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.

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.

Caldo Godro – Sephardic Cheese and Tomato Paste Dip

 

Caldo godro is a Sephardic term in Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), used to describe a warm (=caldo), thick (=godro) broth, which is actually more of a warm dip than a broth.

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.

Crispy Spelt and Semolina Pizza with Cherry Tomatoes Sauce

I don’t often follow recipes to the letter, mine included. However, one recipe that I don’t change is the following pizza dough, which I’ve created years ago, and keep preparing it without change. As I prepared it again this week, I’ve realized it’s been quite a few years since I’ve posted the recipe for it, and thought it would be a good idea to re-post it. So, here it is once again. Try it and Enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Shrimp Mini Cakes with Asian Vinaigrette

Bacon wrapped shrimps are a popular appetizer, and with no wonder, as the bold flavor of the crispy-salty-smoky bacon, pairs beautifully with the more delicate flavor of the shrimp.

Spring Salad with Maple Mustard Vinaigrette

With the weather starting to warm up, and fresh produce is easier to find, preparing salads is so much more enjoyable. The following salad is one example of that.

Savory Shrimp, Kimchi, and Rice Noodles Pancakes

Kimchi, a Korean fermented and pickled cabbage condiment, is one of my favorite condiments. I’m always on the look for new brands of it, and new ways to use it with. This time, my plan was to make kimchi-shrimp pancakes.

Crispy Chicken Tenders with “Everything” Seasoning Mix

Chicken tenders are a favorite of mine when it comes to frying. Though they are basically a part of the chicken breast, they don’t require cutting into portions, they are juicier and have firmer texture than that of the breast itself.

Chicken Thighs with Creamy Lemon, Saffron and Capers Sauce

Pairing chicken and lemon is one of my favorite combinations, and I’m always looking for new ways of using both together. This time, I had a creamy chicken dish in mind – one that would be cooked fairly quickly, and served over pasta.