Scallops Seemed Appropriate for a First Post
Since I started my site over a year ago (time flies!), I've stuck to providing my thoughts on food and cocktails that other people have prepared. Although it is hard to cook in my small apartment, I do love to try new recipes and enjoy them with friends. Several years ago, I had a food blog that didn't really go anywhere - my prior career in investment banking made it difficult to cook, document the cooking and then write posts about said cooking. If you care to check it, the blog is Batsche Made from Scratch - I do still love the name! Compared to my site now, it looks so amateur. Maybe getting old isn't THAT terrible...maybe.
I love cooking because it is something you can continue to get better at - also, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor. Nom! My parents have always encouraged me to cook. This decision has paid off, as I love cooking for my entire family when I'm home for the holidays (I love taking advantage of the massive kitchen!)
“No one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.”
So...I hinted at scallops in the title. I just had a wonderful weekend in the Hamptons with a close friend, Melissa. I wanted to thank her for her hospitality. Is there a better way to do that than with a delicious home cooked meal? No!
We both love scallops and I perused Pinterest for some great recipes. I saw a delicious recipe for Scallops with White Wine Beurre Blanc and Lemon Orzo from Nealey Dozier on some random site. I picked up fresh sea scallops from the Fairway near me in Chelsea - they were beautifully sized and ready for a searing in my cast iron skillet!
The recipe called for white wine. I wanted to use a dry white with robust flavors that would taste delicious when concentrated - you don't want to use "cooking wine" or anything too sweet. I read positive reviews about Indaba Chardonnay from South Africa. I picked it up from a local liquor store for under $12. It tasted great in the Beurre Blanc and a glass pairs quite well. NEVER cook with wine you wouldn't also drink! NEVER!
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”
I also added some fresh green beans with garlic. Garlic always makes everything better. Maybe not ice cream, but, that is ONLY one thing. So it is ok.
Oh, HI, juicy scallops. How about you get in my mouth, now? Ok, cool.
Doesn't that look delicious? I should have taken more food porn photos but I'm still learning the best ways of taking food photos with limited space to stage them (I lack a table and only have a little bit of counter space in my kitchen). I will look for some tips online!
If you're looking for a delicious meal (especially to impress someone), this is a great bet. Scallops are expensive (can be over $30 per pound, which is about 12 scallops and you need 5-6 per person) so this is an not a budget meal!
Cheers,
Liz