Salty Dog's Blog

The Salty Dog's Tuesday Takeaway #15 - The Salt Book

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day spent with friends and family!

This week's Tuesday Takeaway is sponsored by Arbon Publishing - who has graciously offered to give away a copy of "The Salt Book: Your guide to salting wisely and well, with recipes" to one lucky winner. 

This book does a great job of offering the reader a great introduction to the fundamentals of salts, discussing types of salt and how to use them in the wisest of ways with a variety of techniques including brining, pickling, curing and preserving.

The book advocates for healthy eating: "An important part of being 'salt wise' is eating well. We need to take the time to prepare food for ourselves which is healthy, tasty and ecologically viable. We need to season that food sparingly, with quality salt that is made using natural processes."

Predominantly a cookbook - expect a spectrum of recipes, including some untraditional, yet excitingly essential.  A few of these basics caught my eye, as you so rarely seem them in mainstream cookbooks - Brined Feta, Butter, even Soy Sauce! If you are like me, you find the idea of making these practical essentials extremely rewarding. Expect also more traditional dishes such as: Salt Block Salmon, Olive and Rosemary Focaccia, or Broccoli Soup.

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To enter to win, simply reply to this blog post with a response to the following:

How many cookbooks are in your kitchen?

Looking for ways to increase your chances of winning?
1. Sign up for our E-Newsletter
2. Like Salt Traders on Facebook
3. Follow Salt Traders on Twitter
4. Tweet/Blog about this Giveaway
5. Send a friend a link to this Giveaway (I am counting on your honesty here!)

Submit a separate comment for each additional entry to let me know you've done it!

Thanks for commenting - the winner will be announced next Tuesday and contacted by email!
All comments must be submitted by Monday, June 6th at 12:00 midnight EST.

Be sure to tell your friends about the Salty Dog's Blog and how they too can win!

 

Perfect for Spring: Vietnamese Fisherman's Soup

I have found the most wonderful soup for spring! I came across this recipe for Vietnamese Fisherman's Soup in a Martha Stewart cookbook. The photo of it caught my eye - a beautiful mélange of color, texture and flavors - I could almost taste it just looking at the picture! 

The soup boasts a perfect balance between sweet and spicy - sweet from the fresh, juicy slices of pineapple, and spicy from the Chili Garlic Sauce that warms you from the inside out. The texture is exciting - from salmon that delicately flakes apart to the subtle crunch in the bean sprouts and crispy fried shallots. Fresh herbs provide a brightness that is perfect for sunny spring days, finished off by a subtle tartness of freshly squeezed limes.

So wait for a cool, yet sunny evening, and make this comforting yet refreshing soup.  Pairs perfectly with crisp, dry white wine and a crusty French loaf.

Vietnamese Fisherman's Soup
Adapted from Martha Stewarts The Original Classics Cookbook
Serves 8

8 ounces boneless, skinless salmon
8 ounces boneless, skinless cod (or any other white fish)
1 T. canola oil
1 T. Chili Garlic Sauce (found in the international section of most grocery stores)
5 cups chicken stock
2 medium fresh tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/2 inch dice
2 cups fresh diced pineapple
1/2 medium onion, sliced lengthwise, 1/4 inch thick
2 T. Asian fish sauce or clam sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 t. sea salt (I like our new Portuguese Sea Salt)
1/8 t. freshly ground Comet's Tail Pepper
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh bean sprouts
2 T. fresh Thai or regular basil leaves, sliced
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
2 T. Fried Shallots (see recipe below, optional)

Blanch the fish in boiling water for 10 to 20 seconds.  Remove with a slotted spoon, and drain in a colander.

Heat the oil in a small stockpot over medium heat. Add the Chili Garlic Sauce and heat for about 10 seconds. Add the chicken stock, cover, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; stir in the seafood, tomatoes, pineapple, onion, fish sauce, sugar, salt, pepper and lime juice. Cook just until the seafood is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and stir in the scallions, bean sprouts, basil, and cilantro. Serve soup immediately and garnish with fried shallots, if using.

Fried Shallots
3 to 4 medium shallots, thinly sliced
3/4 cup canola oil

Spread the shallots on a paper-towel-lined baking sheet, and let dry for 15-20 minutes at room temperature. Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat until it's so hot that a shallot slice dropped in the oil bubbles and floats to the surface. Stir in all shallots; fry until golden, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Remove the fried shallots with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.

 

Tuesday Takeaway #14 Winner Announced!

Thanks so much to all our blog readers that posted a comment on this past week's Tuesday Takeaway. It was great to see so many entries!

The randomly chosen winner is....

...Nicky!

Congratulations on winning your very own tin of Didi Davis Food Mojito Sugar!

Everyone else who entered, don't worry, next Tuesday we'll announce a NEW prize to be won.  In the meantime, please tell your friends about the upcoming Tuesday Takeaway!

Click below on the "ShareThis" link to post to your Facebook, Twitter, Blogger or other social networking account!

The Salty Dog's Tuesday Takeaway #14 - Mojito Sugar!

This is a Tuesday Takeaway to get extra excited about! We are thrilled to giveaway a tin of our handcrafted Didi Davis Food Mojito Sugar - just in time to make a Mint Julep for the Kentucky Derby!

Don't let the name of this sugar blend lead you astray - it can be used for more than just minty cocktails like the Mojito or Julep. Sprinkle it on grilled chicken or fish for a tangy glaze, or on top of fresh fruit or yogurt. Try 
spinkled on roasted carrots or fresh peas, or atop baked goods like scones, muffins, or cookies! 

Like all our Didi Davis Food products, our Mojito Sugar is made with the finest ingredients and lots of care.  Comprised of mint, fresh lime zest, and sparkling Maui white sugar. Perfect for warm spring days that bring the promise of summer!

 

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To enter to win, simply reply to this blog post with a response to the following:

What is your favorite summer beverage (cocktail or other)?

Looking for ways to increase your chances of winning?
1. Sign up for our E-Newsletter
2. Like Salt Traders on Facebook
3. Follow Salt Traders on Twitter
4. Tweet/Blog about this Giveaway
5. Send a friend a link to this Giveaway (I am counting on your honesty here!)

Submit a separate comment for each additional entry to let me know you've done it!

Thanks for commenting - the winner will be announced next Tuesday and contacted by email!
All comments must be submitted by Monday, May 9th at 12:00 midnight EST.

Be sure to tell your friends about the Salty Dog's Blog and how they too can win!