RECIPE: Ahi Poke Tuna Stack - Catamaran Feel The Magic

We would like to share this award-winning recipe from the Catamaran Feel The Magic, winner of the Fall 2012 St Thomas Charter Yacht Show Culinary Contest.


Ahi Poke Tuna Stack

Crab Salad:

• 4 oz crab meat, “special” 
• 1 tbsp lemon-old bay aioli
• 1 tsp scallion, chopped fine
• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

For the crab salad, mix together all ingredients and refrigerate until ready to use.

Mango-Pineapple Salsa

• 1 tbsp mango, diced
• 1 tbsp fresh pineapple, diced
• 1 tsp scallion, chopped
• 1 tsp red bell pepper, small dice
• 1 tsp yellow bell pepper, small dice
• 1 tsp cilantro, chopped
• ½ jalepano, seeds removed and diced
• 1 tsp cider vinegar
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp toasted sesame seeds
• Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

For salsa, combine all ingredients, toss well and refrigerate until ready to use.

Avocado Mash

• ½ ripe avocado, diced
• 1 tbsp red onion diced very fine
• Juice from half of a lime
• ½ jalapeno, seeds removed and diced fine
• Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Place diced avocado in bowl, add all remaining ingredients.  Mash with a fork until the consistency of guacamole.

Ahi Poke

• 2 oz sushi grade ahi, cut into cubes
• ½ clove of garlic, minced
• ½ tsp ginger, minced
• ¼ tsp Siracha sauce
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

Mix all items and marinate tuna for 1 hour in the refrigerator.

To assemble the stack:

• Using a ring mold of approximately 3” in diameter by 5” high, spray the inside with cooking
• spray.
• Spoon the Avocado mash into the bottom of the mold, top with Ahi Poke, Crab Salad, then Mango-Pineapple salsa.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours, serve on a chilled plate.  
• Garnish with sliced cucumber, thin carrot curls, sweet chili sauce, sprinkles of caviar and fried won ton chips.

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Hank & Micheale - - - - - Catamaran Feel The Magic

Caribbean Yacht Charters - Virgin Islands Sailing Vacations

Charter yacht Feel The Magic is a 50-foot Voyage catamaran with a crew of two, Hank and Micheale.  Feel the Magic is air conditioned and accommodates up to eight guests in four equivalent cabins with queen-sized berths and ensuite heads/showers.  Feel the Magic has a 15-foot dinghy with 70HP motor, waterskis, kneeboard, wakeboard, tube, a Hobie Mirage kayak that you can paddle or pedal, 2 standup paddle boards (SUPs), 2 surfboards, SeaDoo water scooter, snorkel equipment, fishing gear, floating mats, TV/DVD, onboard wifi where available, guitar, banjo, and other musical instruments, and more (see online brochure).

Feel the Magic plans to charter in the Virgin Islands through July 31, 2013 then returning in the fall for the 2013-14 season. Contact Paradise Connections for current availability and let's start planning your sailing vacation aboard Feel the Magic!

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book FEEL THE MAGIC
View Feel The Magic's online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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RECIPE: Tipsy Caribbean Cruzan Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin Cake, by s/v THREE MOONS

This looks really good and just perfect for our new stovetop oven...

Tipsy Caribbean Cruzan Chocolate Chip & Pumpkin Cake

Chef Shelly Tucker, charter yacht Three Moons

• 1 pkg. (18.25 ounces) plain yellow cake mix
• 1 can (15oz) pumpkin pie filling
• 1/4 cup Cruzan Blackstrap Molasses Rum
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. almond flavoring
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans

1. Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside.
    
2. Place the cake mix, pumpkin, rum, eggs, flavoring, spices and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan.
    
3. Bake until lightly browned about 42-50 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Carefully pour the warm glaze (see below) over the cake while it's hot.
    
4. Allow the cake to cool in the pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The longer it sits in the fridge, the better it gets!
    

GLAZE: Mix together and microwave at 1 minute intervals until very warm: 1/4 cup Cruzan Blackstrap Molasses Rum, 1/8 cup granulated sugar, 2 TBS. butter and 1 TBS. semisweet chocolate chips.

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Charter Yacht Three Moons - Crewed Caribbean Yacht Charters - Virgin Islands Sailing Vacations

Three Moons is an owner-operated, 72-foot Irwin ketch with a crew of three. Three Moons is fully air conditioned and has four double cabins with ensuite heads/showers. There's also the possibility of swapping out one of the double cabins for the forward cabin with twin upper/lower bunks, if that is better suited for the make up of your group.

Three Moons: excellent food, fun, and hospitality... What's not to like???

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book THREE MOONS
View Three Moons' online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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RECIPE: 2-minute Caribbean Pie, by Charter Yacht HONIARA

TWO-MINUTE CARIBBEAN PIE

By Adele, s/v Honiara

Ingredients:

• 1 package (5.1-ounce) instant vanilla pudding and pie filling
• 1 can (20-ounce) crushed pineapple in heavy syrup, undrained
• 1 container (8 ounce) sour cream
• 1 graham pie crust (9 inch) 

Method:

• Mix all of the above
• Put in pie crust
• Top with coconut flakes or fruit
• Refrigerate for a few hours
• Enjoy!

Crewed Caribbean Charter Yacht Honiara - Virgin Islands Sailing Vacations

St Martin & Grenadines Yacht Charters, too!

The charter yacht Honiara is a 45-foot Beneteau sloop, owned & operated by the Canadian couple Pierre Boudreau and Adele. Honiara accommodates 4 guests in two cabins, each with ensuite head/shower. A great boat for honeymoons, couples, and families.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book HONIARA
View Honiara's online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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RECIPE: Wild Garlic & Nettle Soup - Hotel Barge Shannon Princess, Ireland

This recipe is from the Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess.

WILD GARLIC & NETTLE SOUP

Ingredients:

• 1 large bunch of nettles
• 1 large bunch of Wild garlic
• 2 medium potatoes, diced
• 2 medium onions, roughly chopped
• 1 stick celery, sliced into small pieces
• 2 cups (1 pint) stock
• 1 cups (½ pint) milk or creamy milk for extra richness.
• Small knob of butter
• Salt and pepper

 Garnish:

• Cream or Natural yogurt
• Wild garlic flowers

Method:

• Wash the nettles & wild garlic in cold water and drain. Pat dry with a clean towel.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium temperature and add the onions, nettles, celery and potato. Stir to coat mixture with butter and ’sweat’ them in the saucepan for about 5 minutes.
• Now add the Wild garlic - just one minute before the rest of the ingredients are done. The nettles should be just wilted.
• Pour the stock and the milk into the saucepan, bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.
• Pour into a blender and zap. Season to taste with salt and pepper. 
• Serve garnished with cream or natural yogurt, and heads of wild garlic, accompanied by crusty sodabread.

Irish Hotel Barge Shannon Princess II - Barging in Ireland

Barge Cruises along the Shannon River, Ireland

Visit Ireland and enjoy seeing the sights and soaking up the Irish culture with Ruairi & Olivia, owner-operators of the Barge Shannon Princess, along with their attentive crew. The barge accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins which can be configured as either doubles or twins, as you prefer. Shannon Princess is available for private charters and individual cabin booking for shared charter weeks.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book SHANNON PRINCESS 
View Shannon Princess's online brochure
Visit our website for more info on our barges and barging: www.BargeCharters.com

 

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RECIPE: Favorite BBQ Sauce for Chicken Wings, etc from THREE MOONS

Shelly, owner-operator & chef extraordinaire of the 72-foot charter yacht Three Moons, is sharing their favorite BBQ sauce recipe for the first time online!

This is extremely good timing as you probably are aware that this weekend is the Super Bowl, and it is estimated that Super Bowl watchers will consume 1.25 BILLION chicken wings which adds up to a whopping 100,000,000 pounds of wings for this weekend alone... Amazing!

What is the secret of this really great thick sauce?  Two words:  molasses & oranges.  Mmmmmm... and it's good on everything... chicken, shrimp, ribs, pork, burgers....you name it! Shelly says she'll probably put some of this savory barbecue sauce on their scrambled eggs on Super Bowl morning.

THE CAPTAIN'S FAVORITE BARBECUE SAUCE

Makes approximately 6 cups

Ingredients:

• 4 tbs Unsalted butter                               
• 2 cups Vinegar
• 2 cups Ketchup
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup Molasses, or more to taste
• 1/4 cup Brown sugar
• 3 tbs Onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbs Tabasco Chipotle Pepper Sauce
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tsp Liquid smoke
• 1 tbs Salt
• 3 tbs Orange zest, or more to taste
• 1 tsp Orange extract
• 1 tsp Mrs. Dash Original Blend Seasoning
• 1/2 tsp Black pepper
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne

Method:

1. In a large pot, bring all ingredients to a slow boil.
2. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

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Charter Yacht Three Moons - Caribbean sailing vacations in the Virgin Islands

Three Moons is an owner-operated, 72-foot Irwin ketch with a crew of three. Three Moons is fully air conditioned and has four double cabins with ensuite heads/showers. There's also the possibility of swapping out one of the double cabins for the forward cabin with twin upper/lower bunks, if that is better suited for the make up of your group.

Three Moons: excellent food, fun, and hospitality... What's not to like???

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book THREE MOONS
View Three Moons' online brochure #1 and online brochure #2
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com

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RECIPE: Conch Fritters from Kerry of PROMENADE

Kerry, owner-operator of Promenade, a 65-foot trimaran that offers diving and yacht charters in the Virgin Islands, sent us this recipe which is always a hit with her guests...

KERRY'S CONCH FRITTERS

Makes approximately 20-24 large conch fritters

INGREDIENTS:

Conch mixture: 2 Conch, large Assorted vegetables, chopped small: Carrot Mushrooms Green & red peppers Celery Onion Green Onions Lemon juice Tabasco Seasoning salt Pepper 1 can Beer 2 cups Flour Oil, to fry conch mixture

Cocktail sauce: Mayonnaise Ketchup Horseradish Pepper

METHOD:

• Clean conch and put them in a food processor with a knife blade and grind/chop for several minutes. I grind until the mixture is almost like paste instead of chunks.
• Transfer conch paste to a bowl, add chopped vegetables.
• Add (to taste) a few tablesppons of lemon juice, tabasco, seasoning salt, pepper, or your favorite spice.
• Mix together well and let marinate overnight to bring out the flavors.
• The next day, boil the oil in the pot used for deep frying.
• Mix 3/4 can of been into the conch mixture (Chef gets leftover) and put in enough flour to make a sticky, gooey mess which is hard to get off your fingers... about 2 cups.
• Drop rounded spoonfuls of conch mixture into the oil, cooking until crispy.

SERVING: 

• I serve mine with homemade cocktail sauce, made up of approximately 70% mayonnaise to 25% ketchup, and as much horseradish as I want it to be hot, and some pepper, too.

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Charter Yacht Promenade

Caribbean Sailing & Diving Yacht Charters in the Virgin Islands

Promenade is a 65-foot trimaran that accommodates up to 10 guests in 5 cabins.  The two forward cabins have Queen berths and ensuite head/shower, while the 3 aft cabins (one Queen, and two cabins that can either be configured as Twins or a King) share 2 heads with showers.

Promenade offers diving, has loads of watertoys, and plenty of lounging space to relax and hang out.

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Contact Paradise Connections Yacht Charters to book PROMENADE
View Promenade's online brochure
For more yachts, visit our website: www.ParadiseConnections.com