Category Archives: Seafood

Shrimp Scampi is a classic seafood dish that is widely popular.  It’s considered Italian-American cuisine and consists of shrimp that is cooked in a butter, garlic, and white wine sauce.  It’s wonderful to eat on its own or can be paired with rice or pasta.  It can be served as an appetizer or can be a main course.  I love how effortless and simple it is to make.  You can whip it up for a quick weeknight meal or impress guests at a dinner party because it looks like an elegant meal.  It requires few ingredients to make but the sauce is the key because that’s where all the flavor blend together and give you the lemony, garlicky, buttery combination. The recipe can be found here. Start by marinating the shrimp.  You can use frozen or fresh but if you do use frozen, make sure it is completely thawed, and drain any liquid from the packaging before … Continue reading

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Sun Dried Tomato & Scallop Pasta is an easy to make yet incredibly delicious weeknight meal.  It’s a recipe that sounds like you ordered if from a local restaurant when in fact you whipped it up in no time at home.  I think scallops pair well with a cream sauce and pasta so it’s the perfect combination.  The pasta is tender and coated in a lovely mozzarella, sun dried tomato sauce.  The scallops have a nice sear and good texture.  And there is good heat from the red pepper flakes. The best way to cook scallops is to sear them on the stovetop in a skillet with some oil or butter.  You want a golden crust on the top and bottom and the inside to have a soft texture.  You can use fresh or frozen scallops.  I tend to use frozen so I don’t have to worry about cooking them so soon after purchasing but you will have to ensure … Continue reading

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Pan Seared Mediterranean Salmon is an easy meal that comes together (from prep-time to completion) in about 30 minutes – perfect for a weeknight meal!  The salmon is pan seared, which gives you a big return on texture and flavor.  The skin is crispy, and the center is tender and moist.  Once you add the accompanying ingredients you have a burst of Mediterranean flavors.  This meal doesn’t take a lot of effort to make but will taste like it came from a restaurant. The recipe can be found here. Start by heating 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Season the salmon filet(s) with salt and place in the hot pan, flesh side down (skin side up).  Sear for 4-5 minutes. You want to season the salmon right before it goes in the skillet otherwise it will start to draw moisture out and leave you with some pretty dry fish to … Continue reading

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Escape to the Mediterranean for a fun weeknight dinner that will feed the whole family and leave you feeling satisfied!  The recipe is for Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp.  As the name suggests, the recipe is cooked entirely on a sheet pan, so you have easy assembly, easy cleanup, and you can use the sheet pan as your serving platter. You can eat the shrimp as is and enjoy the rest of the sheet pan ingredients as a salad or combine all ingredients, so you get a little of everything in each bite.  The shrimp is cooked to perfection and absorbs some of the other flavors while baking.  I think red onion can be quite potent but when it’s combined with the other Mediterranean flavors, it really mellows out but still give you a nice crunch.  The olives and feta cheese sprinkled over the top really bring it all together. The recipe can be found here. … Continue reading

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Garlic & Parmesan Crusted Scallops are a wonderful way to prepare scallops.  They are flavorful, perfectly seared, and pair well with many entrees.  These are great on a bed of rice or served over pasta.  Our preference is to enjoy them as is so we can savor each bite.  We then add a side of broccoli or asparagus for a little crunch.  If you are a garlic lover, you’ll love that aspect of this dish.  The garlic provides this great aroma and infuses each scallop while it cooks.  You might not have the best breath after eating but your tummy will sure be happy 😊 The recipe can be found here. Start by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Once hot, add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the red wine (optional), soy sauce, brown sugar, and parsley.  Stir to combine and heat for about 1 minute. Rinse the scallops.  Coat the top and … Continue reading

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Oven Baked Cajun Salmon is a great weeknight meal!  It’s a one pan meal that is easy to assemble and will leave you perfectly satisfied.  The salmon is tender and not too filling, and the veggies are roasted to perfection.  The Cajun seasoning gives off a bold, spicy flavor with a slight earthiness.  It’s an all-purpose seasoning that I use on a regular basis. The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the salmon on the baking sheet.  If you did not have the skin remove from the salmon at the grocery store that is just fine!  Place the skin side down on the baking sheet and it will effortlessly fall off when done baking so no need to worry about removing it yourself.  If you did have the skin removed at the grocery store, … Continue reading

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Himalayan Salt Blocks are a simple and fairly inexpensive way to cook your food.  The non-stick surface sears meat perfectly, the heat is distributed evenly throughout the entire cooking surface, the seasoning is built-in (because it’s a block of salt), and you can chill it to serve chilled food (think charcuterie board, etc.). We like to use our Himalayan Salt Block for grilling.  The thought process here is low and slow, but it’s worth it!  The fun to watch a block of salt cook your food but it also tastes amazing.  The meat absorbs some of the salt while cooking but don’t worry, it’s not saturated with salt…just a subtle hint. You want to add the Himalayan Salt Block to the grill over the lowest heat setting and gradually increase the temperature until the desired temperature is reached.  This will take time!  If you heat too fast, you risk damaging … Continue reading

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Scallops are a type of shellfish with a rich flavor and springy texture.  They are a guilty pleasure in our household because they taste absolutely amazing when drenched in butter 😊 We recently acquired some “baking shells” and though it would be a fun way to bake scallops.  The shells are oven-safe up to 500 degrees F and create a vessel for the scallops, butter, and other ingredients you want to use.  It’s like the scallops are sitting in their own pool of buttery goodness!  If you have never tried scallops before, this is the route I recommend trying for your first time! The recipe I want to share with you today is for Baked Scallops on the Shell. Start by preheating the oven to 450 degrees F.  Place the scallop shells on a baking sheet. Make sure the scallops are completely thawed, if purchased frozen, and then pat dry.  … Continue reading

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Butter & Parmesan Baked Scallops is a quick and easy meal that will leave you and your family or guests, speechless!  The large sea scallops are baked to a lovely opaque color in yummy pool of lemon and butter.  No fuss, no searing, and little clean up! The recipe can be found here. Start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F.  Ever so lightly spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.  If you are doubling the recipe or using very large scallops, use a 9×13 baking dish instead. Make sure the scallops are completely thawed.  I like to put mine in a strainer for a few minutes to really pull any liquid out.  I then pat them dry with a paper towel and place them in an even layer in the baking dish.  You want to leave a little room in between each scallop so it cooks evenly. … Continue reading

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Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Pasta with Shrimp is an Italian inspired seafood pasta recipe.  It’s decadent, easy, and you’ll love it!  I’m always looking for an excuse to use sun dried tomatoes.  I love the sweet yet tart flavor and the chewy texture.  They add some incredible flavor to any dish, especially when you use some of the oil from the jar to sauté other items vs traditional olive oil.  It’s a great combination of tender shrimp, creamy sauce, and sun-dried tomatoes in every bite. The recipe can be found here. Start by bringing a pot of water to a boil.  Cook the noodles according to package instructions.  I like to use fettuccini noodles, but any noodle shape will work just fine.  Reserve ½ cup of the pasta water before draining.  Then drain the noodles and set aside. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  I suggest using the … Continue reading

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