Helen’s Russian shrimp and baked salmon with rosemary rub

November 16, 2008
By Debbie Nygren Sontag
Special to LIVE!

A most enjoyable evening in the beautiful home of Jim and Helen Klinck offered another glimpse into the cultural diversity too often overlooked in this border community.  Both my husband, Bill, and I were tired, and Helen was a bit overwhelmed in her striving for perfection. But our gracious hostess, indeed, made everything perfect. Helen’s story is a fairy tale. 

Helen Kolodnikova Klinck was born in Moscow, Russia. She attended Moscow public schools in the  gifted and talented English language programs there. Helen grew up under the regime of Soviet communism, and witnessed the Russian transformation with Boris Yeltsin’s version of “democracy”. She attended Moscow State University, graduating with a degree in child psychology. 

Helen worked for 10 years as a secretary, working her way up to an assistant principal’s position in a Moscow orphanage. Helen’s dad is a respected nuclear physicist. Her mom passed away at the early age of 35. Helen and her son revisit Moscow each year. 

Helen married her husband, Jim, in 2003.  They met when Jim was on a missionary trip from a non-denominational church to Moscow in 1992. Their paths did not cross again until 2002 when he was attending a wedding of a friend in Moscow.  As it turned out Helen attended the wedding, too, and the couple were mutual friends of both Helen and Jim.  They had dinner, conversation, he delayed his return to the United States, and they fell deeply in love. 

Helen next visited Jim in the United States, and they exchanged country visits until they were sure of the relationship. She became a naturalized citizen of the United States in September of this year. They have a beautiful son, Andrew, born in 2005.  Jim and Helen own Lakeside Sports, bicycle and sporting goods store at 601 Veterans Blvd.  Helen catered in Del Rio for several years, establishing a great reputation for beautiful, delectable dishes.

 Jim and Helen, this great couple, are so gracious, served my husband, Bill, and me a great, savory meal of vodka shrimp cocktail appetizer, baked salmon entrée, Mediterranean couscous and, for a rich, elegant dessert, crème brûlée with strawberries.

 

Spicy Russian Shrimp Cocktail:  (Serves 4)

16 jumbo shrimp

Extra virgin olive oil

Cumin

Salt

Red pepper flakes

Lemon or lime juice

Fresh rosemary (if available; dried, if not)

2 bottles of horseradish catsup cocktail sauce

½ large avocado or one small avocado

Fresh cilantro, chopped to taste

Vodka (measured to taste . . . Helen used one teaspoon per serving) 

Marinate the shrimp for a couple of hours in olive oil, cumin, salt, red pepper flakes, lemon/lime juice, chopped rosemary, all to taste. 

Grill or sauté shrimp in skillet in butter/olive oil until cooked and still slightly pink. Set aside to chill.

Fill generous martini glasses about ¾ full with cocktail sauce. Add chopped avocado, cilantro and teaspoon of vodka.  (Add more if you wish! It’s the flavor surprise ingredient for this dish.)  Lightly mix together ingredients of each glass. Arrange the shrimp around the rim, and let your guests enjoy this spicy, unexpected delight!

Herb-Baked Salmon:(Serves 4) 

1 wild salmon filet (half the fish)

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon of fresh or dried dill

1 tablespoon of lemon garlic seasoning (Tone’s, if available)

1 sprig of rosemary, or a tablespoon of dried

½ stick of butter in pats 1/8” pats (or olive oil)

In a  large baking dish, place the salmon and dress it with the salt, dill, lemon/garlic seasoning, and rosemary. Then place the pats of butter evenly above the seasoned filet. Place in a 375 -degree preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.  (Broil for the last 10 minutes!).

 This is one TASTY salmon.  Even if you think salmon is “fishy,” it doesn’t have to be if it’s selected wisely and as fresh as possible.  It can be wonderful in the hands of a careful cook!  And Helen is such a cook. 

I cannot give you enough information about this vibrant young lady . . . she has so many thoughts and information that many readers can benefit from (not to mention opinions . . . I hope to tap into some of her ideas to assist other women in our community).

 

If you’d like the couscous, asparagus or crème brûlée recipes, please contact me at danygren@aol.com. 

Please – for the health of your family and your gratification in the kitchen – try these recipes.  They are well worth your modest effort with the right ingredients.