Red Pepper Coulis Sauce

I had forgotten how easy this was to make and how yummy it is.

Ingredients:
3 red bell peppers
2 cloves of peeled, chopped garlic
½ cup chicken stock
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons basil, thyme or marjoram diced
Salt and pepper to taste
16 Sea scallops rinsed and dredged in 2 tablespoons of flour

Preparation:
Roast red peppers in oven at 400 degrees until skins are dark and peppers have collapsed, around one hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Remove skin carefully and remove seeds and stems. Do not rinse.

Add peppers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, chicken stock, garlic, and herbs to food processor and puree. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cook dredged scallops in 2 tablespoons olive oil until scallops spring back when touched about 3 minutes a side. It is very easy to overcook scallops and if you do they become tough and chewy. Spoon coulis sauce onto each diners dish and place 4  scallops on top of the coulis sauce and serve.

Dan Dan Noodles for Heather

I have had a request to publish my recipe for Dan Dan Noodles. I made this a long time ago and one of my daughter's best friends remembers it and liked it. I told her I gave up making it because so many people are allergic to peanuts. So here's my recipe for you, Heather.

Ingredients:
1 cup beef stock
4 peppercorns
1/2 green onion sliced
1 Tbsp hot bean sauce
2 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
4 cloves of  garlic diced
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
8 oz spaghetti noodles cooked al dente
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
3 scallions sliced lengthwise

Preparation:
Mix all of the ingredients in food processor blend until you get a creamy paste.Toss noodles with paste and garnish with peanuts and scallions.

Tortilla Brie Appetizer

This recipe is a very easy appetizer to make. I originally used Brie as the cheese of choice, but it can really be made with whatever cheese you like. I recently have made it with pepper jack cheese.

Ingredients: 
4  flour tortillas, 8 inches in diameter
Olive oil spray
8 oz of Brie with rind trimmed and cut into 1/2 slices
1/2 cup glazed walnuts (you can buy these in most supermarkets)

Preparation: 
Spray olive oil into large skillet. Heat oil over medium heat. Place one tortilla into pan. Place 1 piece of brie and 2 or 3 walnuts in each quadrant of the tortilla. Place second tortilla on top of tortilla with walnuts and brie. Spray second tortilla with olive oil. Cook for about 1 minute or until cheese starts to melt. Using a large spatula, carefully turn tortilla over in pan. Cook for one more minute. Remove tortilla from pan and cut into four pieces making sure each of the four pieces has walnuts and melted cheese within it. Repeat process with the second two tortillas. Serve war.                  

Apple Raisin Salad

This recipe is one I have adapted from a salad my neighbor makes. It is super healthy and very filling.

Ingredients: 
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp honey
1 head of Bib lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
1 Fuji apple cored and sliced
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup glazed walnuts chopped
1/2 sliced avocado

Preparation: 
Combine first 5 ingredients. Using immersion blender, emulsify the dressing. Combine lettuce, apple, raisins in salad bowl. Top with nuts and avocado. Drizzle generously with dressing and serve.