Showing posts with label fisherman chowder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fisherman chowder. Show all posts

21 February 2015

Valentine's Day Dinner

A text message  from Glenda reminded that I stated I would share the recipe of whatever dish I elected to have for dinner on Valentine's Day. The text read, "What did you decide to cook?". I cooked fisherman's stew using the recipe my childhood friend Louise recently sent me, with a few minor modifications.

Making the fisherman stew was a perfect excuse to use the Valentine's Day gift I purchased for me, a stockpot. The stockpot was on my wishlist after making a less than palatable French onion soup at home after class a few earlier.

Below is Louise's Fisherman Stew recipe. Louise  told me  when she she shared the recipe, "The measurements are a best guess. I do a lot of cooking by "eye". Make any substitutions you want. I cut the fish, shrimp, scallops and potatoes into slightly larger than bite size pieces. I prefer bigger chunks but you can cut them however large or small you want. This isn't a thick chowder. So if you want more like a chowder I would add less fish stock. 

Fisherman's stew
1-1/2 lbs cod
5 jumbo shrimp 
4 sea scallops
Chopped clams
1 piece of salt pork - from a package of 2 (cut into cubes)
2 tablespoons butter
4 small/medium onions
8 sprigs thyme chopped
2 bay leaves 
2 lbs potatoes
4 - 5 cups fish stock
1-1/2 to 2 cups heavy cream



1) medium heat render the fat from the salt pork - remove and throw away the fried pieces
2) add butter, onions, thyme and bay leaves to pan - cook till onions are translucent
3) add potatoes, fish stock - cover and boil for 10 minutes or slow - it should slightly thicken
4) reduce to low and add salt and pepper, fish, clams and scallops 
5) add shrimp when other seafood is almost done 
6) add heavy cream. Cook until the cream is heated


I modified the recipe slightly; I rendered the fat from bacon that I had on hand, I used seafood stock that I had on hand, and  I substituted the clams for lobster.  Louise's description was accurate about the thickness of the chowder. It was good the first night, even better the following day. I will make this in the future  using less stock to see what the dish would be like with a thicker consistency.


Please lt me know if you try this recipe and share your feedback in the comment area below. It's been snowing for almost 12 hours here today. The snow is expected to  continue falling  until early tomorrow morning. This may be the day to try the risotto recipe. Yes, I'll share the recipe with you. 


Be well,
Technicolor girl 

image created by Ink+ LLC



14 February 2015

Will you be my V--------? Part II



Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

In my previous post I suggested dining at home on Valentine's Day and going out to dinner before or after Valentine's Day itself. In this post I promised to share a few beverage  recommendations.

Do you like sparkling wine or champagne? Consider Pierre Paillard, Trimbach blanc de blanc,  Thibaut-Janisson sparkling wine from Virginia,  or  Lunetta prosecco

Willing to try a rose Champagne? Consider Billecart- Salmon

I wrote a primer about sparking wines in late December, check it out here.

Since my first post about Valentine's Day I've heard from readers, friends, and acquaintances their thoughts about Valentine's Day, including:

  • There's too much pressure
  • It's too commercial
  • I'm not really into Valentine's Day
  • I'm single, the day is really for couples
My answer: stop and catch your breath. The day is what you make of it.  I heard a radio personality state that he and his wife agreed long ago to  only exchange cards on Valentine's Day.  

One friend lamented, "easy for you to say- you're single". Not true. While I've noted a growing trend by a few restaurants to host events targeted at single diners, e.g. "Dump Cupid dinner" or"Galentine's Dinner", the majority of dinner events are packaged for a couple. So what does a single person do? Gather with friends, family, and enjoy the evening or enjoy the pleasure of your own company wherever you are.

What I am doing for Valentine's Day? I had  originally planned to spend Valentine's Day with my cousin and other extended family members in Louisiana celebrating Valentine's Day and an early Mardi Gras celebration (Mardi Gras is 17 February). However, I had to cancel my trip and stay local. The National Weather Service has issued a hazard weather outlook for my vicinity.  A perfect excuse to bake cranberry walnut bread, try out the mushroom risotto recipe I received in class or fisherman chowder recipe my childhood friend Louise shared with me recently, and after dinner have a sip  of my favorite Bourbon or the Kilchoman Scotch I was introduced to a few months ago while I watch the snow fall .

I'll share with you the recipe for the risotto or the fisherman chowder.

My Valentine's Day poem for you:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Technicolor dining is grateful for YOU!




Feel free to share your plans for Valentine's Day below.  Enjoy the day!


Be well,
Technicolor girl