The Pewter Chef Vs The Cornicopia of Doom!

Readers will remember my alter ego, The Pewter Chef (not nearly has tough as an Iron Chef). The Pewter Chef invites guests over who are required to buy a few mystery ingredients. The operative word here is "few". I then will take them and make a meal.

Last Saturday, I invited friends the Count and Contessa P to partake. We had had them over in March when they had sprung on me that the Count was dieting. I responded with a diet friendly meal that I have described. The Count has hit is goal and I think because he felt guilty about my having to make the adjustment earlier, decided that he needed to make amends.

So instead of buying a few ingredients, he BOUGHT A FEW BAGS OF INGREDIENTS!

"Wow. First time someone has tried to stump the Pewter Chef with shear volume!"

"Hmmmmmm"

"Eye of Newt?????"

"Special Forbidden Rice from China"
(Didn't make the cut as a choice between potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pasta)

"Grapes?"

In the bags were 3 pounds of King Salmon filets, a pound of shrimp, the above mentioned rice, potatoes and pasta, Brussels Sprouts, red kale, an avocado, an onion, garlic, ginger, lemon, lime, cheeses, prosciutto and more.

Now, planning the menu

I ended up making:

• South American Shrimp salad with avocado, lime and red chile powder
• Salmon salad with capers and fresh lavender
• Soup of roasted sweet potatoes, onions, fennel, and celery with smoked Spanish paprika garnished with shrimp
• Pan seared oven finished salmon with a grape, blackberry, wine, and ham stock reduction sauce
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts and prosciutto

"Allez Cuisine!"

The Contessa P preparing to sous-chef. Contessa's help prepping many of the veggies was a big, big help.

South American Shrimp Salad

Our lavender is 'fresh'

Salmon salad garnished with lavender

I think we all agreed the sweet potato, fennel soup was over the top

Wife, Count and Contessa P ready to do gastronomic battle. It would be complete surrender before we ever got to dessert.

Whipping up the Brussels Sprouts

One of many a piece of salmon. We finished off about 2 1/4 of the 3 pounds.

Salmon, garlic mashed potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Everyone was amazed at how good the sauce was.

Evidence of gastronomic success!

You have to love it when your guests, royal though they be, jump in and do the dishes.