Coquilles Saint Jacques – A French Classic

In our first cooking class of 2022, Mark & Tiffany Candelaria are joined in the kitchen by Chef Giangi Townsend of Giangi’s Kitchen, a top-rated food and recipe blog and participant on The Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games. We are so lucky to have Giangi both as a podcast guest last November and now as a guest chef on our Candelaria cooking class!! Click the video below to watch our cooking class with Giangi on YouTube and further down you’ll find the recipe link for the classic French dish, Coquilles Saint Jacques Giangi teaches us to make. Enjoy!

“Coquilles Saint Jacques is the French word for scallops. It always held a bit of mystery to me and it took a try to make it and quite the opposite happened: Super easy to make. Nothing more delightful than tender scallops, or bay scallops, nestled in a bed of mushrooms, cream, and wine topped with bubbly cheese under the broiler. The individual gratin dish makes for a dramatic table presentation.” - Giangi

Appetizers with Chef Eddie Matney

Chef Matney with Mark, October 11, 2020

This month’s virtual cooking class, Mark celebrates his milestone 60th birthday! As a special treat for both Mark and his viewers, he invited his friend and well-known Chef, Eddie Matney to lead the cooking class! Matney teaches us how to make some amazing appetizers, Blistered Tomato & Brie Bruschetta, Steak Tartar and Watch the tutorial video below to see the special birthday cooking class and Chef Matney’s recipes!

Moroccan Sautéed Shrimp with Charmoula

Ingredients:

Chermoula:

2cups Cilantro (stems and all)

1cup Mint (leaves picked)

1 Shallot (chopped)

2 Garlic Cloves

2tbs Dijon Mustard

2 Limes (juiced)

1tsp Red Chili Flakes

1tbs Coriander (ground)

1tbs Cumin (ground)

2cups Olive Oil

Pinch of Salt & Pepper

Shrimp:

1lb Large White Shrimp (peeled and deveined)

1tbs Shallot (chopped)

1/2tbs Garlic (chopped)

1 light Beer

2tbs Worcestershire

1tbs Butter (cubed)

1 Loaf good crusty bread to absorb the sauce

Preparation:

• Combine first 10 ingredients in a blender, pulse 3-4 times or until emulsified. (you want the

chermoula slightly chunky, don't blend too fine). Set aside.

• Slice bread into long slices and toast or grill with oil, salt and pepper, until crispy. Set aside.

• Heat a large pan with oil, sweat shallots and garlic until translucent.

• Add shrimp and sauté for 1 minute, add half of beer and Worcestershire and reduce for 2-3 minutes or until shrimp is almost cooked through.

• Remove from heat and spoon in about 1 cup of chermoula, add in cold butter to emulsify the sauce.

• Place crusty bread in a bowl or dipped plate, spoon shrimp and sauce over top and enjoy.

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Chef Eddies Kibbie Neh Steak Tartare

Ingredients:

4oz Prime Filet Steak

1tbs Red Onion

½ tbs Serrano Chili

2 Basil Leaves

2 Mint Leaves

Pinch of Sumac

Drizzle of Olive Oil

Pinch of Salt and Pepper

2 Pitas

Preparation:

• Gather all ingredients except Pita on a cutting board. Stack all ingredients and chop until meat and veggies are finely diced and incorporated.

• Lightly drizzle or pain pita with olive oil and lightly grill or toast until golden brown and crisp. Cut into triangles and serve alongside the tartare.

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Blistered Tomato and Brie Bruschetta

Ingredients:

2 cups Cherry Tomatoes (halved)

1 Shallot (finely diced)

4 Garlic cloves (finely diced)

½ cup Prosciutto (chopped)

3tbs Sherry Vinegar

2tbs Brown Sugar

1tbs Basil (chopped)

Creme De Brie

Loaf of nice sourdough bread (we love Noble)

Preparation:

• Heat a large saute pan with oil, saute prosciutto until crispy, add your cherry tomatoes, shallots,

and garlic and cook until tomatoes are broken down and in a sauce consistency.

• Turn heat to low and add in sherry vinegar and brown sugar, cook for 2-3 minutes, or until

thickened. Hold hot on the stove.

• Cut bread into medium sized pieces about ½ inch thick, grill or toast until golden and crispy.

• Top toasted bread with a dollop of Creme De Brie and bake in the oven at 350 degrees until the

cheese is melty and hot. Remove from the oven and place on a plate, spoon on blistered tomato

jam and garnish with arugula if desired.

Springtime Sweet Pea Dip

Well Spring has certainly sprung and this fresh and healthy dip is just perfect served with fresh farmer’s market vegetables and a crisp glass of wine! It couldn’t be easier to whip up and it is always a pleaser!

Ingredients as follows (makes 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups sweet peas

3/4 cup ricotta cheese

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

3 TBLS chopped green onion

1 TBLS fresh mint leaves

1 TBLS olive oil

1/2 TSP kosher salt

1/2 TSP ground black pepper

GARNISH: shredded Parmesan cheese and fresh mint leaves

In the work bowl of a food processor, place peas, ricotta, Parmesan, green onion, mint, oil, salt, and pepper.

Pulse until smooth. Garnish with Parmesan and mint.

Serve with beautiful and flavorful carrots, water crackers and sliced bell peppers! Add a sprinkling of Parmesan and wait for the swooning!