Seafood Wednesday - Curried Scallops and Apple Salad

Raise your hands if you love scallops. Not only it taste great but it's loaded with a variety of nutrients that can promote your cardiovascular health. It's a good source of protein, B12 vitamin, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and pottassium. I bet you didn't know that. So next time you are in the seafood section, do yourself a favor and try picking up these mollusks. I for once usually buy a pack of frozen Japanese Scallops from my local Trader Joe's every week. $9.99 a pack is a lot cheaper than getting them fresh at Whole Foods (sorry WF, I still buy the rest of my stuff from you lol).   These frozen scallops are so easy to store.  They thaw easy and cook quickly. And I have gotten a lot of questions on how to prepare them. In order to get the maximum nutrients, you must broil or bake the scallops.  No frying. I guess no more of that salted shrimp and scallops that I always get fro the Chinese Resto. HEHE! 

Anyways, here is a quick and healthy recipe that you can make for your scallops. This salad is packed of nutrients since it's loaded with spinach, cranberry, and apples. 

Here is what you need. Chopped shallots, curry powder, salt and pepper to taste, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, spinach, chopped apples, dried cranberry, and of course scallops.

Saute shallots for a few minutes, sprink at least a teaspoon of curry powder, stir together, and add two or three tablespoons of apple cider. Let it simmer and boil. Once the sauce has reduced a little, transfer the sauce in a small bowl.  Pat dry your scallops and season it with salt and pepper. Quicly pan fry it on the pan where you just cooked your shallots. Be careful overcooking the shallots as it can get rubbery. On a separate bowl mix your spinach, apples and cranberry.  Add a little bit of olive oil in your curry shallots sauce and whisk that. Pour it over your spinach mixture and top with scallops. 

How easy was that?  The picture does not do justice on how good this baby tasted.

Have a happy Wednesday mis ames! Bisous, Contessa

I got a new toy and I love it!

What about you? Do you have any new kitchen toys to show off? HE! HE! I feel like a child bouncing up and down and cannot contain my excitement. I got a Breville Fountain Juicer over the weekend!!! While this is not on the top of my "I want list," (must save for vitamix blender), it will suffice for now. Gosh, I am such a brat. I'm not even contented of what I got. For now, this will take care of all my juicing needs.

Miss piggy did not come with the juicer. B got it for me separately and he named her Sir Oinks A Lot. LOL!  She's still cute and if you guys don't know already, I collect pigs. Stuffed toy pigs that is! HAHA! I can't help that I was born Year of the Pig either.

This is not your regular Cuisineart Juicer but more of a heavy duty type of juicer complete with a jug and a pulp separator. The blades are heavy duty too. Don't let the picture fool you. It's actually ginormous in person, but it gets the job done. I just love it!

As soon as I got home, I immediately opened my new toy and tested it. I keep plenty of organic apples in my fruit basket so I thought of making fresh apple juice.

 B had a different idea, on the other hand. He wanted Apple Martini instead (just mix apple juice, vodka, and apple sour). I'm telling you, there is nothing better tasting than a freshly made apple juice. It's sweet as it is already. I added a little bit of lemon for some tang and zest. It stil turned out good regardless.

 While B was sipping on his Apple Martini, I was sippin on my fresh apple juice.  The only pain is cleaning the juicer afterwards. But I didn't mind. I also saved the apple pulp and later made some tzatziki sauce with it. Forgot to take pic but it came out delish sans the sliced cucumbers.

Over all I am a happy little brat. I can't wait to make more juices this weekend. lol! And I can't wait for another toy to come so I can show to you guys. He! He!

Hope you have a great Tuesday. Bisous, Contessa