Monthly Archives: August 2011

Dinner in four easy steps

29 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in scallop po' boy

≈ Leave a comment

In my endless watching of the food network I’ve seen a number of great looking sandwiches called po’ boys.  It’s basically a pretty, fish sandwich and has a million different versions.  It often features shrimp which I am deathly allergic too but I recenty saw one featuring scallops (sorry don’t remember which show-we have this on practically all the time). 

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: centerisn'Po boys aren't something that we have in my neck of the woods but I've been dying to try them. 

The other day I realized at 3:00 that nothing was on the horizon for dinner nor was it likely to ‘show-up’-what a good time for a VERY quick trip to the grocery store in amongst the other errands and carting the babes with me. 
18 month old happily eating boiled eggs (I know, weird, but that has become her grocery store treat) in the cart I whizzed through the store and got what I needed. 
WARNING: My version of this classic is not going to be authentic-if you are from the South.
I’m sorry.
My head is literally hanging in shame.  But this is still tasty and you can call it something else.  Ummm…Crazy, Canadian, Faux Po-boy?
I didn’t want leftovers so this is for exactly four sandwiches; 20 scallops, 4 ciabbatta buns, 1 tomato, 1 cucumber and a small bunch of arugula.  If you have more people then just add to the numbers.
Note:  I had meant to have a nice creamy coleslaw in the wich but the cabbage was a little icky looking and this version made me feel virtuous-so I added more mayo later on.
1)  Either buy pre-breaded scallops or press your scallops into panko crumbs and bake on a very buttered and preheated cookie sheet for 10 minutes on 350 degrees.
2)  Slice your bun and choose a pretty plate.
3)  Layer on your veg and dress with a light vinaigrette (this is one I made a little while ago for the cobb salad).  Slather the other half with a really good mayo.  I had some homemade in the fridge (check back later this week to see how easy it is to do) but otherwise choose the full fat stuff in the jar. 
Life is far too short for fat free mayo.
4)  Top with your yummy scallops and a nice cup full of kettle chips.
Dinner in under 15 minutes.  Ahhhh.
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

Side dish in an instant…

28 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in parmesan pasta

≈ 6 Comments

The braciole yesterday needed a friend and a nice bit of pasta was called for. I also was lucky enough to find this gorgeous covered serving dish for five dollars at a yard sale down the street. 

I couldn’t BELIEVE it.  There was a lot of plastic toys there and this pretty piece.  Even though I don’t have a great place to put it who could say no?  I’m guessing that it is early 19th. century but that is a shot in the dark.

This is a dish that I’ve made for years and years.  As a starving student it was a hearty dinner and for dinner parties it is a quick dish that plays a pretty second fiddle to a meaty main.  This is also a nice idea if you have one vegetarian in the crowd and the rest of your party is carnivores.  I don’t have a clue where I first got it from.  It might have been Frugal Gourmet on PBS but I honestly don’t remember.

This is also a great lunch dish especially if you add a bit of chicken or fish on the top.

While 1 lb. of fetucinne (you can use any pasta but I like the wide noodles) is cooking in salted water mash 1 big, garlic clove with a pinch of sea salt and the back of your knive.  You see for this dish the garlic only gets cooked by the heat of the pasta.  A big chunk will be a burpy reminder for the rest of the day/night.

Put it in your gorgeous dish and add; the zest of one lemon, the juice of two lemons, 1/2 bunch chopped parsley, a good glug of olive oil (a glug is equivalent to 5 T.), 1 cup of grated parm (have a chunk on hand to save over the top too) and LOTS of fresh cracked pepper.

Add in the drained and hot pasta.  Top with shavings of parm and enjoy!

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

A meaty save and slow cooking love

27 Saturday Aug 2011

Posted by in braciole

≈ 5 Comments

I have a couple of small minute steaks that aren’t really great for a meal unto themselves (unless they are made into steak sandwiches) and they need to be used up as I REALLY don’t want to lose them to freezer burn.  This meat needs a lot of love.  I was up late last night (you know when you just can’t sleep?) and there was an old episode of

 and Deborah (the long suffering and horrible cook of a wife) made something that wasn’t awful-braciole.  The description was so good that I thought I would give it a go.

The builders are in and out of the house working on trim and there are two city inspectors doing their thing.  I want dinner but my kitchen is not my own.  Slowcooker it is.

I’ve sliced them in half horizontally and pounded them (good for releasing tension). 

I’ve made a really quick stuffing of; 1 large minced garlic clove, 3 pieces of chopped prosciutto, 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella, 2 T. freshly chopped basil, 1/2 cup bread crumbs and cracked pepper.

Lay it onto the meat and roll.  Now at this point you can carefully tie them up OR poke a skewer through them.  Guess which I did?

Brown in a pan with a bit of olive oil in it. 

Add into the slowcooker that has a bed of 3 cups of tomato sauce and 2 cups of red wine.

Braise away for the entire day and serve with parmesan pasta. 

What’s that?  Come by tomorrow and I’ll share.

I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.

Writing experiment

26 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

I’m trying out something new.  I promised myself that I would work on my writing this summer (better late than never) and hopefully a weekly spin at

will help.
This week’s chosen writing prompt is begin and end a post with the same sentence.  I’m going to be short but sweet (pardon the pun when you see what I’m writing about).
I really need some chocolate.
We’re in the crocodile, death roll of this huge reno and I’ve been so over it for about a month. 
This week’s highlight reel includes; the front of the house totally open to the universe for a day, not being able to get into a bathroom to brush my teeth (don’t even get me started on how much I needed a shower), almost flashing the entire work crew one morning but a rather painful dive into the closet leading to a hurt knee saved me from leaving the house for the rest of time, stepping on a nail that was positioned on my back deck as if waiting for me, spending three hours on the phone with the window people explaining to them that “yes, the windows are lovely but kind of useless if they don’t have screens or open”, helping to wire the new part of the house at 11:00 at night and four new teeth leading to epic diaper rash on my wee one.
However, it will come to an end. 
Soon. 
The house will be lovely and bright and bigger and useable and we’ll be a very happy, multi-generational family.
In the meantime…
I really need some chocolate.
(and maybe start to think about ripping out the kitchen :))
I love hearing from you. Leave a comment-make my day.