Swordfish with Spicy Grape Tomatoes Sauce

 

Swordfish is one of my favorite fish; for its “meaty” and firm texture, and its ability to absorb bold flavors. It is also a fish that handles freezing and defrosting well, and requires only a very short cooking time.  So, I always keep a few vacuum packed fillets in the freezer, and use them in different ways.

Brown Butter Scallops with Red Pepper- Orange Sauce, Fresh Asparagus and Almonds

 

Fresh asparagus season is always a reason for celebration. The fresh crispy green stems are delightful on their own, and even more so, when served with different ingredients.
In the following tasty and colorful dish, I’ve paired some simply steamed asparagus with lightly pan-fried scallops, and served both with red pepper-orange sauce and roasted almonds. This combination of ingredients worked amazing well together.

Orange Vegetables Soup with Young Coconut and Pickled Ginger

 

Orange colored vegetables soup is always a favorite, with its bright, uplifting and sunny color. While it is warming and filling, and highly nutritious, it is also quite light, which makes it perfect for the season.
As I like to add different flavors to the basic vegetables of the soup, this time I’ve decided on young coconut, along with bold flavors of pickled ginger and Harissa, a spicy red pepper paste.

Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Three Color Sweet Potatoes

 

Chicken drumsticks are perfect for serving at a buffet style dinner party. They are easily portioned and are liked by all.

Warm Octopus, Beans and Fennel Salad

 

Octopus has a unique texture, much “meatier” than that of its’ relative the squid. It requires a longer blanching and cooking time, which is why I don’t often use it.
However, as I’ve read somewhere that when it is blanched, cut into smaller pieces, frozen and thawed, it requires much shorter cooking time – I’ve decided to give this option a try.

Braised Duck Legs with Sweet and Spicy Pineapple

 

Duck is the “meatier” relative of chicken: its complex flavor and unique texture make it highly suitable for bold culinary combinations, which is exactly what I had in mind.
While I more often use duck breast, this time, I had D’Artagnan’s Rohan duck legs to experiment with, and I chose a classic pairing with pineapple, along with Asian inspired sweet and spicy sauce.

A Fairly Low-Fat Moussaka

 

Moussaka is a great Greek dish, of layered potatoes, fried eggplants and cooked meat, topped with a thick layer of either Béchamel sauce (milk based sauce, thickened with flour), or Mornay sauce (Béchamel sauce with cheese), creating a highly delectable and tasty combination.

Crispy Dry Rub Roasted Chicken Wings

 

Even though I’m far from being interested in any competitive sport, Super Ball Sunday is still a good reason to have chicken wings.

Lemony Spaghetti, with Shrimp, Spinach and Grape Tomatoes

 

The combination of butter and lemon is a classic one, and for a good reason. The lemon cuts down the richness of the butter, while adding its pleasant acidity and fresh fragrance to the it. This mix is taken further in many recipes, especially those of fish and seafood, with the addition of garlic. In the following recipe, I’ve used this tasty combination to flavor a dish of spaghetti and shrimp.

Flourless Mushroom and Cheese Bake

 

After all the fairly heavier holiday season’s dishes, I felt it was time for some lighter dishes, yet, at the same time, filling and warming.

Orange and Quince Duck Legs

 

Whenever I’m lucky enough to find quince at the store, I immediately grab a few. It is such a wonderful and versatile fruit, and it is a real shame its’ season is fairly short.
On top of being such a fragrant fruit, quince has so much pectin in it, it is no wonder that its’ main use is in making jams, jellies and fruit pastes. Quince is also great for making Pate de Fruit, a recipe I have shared a while ago, and can be found HERE.