Scallops in Home Accessories, Lemon Garlic Pasta and Flavorful Tacos
Today’s post includes the popular trend of scallops in home accessories (what I bought at Target) and Tommy’s Scallop Tacos and Howard’s Lemon Garlic Spaghetti with Scallops.
Last weekend, we went diving for scallops in the Gulf and I sensed a theme for the Sunday Faves with Annie and Cindy!
Diving For Florida Bay Scallops
For her birthday, our friend, Cathi wanted to go diving for scallops in the Florida gulf. Explorida offers scalloping charters in Crystal River, Florida, during the scalloping season, which typically runs from early July to late September.
I heard stories of people just getting a couple of scallops so we were happily surprised about how successful we were. You wear fins, a mask and snorkel. The scallops are down about 6 feet (at least where they took us as the tide was out).
You have to be careful picking them up as they could snap shut and pinch you. Which didn’t happen but next time I’m wearing gloves! (Note: our son, Tommy took most of these photos). See the scallop above with all the eyes?
After the diving was done, the guides cleaned the scallops for us and we split them up in baggies and put them on ice. Then we headed back to Jacksonville and the rest of the gang went back to Tampa.
I usually don’t order bay scallops in restaurants as sometimes they can taste fishy…these of course, were not fishy at all. You could use frozen scallops for the following recipes, de-thaw and pat dry.
Howard’s Garlic Lemon Pasta With Scallops
Lemon Garlic Spaghetti With Scallops
Ingredients
- 6 oz pasta
- 2 lemons juice from two lemons and zest from one
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/2 lb bay scallops
- 1/4 cup chopped basil or parsley
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Boil water for pasta. Add 2 tablespoons of salt when the water starts to boil. Then add pasta. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions.When pasta is done reserve ½ cup of the pasta water to be used in the sauce.
- While pasta is cooking prepare the scallops and ingredients. Heat olive oil and add ½ of the chopped garlic cloves. Sauté garlic until it just starts to turn a very light golden brown. Add the scallops. Sprinkle one teaspoon of salt on top of the scallops.
- Sauté the bay scallops for 2 minutes on each side (use a stainless steel pan if you want them golden brown). Flip only once.
- Add ½ of the lemon juice to the scallops. Simmer for one minute. (Remove the scallops at this point and place them on a dish to set aside.)
- In the same pan, after you remove the scallops, add in the rest of the garlic, the remaining lemon juice, and the lemon zest.
- Add the wine to the saute pan and stir.
- Drain the pasta and reserve 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the cooked pasta and reserved pasta water to the sauté pan.
- Toss the pasta and 2 tbsp butter in the sauce. Cook for a couple of minutes to reduce the sauce and finish cooking the pasta. Add the red pepper flakes (optional). Turn off heat.
- Place the pasta on the serving dish. Top with scallops and parsley.
Tommy’s Scallop Tacos With Special Sauce
Tommy loves the quality Quince stainless frying pan that we gave him. It’s great for high heat and searing.
Tommy’s Seared Scallop Tacos With Avocado And Special Baja Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb bay scallops
- 1/4 cup flour for dusting scallops
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp cayenne
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbs lime juice
- 1 avocado thinly slice lengthwise
- 4 flour tortillas lightly toasted in pan
- 1 cup cabbage
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, optional
Baja Taco Sauce
- 1 tbsp light mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp sour cream
- some dashes of Mexican hot sauce
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 lime, juiced
Instructions
- Mix all the Baja Taco Sauce ingredients together and set aside.
- Get the oil hot in the pan for about 3 minutes over medium-high heat. Then, carefully lower your scallops into the hot oil. Sear the scallops for about 2 minutes on both sides.
- Sprinkle with lime juice.
- Assemble your tacos with cabbage and avocado slices on the tortillas, followed by the seared scallops, chopped cilantro, and finish with the Baja sauce.
New Scallop Home Accessories At Target
This little accent table from the new Studio McGee line at Target has a sturdy travertine scalloped base and dark wood top (use coasters). It looks and feels more expensive than it is. The scalloped Harvest Chestnut candle smells great for Fall.
Shop Our Primary Bedroom
A Great Vase Is Back In Stock At Target
I gave this $25 scalloped vase away with flowers as a gift, so it’s time to buy another now that they have it again.
Woven Storage Baskets: Scallop Trend in Home Accessories
Having grandchildren means having things like toys in the house (and you should see our garage).
This basket comes in two sizes.
$15 Marble Coaster or Candle Tray 6.5″ Round
I want a couple of these for our bedside chests for drinks. Makes a nice gift, with a candle, too.
What To Read: “Beach House Rules” By Kristy Woodson Harvey
This is your classic “beach read.” It’s a light mystery with like-able characters.
“When Charlotte Sitterly’s husband is arrested for a white-collar crime, she and her daughter Iris are locked out of their house by the FBI and thrust into the spotlight of @JuniperShoresSocialite, the town’s snarky anonymous Instagram account. Desperate and cut off from her bank accounts, Charlotte moves to a former beachfront bed-and-breakfast that’s home to a community of single mothers and draws plenty of gossip in the small coastal North Carolina town.”
If you would like to receive this series every week, please sign up HERE.
Let’s see what my friends have discovered this week:
Happy Anniversary! Both recipe look delicious!
Happy Anniversary and Tommy’s scallop recipe looks delicious!! Those marble stands are lovely!!
Mary Ann you recipes both looks so good for summer. What fun doing the scallop boat.
I love all the trends in scallops too. Your bedroom is lovely.
Happy Anniversary to you two. Hope you have fun in KW!
Mary Ann! I love a scallop edge too! That little travertine and wood drink table is adorable! And the little dollhouse!
Your scallop excursion and then cooking with them sounds like a perfect day!
Xx
It was a wonderful day, Annie. I am so glad Cathi suggested it.
Also read “Beach House Rules” and enjoyed it. Went beyond the typical “beach read love story” and provided some unexpected suspense. Just a fun read…..
Love scallops and will cook some up tonight! Thanks for the inspo!
I liked the teenaged character in the book, Holly.
Hi Mary Ann,
Wow, 40 years you are celebrating together. Congratulations to you and Howard. You make a great couple, you are blessed to have one another.
We celebrated our 47th anniversary last month. I married my best friend, I can’t imagine my lige without him.
He’s a great guy, Kathy.
Happy 40th! I love fresh scallops! We can get day boat scallops right here in Lewes, Delaware right off the dock when the boat comes in. What an adventure to harvest them yourselves! The recipes look delicious and I can’t wait to try them. Thanks for sharing such a wide variety of information. It makes your blog so interesting!
Those must be delicious, Linda. They must be the larger kind.
Gosh, scalloping looks like a fun adventure!
We used to see far more bay scallops at the market years ago. I didn’t realize where they came from!
We had a wonderful appetizer at a restaurant last weekend. It was a small gratin dish with bay scallops and prosciutto in lemon butter and garlic with a breadcrumb topping. Yum! I’m going to be on the lookout for good bay scallops, and try it at home. Love the taco idea too! We are regular Taco Tuesday folks.
That gratin dish has my mouth watering, Lisa.
Have a wonderful 40th! We enjoyed Hemingway’s Keys home, learning more about him, and its many special cats. The heat / humidity will be something in August!
We took that tour a couple of years ago, Joan. I liked it too!
MA! Love today’s scallop theme. And diving for scallops. What?! Talk about fresh seafood! Both recipes look delish. And I’m juggling tabs trying to keep up with all your great finds. That vase is definitely coming my way. Happy 40th! I hope you take lots of photos in Key West. It’s on my bucket list and I’ll live vicariously. Have so much fun! xoxo
I need to get another vase before they sell out again, Juliet.
I like the recipes!!! franki
Try them!