organic, and the lemons were sustainably farmed, if you can call the trees in my parents' backyard a 'farm.' SO glad I'm still the occasional recipient of their care packages!

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Last Bits of Juice from the Road Trip: Part 4

The last two legs of the journey. I drove from Vermont to upstate New York, spent the night, and continued on to DC the next day. It was a lot of driving but I certainly found sights to amuse, distract, and make me think over the course of the two days.

 On my last morning in Vermont, which was Sue and Nigel's second-to-last morning there, they did a morning run to the Harvest Market in Stowe. Their website may not be much, but their shop is gorgeous and chock full of gourmet delicacies, not to mention fresh baked goods. And we mean FRESH- we ended up waiting for about 30 minutes for garlic sticks that were coming straight out of the oven. They were amazing.

 Once I sadly departed from friends, I toodled through Vermont and came upon a Civil War days fair-- didn't think they had those north of the Mason-Dixon line? Well, neither did I. But apparently, country is as country does, and part of country is remembering heritage. Here I heard a lecture about troop badges, and spied some lovely baked goods, as well as women in antebellum costumes. Nevermind the rain, we're tough Yankees!

Dakin Farm is the site of ... my weakening resolve to not buy everything kitschy and delicious-looking in sight. There was lots of good stuff there, and I bought cheese and fudge, both very good!

But really, the stop at Vergennes, VT is where I hit the big time. The couple thrift shops I was going to investigate turned out to be closed, but then this popped up, as well as a different thrift shop, where I found a couple books. The Daily Chocolate has really amazing flavor combinations- I picked up one type of bark named "Nibby" (milk chocolate with a generous helping of coconut and sesame seeds), and another named "Moroccan" (dark chocolate with pecans, raisins, and Garam Masala spices). They were free and easy with their samples, had a reasonable code of conduct on responsible sourcing, and ... so I also bought a little container of maple roasted cacao nibs. Obviously I was totally sold on their creative approach and wonderful flavors! So do try them out if you're in the area...

These next few photos illustrate the totally captivating sense of whimsy I felt while trawling through the picturesque countryside. Perhaps there is a hipster site dedicated to haystacks dressed up as creatures, but I'm completely content to post these as my only sample. Two are haystack creations of a dog and cat (and thank goodness it was a lonely stretch of road, because I had to make a few U-turns), and one is a trailer painted like a cow. Perfect Road Trip scenery, really.

This deserved a mention, even though it was closed (basically a miniature golf course, but with a tailor-made theme ... to please the locals?)

After passing through scenic park land, I came upon this, the Pocono Bazaar, a sort of swap meet writ large for locals and curiosity hunters. I found it a strange, somewhat surreal experience, because I've always heard of the Poconos as a sort of midcentury luxury getaway destination. Here I was confronted with empty lots, creaking structures, and bathrooms serviced by attendants hoping for tips, like Mom and I saw in southern France.

Civil War Memorabilia...

My last stop before the long journey home: Oregon Dairy! I had stopped for gas at a spot that looked like it had a restaurant or two, but turned out to only be Chili's and a bar. So I persevered in the interests of health and foodie-discovery, and came here, unfortunately too late for their dining room. Apparently they close their restaurant at 2 PM on Sundays, and my Pocono visit had made me arrive later than the usual lunchtime.

I found more than enough to satisfy me, even without the restaurant: the supermarket had a great bakery section: see baked oatmeal above- delicious and entirely unknown to me before this. I also tried shoo-fly pie, something I'd heard of as a legend but was fairly disappointed by-- figgy consistency and lacking flavor. OD also had a bulk section, where I found some grains and spices I'd been looking for at a good price. Plus, mini-marshmallows! My resolve, and my hunger, were too weak, and strong, respectively, at this point to resist the cuteness. I had the equivalent of a slider sandwich, then proceeded to the ... Milk House (an ice creamery, truth be told).

I may not have appreciated the sizing titles, but the teens serving me were country-considerate (nothing like the Montreal uni students!), the ice cream was great, it was shelter from the rain, and I wasn't sitting in my driver's seat for a bit-- deliverance! Thus ended my awesome Solo Road Trip adventure. Full of good food, good fun, and dear family, both related and in spirit.

New England and Americana, the Road Trip: Part One

Lest you think that I've got Scotland-colored glasses on, I will be focusing on American travels today!

Perfect croissants in their limelight at the CIA

Here's the story of how I got to take this road trip. (You didn't think I just decided, ex tempore, did you?)
After a failed attempt at scheduling a meeting of old friends in Edinburgh, those same friends turned out to be visiting the U.S. for a holiday of their own-- in Vermont. So Sue very kindly asked if I could figure out a trip to Vermont, as it was 'in the neighborhood' and they'd be in the beautiful mountain country for over a week. Google Maps informed me that the drive from DC to Vermont would take about 10 hours. Knowing Europeans' penchant for underestimating distances in the U.S., I had thought this would probably be too far-- not to mention getting the time off work. However, I quickly calculated: the drive from Northampton to Edinburgh would have been over 6 hours, and that was what I had asked of them... so I daydreamed and got a little creative.

Witchy woods at Innisfree

During the dates they had booked, I had a large work meeting to help run in Philadelphia. This got me 2 hours closer to my northerly goal, and on the company dime-- yes! Too, I had a family member who lived in upstate NY who I would have loved to hang out with-- my halfway house! If I could engineer the schedule such that I could leave the meeting, stay with my cousin-once-removed, and take a few days off, this could work! So I sent my thoughts out to the universe and...
it worked!
So here are a few photos from the first part of the journey: staying near New Paltz with Ginny, visiting mosquito-ridden but oh-so-beautiful Innisfree Gardens, and stopping for lunch at the C.I.A.

A stone set 'just so' with its lake and lily pads beyond

 The always-fresh moss growth which had Ginny wanting to breathe it all in at a gulp

 Ginny capturing an intense red bud amid all the greenery

 After some serious stalking, we annoyed into flight what we think was a Great Blue Heron. He thought himself quite the Cock of the Walk, I must say- hard to perturb that one!

After getting eaten alive by the midges and mosquitos (wasn't raining hard enough to keep them out of our hair), we gave in and drove over Poughkeepsie way to the Culinary Institute of America.

Funny note: the CIA's grand building was originally a Jesuit novitiate seminary, which succeeded Frederick, MD for the care and feeding of Jesuits from 1903 to 1969. There is still an inlaid crest at the entry which signifies "For the glory of God" in Latin. I suppose one can cook to the glory of God as well...

The Apple Pie Bakery's Grilled Chicken Sandwich (verdict: mighty good)

 Ginny enjoying her Truffled Grilled Cheese (N.B. Apple Pie Bakery is the only restaurant at the CIA campus that doesn't have a 'dress nice' code and require reservations, so it was perfect for us garden gnomes)

 My golden standard: the chocolate chip cookie (verdict: I've had better. They couldn't decide the statement they wanted to make)

After feasting on all this (and stocking up on bakery goods as best we were able with clear consciences), we browsed the bookstore a bit and perused the gift shop items (verdict: many interesting imported gadgets and homey heartland delicacies, but the prices caused some dismay). After that, we barely had enough time to get back to town and the grocery store to pick up the lynchpin to Ginny's Master Plan for my stay: eating lobster.
I'm not sure what made her think of lobster, but think she did, and it provided quite the adventure for my palate, having never had plain lobster before (lobster bisque or lobster ravioli being the closest I'd yet come). With non-sugarplum'd daydreams of Julie Powell's encounter with Real Live Lobsters vaguely making me uneasy, I still wanted to see how it was done, in a real Yankee kitchen. And I'd tried some really sweet King Crab legs at a Washington waterfront eatery, so I imagined lobster meat would be sort of similar.

Awaiting judgment in the bag on the table

Ginny was the best of instructors, patiently waiting for photos, explaining necessary steps, and encouraging heartily to 'suck the marrow out of' the lobster'-- if only they had some! We settled for trying to get at all the joints of the little legs, 'little' being relative. And I enjoyed the cracking and popping of those legs as much as I do that of my own joints: you kind of know you shouldn't do it, but it relieves the tension.
Oh, and there was lemon butter sauce. Don't forget the expert mise-en-place!

 Like a deer in headlights...

 A little culinary fun: Scary Crustacean terrifies Vinton the Cat (notice the brandishing of the lobster, and the two eyes glowing from the cat doorway... Mr. Vinton was not best pleased.

 Bon Appetit!

Houston, Texas: Take 2!

Yes, in the space of 2 weeks, I visited Houston twice. The first time was nice, I got to go to this fun place with some coworkers. It was hot, it was new, I got to meet some new colleagues, and see how these meetings were SUPPOSED to roll out.

Then the second weekend, our team (2 of the same people, 2 different) took a more flying-by-the-seat-of-our-pants approach, which made the weekend more interesting than a repeat would've been. Plus we had almost twice as many people attend the meeting (go recruitment!). Also, we were able to go here:

This is the wall and chandelier of the private dining room at Philippe, a tres chic dining destination in Houston.

I went with their bouillabaisse. It was pretty good (but I wasn't wowed). I also had their Ile Flottante, which definitely made me say WOW... (but then I've always been biased toward the sweets, we know this)

the lake where Andy Pettitte has a house near Conroe, TX

But besides all these different things, what made the second trip the most special was that I got to visit relatives- second cousins- that I've only seen a few times in my life! Glory be to Facebook for keeping us all in touch, sort of.
Highlights:

love love LOVED the cornbread in its tin!

The family members, especially Yvette, all pitched in to make "Texan food," which turns out to be the exact stereotype of 'grill-out food,' and since it was about 100 degrees, was perfect! Smoked brisket, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and cornbread- talk about your Western smorgasbord!

when horses are a part of work, the tack is kept in the front office!

Here I am with Belle's little filly

And here's me on Suzie, with Shelly on Cutter

I think it should be explained that Suzie missed a growth spurt, so her awesome cutting bloodlines were put to pasture as it were, and now she hangs around the house as a beloved pet. Or at least I think that's what the arrangement is. At any rate, I got to ride her in the round pen without a bridle, and got to help in training her a bit, which was a new skill! :-) The family's opinion was that she takes after Ginger (meaning she's a brat and will only answer to my dad's cousin Louis!).

In front of the guest suite (super nice!) with a pint of Blue Bell ice cream Super yum!)

So the second trip was far more exciting! Go, Work-Life Balance!

Good Aunt Points

I have survived.

And I think I've even chaulked up a few Good Aunt Points.

I'm calling that a Victory. Now for Recovery.

Showing Early Signs

I have folded sheets. I have arranged towels. I have set out folders with information. I am baking banana cookies as we speak.

You may think that I am the proprietress of a bed and breakfast, but you're wrong. I am, however, showing early signs of heading in that direction.

No, I am all a-flutter with anticipation that my sister, her husband, and their two kids should have a wonderful vacation here in Our Nation's Capital, with me as their Hostess with the Most-ess.

There are some that might gape, incredulous: "But you live in a one-bedroom apartment; how is't possible?" Well, it's been a lo-o-o-ong time since I went camping, but here's my chance!

Haha. I'm borrowing an AeroBed to sleep in the living room while the other four take my pretty spacious bedroom which, in all fairness, is almost the size of the hotel room they might have paid for.

And what do I get out of this? Besides the quality time with a sibling, Martians from the planet Childhood, and a tall guy to help hang stuff on the wall? I get to be a tour guide! I love being a tour guide. :-)

Plus, these Banana Cookies are nothing to sneeze at... nom nom nom...(and I love the story that goes with them)

No Charm

Apparently I have no charm, because I do not have a third post in me on this third day back in the swing. I am full up with preparing to host family in my apartment for 10 days, and planning what seems like a dozen trips for myself. In terms of numbers of trips, the work jaunts (4) far outnumber the vacation trips (1), but in terms of effort going into planning them? A little heavy on the vacation end... :-)

Here, then, are two quotations which have jumped out at me in the search for the Scotland itinerary and inspired me to make it through another work day...

#1: Scotland exudes "a liberating feeling of seclusion" from Time Out Scotland.

---that's what I'm looking for!

#2: H.V. Morton writes: "Scotland is the best place in the world to take an appetite."

Yes!

Check-in

WOW, a lot has been going on in my life. Sorry if anyone has been checking back hopefully only to be disappointed for MONTHS (sorry, Ginny). So here's a new post, about an exciting new addition to my kitchen!

Handcrafted Spice Rack, Made In USA

 For Christmas, my now-Certified-Contractor brother-in-law and my dad whipped up a spice rack to fit the specs for my little kitchen! It's great! And parts of it are cedar, so it's got a nice rosy hue. Best of all, it didn't even need Ikea-style directions. I just figured it out! I mean, one back, 3 shelf bases, and 2 sides, but still! So here's the "Before" situation:

My Creative interim solution

 And here's the area with a whole lot more counter space available for prep work!

With new spice rack

So there you have it, folks. My special new addition. When it takes so little to make me happy, why doesn't it happen more often, eh? Good question.
Next on the Agenda of Interesting Things today is a peek at my leftovers-filing/recipe-remembering system. As someone who does not want to waste food, I got into the habit of saving the half-cans of canned tomatoes or pureed pumpkin or sweetened condensed milk that I couldn't use all at once. Importantly, I labeled them so I would know what it was when I came upon it again (you'd be surprised how easy it is to lose something in a refrigerator and find it again-- hey! don't I know you?), and when it was made- my sniffer-test is not very well-developed.
For those of you who know of my similar limerence with paper products, you will not be surprised to learn that this is a great way for me to use scratch paper! I cut up a half-page of used copy paper into little slips, stick them on my fridge behind fun magnets, and when I need to label something, I've already got the cup of pens and the slip of paper in the kitchen, so I just need to get my Scotch tape from the bedroom and presto! Even little things like having 2 out of 3 materials on hand can make a difference in whether a habit takes hold or not, let me tell you.

These are some samples of my 'work.' :-)

 

The tags above were the ones saved as I peeled them off dishes to be washed because I thought them worth mentioning (but hadn't gotten around to it). Here they are, with brief commentary:

• Celeriac-Parsnip-Garlic-Shallot Stoup (11-28-10)
• I remember it wasn't quite there in the taste or texture departments, but it made good use of some clamoring-for-use vegetables in the fridge, and it was great for getting those servings of vegetables in! Don't remember where I found the inspiration...
• Indian-Spiced Cauliflower (12-6-10) from A Single Gal's Guide
• Yum. I didn't use potatoes because I don't eat them much anymore, but wow, yum!

• Chunky Borscht (12-7-10) from Cooking.com
• I didn't blend part of it, so it was a little too chunky, but was nice and warming and hearty for the cold.

• Black Beans (1-2-11) from Deborah Madison's Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
• This was yet another attempt to get beans right. I so want to like beans! Cheap! Plan-ahead! Healthy! An empty canvas! For this round, I threw in a cinnamon stick for the last stage of cooking low, and boy did it flavor the pot! I was also out for longer than expected, so it cooked for longer than expected. Texture: win. (Not crispy like they were for Samit!)
• Boiled & fried potato with 21-Seasoning Salute (from Trader Joe's) (1-6-11)
• Yes, I did just say I don't eat potatoes much anymore, but I'd gotten this one potato and it was languishing without a purpose, so it got prepared in advance (boiled) then pan-sauteed in spices. It was scrumptious AND delicious at work, when popped into a quesadilla platform to make a version of the Spanish Omelette (below). 

• Brussels sprouts, bacon, date, balsamic, and macaroni from Mark Bittman, aka The Minimalist (1-8-11)
• OMG- yum! I don't like figs, but found out that I loved dates done right (pun: haha!) at my favorite eatery in DC, so I switched them out- both Mediterranean, right? This was delicious!

I'll try to get back to regularly scheduled programming and catch up on the highlight recipes and gatherings from the holidays. So do come back soon! :-)