wednesdaymenu-1-1 

Welcome to the table at What’s On the Menu Wednesday.  I’m so glad that you have decided to join me today. As always, I’m really looking forward to what you have to say.

It warmed up so nicely here this weekend, and we were able to get out and enjoy the sunshine.  Sunday we paid a visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens hoping to take in  the remainder of the daffodil and tulip season.  With the strong winds and storms of late, many of those beauties were past their prime.  However, the azaleas were coming into bloom as were the dogwoods.  Ferns of numerous varieties were unfurling and greeting the warm sunshine.  We walked through the newly opened nature preserve that borders Lake Hamilton and listened as what must have been millions of birds shared their greetings to one another.  The two-mile walk was one of the best I’ve had in many weeks.
Plus, their was a bridal fair.  With cake.  With bonbons.  With petit fours.  With fruit.  Did I mention cake?  I’m soooooooooooo glad we did that walk!
With warmer weather, my thoughts turn to the grill.  I had picked up a nice piece of salmon and some fresh asparagus thinking that it would be nice to grill and eat outside on the porch for a change.  Well, we awoke Monday to 60+ degrees which rapidly deteriorated via severe thunderstorms to 36 degrees.  Yuk!  (Yes, I know we needed the rain.  But my bones were just beginning to warmSmile). 
Anyway, since I had made the commitment with the salmon purchase, I wanted to give this wood-grilled version a go.  Instead of using wood planks,  it calls for wood chips and improvised foil trays.  It could not have been simpler.  And it was delicious to boot!
With a few changes.  Yes, I know.  There always seem to be changes
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WOOD-GRILLED SALMON
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoons pepper
4 skin-on salmon fillets (6 to 8 ounces each), 1 1/4 inches thick
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cups wood chips, soaked for 15 minutes and drained
Combine sugar, salt and pepper in bowl. (I didn’t use the sugar mixture as I knew that I was going to try out a new mango glaze.) Pat salmon dry with paper towels, then brush flesh sides with oil and rub evenly with sugar mixture.  Use heavy-duty aluminum foil to make four 7 x 3-inch trays, and perforate bottoms of each try with the tip of a knife. (I took a short cut and used some small aluminum baking trays that I had on hand.  If you need instructions on how to make the suggested trays, email me and I will send those on to you.) 

Divide wood chips among trays and lay 1 fillet, skin side down, on top of chips in each tray.  (Any variety of wood chips will work.  Cedar and alder were suggested; I had mesquite on hand, so that’s what I used.)

Place trays on grill and cook over hot fire until fish is opaque and flakes apart when gently prodded with a paring knife, about 10 minutes. (I glazed ours with a bottled mango glaze that I had been wanting to try even though the recipe probably didn’t need anything else.  It just seemed “tropical,” and I was ready for the tropics!)
mango
Transfer trays to a wire rack, tent loosely with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.  Slide metal spatula between the skin and flesh of the fish.  Transfer fish to a plate and serve.
smoked salmon
I served it over saffron rice and with grilled fresh asparagus seasoned with garlic, cracked black pepper and olive oil .  Squeeze a little lemon over all of it as it comes off of the grill. (Lemon intensifies the flavor of just about any dish.) Whew!   That’s a bunch to say about such a simple dish. 
(Not my best photography, but I was hungry…..)

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