1 April 2011

Salmon "Cup"Cakes and the Latest in Technology

Salmon Cupcakes

Today is the first official day of our taste test and launch of a new innovative product. I am so honoured to be able to bring this technology into your homes. A few weeks ago I was contacted by BlogTech as part of their Blog in Draft program to be one of the very first food blogs in the country to reveal their revolutionary new technology which allows your computer screen to emit "the world's first flavoured on-line pages". We have worked diligently together over the past few weeks to get this "show on the road" so to speak. The new technology uses "hydrocolloids," which in the simplest terms means that the neutrons "collide with each other to spread over your taste buds".

Yes this makes licking the screen completely possible!!!!!

 To test to see if your screen is working properly lick the photo above. Each day for the next two weeks I will be testing a new photo with a different flavour. If you don't care for salmon, please check back tomorrow for my favourite chocolate cake recipe.



April Fool's!!!!!!!

Hope you didn't get dust on your tongue. Wouldn't it be something if we really could taste or smell what we see on all our favourite blogs!! Is Smell-a-Vision that they keep talking about far away!!! I hope not!!!

Where does the concept of April Fool's Day come from? Did you know that April Fools’ Day, also called All Fools’ Day has been documented for centuries? It resembles festivals such as the Hilaria we have read about in ancient Rome on March 25, and the Holi celebration in India, which ends on March 31.

Although the day has been observed for all these years, there are different explanations for its origin.  The most popular theory is related to the French calendar. They changed its calendar in the 1500s so that the New Year would begin in January to match the Roman calendar instead of beginning at the start of Spring, in late March or early April. However word of the change traveled slowly, and many people in rural areas continued to celebrate the New Year in the spring. Those living in the country became known as "April fools." They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes. It gives usually poised and reserved bloggers like me the freedom to act like a total geek and play with my food!!!!

All kidding aside in honour of the day I decided to recreate a dish from celebrity chef Bob Blumer. He writes, "This is the recipe that got me started on savoury cupcakes. It was inspired by the name “fish cake,” which always made me laugh when I thought of a cake made with fish. My original salmon cupcakes were bite-size and I served them as appetizers, but they quickly grew up into an adult-size entrée. This version takes less than a quarter of the time and the effort."

The original recipe has you pipe warm mashed potatoes onto the "cakes" but I decided I wanted a little colour so flashed them under the broiler for a few moments. I was skimpy with the potatoes but would love a mound of mashed potatoes on top of these! Is this a cupcake? Well no, it is a fish cake, but a baked fishcake which makes this the healthiest fishcake ever! They take 8 minutes to bake in the oven and are perfect as an hors d'oeuvres or a light lunch. These are an excellent way to get young 'uns to eat their fish and get all of their Omega 3's. I have been wanting to try the meatloaf cupcakes I have seen dotted all over the blogosphere so when this recipe was sent to my inbox I was excited to give it a try. I love salmon!!!!!Just think about it. You could even use halibut, cod or even crab for some healthy "cakes". If you're vegetarian why not little falafel cakes. The possibilities are endless! Since it is April Fool's day you have full license to play with your food!!!!!

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."
- Mark Twain


**Bob Blumers Salmon Cupcakes**

3 medium russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/4 cup (60 mL) heavy cream, room temperature
1/4 cup (60 mL) butter, room temperature
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 egg
1 pound (500 g) skinless salmon, roughly cut in 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes
3 green onions, finely sliced
1/4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup (60 mL) breadcrumbs or panko
1/4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 tablespoons (30 mL) sour cream
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons (30 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 jalapeño chili, seeds and membranes discarded, minced
1/4 cup (250 mL) finely chopped fresh dill (stems discarded), divided
Muffin tin
8 cupcake liners
Vegetable oil spray

Icing

Steam potatoes over boiling water until tender to the poke of a fork.

Use a ricer, food mill, or standard-issue fork to mash potatoes. In a medium glass or metal bowl, blend the potatoes with cream and butter, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of the dill. Reserve.(if making ahead: just before putting salmon cupcakes in the oven, reheat potatoes by covering the bowl with aluminum foil and placing it over a pot of boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. When potatoes are steaming hot, add dill. Blend thoroughly with a fork.)

Cupcakes

In a a food processor, add egg, salmon, green onion, bell pepper, breadcrumbs, parsley, sour cream, lemon zest and juice, jalapeño, remaining 1/4 cup dill, 1/2 teaspoon (2 mL) salt, and 1/4 teaspoon (1 mL) freshly ground black pepper. Pulse 4 or 5 times, or until coarsely chopped and well blended. If you don’t have a food processor, chop ingredients finer than indicated and blend in a bowl. Reserve. (At this point the salmon mixture can be refrigerated for up to a day).
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).

Line a muffin tin with 8 paper liners. Generously spray interior of liners with spray oil. Spoon salmon mixture into liners. Gently press salmon down and flatten, level with the top of the tin.

Bake cupcakes for 8 minutes, or until cakes are fully set yet still moist. Remove cakes from tin immediately so that they do not continue to cook.

Use a piping bag with a star tip, or a table knife, to ice the cupcakes with mashed potato icing. (At this point I like to flash them under the broiler for a little colour for a couple of minutes).

Serves 8

I served my salmon cupcakes with a version of this salad.


You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
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29 comments:

  1. Happy April Fool's day to you too Val. You had me going there for a minute. Emeril is always talking about smell-a-vision.

    Your "cupcakes" are so clever. Perfect for eating healthy.
    Sam

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  2. That sure was a pretty good one! Had me going for a minute! "What!!! Se wants me to lick my screen? For salmon???"

    But, for real, the salmon cakes look great. Lenten Fridays sometimes get me stumpred for something different. This will do it!

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  3. Val, I don't think it's working. I didn't taste a thing!! Maybe it's because I'm still recovering? I'll keep trying every day for the next two weeks because I'm loyal like that!! = )

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  4. Val, those Salmon cupcakes look divine! I wouldnt mind biting into my laptop screen for those :)

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  5. ha ha ha...if only! They do look amazing and I totally wish I could do more than lick my screen...I want to grab one out of my screen ;)

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  6. What a fun presentation! And I have everything on hand to make them today.

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  7. Excellent April Fool's joke Val, you had me going for a minute too, lol! Your cupcakes look fabulous, this is definitely something hubby and I would enjoy. We just love salmon. Have a great weekend!

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  8. You, devil, you...you had me going there for a while, at least the first couple of sentences. Funny girl.

    Love these salmon cupcakes and, of course, the varieties are endless. It's a good reminder that when you're bored with your usual food repertoire, just present it in a different way.

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  9. Hehehe! It would be great, though...

    Your cupcakes are truly delightful! A very Easter-like recipe.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  10. Dear Val, I love these salmon cupcakes, look wonderful and yummy, and I love salmon, look perfect, have a lovely weekend! gloria

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  11. You and google are tricky tricky tricky when it comes to April Fools.

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  12. Happy April FOOLS Day, VAL!! :D

    I think your salmon cupcakes are SO clever, they look delicious. Have a wonderful weekend! xo

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  13. You certainly had me going there for a second with your April fools joke. :o)
    Your savory cupcakes are such a unique and beautiful presentation for either an appetizer or even a lighter meal. They look and sound wonderful!

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  14. What a great idea. Bookmarked!!!

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  15. Love these cupcakes, so brilliant!

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  16. Hey. How did you KNOW my screen is so dusty? Hmm.

    I love that we are both on a salmon kick today! Your cupcakes are the CUTEST things!

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  17. You are too funny. It was a great prank. Have a good weekend, Val. Blessings...Mary

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  18. Very good Val, but as one born on April Fool's Day, I am not so easily fooled. I do however love your idea of a savoury cupcake with piped potato on top. Will have to try it :)

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  19. LOL, that was great!
    They do look good enough to lick the screen though :)

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  20. Very funny! I loved Google's April fool joke too about their new Google Motion - hilarious!

    I love salmon and this is a delicious and attractive way to serve it!

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  21. Cute! :) I love your salmon "cup" cakes, especially the "frosting" on top. :)

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  22. Your cupcakes certainly do look good enough to eat right off the screen. And, I have no doubt they are just as delicious. I can't wait to trick my grandsons into trying some.

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  23. What a fabulous idea! Salmon cupcakes look and sound delicious - if only we could taste them from the computer screen!

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  24. Har-Har....good prank but the salmon cakes are wonderful, whimsy from Blumer.

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  25. Ha Ha Ha . . . you are too fun, Val! Your opening 'story' was such a hoot! But your salmon cupcakes are seriously wonderful sounding. So creative and beautiful too!

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  26. I am so easily fooled...wait till next year...thank God I did not lick the screen. Must say love this cup cakes...

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  27. In fact, this wonderful fish cake goes perfectly with the French April's Fool Day because here people play a "Poisson d'Avril" - and April Fish! And you are supposed to stick a drawing of a fish on someone's back without them knowing it... I love fish cakes and baked is even better. These sound extra good! Thanks for the laugh, too, Val!

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  28. Hahahaha. For a moment, I thought you'd gone over the deep end. I forgot it's April Fool's Day! These are so much more appealing than salmon cakes. They're absolutely stunning and, no doubt, delicious.

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  29. Fun April Fools joke, Val! Don't we just wish?
    Loving your salmon cupcakes; so clever and the potato frosting is perfect!

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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