After more than 20 years of spending my summers in this tiny coastal town in MA, the ocean has yet to cease to amaze me. It's so spectacular and ever-changing. I could watch it for hours. Last week, the full moon rose over it bathing us in silver as we went for night swim. I remember when I was little, I was sure one could walk along the path the moon reflected across the water and arrive somewhere magic. (Who am I kidding, I still believe that!) Yesterday, the fog rolled in thick and damp and covered everything so we could only see the waves at the edge. Even the lights of the lighthouse were hidden and only the fog horn blared to warn of the rocks.
One of the best things about being by the ocean is fresh seafood. Rockport is particularly known for its lobster and in the morning you can watch the steady stream of fishing boats heading out to check their traps. You can buy it live or fresh-cooked at the small fish shop in town. But they don't only have fresh lobster. Yesterday, we got a pound and a half of the most succulent scallops I've ever had. I cooked them simply - no need to change the flavor - and served them with garlic roasted peppers and green beans. Then we ate them happily as the sun set and the remarkably still ocean reflected the pink and light blue of the sky.
Serves 3-4
1 1/2 lbs scallops
2 Tbsp butter
2 cloves garlic
2 red peppers
a couple handfuls green beans
4 cloves garlic
olive oil
sea salt
Preheat the oven to 375F/190C. Core, seed and cut the red pepper into slices. Lay on a cookie sheet or in a roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil. Cook in the oven 10 minutes. In the meantime, snap and wash the green beans. Peel the garlic and cut into halves or quarters. After the peppers have cooked 10 minutes, add the green beans, garlic and salt and cook another 15 minutes or so until the vegetables are tender.
Melt the butter in a frying pan on medium high heat. Add the garlic and scallops. Cook the scallops about 3-5 minutes on each side. They will release water and you'll probably want to drain some towards the end so that they'll brown nicely.
Serve hot and enjoy!
10 comments:
That fog is something else. How jealous am I of people who live in areas where they can get fresh fish practically off the boats. Amazing.
I think I need to plan a trip to a costal area. Hope you're enjoying your visit home!
I think I live in the wrong place, I love seafood but live about as far from the sea as it's possible to get in England!
The lighthouse photo is stunning, the fog is incredible.
The pictures look so inviting ... the town, even the fog and the food ... mmmm ... love scallops.
Giz and Psychgrad - It is quite a luxury. You'll have to stop by some summer :-)
Sam - How did you do that? England's an island. It must be hard to be far from the coast!
Cicero - Me too. And the town and ocean are even better in real life than in photos!
Sounds wonderful! And those fresh-caught scallops sound amazing. Garlic-roasted peppers might just cure me of my lifelong pepper avoidance!
Well it's a long way from the sea by English satandards! The nearest beach to me is 90 miles away, I would love to live just a bit closer!
Beautiful pictures Hopie. A lifetime of pleasure...wow! never seen anything like the one with fog! FAB!! You back from practice? Was wondering when you get back?
Camille - Wow a high compliment coming from you!
Sam - hehe. I bet the farthest point from the sea in the US is about a day and a half's drive instead of an hour and a half ;-) But I definitely understand. Paris is probably about that far from the ocean too but I never get there!
Deeba - Thank you! I'm back in Paris and getting down to business if you want to figure out something for bloggeraid ;-)
Can I come next summer? I've always wanted to be one of those families that summers somewhere else. Maybe someday!
In your comment on A&B you mentioned you have a birthday coming up? When is it? Mine is coming up as well!
Post a Comment