Our Mother's Day dinner was set up again, on the back lanai.
I believe the flowers are Heliconia caribaea. My son Anthony surprised me today with a bunch of them which I placed in several places around the house. The heliconia matches the pattern of the tablecloth, although they are not the same type heliconia.
Small Caprese Puff bites as appetizers - puff pastry sheets cut with a scallop edged biscuit / cookie cutter, a slice of tomato from our garden, sprinkled with a bit of ground sea salt, a dab of mozzarella and a basil leaf, also from our garden.
Layer the tomatoes and mozzarella on the pastry round and bake until pastry puffs up and shows a slight golden brown on bottom edges. Let them rest for a few minutes and top with basil leaves.
Delicious and easy Caprese Puffs
The Entrée, Broiled Salmon on a bed of sautéed baby spinach, Herbed Rice Medley and Braised Asparagus with Rosemary and Laurel (this last recipe is in my new cookbook, From Soup to Nuts.
To marinate the salmon, melt butter, brown sugar, a few drops of liquid smoke and fresh ground pepper. Pour over salmon filet and refrigerate for several hours. Broil or grill the salmon.
To sauté the spinach, wash and add to a medium hot skillet or sauté pan to which you have added a spoonful or two of olive, macadamia nut or avocado oil. Stir and add a bit of fresh lime juice, salt and fresh ground pepper. Cook until limp.
The rice medley is a combination of short grain white rice and brown rice with a bit of wild rice and whatever herbs and spices you prefer.
To braise the asparagus, add a spoonful or two of olive, macadamia nut or avocado oil to a skillet and heat, add the trimmed asparagus, sea salt, fresh rosemary and fresh laurel / bay leaves (if fresh not available, dried is fine) and a touch of water. Braise for a few minutes. Turn heat down and cover, and continue braising for about 5 more minutes.
Island made Tropical Dreams Vanilla ice cream with locally grown strawberries and mint from the yard.
Hope your Mother's Day was beautiful!
