Like many of you, MOTUS has many Christmas duties to discharge in 3 different cities, so I’m going to be very busy. Because of that, and perhaps a certain degree of war-weariness, I need to restrain my posting time this week.
I will be posting an open thread topic, along with a recipe of the day. Here’s your assignment:
So let’s start with appetizers today and work our way through the buffet line as the week progresses.
Here’s one of my favorite, easy-peasy (although no peas were actually harmed in the making of this dish) pre-prandial snacks: Smoked trout or whitefish pate. If you can’t score any smoked fish at your local grocery, fish market, Sam’s or Costco there’s always the intertoobz.
Smoked Trout or Whitefish Pate
1 smoked lake trout, brook trout or whitefish filet, approx. 6-8 oz., skinned and boned
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1-2 tablespoons (or to taste, MOTUS likes lots) prepared, well drained horseradish (should be fresh, as horseradish loses it’s “kick” after being opened for long)
1 Tbs. lemon juice
Fresh parsley, finely minced
Skin and bone smoked fish (MOTUS also scrapes off any of the gray flesh which she knows is filled with omega 3 oils, butt also has a tendency to taste fishy), break into pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor along with the cream cheese (divided into 3-4 chunks), horseradish and lemon juice. Pulse until very well blended and smooth. No processor:? No problem: just beat with an electric mixer. Pate will be chunkier butt equally delicious.
Scrape mixture into a serving bowl and stir in approx. 1 tablespoon of the minced parsley. Garnish with a final sprinkling of parsley.
Serve with an assortment of your favorite crackers or toasted baguette slices.
May be tarted up as you see fit with fresh dill sprigs, chives, capers, baby arugula -whatever.
Or if you’re really feeling flush, (and who is?) you can even turn it into an elegant starter by wrapping it in some cold smoked salmon and serving it on greens.
This is a really easy spread that everyone seems to love. It is equally at home having afternoon tea with the crumpets as it is mingling with the tea trolley crowd.
So please. post your thoughts on the topics of the day and/or your favorite recipes: appetizers today, soup tomorrow, salads Wednesday…we’ll get to desserts well before Christmas!
Sure beats politics during the season once dedicated to peace on earth and good will towards men.
Linked By: BlogsLucianneLoves, and NOBO2012 on Free Republic, Thanks!
Posts
