It was Thursday before the long weekend and we all know what that means in my house…cocktails! And we all know I really don’t like serving cocktails without a little grub on the side. But I’ve been at work all day and haven’t really thought about it until now. I rummage through the freezer and find a little baggy with Smoked Salmon Horseradish Mousse that I made recently. This little appi is a re-invention of a the mousse which I blogged about in 2008 (no, the mousse is not THAT old ;-)!). I served it last night in little cucumber cups (you know, the mini cucumbers that are so darn adorable?)
Smoked Salmon Horseradish Mousse
an adaptation from Gourmet | November 1992
Serves 6 as a first course (freeze leftovers like I did).
Ingredients:
- 3/4 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 3/4 cup sour cream (I used yogurt cheese)
- 2 ounces smoked salmon, chopped (about 1/3 cup), plus 6 ounces smoked salmon, sliced thin
- 1 tablespoon finely grated peeled fresh horseradish, or to taste
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh dill plus dill sprigs for garnish
- 2 mini cucumbers, cut into 5 equal sized ‘cups’
- 2 tsp red roe
- 2 tsp chives, finely chopped
Directions:
- With a small melon baller or a sharp edged spoon, scoop out the middle part of the cucumber until about 2mm from all edges. Turn up-side-down on paper towel and allow to drain.
- In a small saucepan sprinkle the gelatin over the water and let it soften for 1 minute.
- Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring, until the gelatin is dissolved, add 1/4 cup of the yogurt cheese, and cook the mixture, whisking, until it is smooth.
- In a food processor purée the chopped salmon until it is very smooth add the gelatin mixture, the remaining 1/2 cup sour cream, the horseradish,
- Remove from blender and stir in the minced dill, and salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon small amounts of this mixture into the cucumber cups and top with red roe and chopped chives.
- Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Betsy at Bits and Breadcrumbs recently nominated me for the lovely ABC Award, thank you kindly. I am always very flattered and touched by your kindness. As Betsy put it there doesn’t seem to be any specific rules attached to this fun award; just thank the person who gave it to you and share something about yourself using each letter of the alphabet. Wow, this almost made my brain explode. 😉
ABCD: Assertive, Blue-eyed , Cheeky, Deliberate
EFGH: Exacting, Feminine, Gullible, Happy
IJKL: Introspective, Joking, Kind, Loving
MNOP: Mature, Naughty, Observant, Polite
QRST: Quirky, Right, Sassy, Talented
UVW: Unusual, Vivacious, Witty
XYZ: X(any suggestions?), Youthful, Zealous
Thanks again Betsy.
Cheers Everyone!
[…] the menu: • Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Roll-ups • Lobster Tails with Drawn Garlic Butter • Smoked Salmon Mousse in Cucumber Cups • California “Sushi” Slice (recipe below) • Cheese Plate, Cranberry Sauce, […]
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Congratulations on your ABC Award!
As the originator of this award you may be interested to know that I have now set up a Facebook group for all bloggers who have been given the ABC Award – a place for you to meet new bloggers, and share and support each other. You can join the group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABCaward/?bookmark_t=group
Please also let any other bloggers, that you know have been given the award, know about this group too – then we can all ‘spread the word’
I have also set up a Facebook page – the ABC Award – where you can now add links to all of your blog posts and writing – share your work with a new audience, gain new readers, and find out what other ABC Award bloggers are writing about.
You can find the page here:
https://www.facebook.com/ABCaward?bookmark_t=page
Just ‘like’ the page and get started – and do let all your blog readers know about this page – I believe that all of our blogs can only be improved by letting our readers know about other blogs – that way you will also have new readers discover you too!
Happy blogging – and congratulations again on the ABC Award – you’re awesome!
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Thank you kindly, your offer is intriguing and I shall check it out.
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you’re welcome!
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Very creative and eye-catching!
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That’s very nice of you to say Amber, thank you.
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Fantastic snack idea! What a coincidence: I also always have cocktails on Friday night and always look for light snack ideas (sausages, fat cheese and lots of good bread are such an easy and tempting option of course… ). I will certainly remember these elegant snacks especially since cucumbers are among the vegetables I have most often.
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I love your staple cocktail appi’s Sissi, but we often go out to eat and I prefer a slightly lighter snack, to help control the calories. I just don’t like to drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Cheers!
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Hi Eva, these look like a great little appetiser, though I think I’d go for the easier option and just use a firmer cheese to start with, like cream cheese, instead of using the gelatin. Mainly because I’ve never seen sour cream for sale here, but I’m always in favour of easy dishes 🙂
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Hi Charles, great ideas and way easier to use the cream cheese (or goats cheese for that matter). Instead of sour cream, you can use Crème fraiche, or make your own yogurt cheese by draining out the whey through a fine seive and a coffee filter. Lots of great options!
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I love these! They look so festive. Though I think I would want to eat them all to myself 🙂 I’ve never made a mousse. This doesn’t look too scary. Perhaps you could use the leftovers in little salmon tea sandwiches?
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Thank you Genie! You may have to add a bit more gelatin to firm up the mousse, but tea sandwiches sound amazing!
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oh my word! They looks so dainty and beautiful and perfect for cocktails!
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Thanks Jessica, they were perfect bite sized nibbles! Love the new Avitar! I almost didn’t recognize you.
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Congrats on the ABC award and the smoked salmon is stunning! Drat – being allergic to salmon can be a pain in the patootie!
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Thank you kindly, Ann. It must be horrible to be allergic to seafood; I’ve heard of shellfish allergies before but not seafood in general, you poor thing.
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Wow Eva, those look amazing, but I’m not sure what to start with…the cups or the martinis. 😉
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Thanks Jed, we always cheers first, sip and then chow down! It works like a charm every time.
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Congratulations on your award and finding the most descriptive and illuminating of words:) I think you’re idea of cocktails and a snack is such a civilized and totally fun idea.. I’m going to have to try making a tradition of my own.. but maybe on Friday or Saturday nights:)
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You’re right Smidge, cocktails on a Thursday can be a bit much…what am I saying? 😉
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Oh how I love to enjoy cocktails in front of your fire. These appies look great!
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Thanks Barb, we love having you and Kevin over.
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Your cucumber cups look Christmasy and your crystal dish is so perfect for them. Delightful presentation, looking too pretty to eat.
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Thank tou kindly, Norma; We admired for about 30 seconds, then it was a lost cause!!
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Those looks awesome! What a great idea to use cucumbers as the vessel for the mousse. Brilliant!
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Thanks Bill, if you’re feeling more like meat, check out my reply to a-boleyn, I had a suggestion for bacon cups!
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I laughed because you’re so right about Thursdays. That’s why I post my cocktails Wednesday nights. Gives people prep time. What a winning combo. Love the cups and CUPS.
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Thanks Greg, normally it depend how crazy the week was for us to have a cocktail on Thursday; it’s usually wine! I think we may have to indulge tonight too! 😉
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Another gorgeous dish though there’s a bit too much vegetable in there for my taste. Couldn’t you serve the mousse in bacon cups instead? 🙂
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You know, Maria, you probably could! Have you ever seen the round prosciutto? Line a cookie sheet with a piece of parchment; lay each round on the parchment so they don’t touch. Bake at 375-400F until the edges turn up and they crisp up into little cups! Voilá, bacon cups! Enjoy!
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Cucumber cups are a great idea and that red roe topping is stunning! I’m feeling a little chilled myself right about now; quite enjoying the warmth of your flame ;-).
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Thanks Kelly, I’m affraid the ground hog may have lied after all; or it’s one heck of an April Fools Prank!
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Congratulations on your ABC award, Eva, Cucumber cups are such cunning things. The adjective choices for “x” are not good — better to misspell “Xacting” and use another word under “E.” Cheers.
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That is a great suggestion, Sharyn! Thank you!
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You did so well, Eva, both on the ABC’s and the lovely salmon mousse cups…what a great shot! I want to come to your house for cocktails…those martini’s look perfect, too! Ah, X, it is a tough one. It just occurred to me that it could be used as roman numerals for age (but who wants to do that?) or some other significant number, perhaps.
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That’s very creative, Betsy, I like the x as roman numerals, but for something other than age! I would live to have you over for cocktails. Thanks again for the award.
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Like Kristy, I admire your inventiveness, Eva. Had I been in your shoes, I might have been able to serve some crackers … maybe not. You, on the other hand, come up with these delectable goodies!
(BTW, “X” is keeping me guessing with my ABC Award, too.
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That x, perhaps it is the mysterious mrs x?
Thank you for your kind and very flattering words, John. You are too kind.
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That looks so warm and inviting! And I think you are so creative with the dishes you come up with on a whim. This looks utterly romantic and a great way to start the long weekend! 🙂
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Thank you very much, Kristy. You are too kind!
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I bet everyone loves coming over to your place for drinks! And congratulations on your award. That list idea is very cute! 😀
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Thanks Lorraine, I’m flattered.
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Congrats on your ABC award – well deserved! And your answers were great – I would have struggled with the letter X as well. And these little cucumber cups are gorgeous. I can’t believe you whipped these up with a moment’s notice. I love ‘cocktail hour’ and of course, it is all the better with an appi – and your appi is gorgeous. Just look at all that colour and texture and flavour! xx
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Thank you kindly Charlie. There is always food with cocktails at our house. These were quite lovely.
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