clams

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There is nothing better after a day in the sun than a leisurely dinner. Inspired by the sea that we spend our weekend days on, this past Sunday we enjoyed a picnic dinner of New England favorites.

The first course was a mix of mesclun greens topped with fresh local peaches, goat cheese, and drizzles of honey balsamic and blood orange olive oil, one of my favorite additions to recipes ever. It was a light, simple  yet totally elegant starter and tided us over until we got the rest of the meal cookin’.

 

Peach and mesclun greens salad

Our next course was lobster, two perfect Maine lobsters boiled and dipped in Kate’s butter with sea salt. Eaten while sitting on the floor, barefoot of course. I love sitting on the floor.

lobster

After salads and lobsters, we were full, so we decided to spend some time cleaning up and hanging out on the deck listening to Spotify. Do you guys have it yet? It’s pretty awesome. I could spend hours searching for songs.

Our third course was another simple one, steamers, lemony butter, and a giant soft baguette.

clams

butter and bread

Lots of butter and bread and a couple of Harpoon summer beers later, we were stuffed. . . but not too stuffed for Magnum ice cream bars. Is there any other way to end a summer meal than with ice cream?

It might seem that I am obsessed with summer, and I would say that is perfectly okay.

Ready for the weekend yet?

Tags: clams, dinner, Food, lobster, New England, salad, summer

More cooking with wine! Last night’s dinner was inspired by the many, many bowls of mussels I have eaten at restaurants like Les Zygomates. Unfortunately when I got to my not-so-great neighborhood Shaw’s, they were out of mussels, almost out of clams, and out of sea scallops, so I decided to be flexible and to make the same recipe with littleneck clams and sweet bay scallops. I got a pound of each which ended up being more than enough for two, served with a whole wheat baguette and some leftover Brussels sprouts.

When I got home, I started out by rinsing and soaking the clams. There is nothing grosser than getting sand in your teeth! I changed the water about 10 times, and then ran each clam under running water for a few seconds before cooking. They were perfect.

littleneck clams

The sauce for the seafood was fairly simple:

1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced and also rinsed very well as fennel grows in sandy soil

1 shallot, minced

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons butter

2 heaping tablespoons of Dijon mustard

2 cups Travessia Chardonnay

a splash of heavy cream, at the very end

fennel

fennel bulb

 

 

bay scallops

I very simply tossed the fennel, shallot, garlic, and butter together in a heavy-bottomed pot and got them up to a sizzle before pouring in the wine and mustard. I stirred gently, added the scallops and the clams, put a lid on the pot, and let it bubble. This is a dish you have to watch; the scallops can overcook very quickly, but you want the clams to be fully opened. I actually ended up using a slotted spoon to scoop the scallops out first, then left the clams a few more minutes until they were fully open. Do not eat a clam that doesn’t fully open!

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We soaked up the delicious sauce with slices of broiled whole wheat baguette. My husband said that it was better than any seafood dish he has eaten in a restaurant, and because of its simplicity and delicious, subtle flavors, I might have to agree with him.

We ate while watching the rescue of the Chilean miners. What a miracle! I couldn’t believe how they were all in good condition.

I am delighted that it is Thursday. I’d like to give a big 30th birthday shoutout to my friend and college roomate Meghan, who I will celebrate with at Barbara Lynch’s Drink tonight. Happy Birthday MVO!!! I love birthday season!

When is your birthday?

Also, Boston friends, Vino Divino is hosting its Grand Opening party this Saturday in Brookline. There will be bubbly, food, and wine tasting in their tasting salon. If you are in the Washington Square area, stop by!

Tags: chardonnay, clams, cooking, fennel, Food, recipe, scallops, seafood, Travessia, wine

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