Courtesy of Chef's Catalog

Wild Mushroom Ragout
1 pound wild mushrooms, such as morels, chanterelles or creminis
4 tablespoons butter
3 large shallots thinly sliced
Kosher salt
1/3 cup brandy
1/2 cup heavy cream
Freshly ground black pepper

Cooking Instructions

• To prepare the Salmon:

Place 1/4 cup kosher salt on a large plate and place the salmon skin side down on top of the salt.
Sprinkle the remaining salt on top of the fish, pressing down on the surface.
Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the refrigerator for up to 2 hours.
Rinse the salmon thoroughly under cold water to remove all the salt.
Pat both sides of the fish dry with paper towels.

Place the smoking chips in the center of the stovetop smoker.
Cover chips with the drip tray (covered with aluminum foil for easy cleanup).
Place the salmon skin side down on the oiled rack.
Cover the smoker with the lid, but leave open a few inches.
Heat the smoker on the stovetop over medium heat.
Once a few wisps of smoke appear, slide the lid completely closed.
Smoke the salmon until thoroughly cooked, 20 to 25 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.


• Wild Mushroom Ragout

Thoroughly clean the mushrooms by wiping them gently with a paper towel or stiff brush.
Slice them 1/2" thick, discarding any tough stems. Set aside.
In a large sauté pan set over medium-high heat, melt the butter.
Once the butter has stopped foaming, add the shallots and lightly salt them.
Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots begin to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the mushrooms, lightly salt, and cook, stirring often, until wilted and starting to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
Deglaze the pan with the brandy, scraping up the bottom of the pan to release any brown bits.
Add the heavy cream, stir to combine.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately alongside the smoked salmon.

Equipment List

As many of you know, our lil' darling, LuciaGirl, had surgery to remove a "lump on the brain", as she calls it.  The surgery went very well and now comes the hard part.  She is going to need extensive chemo and radiation treatments.  One thing the doctors warned about was nutrition.  No more junky preservatives, no more dirty water hot dogs, and over-processed, over-salted food.  Well, I guess my kitchen's empty now. 

I will be learning about organic gardening and naturally prepared menus, so I thought I'd share it with you guys.  Nothing beats nature.  If you just take a minute to look around at all the wonder that is going on around you, it's amazing that we've been convinced to live without it or eat any of that horrid, man-made crapola (one of my favorite and probably most overused words).  Just check out these amazing photos of a Cecropia Moth caterpillar morphing to a fabulous moth!

So where do I go for info when I'm clueless about a subject? The web, of course. The first site I found that will really be helpful is HelpfulGardener.com.  The photos were taken by a forum member in his own garden! (See larger images)

The Helpful Gardener offers tips and advice for gardening, ranging from hydrangeas, growing vegetables to bonsai, Japanese garden design and container gardening in apartments. Their focus on organic and earth friendly gardening methods helps gardeners grow beautiful gardens without the use of chemical products.  Gardening with nature rather than against it is their philosophy.

Most of the articles were written by Scott Reil. Scott has over 25 years in the nursery business, was an advanced Master Gardener instructor, and is a frequent speaker at garden clubs and industry gatherings. He is currently an executive manager for an organic nursery supplier on the east coast.

In addition to the articles, a lively garden forum provides a place where gardening enthusiasts and experts gather and discuss their gardens. Although there are several other forums serving gardeners, the Helpful Gardener’s forum distinguishes itself for being free of charge, devoid of pop-up advertising and for the friendliness of its members. This is by design. The forum guidelines discourage negative behavior, resulting in a cheerful forum community united by their common interest in gardening. The positive energy on the forum makes it a favorite of gardeners of all ages.

With thousands of discussions on a myriad of gardening topics, it’s no wonder the Helpful Gardener forum has been called one of the leading resources about gardening on the Internet.

I don't know about where you live, but here in NYC it's hot as a Mo-Fo!

Have I mentioned that I hate the heat? 

I love sunny days but broiling is strictly reserved for my shrimp kababs! 

I think I need to whip out that blender I got from some relative for some holiday and make a cool, refreshing snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup ice cubes
1 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 mango, peeled, pitted, and cut in 1/2" pieces
1 cup fresh lime juice
6 ounces Tequila
4 ounces Cointreau
1/4 cup sugar

Cooking Instructions

Place all the ingredients into the jar of a blender. Blend until smooth. Serve.
Serves 4 to 6

Equipment List:

Easy Pineapple Slice Tool

Margaritaville's Margarita Maker

By the end of the year, more than 12 million children in America will worry about having the food they need.

Share Our Strength® is a national organization working to make sure that no kid grows up hungry in America. By raising funds through programs like Share Our Strength's The Great American Dine Out^®, presented by American Express^®, Share Our Strength weaves together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and surround them with nutritious food where they live, work and play.

Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out helps raise critical funds for organizations in communities across America that are working with Share Our Strength to end childhood hunger.

Having limited access to nutritious food has enduring lifelong consequences on children:

• Weaker immune systems
• Impeded growth and development
• More stomach- and headaches, colds and ear infections
• Increased susceptibility to obesity
• Impaired performance at school—academically, athletically and socially

CHEFS Catalog has joined Share Our Strength (SOS) in the fight against childhood hunger. To date, SOS has raised over $200 million to fight hunger in America and around the globe and has invested critical funds in over 1,000 hunger-related organizations.

Poverty is complex; feeding a child is not.

It's time to roll up our sleeves and put an end to childhood hunger.

Help make "No Kid Hungry" a reality.