The Lobster Roll: because it’s LOBSTER and MAYO

Jordan's Lobster Bar, Island Park, NY

Maine lobster roll

Wasn’t going to let summer pass without a fix of shellfish on a hot dog bun. That is the beauty of the lobster roll, lobster and mayonnaise and not much else to screw it up.

Compared with the meticulous composition of a Manhattan lobster roll, Jordan Lobster Bar’s heaps of perfectly-cooked claw and knuckle meat were worth the soggy bun and bag of Lays. There was no doubt 1/2 lb of lobster on my paper tray. I picked up a fork and went about my business, and saved my chips for the train ride home.

The Marriage of Strawberry and Rhubarb

The CSA strawberries were delicious straight from the carton; but the super-tart rhubarb needed some partnering. Hence the age-old combo of strawberry & rhubarb. Here are photos of the crumble I prepared, and the recipe, adapted from Annabel Karmel’s Superfoods.

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble

• 2 large stalks rhubarb, diced
• 4 cups strawberries, quartered
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup + 1 Tbsp flour
• Pinch of sea salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans and almonds
• Vanilla ice cream

1. Preheat oven to 375. Add rhubarb and strawberries to a 2 qt baking dish; toss with sugar, 1 Tbsp flour and lemon juice.
2. Combine the following in a mixing bowl for the topping: 1 cup flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, lemon zest, butter and olive oil; stir until lumps form.
3. Scatter the topping over the fruit, then sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake for 45 minutes, until bubbly and nuts are golden brown. Top with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

Choice Cocktail for Christmas

While Sugar on Snow indulges our inner-child with it’s sticky sweetness, this shaken beauty delivers sweetness while also taking the edge off. As the skilled-bartender trend continues to thrive in the city, I discover that maple syrup is the natural sweetener of choice for mixologists.

The Northwood #2 was created by David Moo, co-owner and head bartender at the Brooklyn bar Quarter, and featured in the November issue of Bon Appetit. It combines fresh-pressed apple cider, maple syrup, and rum.  The perfect Ode to New England, which was actually ripe with rum distilleries in the mid-1700s.

Northwood #2

(Bon Appetit, serves 2)

• 3 Tbsp gold rum
• 2 Tbsp brandy
• 1 1/2 Tbsp apple cider
• 1 tsp pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
• 3/4 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Ice cubes
• 2 thing apple slices

Combine first 5 ingredients in cocktail shaker; fill with ice. Cover and shake vigorously until cold. Strain into 2 coupe glasses. Cut slit in each apple slice and attach to rim of each glass.

Photograph by Craig Cutler

Sugar on Snow

In honor of the first snowfall of the season that I did not sleep through, I am sharing a recipe for a New England delicacy I first learned of this weekend. You may recall Laura Ingalls indulging in a wintry mix of boiling-hot maple syrup over snow in Little House in the Big Woods (although I certainly did not remember this and thank my friend LBM for the reference). As a loyal fan of maple sugar candy from childhood trips to Vermont, I was surprised to hear of another maple confection with the consistency of sticky taffy.

With a little research behind me, I can tell you that Sugar on Snow is actually a springtime tradition in northern New England and Canada. Hot syrup (225-245 degrees) is poured over snow at sugar houses during the maple syrup harvest. Better yet, there are sugar on snow parties, where the maple taffy is served with fresh donuts, sour dill pickles and coffee.  The pickles and coffee are said to enhance the maple flavor and cut the sweetness. Some even serve a side of maple syrup for donut-dunking. Um, you had me at donuts. And sugar theme party.

Since there was no accumulating snow last night–and city snow likely harbors all things toxic–I was happy to find recipes suggesting food-processed ice as a substitute. Here’s a simple recipe adapted from massmaple.org:

Heat maple syrup to about 234⁰ F, a candy thermometer is helpful. As soon as the syrup reaches the proper temperature, pour or drizzle immediately, without stirring, over packed snow or shaved ice. Because it cools so rapidly, the supersaturated solution does not have a chance to crystallize. It will form a chewy, taffy-like sheet over the snow. Twirl it up with a fork and enjoy!

The following video offers a glimpse of sugar-on-snow making at a Canadian sugar camp: