MICHAEL'S BIRCH BASIL SALMON SAUCE (Great for chicken, too!!) This recipe covers 1 salmon fillet (approx 2# of fish) 8 cloves of garlic; 2 T. Olive oil or butter; 1 T. Paprika; 1/2 c. chopped fresh basil; 2 oz. PURE BIRCH SYRUP; a squeeze of lemon juice; 1/4 c. white wine; salt to taste Saute garlic in olive oil/butter; Add diced peppers and red onion; Saute lightly. Add Birch Syrup, chopped basil, and paprika Bring to simmer quickly. Add lemon juice; Pulse lightly in food processor Spread generously onto salmon fillets in baking dish; Pour wine around salmon; Bake covered 15 min. at 350 degrees; Complete baking uncovered for 10 minutes. For GRILLING: put salmon on oiled grill (top rack if possible), skin side down. Cook on medium-high heat for 12-17 minutes (depending on thickness). Do not turn. ENJOY!! MARINADE FOR CHICKEN OR FISH 1/4 c. soy sauce 1/4 c. birch syrup 1/4 c. dry white wine 2 lg. cloves minced garlic 1 tsp. olive oil 1 tsp. chopped fresh ginger --------------------------------- Birch-Orange BBQ Sauce Juice & pulp of 2-3 oranges juice of 1 lime 2 T. soy sauce 1/4 c. birch syrup 2 lg. cloves minced garlic 1/2 onion, chopped 2 T. fresh parsley 1 tsp. paprika Puree all ingredients in food processor. --------------------------------------- Birch-Nut Granola 5 c. rolled oats 2/3 c. each chopped almonds, pecans, and walnuts 1 c. shredded coconut 2/3 c. wheat germ 1 c. chopped dried apricots, currants, raisins, or dried blueberries 1/2 c. honey 1/2 c. birch syrup Soak apricots. Heat syrup with honey and mix well into dry ingredients. Bake at 350 in a 9x13 baking dish; stir every 5-10 minutes until golden brown. Add apricots or other dried fruit for last 15 minutes. --------------------------------------------- Birch Pineapple Yams 6 yams 1 can pineapple chunks 1 cup orange juice 2/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup birch syrup 1 tsp. cinnamon Slice or chunk yams; boil 20 minutes. Drain and arrange in baking dish. Mix together all ingredients and add. Bake at 350 for one hour. Serves 6. ----------------------------------------- Birch Sweetened Cranberries 1 pkg. fresh cranberries 2 oranges, chopped 1 small can crushed pineapple 3/4 cup honey (more or less to taste) 1/4 cup birch syrup 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. cloves Cover cranberries with water; cook until tender. Add all other ingredients; Simmer for at least 2 hours. Chill. -------------------------------------------------- Baked Birch-Nut Squash 3 acorn, butternut or delicata squash 1 apple diced 1/4 cup butter 1/4 cup birch syrup 2 T. honey 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ginger 1 c. chopped walnuts and/or pecans Cut squash in half, scoop out seeds, bake 30 minutes. Melt butter in pan, add all ingredients; simmer 5 minutes. Spoon mixture into squash, bake 20 minutes longer. Serves 6. -------------------------------------------------- Birch Brine for Smoked Salmon 6# salmon fillets cut into strips 2 qts. water 3/4 c. brown sugar 1/3 c. birch syrup 2/3 c. salt 1/3 c. soy sauce Brine 3-8 hours, depending on thickness of fillets. Dry 2 hours before smoking. ---------------------------------------- Birch Oatmeal Bread Mix 2 T. butter 2-3 T. strong birch syrup 1 1/2 t. salt 1c. quick rolled oats 1 c. cornmeal 2 c. boiling water Combine and let sit in warm place for 10-15 minutes: 2 c. lukewarm water 1 t. birch syrup 2 T. dry yeast When oat mixture is cool enough, stir in yeast mixture. Add approximately: 3 c. fine whole wheat flour 6 c. white flour Add flour until dough is no longer sticky. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Let rise 1 1/2 hours; punch down and let rise approx. 45 minutes (optional). Cut dough in half; knead briefly; let rise in oiled loaf pans for 20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 40 minutes, or until bread is nicely browned and sounds hollow when you tap on the bottom of the loaf. --------------------------------------------------- Banana Birch Pie (No baking!) Crust 1 pkg.+3 crushed graham ers 2/3 c. chopped almonds 1/2 c. melted butter 1/2 t. cinnamon dash of nutmeg Combine, mix well, and press evenly and firmly into 9" pie plate Filling 16 oz. softened cream cheese 1/3 c. birch syrup 1/2 c. brown sugar 2 mashed ripe bananas 1/4 c. sour cream Blend well, pour into crust, and chill at least 3 hours; preferable overnight. ---------------------------------------------------- Substitute birch syrup for all or part of the sweetener in baked beans, cornbread, gingerbread, candies, and your favorite cookie recipe. Wonderful in or on ice cream, in milk shakes and coffee drinks. Also great for beer brewing and soda making. Be creative and enjoy!