Salmon with Tarragon Butter Sauce

Assalamualaikum!

During the exam season, I ate crap. Well, that's not really nice of me to say that since that is my rezk! However,I was pressed for time so I made fried rice with hot dogs. Very NUTRITIOUS and HEALTHY. I wish. I had four exams in one week which was crazy! After I finished my exams, I didn't really feel like eating rice so decided to pan fry some Salmon. I can't remember the measurements exactly but my dear friend wanted a recipe, so why not...

Salmon with Tarragon Butter Sauce

300g of salmon fillet

salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoon of olive oil
2 tablespoon of butter
2 sprigs of tarragon

1. Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both side.
2. Heat the olive oil in a pan. 
3. Once the oil is hot, put the salmon on the pan, skin side down.
4. Once the flesh near the skin turns opaque,flip the salmon and fry for a minute or so. 
5. Remove from heat and pat dry using a paper towel.
6. In the same pan, melt the butter using medium heat.
7. Add sprigs of tarragon and let butter brown for about 3 minutes.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Pour onto salmon and enjoy.

From watching numerous cooking shows, I learnt that the best way to cook salmon is to leave the middle part translucent. In other words, cooking it half way. Usually while you let your fish rest, it will cook further on its own. But hey,I LOVE SASHIMI. So I wouldn't mind if my fish is raw.The butter that i used is semi salted.Feel free to add more salt or skip it altogether. It would've been lovely if this dish is served with perhaps some watercress salad on the side to wash the creaminess down.

Wasalam.
Till then,

Love,
Sofhan Hasni

Apple and Brie Crisscross Galette

Assalamualaikum

So when I made the Brie Stuffed Apples En Croute, I realized how beautifully Brie, apple and puff pastry work together. PERFECT MATCH. MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN. MEANT TO BE. Okay we get it. I was thinking of hashtagging those words just now but restrained myself. Hashtagging…The words we use these days. I tweeted,I googled, I hashtagged, I facebooked, I youtubed…goodness gracious me. Let’s not get carried away now shall we. My friend Trish and I went to the Fifth Harmony Concert awhile back. Talk about being OLD!!! These kids are not even close to being legal, came with their parents, and screamed when 1D song was on. Can you imagine how these girls would react if 1D is in front of them? HORROR! There we were, standing in the middle of school kids looking all awkward. Hahaha. I nearly lost my hearing but it was fun nonetheless. Acting all young and carefree while in my head all I could think of is school work! I’m such a party person. Not.

Anyways let’s get back to food shall we. After eating stuffed apples, it hit me, why don’t I just make a pie out of it? So I did. Yum Yum YUMM!(If you know me well enough, say this in my voice=p)  I was thinking of making a normal galette (free form pie) but…why not we play around and make crisscross pattern just for the fun of it.. and I did. Just like the stuffed apples, this pie/galette is perfect for tea or breakfast. Yes, Breakfast. You can have pie for breakfast. No one’s judging you. I just had biryani with korma for breakfast, so what? I once had salsa with eggs for breakfast too. Delish. All I’m saying is, no one should judge you for anything you do (reminding myself at the same time) especially not your breakfast plate.  Yummy breakfast is a  great kick start of the day. Go on...make this galette and enjoy the rest of your day…

Apple and Brie Galette

1 sheet of puff pastry

2 medium sized apples

50g brie

1 egg + 1 tablespoon of water

Honey (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit
2. Wash, peel and core the apples. Slice the apples thinly.
3. Arrange the apples on the puff pastry, leaving 1 inch boarders around the edges.
4. Put dollops of the brie on the onto the apples,
5. On the boarders of the pastry, cut half inch strips. Create a crisscross pattern using these strips.
6. In a bowl, mix the egg with water. Brush this mixture onto the pastry.
7. Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
8. Serve with honey or glaze the pie with some jam mixed with water.

 It’s definitely not your average apple pie/galette. But it’s worth the try! 

Wasalam.

Till then,

Love,

Sofhan Hasni

Brie Stuffed Apples En Croute

Assalamualaikum!

It definitely has been awhile! This semester was crazy as usual. Midterms, quizzes, papers, break downs, finals etc. I have been baking a lot, but for some reasons, too lazy to type the recipe up.HAH! In October I went apple picking for the first time ever! It was amazing! Endless rows of apple trees with different colors and sizes for us to pick and eat. AMAZING I tell you. Zainab and I, being girls, took the first hour just taking pictures and posing here and there like nobody’s business. Then, we had a limited time to actually pick apples and pumpkins. We ended up with about 10 kg of apples. Boy oh boy! Jakun  uolls.

The apples were crunchy and juicy! Prior to this trip, I stumbled upon this recipe: here. This was where I got my inspiration from. To be honest, I don’t really care much about pears. I mean, I’ll eat them, but they wouldn't be my first choice from a fruit bowl. Anyways, I used apples instead of pears and add the honey AFTER I baked my apples. Apple en Croute is a bit too heavy for dessert but it is fantastic for breakfast or tea. Enjoy...

Brie Stuffed Apple en Croute

5 Medium sized apples

2 sheets of Puff Pastry

125g brie

1 egg + 1 tablespoon of water

Honey 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit
2. Wash the apples thoroughly. Cut the top of the apple and set aside.
3. Make a hole in the apple.
4. Fill the apple with a dollop of brie and cover the apple with its top.
5. Cut the puff pastry into one inch strips.
6. Wrap the apple with strips of puff pastry. Set aside
7. In a bowl, mix the egg and water.
8. Brush the egg wash (egg water mixture) on the pastry.
9. Bake apples for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
10. Drizzle with some honey

Fancy shmancy dishes are not that hard to make!:)

Stay warm Montrealers!:)

Wasalam.

Till then,Love,

Sofhan Hasni