Mini Scallop Casseroles

 

                    Tiny and tender bay scallops take center stage in these miniature dishes. They're reminiscent of potpies, very creamy and packed with flavorful veggies in every bite.

4 servings

• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 medium green pepper, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• One-third cup all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 cups milk
• 1 pound bay scallops

Topping

• 1 cup soft bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted
• ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. In a large skillet, saute the celery, mushrooms, green pepper and onion in butter until tender.
2. Stir in the flour, salt and pepper until blended, gradually add the milk.
3. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4. Reduce heat, add the scallops.
5. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until scallops are firm and opaque.
6. Divide mixture among four 10-oz ramekins or custard cups.
7. In a small bowl, combine crumbs and butter, sprinkle over the scallop mixture.
8. Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.
9. Sprinkle with cheese, bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Seafood Lasagna

 

                    This rich, satisfying dish is loaded with scallops, shrimp and crab in a creamy sauce.

12 servings

• 1 green onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons + ½ cup butter, divided
• ½ cup fish or chicken stock
• 1 bottle "8 ounces" clam juice
• 1 pound bay scallops
• 1 pound uncooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 package "8 ounces" imitation or real crabmeat, chopped
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups milk
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
• 9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

1. In a large skillet, saute onion in oil and 2 tablespoons butter until tender.
2. Stir in broth and clam juice, bring to a boil.
3. Add scallops, shrimp and crab and a pinch of pepper, return to boil.
4. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until the shrimp turn pink and scallops are firm and opaque, stirring gently.
5. Drain, reserving cooking liquid and set seafood mixture aside.
6. In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter, stir in the flour until smooth.
7. Combine milk and reserved cooking liquid, gradually add to the saucepan.
8. Add salt and pepper, to taste, and bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
9. Remove from the heat, stir in cream and ¼ cup cheese.
10. Stir ¾ cup white sauce into the seafood mixture.
11. Spread ½ cup white sauce in a greased 13-in x 9-in, baking dish.
12. Top with three noodles, spread with half of the seafood mixture and 1¼ cups sauce, repeat layers.
13. Top with the remaining noodles, sauce and cheese.
14. Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
15. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Fruits de Mer Chow Mein "Cuisine chinoise"

 

Pour 4 portions

• 85 gr calmars, lavés
• 4 noix de Saint-Jacques
• 85 gr crevettes, décortiquées
• ½ blanc d'oeuf, légèrement battu
• 10 ml maizena délayées dans 15 ml d'eau
• 275 gr nouilles aux oeufs chinoises fines
• 90 ml huile 
• 30 ml sauce soja claire
• 55 gr mange-tout
• 2 ml sel
• 2 ml sucre
• 5 ml vin de riz chinois
• 2 oignons verts, finement émincés
• 1 trait d'huile de sésame

1. Ouvrir les calmars, pratiquer des incisions en croisillon sur l'intérieur et couper en carrés de 2.5 cm.
2. Plonger dans un bol d'eau bouillante jusqu'à ce qu'ils se recourbent, rincer à l'eau froide et égoutter.
3. Couper les noix de Saint-Jacques en 3 ou 4 tranches, couper les crevettes en deux dans la longueur.
4. Enduire les noix de Saint-Jacques et les crevettes de pâte de maizena et de blanc d'oeuf.
5. Cuire les nouilles selon les instructions figurant sur le paquet, rincer à l'eau courante froide et égoutter, incorporer 15 ml d'huile.
6. Dans un wok préchauffé, chauffer 45 ml d'huile, ajouter les nouilles et 15 ml de sauce de soja, et faire revenir 2 à 3 minutes, transférer sur un plat de service.
7. Dans le wok, chauffer l'huile restante, ajouter les pois mange-tout et les fruits de mer, et faire revenir 2 minutes.
8. Ajouter le sel, le sucre, le vin de riz, la sauce de soja restante et la moitié des oignons verts, bien mélanger et mouiller éventuellement avec un peu d'eau.
9. Garnir les nouilles de fruits de mer, arroser d'huile de sésame et garnir d'oignons verts restants.
10. Servir immédiatement.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Biscuits aux Amandes "Cuisine chinoise"

 

Pour 50 cookies

• 675 gr farine 
• 2 ml poudre à pâte 
• 2 ml sel
• 100 gr amandes effilées
• 225 gr saindoux, coupé en cubes
• 225 gr sucre en poudre
• 1 oeuf, légèrement battu
• 7 ml extrait d'amande
• 50 amandes entières, pour décorer "facultatif"

1. Dans un bol, tamiser la farine, poudre à pâte et le sel, et réserver.
2. Dans un robot de cuisine, mettre les amandes effilées, mixer et ajouter le mélange précédent.
3. Mixer de nouveau jusqu'à obtention d'un mélange homogène.
4. Transférer dans un bol, incorporer le saindoux avec les doigts et ajouter le sucre, l'oeuf et l'extrait d'amande, mélanger jusqu'à obtention d'une pâte souple et ferme.
5. Façonner des boulettes de pâte de 2.5 cm de diamètre, répartir sur une plaque en les espaçant de 5 cm et aplatir légèrement avec le dos d'une cuillère.
6. Presser une amande au centre de chaque biscuit.
7. Cuire au four préchauffé 15 à 18 minutes à 325F "160C", jusqu'à ce qu'ils soient dorés.
8. Sortir du four et laisser refroidir sur une grille.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Macademia and Feta Cheese Burgers

 

                    When silky smooth macademia meet fiesty feta cheese, probably for the first time ever in this burger mixture, it turns out to be a winning combination.

Serves 4-6

• ½ cup Thai rice
• Salt and pepper
• 1½ cups macademias
• 1 red onion, cut into wedges
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
• 8 oz/225 gr feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1½ cups fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs
• 1-2 tablespoons corn oil

1. Cook the rice in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for 12 minutes, or until tender.
2. Drain well and set aside.
3. Place the nuts, red onion, bell pepper, and cilantro in a food processor and, using the pulse button, chop finely, then add to the rice.
4. Crumble the cheese finely, then add to the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Shape into 4-6 equal-size burgers, then coat in the flour, cover, and let chill for 1 hour.
6. Place the egg and bread crumbs in 2 separate bowls and coat the burgers first in the egg, allowing any excess to drip back into the bowl, then in the bread crumbs.
7. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
8. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until piping hot.
9. Serve the burgers with strips of warm pita bread, sweet chili sauce, and couscous salad mixed with chopped bell peppers, raisins, and chopped fresh cilantro.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Blue Cheese and Apple Burgers

 

                    Blue cheese can be a domineering flavor, but not when mixed with apple and nuts in a burger like this. Since they are all refrigerator and pantry ingredients you can make this recipe at any time.

Serves 4-6

• 6 oz/175 gr new potatoes
• 1½ cups mixed nuts, such as pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts
• 1 onion, coarsely chopped
• 8 oz/225 gr Granny Smith or other eating apples, peeled, cored, and grated
• 6 oz/175 gr blue cheese, such as Stilton, crumbled
• 1 cup fresh whole-wheat bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 1-2 tablespoons corn oil

1. Cook the potatoes in a pan of boiling water for 15-20 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.
2. Drain and, using a potato masher, crush in small pieces and place in a large bowl.
3. Place the nuts and onion in a food processor and, using the pulse button, chop finely.
4. Add the nuts, onion, apple, cheese, and bread crumbs to the potatoes in the bowl, season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
5. Shape into 4-6 equal-size burgers, coat in the flour, then cover and let chill for 1 hour.
6. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
7. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until piping hot.
8. Arrange salad greens on top of the bases of 4-6 lightly toasted cheese-topped baps.
9. Add the burger, top with sliced red onions, add the lid, and serve with coleslaw and tomato ketchup.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT

Vegetarian Chili Burgers

 

                    There is a great variety of textures and flavors wrapped up in these chili burgers. To maximize the cilantro's contribution, chop the root and stalks into the mixture as well as the leaves.

Serves 4-6

• ½ cup bulgur wheat
• Salt and pepper
• 10½ oz/300 gr canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 10½ oz/300 gr canned cannellini beans, drained
• 1-2 fresh red jalapino chilies, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves
• 6 scallions, coarsely chopped
• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, peeled, and chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 oz/115 gr mature Cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 1-2 tablespoons corn oil
• 1 large tomato, sliced

1. Cook the bulgur wheat in a pan of lightly salted oiling water for 12 minutes, or until cooked.
2. Drain and set aside.
3. Place the beans in a food processor with the chilies, garlic, scallions, pepper, cilantro, and half the cheese.
4. Using the pulse button, chop finely.
5. Add to the cooked bulgur wheat with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Mix well, then shape into 4-6 equal-size burgers, cover and let chill for 1 hour.
7. Coat the burgers in the flour.
8. Preheat the broiler to medium.
9. Heat a heavy-bottom skillet and add the oil.
10. When hot, add the burgers and cook over medium heat for 5-6 minutes on each side or until piping hot.
11. Place 1-2 slices of tomato on top of each burger and sprinkle with the remaining cheese, cooked under the hot broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese starts to melt.
12. Serve on salad greens with 1-2 tablespoons of warmed refried beans on 4-6 whole-wheat baps.
13. Add a sprinkle of cheese on top, spoon over some sour cream and add the lid.

BON APPÉÉÉÉÉÉTIT