Author: Simon

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Sweet and Savory Salmon Sauce

Sometimes a random dinner attempt turns out perfect, and I think that yes I should indeed quit my job and open a restaurant. And of course reality sinks in and I remember that I don’t like working those hours, or customers in general. What I’d really like is to own a private supper club and compare notes with like-minded foodie individuals while mutually experimenting – oh, and to deny entry to any boomer clientele (the in-laws can come if they promise to behave). And to have enough personal capital that running such a money-hemorrhaging fantasy wouldn’t matter.

In the meantime, I’ll just have to keep my gustatory glory at home and keep my day job. Oh well. So here’s my recipe:

Top sauce:

  • Lemon juice
  • Mayo
  • Honey
  • Salt
  • MSG
  • White pepper
  • Mustard powder

Bottom sauce:

  • Browned butter
  • Salted butter

Procedure:

  • Whisk the top sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
  • Melt the bottom sauce in a steel pan.
  • Place the salmon (de-skinned) on the bottom sauce on medium heat.
  • Flip the salmon every 1-2 minutes and shake gently to coat, until the internal temperature reads 115 (see prior posts on freezing salmon properly to avoid parasites). Remove salmon and set aside.
  • Spoon the bottom sauce onto plate.
  • Place salmon on plate.
  • Spoon top sauce onto salmon. Top with ground black pepper.

I garnished with a pomelo, of all things, because I had one on hand that needed to be used up, but I think some mandarin oranges would also work – a sweet/sour citrus to balance the heaviness of the bottom sauce and mingle with the top sauce.

And speaking of balance – the sweet/savory combination with the mild but noticeable spice choice worked just about perfect. So perfect, that Liz said this should be a restaurant menu item. I’ll keep that under advisement while I build out such a menu for the above fantasy supper club. You aren’t invited.

But enjoy the recipe.

–Simon

Posted on

Parks with Ken: Sugarcreek MetroPark, Main Park

Here’s park number 2 in the series:

Sugarcreek

This one’s part of the Five Rivers group, as opposed to Centerville Washington Township. A different governing entity!

Review:

Difficulty: 1-4/5

Points of note:

  • Consistent trail difficulty. Elevations don’t vary significantly.
  • Some different biomes, but one of the main trails was closed.
  • A cool-looking osage orange trail, but we went in winter so the coolness factor was tempered a little. But it looks like it’d be worth a summer visit.
  • Some informational signs.
  • Very clear trail markings.
  • The Three Sisters – white oak trees over 500 years old. Ken pointed these out during the hike but it was only once I visited the website later that I found out what these giant trees were. Definite coolness points there.

I’ll plan on revisiting the osage orange trail.

–Simon