From Garden to Table - Spinach and Basil Smoked Salmon Roll

I cook a lot lately with basil and I love it. Here is a little history lesson from The Spice Book, 1964.

BASIL Cut with a Golden Sickle

"Cooks gifted with a flair for seasoning have ever treasured basil as one of the most savory of culinary herbs. More delicate than some of the lustier herbs, like oregano, it may be used generously in a variety of vegetables to lend a subtle, if entirely distinctive, flavor.

The word basil stems from two possible origins. One is from the Greek for "royal" or "kingly"; the other, from a tongue-twister, also Greek, meaning "lizard". In Greek mythology this was indeed a very special lizard, a basilisk, which needed only to look at or breathe upon his victim to kill him.

The Greeks believed that only the sovereign himself should be allowed to cut the basil, using a golden sickle. Yet, according to history, basil was a symbol of hate; why this was so is open to conjecture.

On the other hand, in Italy, basil has always been a token of love, and is called "kiss-me-Nicholas" in some of its regions. Any girl who wears a sprig of basil is suggesting to hear beau, and not too subtly, that there is no need for him to keep his distance. In Romania, however, things are some-what more definite: hewn a boy accepts a sprig of basil from his girl, it means he is engaged!

In its native India, basil, called tulasi, is considered a holy herb and grown in pots near every temple and dwelling of devout Hindus. Though especially sacred to Vishnu, Krishna, and Lakshmi, all the other gods esteem it. too.

Throughout the ages, doctors and herbalists have basil in medicine and magic, although there seems to have been a happy lack of agreement as to its merits for either. "This is the herb which all authors are to-gether by the ears about, and rail at one another like lawyers," wrote herbalist Nicholas Culpeper in 1652. "Galen and Dioscorides hold it not fit to be taken inwardly, and Chrysippus rails at it with downright Billingsgate rhetoric. Pliny and the Arabian Physicians defend it."

That this fragrant herb aroused controversy add to its interest. John Gerard, Shakespeare's contemporary, was enthusiastic, saying: "A smell of Basil is good for the heart and head-cureth the infirmities of the heart, taketh away sorrowfulness which cometh of melancholia and maketh a man merry and glad."

Whatever its merits or failures may be as a remedy for physical ailments, basil is a delightful contribution to a variety of dishes. Since, as mentioned earlier, it is one of the most delicate herbs, it may be used more generously than lustier ones. Basil blends tastily with tomatoes, but also enhances vegetables such as eggplant, green beans, zucchini, peas, or cooked cucumber dishes. Basil is often used with, or as a substitute for, oregano in pizza topping, spaghetti sauce, or a macaroni and cheese casserole".



Ingredients:

• 2 cups fresh spinach
• 1 cup fresh basil 
• 3 eggs, separated  
• 1 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped 
• 1/3 pound light cream cheese   
• grated zest and juice of one 1/2 lemon
• 2-3 Tbsp. capers 
• 1/2 pound smoked salmon 
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Put the spinach into a pan with a little of water, cover and bring to boil and cook for two minutes, then drain and refresh under cold water. Squeeze spinach dry.

Place spinach, egg yolks, basil, salt and pepper into a food processor. Pulse to a smooth paste.
Whisk egg whites until they hold soft peaks then fold into the basil-spinach mixture. Spread this mixture on a baking tray lined with buttered parchment and bake for 15 minutes or until set.Turn baked roulade out onto another sheet of parchment and leave to cool.

For the filling combine cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the spinach roulade onto a piece of plastic wrap. Spread the filling evenly over the spinach leaving a side border of 1 cm. Sprinkle with capers, more dill if you like and black pepper. Cover the filling with the salmon slices. Roll up with the help of the plastic wrap. Twist the ends to secure.

Refrigerate for few hours or overnight.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Spinach and Walnuts on Toast

What is your favorite Stuffed Mushrooms recipe?

Ingredients:

• 12 large button mushrooms, scrubbed clean, stems separated from the caps
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 small onion, minced 
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 2 cups spinach, chopped
• 5 Tbsp chopped and toasted walnuts
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 tsp thyme
• 2 Tbsp breadcrumbs
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp grated cheese
• bread for serving

Directions:

Scrub the mushrooms well first, then just snap out the stems. They'll come out easily, no need to use a knife. Finely chop the mushroom stems. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a small frying pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the chopped mushroom stems and onions for 4-5 minutes, stirring often. Add spinach and garlic and sprinkle with salt. Stir well and sauté 2 more minutes.

In the large bowl mix together mushrooms mixture, toasted walnuts, breadcrumbs, thyme and a little seasoning.




Heat the oven to 400F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and brush over with a little olive oil. Place the mushrooms, cap side down, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with a small pinch each of salt and pepper.

Spread a teaspoonful of the mixture on the top of each mushroom, then drizzle over a little olive oil and grated cheese of your desire. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the mushrooms are tender.

Lightly toast the bread in the meantime. Place a couple of slices on each warm serving plate and arrange the mushrooms on top. Serve warm. Equally good on a leafy salad as an appetizer.

Hard-cooked Egg and Prosciutto Sandwich with Avocado and Basil, and Giveaway

Few days ago, I've got beautiful homegrown, range-free organic eggs as a present from our dear neighbors, and I decided to make an Egg Sandwich.

I truly love this regal and scrumptious sandwich with its medley of hot and cold filling ingredients. You can vary the ingredients - substitute hot bacon or the ell for the Prosciutto for example.



Ingredients:

• 4 Ciabatta Rolls
• 2/3 cup homemade mayonnaise or use ready-made
• 20 leaves of basil
• 4 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 4 Tbsp butter
• salt and freshly ground pepper

For the filling:

• 2 oz baby spinach, shredded
• 4 oz Prosciutto, thinly sliced
• 1 avocado, pitted, peeled, and thinly sliced
• 4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced
• 4 oz cucumber, peeled and sliced
• 4 oz Rosenborg Danish Blue, creamy cheese

Directions:

Using a food processor simply mix the mayonnaise with the basil, garlic and lemon juice. Put the ciabatta rolls on the board and slice them lengthwise with a serrated knife.
Preheat the broiler. Spread the softened butter all over the inside of the ciabatta rolls and season lightly with salt and pepper.




Broil the base and lid until almost golden. Layer all the filling ingredients into the base, in order listed above or in order of your desire. Spread half the mayonnaise/pesto mixture over the spinach layer, and the rest over the eggs. Finish with a layer of Rosenborg Danish Blue creamy cheese.

Place the filled ciabatta rolls bas under the broiler for 4 minutes. Reheat the cut side of the lid for 2 minutes. Replace the lid on the roll base, pressing down with your fingertips.


Have a good lunch!


Free case of Cascal goes to comment #7 by Jaimee.

And for the GIVEAWAY
From my childhood, I remember beverage called Kvass - strong, sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter, it always helps during hot summer day. It was made by fermentation of bread. And we called it Kvassik (diminutive form of Kvass) when it was flavored with fruits or berries.

I was glad to find a soft drink which has similar taste, it is made using natural juices and also fermented.

Friends from Cascal offered to send a case of their new soft-drink to one of my dear reader.
So, here how you could get it:

• Visit Cascal website cheerscascal.com and pick a flavor you like the most.
• By midnight of Friday April 13, 2012 write a comment to this post with your name and favorite Cascal flavor.
• Increase your chance by following me on Facebook, following me on Twitter, or do the same for Cascal (Facebook, Twitter). Please add an extra comment after each Facebook or Twitter entry.

Good luck!

Celeriac and Spinach Soup with Baked Kale Chips

Celeriac and Spinach Soup with Baked Kale Chips - it can’t get healthier than that!
Celery Root, also known as Celeriac, has mild aroma and flavor of celery and walnuts with crisp texture perfect julienned or sliced into salads and soups or braised in broth and butter.
Here, it is combined with spinach to make a delicious soup.



Serves: 6

Ingredients for the soup:

• 1 ¾ pints/ 4 cups of water
• 8 fluid ounces/1 cup dry white wine
• 1 leek, thickly sliced
• 1 ¼ pounds celeriac, diced
• 7 ounces fresh spinach leaves
• freshly grated nutmeg
• salt and ground black pepper
• baked kale chips to garnish

Ingredients for the kale chips:

• about one bunch of kale, rinsed and dried, torn into bite-sized pieces and tough stems removed
• olive oil
• salt, to taste
• cracked black pepper
• 1 Tbsp wine vinegar

Direction for the kale chips:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, wine vinegar, cracked black pepper and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 2 hours.



Direction the for soup:

Mix the water and wine in a pitcher. Place the leek, celeriac, and spinach in a deep pan and pour the liquid over the top. Bring to boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.



Pour the celeriac mixture into a blender food processer and process until smooth, in batches if necessary. Return to the clean pan and season to taste with salt, pepper and grated nutmeg.
Reheat gently. Serve with the homemade baked kale chips.



Tip: If the soup is too thick, thin with a little water or low-fat milk when processing.



Stay warm and healthy! And have a good winter-)