Traditional Comfort Food & More
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There’s always something cooking in Cynthia’s kitchen.
Cynthia’s Country Cook News, combines spirited stories, traditional comfort food recipes and information of value to cooks and cookbook authors alike.
Read the latest issue here:
Salmon Fever
Normally, Dad moaned at the buzz of an alarm clock and slept in until noon whenever he got the chance, and routinely he began every day with the hardiest of breakfasts. But when he pointed the truck and boat trailer toward his favorite fishing haunts out on the tip of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, R.D.’s usual sleeping and eating patterns became drastically altered.
During such flare-ups he’d spring out of bed at 3:30 AM. “No time for breakfast. I have to get out there and wake up those Kings!” he’d whisper slipping out of the cabin like a cat on a late-night prowl.
Well after dark we’d see the running lights of his boat, Bob-Bet, bumping against the dock. R.D.’s broad smile glinting through the darkness told us his catch for the day was abundant. With whiskers sprouting from his unshaved chin, he’d flop into a chair at the kitchen table and say, “I’m as hungry as a bear coming out of hibernation!” He’d strategize the next day’s outing over a platter full of pan-fried red potatoes and his catch of “shaker fish."
Dad took fishing far more serious than anyone else in the family. Once, while fishing with him, I became severely seasick and begged to go back to shore. Foreboding walls of water rocked the 26’ craft back and forth among the powerful waves. Bob-Bet lifted WAY UP and then dipped WAY DOWN, between the rollers. R.D. patiently puffed on his pipe and said, “Oh, you’ll be okay, you’ve just had too much motion today.” Sundown was the only good excuse for Dad to return to shore.
Once, I asked Dad if he’d bring back a dogfish (which is a small shark) for me to fry up for dinner. I’d heard dogfish had a unique texture partnered with a surprisingly non-fishy flavor. He hit the ceiling. “I won’t have the damn stink'n things in my boat. You can’t kill em’- even with a club! If you can’t kill em’ then ya can’t eat em’!” He blasted at me.
My Uncle Ken, also curious about the feasibility of dogfish & chips for dinner, brought me a large, fresh dogfish the next time he went fishing with Dad. Dad was furious with his older brother and acted like he was a traitor to the Salmon Fishing Hall of Fame.
I barbecued a small Coho salmon for Dad and deep-fried the dogfish for my adventurous guests. Dad showed up for dinner, but it was the first vegetarian meal I’d ever known him to eat. He never ate fish at my house again! By the way, the dogfish was delicious! It tasted a lot like halibut.
In September and October my thoughts turn to my father who probably fished every salmon bed that exists in Pacific Northwest waters. His passion to catch the mighty fish made it possible for salmon to be served frequently at our home. My mother prepared it many, many different ways, and through the years I've gathered some of my own ways of serving the pink-fleshed fish that "puts up one hell of a fight before he lands in the boat." Today I'm sharing my latest "favorite" way of preparing salmon. Enjoy!
Grilled Soy-Sesame Salmon
6 6-ounce salmon fillets, with or without skin
Marinade
1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Whisk together brown sugar, olive oil, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic powder, parsley, basil, thyme, lemon and pepper. Pour marinade into large zip-lock bag. Add salmon fillets; squeeze air out of bag and zip closed. Gently squeeze bag so marinade is surrounding fillets. Refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour and not more than 3 hours.
Preheat either an outdoor drill or an indoor grated griddle to medium-high heat. Lightly oil grate with a brush or paper towel. Remove salmon from the marinade; shake off excess marinade and discard any excess marinade. Grill salmon until browned and fish easily flakes, about 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Serve with jasmine rice.
Yield: 6 servings
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Country Cook News
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I feel her words (in Pork Chops & Applesauce), and that is a tribute to Cynthia's ability to put on paper things which most people don't know how to say. ~Bobbi Powell, Kent, Washington
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