Seared Scallops
Why can’t I write a simple post anymore? Seems like everything I eat, and therefore blog about, it not just food, there is always something else going on there. I guess the more conscious I have become about where my food comes from, the more stories are behind it. And in light of being transparent with you, my readers, I have been talking more lately about personal struggles along the way. I mentioned a few posts ago that we are trying to start a family and towards that goal, we have been trying to eat more seafood lately. Living in a landlocked state, although it boasts many rivers and lakes, there unfortunately doesn’t seem to be a lot of access to good fresh or local seafood. I would love if someone in my area that knows of a good place to get some local trout could let me know, though!
So since local seafood has been impossible to find up until this point, we have always tried to navigate the murky waters of cost vs. freshness vs. sustainability vs. etc. and murky waters they are. I eat a fair amount of canned tuna and salmon (wild caught), but Robert o is allergic to both of those. We both enjoy canned sardines and anchovies, yet, they are far from local. We also found some delicious canned mackerel from the coast of Maine, which we were so excited about, until we couldn’t seem to find it anywhere anymore. But recently I found an unlikely source for frozen wild caught salmon, cod and flounder.
DUN, DUN, DUN… Costco. Now I am NOT a fan of big box stores, and shop locally the majority of the time, but there are just a few things at our Costco that are not only good products, but budget friendly and fall into the category of “doing the best we can for now” or “why would I buy the exact same product for double the price just because I can buy it from a non-box-store?”. For example, imported cheeses – we can get a large container full of buffalo mozzarella from Italy for about $9, the same price that we can get at the local shops for ONE ball of the same stuff. Same goes for REAL Parmigiano-Reggiano and prosciutto from Parma. I am the first one to shop locally, but I am also a thrifty consumer and I won’t overpay by double for something I can get for much less somewhere else for the exact same thing. That just doesn’t make good sense.
The second problem with seafood in this house is, aside from pan searing and making fish cakes (which we LOVE), I never know what to do with seafood. I also never know what to serve with it. We have not bought it much in the past years (except when we lived in Florida) because of the whole sustainability issue. But since we are trying to eat as well as we can, in hopes of boosting our fertility, we are making some hard choices.
But scallops are easy! Frozen seafood, like the sea scallops are also something we get from Costco, and nothing can be easier than pan searing them in butter and lemon juice. I like to serve them up simply on a bed of soft creamy polenta, or as an appetizer with some fresh homemade aioli and capers. We eat them as a snack this way, or sometimes a meal, served with a side of veggies. They are sweet and delicious, and so easy to prepare that we make this dish about twice a month. We try to eat some form of seafood at least 3-4 times per week. Right now, at this point in our lives, doing the pros and cons of everything, here we are.
Do you have any food situations in your life like this that you wish were different? Any local folks know of any gems I am missing?
lo - May 20, 2011 at 12:06 pm
I know how you feel. But, information is powerful — so keep on doing what you do!
We’re also fans of Costco — though we often wish there were other local options. An “informed compromise” is what I call it.
Elle - May 20, 2011 at 12:08 pm
First off, that photo of the scallops on the polenta made my heart skip a beat-beautiful and simple!
Second, I missed your post about starting a family, and that’s hugely exciting! My best wishes go to you both. 🙂
Third, I can see how getting fresh seafood in your area would be an issue. It’s something I clearly take for granted. Not that we’re right on the coast, but it’s just a 30 minute drive from here. I’m definitely going to check out Costco, too! It seems like so many people find just what they’re looking for there. And more! 😉
Peter G @ Souvlaki For The Soul - May 20, 2011 at 6:47 pm
I’m a member of Costco (the US one) and I always love the cheeses they have on offer…and very price competitive too! (although I do forego the 20kg Tide washing powder!!!!!!…LOL) The scallops look divine. I like to cook mine similarly and top them on lentils.
Rosa - May 20, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I love your posts. They are very informative.
I love scallops although I rarely eat them, because they are expensive… That is a lovely way of preparing them!
Cheers,
Rosa
alwayshungry - May 21, 2011 at 3:09 am
I’m spoiled I live right by the sea and I don’t care for sea food!
Most people here eat it raw with a glass of white wine…
Tielles, Moules Marinières and Encornet farcis are three recipes on the top of my mind that you might want to check out.
Tielles are individual seafood pies with squid and other critters in a tomato and red pepper sauce
Moules marinières are clams in a white wine and cream sauce
Encornet farcis are meat stuffed squids in a tomato based sauce
I really wish we could only eat organic and locally grown food but finances are an issue, so I try and do my best but it’s very upsetting when you know what’s in some foods and you still “have” to buy them.
If you don’t have fresh seafood my advice would be to let that go and look to local produce that would also boost your fertility…Or go on vacation to the beach!!! ;p Good luck
Ben - May 21, 2011 at 12:25 pm
We seem to be in the same exact situation, Jenn. Here in Mexico the whole idea of eating locally is just starting and we struggle to identify our national products with the ones that come from outside. I’m not a fan of big box retailers either, but sometimes they have good products at very good prices. There’s no way I’m going to pass those sales. hehe. 🙂
Julia - May 22, 2011 at 12:06 am
darnit, you’re the third person to mention Costco recently. there isn’t one near me, at all at all at all, but I know I could make a once-a-month pilgrimage. budget constraints are real and must be taken seriously… and my kids eat me out of house and home!
I do have one fertility tip for you (I am assuming you’re already taking a high quality prenatal multi, and your man is taking a good supplement with calcium too): vitex tincture. check out either http://www.redmoonherbs.com or http://www.mountainroseherbs.com. also, if you haven’t already discovered the fora at the website for Mothering magazine, there are like a gazillion great threads there and many-many-many deal with “ttc” (trying to conceive) so you might find some tips there as well. that’s at http://www.mothering.com/community
good luck! 🙂
kat - May 23, 2011 at 12:46 pm
We have a lot of the same issues you do with fish, from way to prepare it to what to buy. We got lucky though in that we can get trout at our farmers market. Plus a local guy moved to Alaska to fish salmon & he brings it back here to sell at the farmers markets, not local at all but we get to see pictures of him catching them anyway.
5 Star Foodie - May 23, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Ironically, scallops is the only seafood my daughter can’t seem to digest, always has stomach problems after eating them, so I stopped giving them to her for a while. At some point we’ll try again. we do love the scallops though 🙂
ValleyWriter - May 24, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I had always thought of Costco and other warehouse stores as places to get packaged foods and paper goods. I’d never actually shopped at one, though. Since we have several right near by now, I went last night to check it out and was totally impressed. They even have lots of organic stuff! While we are blessed to be living in a place with lots of local produce, meats are always a challenge – so this does look like it will work out to be a good compromise.
Amanda - May 24, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Listen, I WISH I had access to a Costco! That’s life. Give and take. How could you turn down scallops like those – especially when you cook them so beautifully! Yum.
LeAnn - May 24, 2011 at 6:48 pm
We all have to make conscious decisions and do the best we can. You also get to live life. And the best you can do is probably pretty darned good.
Kristina - May 29, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Congrats on trying to start a family!
I struggle with the same Costco dilemma. While I no longer buy the farm raised, color added salmon there I would buy wild caught salmon if they have it and I’ve often bought organic ground beef there.
As for cooking seafood, besides pan roasting have you tried grilling? I live in southern CA so we can pretty much grill year round, but I also have a ridged grill pan which I use on the stove top. It works incredibly well. One of my favorite easy meals is a piece of grilled fish on top of a salad of baby lettuces.
Angela@spinachtiger - May 29, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Somewhere I’m missing the link of seafood and fertility, but you have me curious. I do love the idea of scallops and polenta (we call it grits here:) I’ll be sending fertility prayers your way.
Glennis - Can't Believe We Ate - May 29, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I pray for easy conception and birth for you Darlin’!! My granddaughter recently announced that she’s expecting too!
I’m in kind of the best of all worlds…we’re right on the Ag belt of No. Cali…however that doesn’t make much of that “organic” or “non-GMO.” There are a few ranches nearby that sell select varieties of meat…chevon (goat) and chicken primarily. Ironically…since it’s Cali…it’s so hard (so far impossible) to get whole cow’s milk. Oh well…must be why I always watch for one to come up in the ads! My town doesn’t carry much in the way of “health” foods or “organic” items…that’s a “field trip!” And we make our pilgrimage regularly. Like you…there are two of us, and I only buy from Costco when it’s a need. It’s not local either!
Bren - May 30, 2011 at 3:29 pm
i used to love scallops before i had a conviction about eating shellfish (as I was taught) but I sure don’t mind cooking them for clients. I love it, especially with those grits, which I do eat!
Jerry - June 3, 2011 at 2:21 pm
I love pan seared scallops!!! Its been a while since I eaten some. Thanks for reminding me about them so I will be making them again real soon 🙂 If you want to look for new ways to eat seafood. Maybe you can try this Korean stir fry fish cakes recipe on my blog: http://www.simplygoodeating.com/2011/06/korean-stir-fry-fish-cakes/
If you cant find the fish cakes in your local Korean or Asian market, you can substitute the fish cake with scallops 🙂 Enjoy
Suzanne - June 3, 2011 at 7:27 pm
You know, it’s all well and good for people to talk about eating what’s in season locally and what’s available, but there are many places where that would lead to a very bland and boring and possibly unhealthful diet. Balance is important in any discussions about food, whether it’s sustainability, cost, or accessibility. I live in Southern California, where all kinds of local food is available, often year-round; but that’s certainly not the case with my friends in Minnesota, or Georgia, or Connecticut. Does that mean that people in those areas should eat only cabbage all winter, and never eat seafood? And what if the local fish or seafood is contaminated? There are worse places to shop than Costco, which at least has decent, if non-unionized, employment conditions. And there are worse things environmentally than eating foods imported from other parts.
The Leftover Queen - June 3, 2011 at 8:12 pm
Thanks for your thoughtful comments, Dee and Suzanne! Since this is your first time posting a comment on my blog, I wanted to respond, especially since I have a lot to say about what you brought up! 🙂 I hope you will post again and continue to be a part of the dialog on this blog! Welcome.
@Dee – I am very well versed in the area of heavy metals and seafood. So don’t be alarmed! 🙂 Unfortunately because of some shady dental experiences my husband received growing up in Italy, he has become allergic to many fishes, because he got exposed to a lot of mercury, as a child. But for what it is worth, it means I have a very good live-in “metal detector”. So far the big culprits are tuna, swordfish and salmon. but so far he fares very well with a lot of shell fish and smaller fishes which don’t get exposed to as much mercury as they have shorter lives and therefore don’t get as much exposure to the metals as a lot of the other fish. Which is why we pretty much keep to those. I absolutely appreciate that there are a lot of great herbal and therapeutic fertility remedies, since I worked for an integrative alternative doctor for years. Sadly, none of them have worked for me so far, which is why I am trying to do the best I can with diet and fish has the best overall omega 3 profile there is, found in nature. But I absolutely hear you about the contamination from Japan AND the Gulf. So one does need to be careful and aware. We are no longer buying veggies from California for that reason as well, and so relying on a more local source of food seems very prudent at this point in time, which leads me to Suzanne’s comment…
@Suzanne – I live in Vermont, Northern Vermont, and I eat seasonally. Yes, we do make exceptions for some fruits, coffee, olive oil etc – but those are all things that don’t grow in our area at all. So we make exceptions, this is one of the benefits of our global world. We eat a very varied diet the whole year through, and the way that is possible is by preserving foods when they are at the height of their season. Now some people may not find it fun, but I do – a whole other new repertoire to my kitchen experiences! More fun! 🙂 Not only do foods taste better in season, but they are more nutritious. And I do agree with you about balance. We do live in a global world where we do have access to products that are not from our region, and I am thankful for those, but I still find immense joy in eating seasonally and local 80% of the time.
Jackie Deane - September 16, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I love your blog and would love to visit your homestead one day.
I visit in NH frequently and could drive to Vermont.
If you feel comfortable, just email me at the above email address.
I love your idea of returning to a more simple way of life.
I try to spend time each year in the South of France, and I love the idea of eating fresh foods and combining the leftovers. The flavors are even more rich if a food preparation is a day old. One can be so artistic in the way one combines leftovers into new and original dishes. Often the sauce of a dish made on day 1 combines well with a new food preparation made on day 2. So, combine these dishes in an original way and you have interesting eating on day 3. You have a new eating experience. One can always add fresh parsley or spray fresh lemon on leftovers to enliven them!
Jackie Deane - September 18, 2011 at 3:05 pm
One way I use apples that are past their prime, is to cut them up (with skin), put them in a bowl for microwave or in a metal pan for the oven. I prefer the oven. I sprinkle them with cinnamon, vanilla extract and either sugar or Splenda and cook them. In the oven at 350 for an hour or so works well. Then they can be refrigerated and eaten for breakfast or as fruit throughout the day!
I call these Stewed Apples!