Carmel Aylward of King Travel, Dublin, has been chosen as the top entry for Ireland and is going on to the next stage of the Celebrity Cruises MasterChef competition in a bid to sail off with the ultimate prize of a two-night cruise on the brand new ‘Celebrity Reflection’. 
Lorraine Quinn, Celebrity Cruises’ Head of Sales – Ireland, has been putting her Cordon Bleu skills on show and was filmed whisking up Carmel’s winning recipe. The results are being shown on cruisingpower.ie throughout 2nd – 10th August 2012 along with the other nominated recipes and everyone is urged to put in a vote for Carmel.
Carmel calls her dish ‘Total Eclipse to the Heart’, with a double meaning after she first prepared it for her 25th wedding anniversary and from salmon’s healthy properties. Everyone can have a try with the recipe here:
Total Eclipse to the Heart
Salmon, fennel, ricotta cream and rosti stacks
1. Mix ricotta, juice of 1 lemon and 1 tbs of olive oil and water in processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper and chill.
2. The Rosti: Coarsely grate potatoes with skins and squeeze with fingers to remove excess moisture. Add Parmesan, egg and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook rosti in a pan and then keep warm in oven. Cook fennel and onion for 5 mins and put in bowl. Add olives and parsley.
3. Salmon: Brush salmon with oil and season. Pan fry for 1 minute for medium rare or until cooked to your liking. Add butter and little lemon juice.
4. To serve: Create stacks on plate, like the decks of a ship. Put rosti on plate, spread ricotta cream on top with 1 or 2 pieces of salmon and fennel. Drizzle lemon sauce around stacks for final touch.
5. Enjoy!!
