A Few of my Favorite Things - Clam Appetizer + Fluke 2 Ways

Life can be one unpredictable blankety-blank - as we can all attest. For this reason, 

I especially relish those blocks of time when everything just seems to go perfectly.

I encourage you to do the same!  

It's in this very grateful spirit that I give you 

Things that rocked this weekend:

~Beautiful warm weather 

~Getting all our chores done efficiently - just look at that mulch :) 






~Being first in line for the catch of the day -- more on that later

 ~ A few stellar finds at the neighbor's yard sale

~ A long bike ride 

~These Oysters with a Red Horseradish Granita that made for a super lunch...

 ~ And my personal favorite - a luscious mid-afternoon nap. 

Now I know you'll agree that an amazing weekend deserves to be closed out with a wonderful meal, and if you're anything like us, perfectly balmy weather whets your appetite for Seafood.  Getting our hands on a super fresh catch of Local Fluke provided an inspiring jumping off point for a Summery Menu celebrating the fruits of the sea.

Local Fluke Ceviche

Clams with Bacon, Tomatoes & Peppers

Pan Seared Fluke with Lime Butter  

Fluke Ceviche, Photo: NK

Fluke Ceviche

Inspired by Martha Stewart

Serves 2 as a light appetizer 

Ingredients:

6 Ounces of very fresh Fluke Fillet, cut into a medium dice or to the size you prefer

3 Tablespoons Lime Juice

1 heaping Tablespoon chopped Fresh Cilantro

1/4 small Red Onion, cut into a very fine mince

1/4 Jalapeno, seeded and very thinly sliced

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt

Method:

1. Combine Fish and Lime Juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate for at least a half hour or up to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

2. When Fish is opaque, mix in all other ingredients. Stir and serve chilled. Enjoy! 

Next up, we have our crowd pleasing Clam Appetizer, a twist on my Classic Zuppa di Vongole, but do check out our old favorite HERE. 

Clams with Bacon, Blistered Grape Tomatoes & Yellow Peppers, Photo: NK

Clams with Bacon, Grape Tomatoes, & Yellow Peppers

Adapted from Mario Batali's Italian Grill

Serves 2-3 as an Appetizer or 2 as a light Entree

Ingredients: 

18 Small Littleneck Clams, Scrubbed

2 strips of good quality Bacon (we like Coleman or Boar's Head), cut into a small dice

1/2 a Yellow Bell Pepper, de-seeded and chopped into a half-inch dice

About 18 Grape Tomatoes

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper

3 Garlic Cloves, thinly sliced

3/4 Cups Dry White Wine

Slices of Crusty Bread, for dipping in Broth (optional) 

Parsley or Cilantro Garnish (optional)  

Method: 

1. In a large, deep skillet with a lid, heat Oil over low heat for a minute. Add the Grape Tomatoes and allow them to cook for about 4-5 minutes until the skin begins to blister and brown just a bit. Pick out the Tomatoes with tongs and set aside in a bowl. 

2. In the same skillet, over low heat, add the Bacon and cook for about 4 minutes until it is beginning to brown. Now add Bell Pepper, Garlic, and Crushed Red Pepper. Cook, stirring often for another 3 minutes. 

3. Add Wine to the skillet and turn the heat to medium. Bring to a boil. Add the Clams to the skillet and cover. 

4. Allow the Clams to cook, covered, for 5 minutes over medium heat. Open the pot lid and begin to pull out Clams immediately as the open. If you leave them long after they pop open they will become rubbery. It may take another 3-4 minutes for all Clams to open. Discard any that do not. 

5. Portion Clams into each bowl. Top with Broth including bits of Pepper and Bacon. Sprinkle each plate with Grape Tomatoes. Garnish if you choose and serve immediately alongside Crusty Bread and enjoy! 

And for Fluke fans that don't fancy it raw, here's an easy way to prepare this versatile and hearty white fillet.

Pan Seared Fluke with Lime Butter, Photo: NK

Pan Seared Fluke with Lime Butter 

Servings Vary 

Ingredients: 

Fresh Fluke Fillets (one 6-8 ounce portion per person will do)

Olive Oil (about a Tablespoon per pound of Fish) 

Lime Zest - about a 1/2 teaspoon per Fillet

Lime Juice - about 1/2 a Lime per Fillet 

1/2 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter (per Fillet)

Sliced Jalapeno (optional) 

Sliced Red Onion (optional)

Cilantro (optional garnish) 

Kosher Salt

Black Pepper 

Method: 

1. Heat a nonstick skillet with a Tablespoon of Olive Oil Medium high heat. 

Salt and Pepper the Fillets

2. Heat each Fillet on one side until browned and almost cooked through - timing will vary based on Fillet size. Flip Over and sear on the opposite side for another minute or two. When finished, Fish will be opaque and flake easily with a fork.

3. Plate the warm Fillets right away and place a 1/2 Tablespoon of Butter on each. Spread Butter around until it melts. Sprinkle with Lime Zest and squeeze Lime Juice over each portion. Garnish with sliced Jalapeno, Cilantro, and Red Onion.

Enjoy!  

Heaven on a Plate - Pasta with Oven Dried Tomatoes, Pancetta & Poached Egg

Today's dinner revolves around two of my most favorite ingredients - Oven Dried Tomatoes and Poached Eggs. 

Pasta with Oven Dried Tomatoes, Pancetta & Poached Egg (+ Zucchini in this version)

Oven Dried Tomatoes are amazingly flavorful and easy to make. Their cooking technique is adaptable to any type or size Tomato that strikes your fancy. Low heat slowly concentrates the Tomato flavor over the course of an hour or two, so all you really need to get these just perfect is some time to wait around as your oven does all the work. The results are wonderful tossed into Pasta as we will do today, or as a Pizza Topping, perhaps even as an addition to Crostini Hors D'oeuvres. Use your imagination. 

Best of all, Oven Drying is utterly foolproof. See how easy it is below ~

*Oven Dried Tomatoes

2 -4 Servings depending on use 

Ingredients:

1 Lb or more medium or large Tomatoes of your choice, for this recipe Plum or Campari would work best but all tomatoes work - just slice them to a uniform size.

Tomatoes Ready to Cook, Photo: NK

Kosher Salt

Black Pepper

Olive Oil for drizzling

Dried Oregano, optional

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 250. 

2. Slice Tomatoes to about 1/4 or 1/3 inch thick. Just be sure to keep them uniformly thick. *If using Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, slice them in half. 

3. Place Tomatoes on a wire rack over a baking sheet with sides.

4. Drizzle with Olive Oil and top with Salt, Black Pepper, and optional Oregano.

Cook for 1.5 to 2.5 hours until somewhat dried and wrinkled. It's a good idea to check them at around the 90 minute mark. Smaller Tomatoes should be done by then, larger will take longer.

Storage:
Can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. They will lose some of their dryness but will still taste delicious. 

Uses:

Wonderful tossed into pastas, as a pizza topping, delicious on their own, or even as a crostini or sandwich topping. Can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. They will lose some of their dryness but will still taste delicious. 

Oven Dried Grape and Campari Tomatoes, Photo: NK

Now we'll use our flavor-packed Tomatoes to create a totally simple, knockout pasta dish that will impress even your toughest critics. How did this recipe come about? Well, a few years ago, my husband and I dined at a restaurant nearby our house where they served a version of today's dish. It was perhaps the first time I'd knowingly eaten Oven Dried Tomatoes and I found them and the whole dish absolutely delicious. The sweetness of the Tomatoes coupled with salty Pancetta and a heavenly runny Poached Egg (which I'm always a sucker for) was a majorly winning combo. I just knew I'd have to make this dish at home. 

The below recipe is a riff off a Giada Di Laurentiis Tomato and Pancetta Pasta recipe.  To make it my own, I added more fresh herbs and Oven Dried, rather than canned Tomatoes. Giada didn't call for a Poached Egg topping  but I have a feeling she'd approve. I hope you enjoy this restaurant-quality yet doable recipe. If you are looking to make your loved ones or guests swoon, this is the way to go!

Spaghetti with Oven Dried Tomatoes, Pancetta and Poached Egg 
Inspired by Giada Di Laurentiis
Serves 4

Ingredients: 
1 Recipe Oven Dried Tomatoes*
1 Pound Spaghetti
6 Ounces thick cut Pancetta or good quality thick Bacon, diced
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 large Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Maui or Vidalia Onion, or other white/yellow Onion, diced
6 Sprigs Fresh Thyme (optional)
1/4 teaspoon or more to taste Crushed Red Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
2 Large Pinches of Salt + more

Freshly grated Parmesan, optional, for serving

Method:
1. Set a large pot of well salted water to boil for the Pasta. Add the pasta to to the pot about 15 minutes before you think the rest of the dish will be ready is ready. 

2. Meanwhile, In a separate large skillet, add the Olive Oil and Chopped Pancetta. Cook over medium heat for about 6 minutes stirring occasionally until golden brown. 

3. Add the Onion to the skillet and sauté until tender for about 4-6 minutes. 

4. Add pinches of Salt. Toss in the whole Sprigs of Thyme, Garlic, and Crushed Red Pepper. Saute for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly so Garlic does not burn. Finally, add the Oven Dried Tomatoes to the skillet and let cook for another 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through. Remove and discard Thyme Sprigs. 

5. In a third small saute pan with high sides, prepare to poach your eggs. You'll do this at the end of the recipe, after plating the pasta and sauce, but it's good to have everything set up and ready. Make sure the pan is filled halfway with water and a drop of Vinegar to help the Eggs come together. When you are ready to poach, you'll need water to be at a gentle boil and be sure to have a large slotted spoon handy. 

6.When Pasta water has come to a boil, add the Spaghetti and cook according to package instructions. Go for al dente especially because you will cook the pasta an additional 2 minutes when you add it to the sauce. Reserve a 1/4 cup or so of pasta water, just in case. When Pasta is done, drain and add it to the skillet with the Pancetta and Tomatoes. Turn the flame to low and toss Pasta and Sauce a minute or so until heated through and fully incorporated. Add pasta water and stir if you want the "sauce to be thicker or the past looser. Plate Pasta portions and create a little nest at the top of each for the Egg.

7. Time to poach two Eggs! 

When your poaching is done (whites will be opaque), remove eggs very carefully with a slotted spoon and place one Egg atop each plate of Pasta. Note that the Egg has a better chance of staying intact if you carve out that little nest we talked about. 

8. Sprinkle with Black Pepper, a little more salt,  and optionally garnish with something pretty and green, like a sprig of Thyme. Cut into the Egg quickly and give the pasta a stir so all the delicious runny Yolk. Nothing better!! If you're looking for more flavor, additional Crushed Red Pepper and freshly grated Parmesan Cheese are welcome additions. Enjoy!