Friday, March 25, 2011

French Fridays with Dorie - scallops with caramel-orange sauce

This is the first Dorie recipe that I thought might not go over well at my house.  While St. James and Ethan love seafood, for some reason they're not keen on scallops.  It's funny because I don't really like seafood but can abide scallops.

Ok, just an aside...funny story.  When I was about 18 (hadn't met St. James yet, that would be the following year), I was at a "fancy" french dinner with some relatives.  We were having a multi-course meal, all ordered in French...so I had no idea what we were having.  The second course came out and I took a bite.  It was something white and a little mushy (that's about the extent of my culinary descriptions back then).  As I was eating it, I asked my companions what it was.  I thought they said "shallots."  I started choking and gagging (because I was choking).  At that time in my life, I did not eat onions...at all!  As I was growing up, one great thing my mom did for me whenever what she was cooking had onions, she would make mine without onions.  I loved my mini-meatloaves without onions!  So, when I heard I was eating shallots...I couldn't get it out of my mouth fast enough.  I coughed and sputtered and gagged and made quite the scene.  Well, I'm sure you know where this is going.  It wasn't shallots, it was scallops.  Gotta say, if I had heard scallops, my reaction would have been the same.  That was my intro to scallops.  It was many years before I voluntarily ate one again and now look at me...actually cooking them!

Since I knew the boys weren't going to be thrilled with the scallops, I made them for our appetizer and served steaks for the main dish.  I loved making the caramel-orange sauce and decided to follow Dorie's Bonne Idee and make the candied orange zest also (because, what's a little more sugar among friends).

The scallops cooked up quickly and easily (and since I only bought 6, I did not break the bank this week either).  I actually took the time to shoot a picture while there was still a bit of light (thank you Daylight Savings Time) and then we sat down to eat.  I've got to say, given boys who don't like scallops...there wasn't a drop left on either of their plates (or mine).  Ethan used his bread to sop up the sauce and St. James poured the extra sauce all over his asparagus.  I actually dipped a spoonful of chocolate ganache that I was stuffing macarons with into the sauce after dinner.  Dang...that was good sauce!

So, another successful French Friday.  To see how all my fellow Doristas fared, check it out here.  Still on the fence about joining us?  Well get off and come play with us...the food is great and the group is really terrific!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

How prepared you are! I'm glad that you and your boys ended up enjoying the scallops with the steak. Like your own version of surf and turf!

Kathy said...

I loved your story..for years I hid all onions because my husband would not eat them. Your scallops came out great! Nice idea to serve steak with them. We also loved the sauce!

Sarah said...

I had a little disaster with my meal this week. I'm glad that everyone loved them so much at your house. I'm going to have to try these again!

Cher Rockwell said...

Too cute. I made a chicken breast for The Runner Girl, since she's not a fan of the seafood - but she loved the orange sauce over her chicken - me thinks that sauce has a future in my house for many things.
Love the "surf & turf" theme - glad everyone enjoyed it. (Hey, where's the bacon :-) )

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Isn't it nice when the family
finds that something they were dreading turns out to be delicious? I love the idea of using the extra sauce on asparagus...yum!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful surf and turf!

Adriana said...

Your story about the shallot/scallop induced mayhem was so funny! Glad to hear the recipe was a hit at your home. It was so easy to pull off!

SoupAddict Karen said...

Love the candied orange zest - so pretty!

Candy said...

Glad your family enjoyed this one. We are major scallop lovers so I knew this one would be well received but I wasn't prepared for how easy and awesome it was. Great idea to serve as an appetizer!

Unknown said...

That's hilarious! So glad you gave scallops a second chance!

Ms. Hobby said...

Great daylight photo! Glad your family enjoyed the sauce, I loved it too!

Mardi Michels said...

Yay for daylight!! Lovely post (as usual!) and photo. So glad you all enjoyed it!

Candy (Dulce) said...

I'm always so impressed by you! I was not willing to make an alternate entree for those who professed hatred for scallops (and figured out they actually loved them!), nor did I take the time to make the candied peel, which I think would be terrific. And you did all of that on a weeknight!

Looks beautiful as usual!! :)

Anonymous said...

Fun story. Glad you've expanded your culinary horizon since!

Susan said...

Looks great, Steph! I'm sure we'll love them - making our tonight!

Anne Marie said...

Great story. I could picture you spitting and sputtering. Wasn't the sauce delicious? I was thinking it might be great on ice cream.

Betsy said...

I never seem to have daylight for my photos... Yours look fantastic with the candied orange zest. I think making them as appetizers was brilliant, especially because you thought they wouldn't fly with the boys. No backup menu required.

Kim Thomas said...

Yummy...this sounds fantastic, I have never cooked scallops, I usually only get them when we go to Cameron's Seafood on Colorado. They may a really good scallop scampi.

Kris' Kitchen said...

We were dipping so many things into the sauce too...our asparagus got covered in it, etc...and my non-scallop eaters ate 2# if these tasty little morsels...I was very pleased with the results.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea having steak! It looked like what Aussie restaurants call "Surf and Turf" which is usually steak topped with seafood! Great post!

tricia s. said...

Hilarious "shallot" story- I think we can all relate to both the things we tried when young and the things we avoided. By name if not flavor. I almost wish there were more things I didn't like- the list is pretty lean. When a teeny gal, my Italian side (Nana's in-laws) used to feed me pickled pigs feet, calamari, and cured olives with pits. All I recall was how everyone would look at me for a "reaction", while I was busy chowing down :) Great post and I am NOT showing my guys the gorgeous steak you made. They would be SO jealous.....

Gloria - The Ginger Snap Girl said...

Funny story! Your scallops look perfect. I haven't had a chance to make these yet, but hope to get to it this week. I'm nervous my hubby won't like the sauce....but if your boys liked, maybe mine will too. ;)

Trevor Sis Boom said...

Yes, you are better than I for being willing to make back up food for finicky eaters! Lovely job on the scallops!

Elaine said...

Cute story! The scallops look so good with the steak and asparagus. What a perfect meal!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a decadent dinner - with macarons for dessert, too! I'm glad that you, and your family, got over the scallop-aversion. Though I think I'd eat just about anything that was drenched in that sauce...

Anonymous said...

I made the candied orange zest too. Love the colors on your photo!