SANDRA’S WORLD-CLASS TRI-SEAFOOD POT PIES

These hearty Alaskan halibut, shrimp and scallop
pot pies provide for a complete meal...

Yields: 

--(4 Individual 6” Bowl Servings)

Prep: 15 Mins.

Bake: 40 Mins.

Rest: 15 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

8 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1” pieces

½ medium red onion, chopped

1 cup celery, sliced into ½” pieces

1 cup scrubbed and sliced into ½” pieces

½ cup frozen peas

1 teaspoon dried basil

2 teaspoons old bay seasoning

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ cup all-purpose flour

4 cups milk

1 tablespoon quality white wine

½ lb. skinless and boneless halibut fillets, cut into 1" pieces

½ lb. prawns (large shrimp, I used Skagway 'Coon'), peeled, deveined, and cut crosswise into 1” pieces

½ lb. bay scallops, cut into 1” pieces with the grain

½ teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon ground white pepper

1 tablespoon dried parsley

1 prepared recipe of Sandra’s Pie Crust pastry (for 2 crusts), or 2 store-bought

1 large egg

1 tablespoon water

METHOD

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil, and set aside.

Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large Dutch oven. Sauté potatoes, onions, carrots, and celery for 12 minutes. 

Add peas, basil, old bay seasoning, and garlic; cook 1 minute. Sprinkle flour over vegetables, and cook, stirring constantly for 3 minutes. 

Whisk in milk, and white wine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer 2 to 3 minute, until filling has thickened. 

Add all the seafood, pepper, and parsley, and then bring filling back up to a simmer. 

Remove from heat. 

Ladle filling into 4 individual ovenproof vessels (I used 6” ceramic bowls) within 1/2" of top edge of bowls, and let cool.

Meanwhile, roll out both pie crusts together on a lightly floured surface to 1/8” thick. Cut pastry into circles, ensuring to cut them 1” larger than the mouth of the soup bowls. Whisk together egg and 1 tablespoon water; brush underside of pastry edges with egg wash and place over bowls, pressing edges to seal, and trim edges so they are somewhat uniform around outside of bowls. Brush tops and outside edges with egg wash, and cut four small slits on top of crust to allow steam to release while baking. Place the bowls on prepared baking sheet to catch any drips.  

Bake for 40 minutes (turning half way through baking for even cooking of crusts), and bake until the pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. 

Allow seafood pot pies to rest for 15 minutes before serving. ~ Enjoy!

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Tip: If you have leftovers and would like to reheat the seafood pot pies directly from the refrigerator, simply place them on a foil-lined baking sheet in a non-preheated oven set to 350 degrees and re-bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

SANDRA’S WORLD-CLASS ITALIAN SALAD

My husband and I adore
this impeccable salad ~
I created this after being inspired 
by a version I had at a local eatery...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 5 Min.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Vinaigrette:

1-1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon dijon

***Salad:

6 cups mixed dark salad greens and herbs

1/8 of a red onion, julienned

8 pitted kalamata olives, quartered lengthwise

1 (6.5 oz. jar) marinated and quartered artichoke hearts, drained

¼ cup crumbled feta cheese

METHOD

For the vinaigrette, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, and dijon, until the honey is incorporated.  Gently drizzle the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking, until vinaigrette is emulsified.

For the salad, in a medium bowl, toss together the mixed greens and herbs, red onion, and kalamata olives.  Drizzle salad with vinaigrette, and toss.  Serve prepared salad among 4 plates, place the quartered artichokes around parameter of each, and sprinkle with feta crumbles. – Enjoy!

SANDRA’S FRESH MANGO-BANANA-STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE (Non-Dairy)

This is a creation I made today 
per a request for a non-dairy, 
full-bodied and fruity smoothie...

[This photograph was featured in 
BEST PICTURES OF Website on 6-1-11 - Yay!;
'Smoothie Web' just featured a wonderful review 
@ http://www.smoothieweb.com/ - very, very nice!; 
and it was also featured on 8-18-11 
@ http://www.trendykeys.blogspot.com/ 
- I am honored!

This recipe and photos of it were
feature once again on 6-9-12
at http://whatscookinglove.blogspot.com
/2012/06/layered-strawberry-mango-smoothies.html 

Another mention of this recipe
was found listed on 5-10-13
@ http://www.whatscookinglove.com/2012/06/
layered-strawberry-mango-smoothies.html

Servings: (2)
Prep:  10 Mins.

Posted: by Sandra 

INGREDIENTS

***1st layer:

1 mango, peeled, pitted and chopped
½ cup orange juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
3 medium ice cubes

***2nd Layer:

1 banana, chopped
10 strawberries, cut in half
1 tablespoon lime juice
3 medium ice cubes

METHOD

In a blender, puree the mango, orange juice, lime juice, honey, and ice cubes, until smooth, and divide amongst 2 straight-sided 8 oz. glasses, and set aside.

Rinse blender, then puree banana, strawberries, lemon juice, and ice cubes, until smooth, and gently pour into glasses while trying to maintain a line separating the layers. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S WORLD-CLASS ALASKA TRI-SEAFOOD CHOWDER - NEW ENGLAND STYLE

An exceptionally textured Alaska seafood chowder
as it is super flavorful because it's thickened
using cooked down vegetables, not flour...

Servings:  (8 to 10)
Prep: 15 mins. |
Cook: 50 Mins. to 1 Hr.

INGREDIENTS:

½ lb. bacon, cut into ½” strips
2 onions, finely minced
3 carrots, peeled
--(2 finely minced, and 1 chopped)
3 medium russet potatoes, peeled
--(1 finely minced, and 2 chopped)
3 stalks celery with leaves
--(2 stalks finely minced, and 1 chopped)
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons flour
2 bay leaves
1-1/2 teaspoons old bay seasoning
Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
1 lb fresh halibut, cut into 1” cubes
1 lb fresh salmon, cut into 1” cubes
1 lb. fresh shrimp/prawns, peeled & de-veined
1 pint half and half
2 tablespoons fresh parsley

--Prepared warm and crusty French loaf slices

METHOD

In dutch oven, to make broth saute bacon until browned, add 'minced' veggies, and stir until cooked (be sure to place the remaining 'chopped' potatoes and carrots covered with cold water in a small bowl to prevent oxidation). Sprinkle flour into pot and stir two minutes longer. Add some salt and pepper, bay leaves, and old bay seasoning.  Add water to pot to cover veggies by a couple of inches, (more for a soup, or less for stew or chowder consistency). Bring to boil, while scraping bottom to release bits, and reduce to a simmer, cooking for 30 minutes to make a nice broth that will be used to make the chowder (the vegetables should have nearly disappeared so you should now have a thickened consistency).

Add remaining 'chopped' veggies and let them simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, just until potatoes and carrots are tender. Check seasoning for salt and pepper, and if too thick add water at this point.

Add halibut, salmon, and shrimp. Allow seafood to cook just at a low simmer until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t overcook, just until salmon flakes. When seafood is done remove from heat (we do not want the cream to curdle), now add the half and half, and fresh parsley. Remove bay leaves and toss.

Serve with the warm french loaf cut into diagonal slices, and place them alongside of bowls chowder. ~ Enjoy!


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Tip:  You can use alternate seafood, including clams, scallops, lobster, etc.