Everyone we know is either at a beach or going to a beach and we’re stuck right here in Nashville feeling sorry for ourselves. Last night seemed like a great time for an "attitude adjustment" and so I decided to recreate a memorable beach dinner we had at a quaint little town in Maine. The place we visited was Ogunquit, right on the coast where a million small towns seem to exist, each one with its own special charm. Ogunquit is situated on three miles of sandy beach eventually becoming a rocky cliff know as the Marginal Way- a coastal hiking trail with stunning views and flowers that look like they’re from an animated Disney flick.
It also has fantastic restaurants. The best meal we had was at a place called MC Perkins right on the water. It was there that Sammy discovered he could actually enjoy seafood that isn’t deep-fried - particularly when it comes wrapped in bacon. So that’s the story of how bacon wrapped scallops came to be the ultimate vacation food for us.
Bacon wrapped scallops – yum is what you’re thinking and you’d be right, except these are even yummier because I added a little something special, or rather three little somethings - butter, bourbon, and maple syrup. What could be better? It’s the perfect glaze to add a bit of over-the-top flavor. For a final touch, we grilled our scallops to get a smoky taste. (You could also cook them under the broiler and they would still be a masterpiece.) Heaven! We ate the scallops with some pasta on the side and a salad of wilted spinach with crispy garlic chips. Let me tell you it was really hard to feel sorry that we were anywhere but at our own dinner table. Sammy, who ends every meal by saying “mighty fine,” was tossing around adjectives like incredible, and divine. It was a perfect summer evening. You should definitely impress friends and family with this special meal. Equally special is the fact that this dinner takes almost no time and certainly no great effort to produce, but it looks and tastes like a gourmet experience.
Speaking of gourmet experiences, the coast of Maine is the only part of the world where I’ve seen a McDonald’s sign offering a lobster dinner. It was only for $5.99 but Sammy wouldn’t stop the car, so I’ll never know if it came with real butter and a loaded baked potato! Another unsolved mystery…
Bacon Wrapped Scallops with a Bourbon Maple Glaze
Ingredients
6 sea scallops per person
bacon, a half slice per scallop wraps almost all the way around (you might try center cut bacon and use one piece per scallop)
paprika
toothpicks for wrapping bacon
Glaze
2 Tbsp butter
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 Tbsp bourbon
pinch of ground red pepper and salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Light the grill if you are grilling your scallops.
Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a baking rack on top, if you have one. It’s ok to cook the bacon right on the foil if you don’t.
Cook bacon in the oven for about 10 minutes or until it’s still slightly undercooked and still pliable.
When bacon is cool enough to handle wrap around each scallop securing with a toothpick.
Make the glaze by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Add bourbon and syrup and heat through. Add red pepper and salt to taste.
Brush scallops with the glaze and dust with a touch of paprika.
Put glazed side down on a hot grill and cook for about two minutes. Don’t be afraid to touch them to test for firmness.
(Alternately run glazed side under a hot oven broiler and flip after two minutes.)
Glaze the tops and turn the scallops. Cook for about 2 more minutes or until they feel slightly firm to the touch. Serve immediately and wait for the compliments!
Spinach with Crispy Garlic
Ingredients (for 2)
1 bag (8 or 9 oz) prewashed spinach
8 cloves of garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt to taste
Directions
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
Add garlic and cook until it just starts to turn golden brown.
Remove to a paper towel to drain and sprinkle with a little salt.
Remove half of the oil from the skillet; add the spinach and about ¼ tsp of salt.
Cook the spinach for about one minute stirring until it’s barely wilted.
Remove to a serving platter, top with garlic chips.
