A Brief History of Cocktail Sauce

According to www.foodtimeline.org,

Although people have been combining fish with spicy sauces since ancient times, the “shrimp cocktail”, as we know it today, belongs to the late 19th/early 20th century. A survey of American cookbooks confirms the combination of shellfish (most typically oysters) and a spicy tomato-based sauce (usually ketchup spiced with horseradish, tabasco, and cayenne) served in tiny cups as appetizers was extremely popular in the early part of the 20th century.

Incidentally, “cocktail” appetizers (think fruit cocktail, shrimp cocktail) were extremely popular during the 1920s, the decade of Prohibition. In the 1920s, these appetizers were actually served in “cocktail glasses” originally meant to hold alcoholic beverages. It was a creative way to use the stemware!

Although a traditional shrimp cocktail is always delicious, it’s always great to find new uses for old favorites. Try this crab dip with cocktail sauce at your next party, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser!

Cocktail Crab Dip

Ingredients

• 8 oz package cream cheese, softened
• 6 oz canned or fresh crab meat, drained
• ½ cup Simply West Coast ™ Swingin’ Cocktail sauce
• Juice of 1 lemon

1.Spread cream cheese over a serving dish

2. Add Simply West Coast ™ Swingin’ Cocktail sauce, spread evenly.

3.Layer the crab meat and sprinkly with  lemon juice

4.Cover and chill for 10-15 minutes. Serve with crackers or a hearty sourdough bread.

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SASSY SESAME TUNA STEAK WITH SEA ASPARAGUS

 

Ingredients

• 1 Yellowfin Tuna Steak, approximately 6 oz
• 1 Cup Simply West Coast Sassy Sesame Sauce™
  
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/2 lb sea asparagus, washed

Directions

Sea Asparagus

Soak sea asparagus in a bowl of cold water for 1 hour. Drain. Heat sesame oil in frying pan on medium-low heat. Add garlic and sauté for 15-30 seconds. Add sea asparagus to pan and sauté for another 3 minutes. Serve with tuna and a squeeze of lemon.

 

Tuna

Place tuna steak in a bowl and pour on the Sassy Sesame Sauce. Marinade at room temperature for about 20 minutes. Grease grill or barbeque, and grill the tuna steak approximately 1 minute per side for rare. Serve with sea asparagus; add Sassy Sesame sauce to taste.

For other great Simply West Coast Sauces recipe ideas, to find a store location nearest you or to purchase our sauces on-line please visit www.simplywestcoast.com

 

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MODEST MISO LOTUS ROOT STIRFRY

This easy and versatile recipe is great as a vegetarian dish or add your favorite meat, fish, or tofu!

Ingredients

• ½ cup Simply West Coast™Modest Miso Vinaigrette
• 1/8 cup water
• lotus root, washed, peeled, and sliced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 250 grams snow peas,  washed
• 5 pcs dried shiitake mushrooms, softened, drained
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped ginger root

Directions

1.         Heat oil in a wok or frying pan. Add in the ginger, stir fry for 15-30 seconds. Add in the          onions and garlic. Fry until onion is soft.

2.         Combine carrots and drained shiitake mushrooms in the pan. Cook for about a minute or    two.

3.         Add red bell pepper, snow peas and sliced lotus root. Stir fry for another 1-2 minutes.

4.         Add in the water and Modest Miso sauce. Stir fry for another 1-2 minutes.

Keep it vegetarian or add your favorite meat, fish, or tofu!

For other great Simply West Coast Sauces recipe ideas, to find a store location nearest you or to purchase our sauces on-line please visit www.simplywestcoast.com

 

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Simply West Coast Sauces Now Available at Save On Foods, Abbotsford!

We are excited to announce that Simply West Coast Sauces are now available in Abbotsford, at Save On Foods located at 2140 Sumas Way!

As an introductory offering this month, our simply delicious sauces made with natural ingredients, produced and bottled in BC, are also being featured.  Drop by at Save On Foods in Abbotsford and check out our great line up of sauces such as Tangy Thai, Coconut Cream, Sassy Sesame and Fishmonger’s Marinade.  If you haven’t tried our sauces yet, we’ll also be at the store demoing our product throughout this month.   Our sauces are versatile and so easy to use it’s sure to please everyone!

To learn more about our sauces and deliciously simple recipes, please visit us at www.simplywestcoast.com

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