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Show Thursday, July 23, 2009 The Gunnison Valley Gazette Page 5 Selecting and grilling the season’s freshest fish (ARA) - There are few summer pastimes more honored than backyard grilling and entertaining. But before you fire up the grill for your next bash or weeknight dinner, you should learn how to properly select and grill fresh fish to perfection. The wood grilling specialists at Bonefish Grill -- a polished casual restaurant in 29 states -- offer these tips to help you choose your next meal, fresh from the water to mouth-watering. Selecting the best fish • Always seek the freshest fish in your local area. Ask your fish market or grocery if they receive their fish daily or what frozen options they recommend, and which selections. • Ask about the origin of the fish you’re buying, and make sure it has been stored at about 28 F at all times, no matter where it came from. • If a fish smells “fishy,” don’t buy it and don’t eat it. Look for shiny skin and undamaged scales. Press firmly on the skin and make sure the fish regains its original shape quickly. Whole fish should have clear eyes, not cloudy. “One of the most flavorful ways to grill fish is on a wooden plank, which adds a smoky flavor,” says Master Chef Tony Seta. “Plank cooking also allows delicate food to cook more gently because the plank forms a barrier between the flame and the fish, and keeps fish from sticking to the grill and breaking.” Chef Seta’s top tips for perfect wood grilling • Purchase grilling planks from a gourmet food shop that are 1/4-inch thick and large enough for the fish. Do not use wood or shingles purchased from a home improvement store because they are chemically treated and not foodsafe. • Soak the planks in water for at least three hours; this allows the wood to smoke and smolder without igniting on the grill. If the plank begins to flame on the grill, spray it with water. • Skin-on fish like salmon cook best on a plank. If the filet has skin on, cut a few 1-inch slits (about 1/4-inch deep) on the skin side, season the filet and place on the plank. Grill at 450 F on medium-high flame, covered, for nine to 13 minutes (cook to an internal temperature of 135 to 140 F). If you’re in the mood for a night out instead of manning the barbeque, Chef Seta recommends the fresh fish dishes at Bonefish Grill. Try the seasonal favorite Cedar Plank Salmon with a Chorizo Topping, or recreate it at home any time of the year with this simple recipe. Bonefish Grill’s Wild Alaskan Cedar Plank Salmon with a Chorizo Topping (ARA) - As SPF numbers give way to arithmetic and time spent building sand castles is now dedicated to proper sentence construction, school has surely started again. Despite the fact that family life tends to be busier, there is still hope for parents looking to spend a little quality time with the kids. It’s called dinnertime and families everywhere can make it work for them. Dinnertime? No, not the few minutes stuck waiting in the drive through or warming up yesterday’s leftovers. The one where everyone sits down for 30 minutes, passes food from left to right, eats and talks to one another without the TV turned on. Sometimes this interlude even pays some homage to the food pyramid. Research shows that small children who eat family dinners more frequently have healthier eating habits. Columbia University research also shows teens who have fewer than three family dinners in a typical week are more than twice as likely to do poorly in school and 20 percent of teens who have infrequent family dinners report receiving mostly C’s or below in school. However, 64 percent of teens eating with their family five more times per week receive mostly A’s and B’s. Beyond boosting brain power and nutrition awareness, dinnertime is an easy way for families to catch up on the day’s activities and actually talk to each other. Here are a few good ways to kick the excuse habit and get your tribe around the same table at the same time at least a few times a week: Excuse 1: “There’s too much going on to get together.” There’s so much to do because all those outside Cedar Plank Salmon Ingredients: Friday July 24 7 am • Sight First 5K Run 10 am • Parade 11 am • Festivities at the Park including: Games • Food Entertainment by the Christensen Family Band 12 Noon • Lions Auction Afternoon Activities Include: Beard Growing Contest Volleyball Contest Games • Greased Pig 2 pm • Lion’s Wild River Duck Race 4 pieces wild Alaskan salmon, skin-on, 7 ounces each Salt and pepper, to taste 4 lemon halves Chorizo Topping 4 food-safe cedar planks (or one plank large enough to fit four pieces of fish) Chorizo Topping Ingredients: 8 ounces chorizo sausage links 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs Zest from 1 medium lemon Directions: Grill chorizo on a charcoal or gas grill until well done. Cool cooked sausage in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Using a food processor, chop sausage into pea-sized pieces. Place into mixing bowl and blend well with bread crumbs and lemon zest. Cover and refrigerate. Soak cedar plank(s) in water for at least 3 hours. Place salmon, skin side down, onto soaked cedar plank. There should be a 1-inch space between each piece of salmon. Season with salt and pepper. Divide chorizo topping into 4 equal portions and place on top of the fish. Place salmon on planks onto grill and close lid. Cook for 15 minutes. Note: The plank will char around the edges but should not catch flame. Place onto platter, drizzle with melted butter and squeeze fresh lemon juice over salmon. Serve immediately. Serves 4 Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the day! No more excuses: Quick tips to make family dinners work Pizza • Calzone Breadsticks • Salad activities were prioritized on the calendar. Plan early, make some dinner dates and add them to your priority list before something else gets scheduled. It doesn’t matter if you use up restaurant gift cards or stay in and empty out the cupboards. Just pick some days, write them on the calendar and do it. Excuse 2: “I’m a horrible cook.” So you’ve found a way to burn water. It happens. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so keep trying, and don’t be afraid to call in some reinforcements -- like your family. Try cooking together or perhaps divvying a few of the week’s meals. It doesn’t just have to be mom or dad’s job. Remember, the idea is to spend some time together, whether that’s making, burning or eating dinner. Excuse 3: “Nobody eats the same thing.” Men are from the butch- Coach B’s Free Delivery (Limited Area) 528-3792 57 South Main • Gunnison er’s counter, women are from the produce aisle. Kids, well, no one has really figured that out. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to eat out now and again. It doesn’t have to break the bank and there are solid options. Excuse 4: “I have no idea what my kids are talking about.” Remember, your parents didn’t understand the Beatles or MTV. Getting old immediately prevents you from being cool; it’s just part of the job. What’s also part of that job is talking with your kids. If that means figuring out what Facebook and Twitter are all about, there are online groups to help. (Better yet, discuss it at dinner and ask your kids to teach you). Days are busy and nights are crunched, but everyone has to eat. So carve out some time in the house or at a restaurant and spend it together. Don’t let the school year go by without giving family dinners a try. Do Your Best Do Your Best is sponsored by: 550 South Main, Gunnison • 528-3365 HEAP WEEK of the Happy to Serve You Specialty Pizza’s: Chicken Alfredo• Philly Steak & Swiss• BBQ Chicken • Chicken Bacon Ranch Stix of all kinds: Bread Stix • Cheezstix • Pepperoni Stix • Hawaiian Stix • Cinnastix • Yummy Stix Lunchtime Special: Pizza by the Slice Peterson Refrigeration and Mechanical Jarret & Colby Coach B’s Lotsa Motsa Sports Calendar GVHS Football Practice starts July 27th GVHS Golf Contact Coach Todd Petersen @ 528-7338 GVHS Girls Volleyball Try-outs August 10 & 11 • Open Gym every Monday @ 4 pm GVHS Girls Soccer Contact Coach Jaren Jensen GVHS Girls Tennis Contact Coach Doug Agren Meet the Team Night for Fall Sports August 14 This week’s Heap of the Week goes to Jarret White and Colby Caldwell. Jarret and Colby can only dream of driving this sweet ride! |