Mussel with Fennel, Tomato and Baby Carrot

Ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

5 cloves of garlic

1 bulb fennel chopped

15 baby carrots thin sliced

15 cherry tomato crushed

2 teaspoons of tarragon leaves

1/4 cup white wine

salt and grounded black pepper

2 pounds mussels (from Costco)

Steps:

Put mussels in water for about 20 minutes, and pull the beards (this is the most time-consuming step)

Heat the olive oil in a big sauce pan over medium heat. add garlic and fennel, cook until soft about 4 minutes; add carrot, salt and pepper, and cook about 4 minutes; add tomato and tarragon and white wine. cover the pan and cook about 15 minutes until the vegetables are tender;

stir in 1/2 cup of water and mussels, raise the heat to high, cover and cook about 3-5 minutes until the mussels open.

sprinkle parsley on top of the finished dish

Ready in about 1 hour

Found this recipe again @ foodnetwork.com.

I cooked Shrimp Scampi the same night. Turned out to be a very good combination for one of the enjoyable weekend dinners.

Costco mussels were really fresh.

Used this recipe for clams later, equally delicious!

Shimp Scampi - easy and tasty

Ingredients

1 cup butter

                       

2 tablespoons prepared Dijon-style mustard

1 tablespoon fresh crushed lemon juice                                                                         

1 tablespoon chopped garlic                                                                           

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley                                                                        

2 pounds medium or jumbo raw shrimp, shelled, deveined, with tails attached (from Costco)

 

Steps:

 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).

 

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the butter, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, and parsley. When the butter melts completely, remove from heat.

Arrange shrimp in a shallow baking dish. Pour the butter mixture over the shrimp.

Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the shrimp are pink and opaque.

Sprinkle fresh parsley on top of the finished dish with cooked spaghetti.

Ready in about 40 minutes.

Found this recipe at AllRecipes.com. It was so easy to prepare and cook. My son loved this shrimp scampi. Definitely a keeper.

Crab Dip with Tomato, Basil and Pepper Jack

Ingredients:

non-stick spray

1 (8-ounce) cream cheese

4 ounces pepper jack cheese

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 limes

1 pound lump crab meat (from Costco)

1 cup diced tomatoes 

2 chopped scallions

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper

corn chips or crackers for serving

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray the baking dish with non-stick spray

Mix together softened (microwaved) cream cheese, pepper jack, mayonnaise, lime juice until smooth in a large bowl.

Fold in the crabmeat, tomatoes, scallions, basil, garlic, salt and pepper.

Smooth the mixture into the baking dish, and bake about 40 minutes until golden and bubbly.

Ready in about 45 minutes

(Found this recipe on foodnetwork.com. Tried with a little alterations. Turned out to be a big success. Next time, can add a little bit more black pepper,)