Spiced Scallops with Balsamic-Braised Red Cabbage, from Epicurious.com

Impress your date or throw a dinner party for your favorite single friends. Play domestic diva for an evening, no experience required, with this quick & tasty recipe for a delicious dinner at home!

Spiced Scallops with Balsamic Braised Red Cabbage

 Ingredients:

•  3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 pound red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced
• 2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
• 3/4 cup water, divided
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 pinches ground cloves
• 1 1/2 pounds large sea scallops, tough ligament removed from side of each if attached

- Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add cabbage, bay leaves, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and toss to coat.

- Stir in 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoon vinegar and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a platter and keep warm, covered.

- Stir together spices, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pat scallops dry and season both sides with spice mixture.

- Wipe out skillet, then heat remaining tablespoon butter over medium-high heat until foam subsides. Sauté scallops, turning once, until golden brown and just cooked through, about 5 minutes total. Add to cabbage.

- Add remaining 1/4 cup water and tablespoon vinegar to skillet and boil, stirring, until slightly thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour over scallops and cabbage.

 

 

Yedi Houseware Inside Out Heart Espresso Cups and Saucers, $35 at Amazon.com

Pair the scallops with Egg Fried Rice served in ramekins. Find a wok on beso. 

 Then, end the evening on a sweet note with Chocolate Orange Turnovers  served on dessert plates or a cute set, like Yedi Housewares heart-shaped cups and saucers.  After all, how can you appreciate dessert without some chocolate?

All recipes provided by Epicurious.

Traditional Apple Pie with Ice Cream

Crust:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup Crisco shortening
Ice water

Filling:
1/2 to 1 cup all-purpose flour
6 to 7 cups apples
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter 

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°.

In a medium mixing bowl cut the shortening and salt into the flour by hand or with a pastry blender until it’s the texture of cornmeal. 

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ice water over the mixture and mix just until the dough is moistened.  Repeat by adding 6 to 8 tablespoons water (one at a time) until all the dough is just moist.  Take care not to over mix.

Divide the dough in half and roll into a ball.  Roll 1 ball into a circle to fit a 9 to 10 inch pie plate.  To transfer the pastry to the pie plate, wrap it around a rolling pin and ease it into the pie plate. 

In a medium bowl, make the filling by combining the apples with the brown and white sugar.  Add flour, cinnamon and continue mixing until they are well coated.

Add the apple filling into the pastry-lined pie plate.  Make sure the apple are lying flat.  Cut the butter into small pieces and put on top of the filling.

Pie Plate

Roll the remaining pastry into a 12-inch circle.  Place on top of the filling.  Trim off 1-inch beyond the edge of the pie plate.  Crimp the edges as desired.  Cut slits to allow steam to escape when baking.  Sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon over the pie.

Cover the edges with foil to prevent over-browning.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe courtesy Food Network.

 

 

 

 

KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Stand Mixer in Candy-Apple Red

I admit, when it comes to the holiday season, I’m a bit of a humbug. I was raised in a home filled to the brim with festive décor; carols were played 24 hours a day and at least one member of my family was always wearing a Christmas sweater. You might say that the extensive degree to which my family celebrated the holidays has had a negative effect on my holiday spirit level. Although, there are certainly a couple of things I look forward to this time of year – one of which is baking delicious treats for my family and friends. And every great baker needs a great mixer.

KitchenAid has been setting the standard in kitchens for 90 years and is celebrating with a 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Stand Mixer. The sleek, nostalgic candy-apple red color is sure to liven up any kitchen. I’m absolutely ga-ga over the special five quart glass bowl with easy to read measurements and clean pouring spout. Of course, the tilt-head mixer is also equipped with a 325-watt motor, 10-speed slide control, and power hub for attachments. It comes complete with wire whip, flat beater, and dough hook. Legendary performance meets absolute beauty in this 90th Anniversary Limited Edition Stand Mixer. Who wouldn’t love to mix up a batch of gingerbread in this baby?