Dinner On a House Boat

Last weekend was a very cool weekend.  

Some friends that I have catered for in the past, asked me to do another meal for them last weekend.  They were having an annual meeting with their board of directors and each year they like to treat them to a real nice meal.  It has been my honor to be the one to make that meal for them.  And as an added bonus, this meal was on the nicest, biggest houseboat that I have ever been on.  And I've snuck a few peeks at some houseboats on Norris Lake in TN.  None of them held a candle to this one.

The meal is different than what I usually do, because it is not a buffet.  We serve the meal with four courses.  Appetizer, salad, main, and dessert.  Is this as fancy as it could be?  No, but it is still a lot of food, and a good time.  

For the appetizers I served two items.  One was a kalamata olive, roasted red pepper dish.  I have described it here before.  (check my last dinner party blog)  I also made a scallop dish with mushrooms and asparagus.  It was delicious.  I will put the recipe on in the future.  

For the salad we did a very simple Caesar salad.  Nothing fancy, but good.  

For the main course, I offered New York Strip, or Salmon.  Both grilled.  For unbelievable Salmon I use Lemon zest, olive oil and Canadian Steak seasoning.  

First, rub a little olive oil onto your salmon filet.  Next, take the zest of a lemon and rub it into the meat as well, trying to distribute it evenly.  Finally, sprinkle a little canadian steak seasoning and you are good to go.  Grill until it is just cooked.  Do not overcook, or you might as well eat canned salmon.

Along with the steak or salmon, I served Roasted New Potatoes, with roasted garlic aioli,  and green beans with tomato concasse.  Also, I have talked about these sides before.  My friends had eaten them before, so they were fine with having them for this meal also.  You could say they were looking forward to the aioli.  

Finally for the dessert.  Chocolate Ganache Tart.  It was amazing, and I am going to link the recipe for you.  It is very easy.  You will need a tart pan and some time, but it is well worth it.

http://www.chow.com/recipes/14104

Check it out, it is great.

Unfortunately, I did not have the camera to take pictures.  I thought that my wife had it, but it turns out we just can't find it.  

I hope you try the tart, and I want to say thanks to my friends for letting me do the meal.  It sounds like it is going to be very good for future business, for more meals just like this.  

What Should We Drink?

Hey everyone.  So it has really been awhile since my last post.  I apologize.  I know I shouldn't make excuses but here are some.  1)  Time (not much of it).  2)  Lack of food inspiration.  3)  Our government is doing everything they can to control our lives, in ways that no other administration has before it.  Wait that last reason isn't an excuse as to why I haven't blogged, it is just a problem.  But really, reason number two is a real problem.

As things have been getting busier, it has been hard to find new and creative things to make.  Which has translated into fewer things to write about.  But I have been searching through my brain, and I have found some things to share with you.  No recipe in this blog, but the next one will have one, and you will love it.

Anyways, a few weeks ago I did a dessert tasting at a local assisted living home.  I made the cheesecake that I have told you about in the past, it was a big hit.  But while I was there I met a couple from my town of Marion that are roasting their own coffee.  They have become a follower of this blog, and I strongly encourage you to check them out.  I am really excited because they are local.  Of course, to some of you, you have great local coffee roasters in your area as well.  But this is Marion, and it really excites me.  Also, I have to admit that I am not a black coffee drinker.  I really wish that I was but I have not found the roast that does it for me.  I am confident that this couple will be able to help me with that.  Someday soon Lynsey and I will schedule a coffee tasting with them.  How cool is that.  I have been to wine tastings, food tastings, and soon a coffee tasting.  None of that Starbucks, (we are such a great company, but not really, because we pay very little for our beans, and charge you way to much for a cup of joe, because we want you to fund our social agendas without really caring for our employees) crap.  Just good organic, locally roasted coffee.  I look forward to it.

 

So with that I want to say, support your local people.  If you are in a position that requires you to buy goods and services from other people, why not buy those goods or services from your neighbor.  And really, who doesn't buy stuff.