There is nothing quite like seeing the flash of fear on a child’s face when he realizes that his seat on the water park ride is now at the bow of the craft ... heading backwards as he plummets over the falls.
It seemed that the more he requested of the lifeguards to be facing the deep and fast drop the more they employed their stealthy tactics of spinning the multi-person tube just right. I guess it’s the same as pushing the “close door” button on the elevator when someone with an armful of groceries is asking you to hold the car.
 Our children enjoyed their weekend at Great Wolf Lodge a few weeks ago as did we. While enjoying the three-acre, four-story water park, it seemed as though the more hair-raising rides we went on, the more our youngest would defy his young mind’s logical processes and continue to get on the rides for more excitement.
Arriving home, there was no rest for the weary. It was time to get down to business as I had to plan and cook a cocktail party for some acquaintances in the following week. In going through my mind’s rolodex of items I recalled these beautiful and simple cold smoked salmon canapés, knowing that they would fit the bill.
In the cold smoking process, it is important that you cure the salmon first. There is absolutely nothing difficult about this, but it is time-consuming. You can coat the salmon and let it sit in the icebox for 2-3 days, rinse and dry and then smoke. Nothing is difficult. It just takes time.
The Scots are well known for their cold-smoked salmon and it does my heart good to try to recreate the nova lox of the old country. Mine will not be identical, but then if they were, I would just buy the side of salmon and be done with it.
I use a basic formula when making canapés and it is one that I share with all of my employees and students. Follow this simple guideline and you won’t go wrong:
n Base: think crouton, cucumber slice, Parmesan crisp, cracker, et al.
n Spread: Cream cheese, mayonnaise or aioli, flavored butters.
n Main item: The reason why the guest is choosing the hors d’oeuvres – shrimp, chicken, tuna, et al.
n Garnish: caviar, herbs, candied fruits, coarse sea salt, et al.
As you go through the recipe, feel free to substitute herbs and flavorings. Let’s face it, not everyone wants caviar or fish roe as a garnish. And some people truly despise dill. It’s acceptable to cook to your taste. That’s the name of the game.
And while I finish making these, I can’t lie. I can’t stop laughing about the little one and his flashes of fear and adventure. It’s all in a day’s work.

Cold-Smoked Salmon Canapes
serves 6
1/2 pound cold smoked salmon (recipe follows)
1 cup herbed cream cheese (recipe follows)
18-24 Scallion Blini (recipe follows)
Tobikko or other inexpensive caviar, as needed
Fresh chervil leaves (Italian parsley is a good sub)
Step 1: Lay out the cooked blini on a lined baking pan
Step 2: Place your cream cheese on the blini using a pastry bag or two spoons to shape a quenelle (quasi-football shaped torpedo of food)
Step 3: Top the cheese with a thin slice of cold=smoked salmon
Step 4: Garnish with fish roe of your choice and a small sprig of chervil or Italian parsley

Cold Smoked Salmon
makes 1 pound
1 pound fresh salmon, skinned with pin bones removed
3/4 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup fresh dill and parsley
2 Tbsp. black peppercorns
5 bay leaves
Step 1: Grind any large spices such as peppercorns and bay leaves
Step 2: Combine with remaining ingredients except for salmon
Step 3: Sprinkle a liberal layer of the curing mix in a small pan
Step 4: Lay salmon on your cure mix and press
Step 1: Top with remaining cure mix and press with another pan on top
Step 2: Cure the salmon under refrigeration for at least 2 days
Step 3: Remove from the cure and rinse the salmon; pat dry
Step 4: Lay out unwrapped in the refrigerator and let air dry so that the surface develops what is called the pellicle; the tacky surface that attracts the chemical compounds from the smoking process
Step 5: Smoke at 150 degrees with apple and hickory chunks for about an hour
Step 6: Allow to cool unwrapped in the refrigerator and when ready, slice thin for use on the canapess

Scallion Blini
1 cup All-purpose flour 

1/2 tsp. baking powder 

3/4 tsp. kosher salt 

3/4 cup whole milk
1 egg
1/2 bunch scallion greens, finely chopped

1/4 pound unsalted whole butter, melted 


Step 1: Sift dry ingredients together
Step 2: Mix milk and eggs and then add the wet and dry together to form a smooth batter. Do not overmix!
Step 3: Drizzle in the melted butter until well incorporated
Step 4: Add the scallons and mix
Step 5: Cook the blini as you would a normal pancake, ensuring that they are cooked through but not dark on the outside
Step 6: Allow to cool to room temperature and set aside until ready to use

Herbed Cream Cheese
3/4 cup cream cheese, softened
juice and zest of 1 lmon
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh scallion
1 Tbsp. chopped Italian parsley
Salt and pepper to taste    
Combine all ingredient and season to taste

— Paul G. Suplee is a certified executive chef and ProChef certified Level-3. He is a writer and culinary instructor. Find his ePortfolio at www.heartofakitchen.com.

Raised in a country that thrives on patriotism, it is second nature to pronounce the four syllables of our national moniker when singing one of the myriad anthems written to inspire and move us. Mayhap when one is speaking to a board of some sort, or arguing his case in front of the magistrate, “Amer-
ica” is quite polysyllabic.
Yet, after a week­-
end of monster trucks, mechanical construction and the Super Bowl, one all but falls into the habit of yelling “’Murka!” at the top of his lungs.
It is the rally cry of the masses; a country brought together by 5-ton trucks hurled into the stratosphere, a feat that salutes the ingenuity of Gravedigger and Ghost Rhyder.
It is the battle drum of a nation united to help the USA to regain ground in technology and science.
It is the summons of all football fans, followers of the contenders or not, to come together to watch the most observed sporting event of the year.
But most of all, it is a salute to a day of peace on which countless people are sharing their pride in expressions of food and entertaining.
The Super Bowl party is a phenomenon much akin to Thanksgiving for many, and it is staggering to consider how much time and effort is placed into the planning. Particularly, since this is the first time our state team has played in the big dance in 22 years, it doesn’t seem possible to take more than a few steps without running into the color purple.
And while I’m on that subject, I have to digress in order to share a story about a couple I met today at the food store. I’ve known the woman for a number of years, but just met her boyfriend, former and latter draped in Ravens regalia.
What I found out not only confused but also confounded me — he was a lifelong Eagles fan and has been converted to a Ravens fan. Ah, the power of love. It seemed almost as bizarre as someone trying to make my brother a Dallas fan. Sometimes truth truly is stranger than fiction.
So as I rekindle the fond memories of the trucks on Friday, despite the fact that Loco Hombre ended up flipped over instead of making a full backflip (let’s face it, crashes at monster truck shows are pretty cool), I try to muster and define my thoughts on the weekend. What should I eat before the Super Bowl?
What one food would sum up our experiences? Chicken wings are old hat, albeit one of my favorites. Chips and dip need no formal introduction. Chili? We ain’t in Texas.
No, I want a burger, and I want a burger with bacon and fried deli and country ham. A burger with fried onions and mushrooms. A burger with Buffalo sauce chiming in for a command performance, and of course a smattering of Wisconsin Sharp Cheddar.
I think that says “’Murka!” more than anything else I can think of.
I’ll get back to four syllables tomorrow.

’Murka! Burger
per burger
8 ounces ’Murka Burger Patty (recipe follows)
cheddar cheese
4 slices cooked Applewood bacon
2 slices pan-fried ham
fried onions and ’shrooms (recipe follows)
french fries
Buffalo mayo (recipe follows)
Step 1: Heat a frying pan with some whole butter and cook until the foam has subsided
Step 2: Add the patties, making sure not to overcrowd the pan
Step 3: Cook on a high heat to create a nice crust
Step 4: Turn the burgers over and cook until done or remove to a pan to finish in the oven
Step 5: Toast the buns after spreading with some butter
Step 6: When ready to serve, top the burgers on the pan with the onions and ’shrooms, ham and cheddar
Step 7: Place in oven for 1 minute until the cheese has melted
Step 8: Remove from oven, top with bacon and place on roll
Step 9: Top the burger with fries (Primanti-style), lettuce, tomato and Buffalo mayo

Murka Meat
makes 6 burgers
2.5 pounds ground chuck and brisket blend
2 eggs
1 Tbsp. Stubb’s liquid smoke
2 Tbsp. Spatini Spice
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper, or to taste
Step 1: Combine all ingredients well, beating the eggs first to more easily incorporate them
Step 2: Separate the beef into 2 parts, and then split each one of those into 3 even parts
Step 3: Press into patties and set aside until ready to cook

Fried onions and ’shrooms
2 Tbsp. whole butter
1 ounces diced Virginia country ham
12 medium button mushrooms, sliced
1 medium white or red onion, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
Step 1: Heat the butter and add the country ham. Cook for 3 minutes
Step 2: Add the onions and cook for 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms
Step 3: Cook for ten minutes, or until the mushrooms and onions are tender and the onions caramelize a touch
Step 4: Season to taste and set aside in the accumulated liquids until ready to serve

Buffalo Mayo
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup bleu cheese crumbles
1/4 cup Frank’s Red Hot
Step 1: Combine all ingredients and let stand covered in icebox for at least 24 hours if possible

 So it is now almost midnight.