December 2019 – Buen provecho…2022

Seared Scallops in a Cajun Mustard Cream Sauce

Just in time for News Year’s Eve! As a change this year I decided to have Oysters Rockefeller in place of the usual escargots. Alas, they were impossible to find as fresh and on second thought I did not want to have to shuck them. Third choice was either mussels or scallops. NO mussels to be found. I had to settle on frozen scallops. This recipe from Closet Cooking was not only simple, but really awesome with the mustard sauce. Since I neglected to take a photo, this is the photo which accompanied the recipe.

It was perfect with the broiled asparagus AND very perfect with the leftover mustard sauce, so much so that |I had an idea for using this sauce on Eggs Benedict some time.

Let me know if you try it! It made a great and simple romantic dinner for two.

Seared Scallops in a Cajun Mustard Cream Sauce

Prep Time:5 minutes Cook Time:10 minutes

Total Time:15 minutes Servings: 2

1-pound sea scallops (about 1 inch thick) I used ten scallops
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 tablespoon oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup heavy/whipping cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons Cajun mustard (or grainy mustard)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

Pat the scallops dry and press on the Cajun seasoning.
Met the butter into the oil in a pan over medium-high heat, add the scallops and sear until lightly golden brown, about 1-2 minutes per side, before setting aside.
Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
Add the heavy cream, mustards and lemon juice, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens a bit, about 2-3 minutes.
Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste and serve the scallops in the sauce garnished with the chopped parsley.

Option: Replace the butter and oil with bacon grease or butter yet, start by cooking 4 strips bacon, use the grease to cook the scallops in and sprinkle the crumbled bacon onto the scallops just before serving!

Option: Add 1/4 cup chicken broth or seafood broth or white wine to the pan before adding the cream and deglaze the plan by scrapping all of the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon while the broth simmers.

Option: Add 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese to the sauce!

I chose not to use any of the options this time around!!

Happy New Year!!

Ham and Bean Soup

For those of you serving ham for Christmas here is an easy recipe for leftovers…LOL

Easy Ham and Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 carrots, small dice
1 small onion, small dice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
4 (14.5 ounce) cans white beans (in Mexico I used a large can of charros)
3 cups chicken stock
2 cups diced smoked ham
2 dried bay leaves
Kosher salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup minced parsley

Instructions

Add olive oil to 5-quart soup pot and set over medium high heat.

When the oil is hot add in the carrots and onions. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions just start to soften and turn translucent.

Add in the garlic and thyme leaves and stir to combine.

To the pot add all the beans with the juice from their cans, chicken stock, diced ham and bay leaves. Stir to combine.

Simmer the soup for 10-15 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened.

Taste and season with desired amount of kosher salt and black pepper.

Stir in parsley and serve hot. I put a dollop of sour cream on top when we had it…

Shrimp and Sausage Skillet

Quick and easy dinner using only a skillet, cutting board and a knife! And it looks spectacular too!

Shrimp & Sausage Skillet

1/4 cup avocado oil divided
1-pound shrimp peeled and deveined
1 tsp Cajun Seasoning or Old Bay seasoning
12 ounces sausage cut into 1/2-inch slices (I used Argentinian chorizo)
1 jalapeno minced
1 clove garlic minced
1/2 lb green beans cut into 2-inch pieces
1 medium red pepper cut into 2-inch slices
Salt and pepper

Heat 2 tbsp of the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once shimmering, add the shrimp in a single layer. Cook about 2 minutes, and then flip the shrimp over and sprinkle with the seasoning. Cook another minute or two, until no longer pink, then transfer to a plate.

Add the remaining oil to the pan. Once shimmering, add the sausage and sauté until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the jalapeño and garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds.
Add the vegetables and continue to sauté until just tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp back to the pan and warm through before serving.

Biscotti with Ginger, Orange and Cashews

Calling all coffee lovers! Found this recipe for a great biscotti cookie for dipping in that morning or evening coffee. Or, just nibbling away whenever…NOT just for Christmas!!

Biscotti with Ginger, Cranberries, Orange, and Cashews

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted cashews, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped crystallized ginger
zest from one orange
1 cup dried cranberries
3 large eggs or 4 medium
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350*F.
Mix together flours, sugar, baking powder, cashews, ginger, and cranberries.
In separate bowl, mix together eggs, orange zest, and vanilla.
Combine wet and dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Form the dough into two flat logs on the parchment paper. It spreads a little, but not much, so make these slightly smaller than the width that you would like your biscotti to be.
Bake for 25-30 minutes. Let the biscotti cool completely before slicing into ~1/4-inch-thick slices.
Lay the slices flat on a baking sheet (you can use the same one, with the parchment), and bake for 7-10 minutes, flip each one over, and then continue to bake for an additional 7-10 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

Makes about 24 pieces.

Bacon Mushroom Spinach Frittata

When you wake up an hour or so before your spouse you might as well make a nice breakfast, right? If you have too many eggs and spinach you might as well put them to use. “Alexa, what can I make?” Oops, I forgot I don’t use Alexa. “Pinterest, what can I make?”

Firstly if you did not already know it, a frittata is essentially an omelette which you prepare in an ovenproof skillet and finish in the oven. This can be used for breakfast, lunch or dinner…so give it a try!

I N G RE D I E N T S:

5 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Dash of hot sauce (optional)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 slices bacon, diced
2 cloves garlic, diced
8 ounces cremini mushrooms or whatever you have on hand, thinly sliced
2 cups baby spinach fresh or a small package of frozen unthawed
1 Roma tomato, diced
small red pepper chopped for colour

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, basil, oregano, thyme and hot sauce; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.
Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes, reserving 1 tablespoon excess fat. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. (OR cheat and use precooked bacon)
Add garlic and mushrooms to the skillet (adding a little oil if using precooked bacon), and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned, about 3-4 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Stir in spinach and tomato until the spinach begins to wilt, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in egg mixture and bacon, reserving 2 tablespoons, until well combined. Cook, undisturbed, until edges are set, about 2 minutes. Top with remaining bacon.
Place into oven and bake until top is set and golden brown, about 14-15 minutes.
Serve immediately.