Family inspired Sweet Maple and Dried Cherry Glaze

Welcome back to the Chef's Blog. Michael LaDuke here and I wanted to take a second to answer a question from a reader, Diane.

Diane said she noticed the new Sweet Maple and Cherry Glazed Salmon and Shrimp in our new advertising, and would like the recipe. Thank you, Diane, for your question. I have the recipe below, and it also has been added to our Virtual Fresh Fish Cookbook on our web site.

The Sweet Maple and Cherry Glaze is part of our "American Seafood Adventure," where once a year the chefs and I bring recipes to you inspired from our travels and experiences across the United States.

The Maple Glaze is special to me because the recipe was inspired from my childhood. I am originally from Plattsburgh in upstate New York, right on the Vermont border. Every year when I was young and the sap started running from the trees, my parents would take my sister and me to local farms to get our seasonal stock of real maple syrup. From my dad's homemade pancakes to my mom's fried fresh bread dough, I have always loved the flavor of great fresh REAL maple syrup. My grandmothers even made homemade maple fudge, and a super sweet maple icing for their homemade birthday cakes. So maple syrup was not just a topping. It was a part of my childhood I will never forget.

So when I had the opportunity to use those memories to inspire a great fresh fish dish, Maple Glaze was born. Enjoy the recipe below, and remember, cooking great food is not just about the science of a recipe. It's about touching emotions and creating great experiences and memories. So have some fun with family and friends around the stove and at the table.

Good cooking. Please email us at chefsblog@redlobster.com or post to the blog any questions you have about preparing seafood or cooking ideas you'd like to share. Thanks for stopping by and seeing what's fresh today at Red Lobster.

Sweet Maple and Dried Cherry Glaze

2 cups Real Maple Syrup
3 TBSP Soy Sauce (Light if available)
1/4 cup Chopped dried Tart Cherries (usually found near dried fruits and raisins in the grocery store
1/2 Fresh lemon
1/4 to 1/2 cup White Sugar

Method
1. Combine syrup, soy sauce, and cherries in small sauce pot over medium heat.
2. Squeeze juice from half lemon in mixture and stir well.
3. Once mixture is heated, begin to add 1/4 cup of sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Taste glaze for sweetness. Different maple syrups will have different levels of sweetness, so it might be necessary to add additional sugar.
4. Once glaze is sweet enough, remove from heat and refrigerate. When completely cool, cover and store chilled.
5. Use at room temperature as glaze for grilled fresh fish.