Rebecca Ets-Hokin

Asian Salmon Tartare
Blue Cheese and Walnut Spread
Gideon's Brownies
Fresh Cranberry Relish

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons wasabi powder
6 ounces sliced smoked salmon (not lox), finely chopped
¼ cup finely diced seeded peeled English hothouse cucumber
1 tablespoon minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon minced green onion
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
1 teaspoon Chinese sesame oil
1 sheet nori, cut into fine strips
Water crackers or Japanese rice crackers

Stir lemon juice and wasabi powder in medium bowl to blend. Mix in salmon, cucumber, cilantro, green onion, sesame seeds, ginger and sesame oil. Place salmon tartare on platter. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover; refrigerate.) Surround with crackers.

Blue Cheese and Walnut Spread

1 pound blue cheese (such as Stilton or Gorgonzola), crumbled
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 to 1/2 cup Tawny Port
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

In a food processor blend together the cheese, the butter, and the Port until the mixture is smooth and in a bowl combine well the cheese mixture and the walnuts. Transfer the spread to crocks or ramekins. The spread keeps, covered and chilled, for 3 weeks. Serve the spread with crackers.

Gideon's Brownies

Brownie Facts:
Every year, people around the world eat 2,000,000,000 (two billion) brownies-this number is based on a 2 inch square. Two billion brownies would cover an entire football field, 80 feet deep. If you stacked two billion brownies, you would have a tower that is 31,000 miles high. Two billion brownies are enough to circle the earth two and a half times.

• In 1896, you could buy brownies from Sears for 14 cents each.

• Some women bake brownies to feel better for not having enough time to spend with their families. (Self Magazine)

• Milk provides the perfect texture, temperature and creaminess to accompany brownies. Adults may want to pair brownies with Port, Sherry or Madeira.

• One brownie has 200 calories and 1 gram of protein. It is in the top of the food pyramid.

• Chocolate was used by the Aztec Indians, and used cocoa beans for money.

• 2,000,000 (two million) tons of chocolate are produced every year around the world. Rebecca Ets-Hokin Brownies

Double Fudge Brownies: Serves 8

7 ounces sugar (about 1 cup)
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted
4 ounces unsalted butter, melted
4 ounces all-purpose flour (about ¾ cup)
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cocoa
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup toffee chips

1. Whisk the eggs and sugar until they are frothy. Add the vanilla and stir well. Add the chocolate and butter and blend well. Stir the flour, salt and cocoa together in another bowl. Add this mixture to the chocolate mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips and the toffee chips.

2. Spread the mixture in a 9x9" baking pan which has been lined with parchment paper, and bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven 25 to 35 minutes, until edges pull away from the pan. Allow to cool before turning out and cutting.

Fresh Cranberry Relish Serves 8-12
12 ounces fresh cranberries
1 small orange, peel left on, cut into eighths, and seeded
¾ cup baker’s sugar
½ teaspoon orange blossom water

1. Chop the cranberries and the orange in a food processor. Stir in the sugar and orange flower water. Let stand 30 minutes before serving.