2nd Addition: March is National Soup Month: Now Use Fish for a Healthy and Sumptuous Basis for Great Chowders

When he’s not clowning around at Wilson Fish, Tim Davidson is an international disaster relief volunteer for the Red Cross. Photo copyright 2009 by Zachary D. Lyons.

SO WHY NOT TRY A CHOWDER FOR SUNDAY DINNER?

Any variety of smoked salmon you chose will make a fine main ingredient in a chowder that will become one of your favorites with this recipe from bbcgoodfood.com.  We recommend it for the simple ingredients and fabulous flavor. You can click this link to see what you think. It may inspire you to try it.  You might even want to send us a photo or video of you cooking, or eating the soup, or clowning around.  We think it would be fun to see how you do and what you think.

Now, let’s talk Potatoes and Leeks.  Absolutely required, they can be found in abundance from most of our farmers.

First, Leeks:  Try Mee Garden, The Old Farmer, Colinwood Farm, Nash’s Organic Farm, Pa Garden, Ia’s Gardne, Growing Washington, Growing Things, and Stoney Plains.

Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

These shining and delicate flavored vegetables provide just the right touch.  But they always need to be washed thoroughly-they have a reputation for surprising people with globs of mud stuck between their layers of the top 2/3rds of the stalk.

HELPFUL TIP FOR CLEANING LEEKS:  Cut stalks into 2-3 inch pieces and remove the root end; place in a large bowl with cold water; and stir vigorously enough to see the beginnings of separation of the layers.  Allow to sit in the water long enough to begin to see the dirt come free from the layers, and give a good final rinse until you get the pieces clean.  Plan on using the bottom white portion up to the paler green pieces in your soup.  The greenest top parts can be placed in a bag & frozen to add terrific flavor to a clear vegetable broth made later, or you can compost them.

Now, the beloved Potato:  They too are available from your favorite farmer with little exception.  Pick the colors and textures you want.

Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

Kirsop Potatoes are still looking good. Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

The great news is Potatoes are so good for you.  Even without the skin, 1 medium potato will provide 70% of the Vitamin C you need in a day, 25% of the Potassium, 9% Iron and 8% Protein.  Add to that such nutrients as 30% of your daily need for Vitamin B-6, 18% of dietary fiber and 12% of Magnesium.  And I could go on, but out of courtesy to you, I’ll stop here.

Finally, this recipe calls for heavy cream (BBC calls it double cream), but if you substitute yogurt from Samish Bay Cheese, or sheep yogurt from Glendale Shepherd, you won’t regret it.

Sheep’s milk yogurt from Glendale Shepherd. Photo courtesy Glendale Shepherd.



Jersey cow yogurt from Samish Bay Cheese. Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

We’d love to see your innovations and how you do.  We are always interested in your experience.

Until then Bon Appetite!

Midweek Update for Thursday, January 29th: Seahawks Eat St. Jude Tuna, Too!

Canned local albacore tuna in a variety of flavors from Fishing Vessel St. Jude at Ballard Farmers Market. Copyright Zachary D. Lyons.

Did you know that, not only do our beloved Seahawks eat eggs from Stokesberry Sustainable Farm, but they also eat albacore tuna from Fishing Vessel St. Jude, and they are even making a special dish for the Hawks using both ingredients! “We have been selling [tuna] to the Seattle Seahawks this past year,” said Joyce Malley, who owns F/V St Jude with her husband, Joe. “They make a deviled egg (3 halves) with our tuna that contain 19 grams of protein,” which is a perfect protein portion for any Super Bowl champ!

Local albacore tuna loins from Fishing Vessel St. Jude at Ballard Farmers Market. Copyright Zachary D. Lyons..

This recipe is our Market Master’s version of the Tuna Salad with a Kick developed by F/V St. Jude’s owner.  The ingredients below are those used by the Seahawks’ team chef. Super Bowl Party Devil’d Eggs with Albacore Serves 4-6 Hard boil eggs by placing eggs in pan of cold water. Place the pan on high heat and boil for 3 minutes. Turn heat off, and leave eggs sitting in hot water for 5-8 minutes, depending on size of eggs used (the larger the eggs, the longer the time). Then immediately rinse with cold water to stop cooking, and place in refrigerator until ready to peel and use.

• 4 eggs (2 per person) from Stokesberry Sustainable Farm
• 1 – 6 oz can albacore tuna of Fishing Vessel St. Jude
• 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Terrapin Ridge Wasabi Lime Mustard (or substitute your favorite mustard)
• 1/4 cup Coarsely chopped water chestnuts
• 1 Tbsp. cracked Black Pepper (or to taste)

Flake albacore into a medium to large bowl. Mix in mayo, water chestnuts, mustard and pepper. until ingredients are thoroughly mixed together. Serve with rice crackers, or roll in rice paper to form spring rolls and slice into serving sizes.

What the tuna infused deviled eggs look like on our undercover camera at the Seahawk’s VMAC training facility in Renton. Photo courtesy Fishing Vessel St. Jude.

Stop by your Ballard Farmers Market this Sunday before the big game and pick up tuna and eggs to make this dish. Heck, you can even get mustard seeds from Nash’s Organic Produce and make your own mustard for this dish in time for the Big Game. Go Hawks!

Simple Miner’s Lettuce Salad

Top a bowl of fresh Miner’s lettuce with fresh or toasted pinenuts and avocado (optional). Drizzle with your favorite olive oil. Add salt (preferable a large crystal salt like Murray River Pink), fresh ground pepper and fresh or dried thyme, garlic powder and a little sweet paprika to taste. Squeeze lemon juice over it, and toss gently with your fingers to coat evenly.