Grilled Scallops w/ Veggie Orzo (One Pot)

Scallops on Baseball Night?

You think this dinner is the last thing you make on the night of a baseball game – not true.  We had to be at baseball at 5:15PM so I served dinner at 4:45PM.  Why not – who wants to eat at 8:30PM?  Skip the attack of the snack drawer after school and eat early if you have to.  Another idea for game night – next time you bake some chicken cutlets (find in “chicken” recipes), make some extra and throw them in the freezer for a quick meal.  If you’re really in a pinch, you are better off making the kids scrambled eggs and toast than some processed frozen chemical dinner.  I takes less time and is way better for them.  Ask your two-year old how many ingredients are in an egg – even she can count to one.

Scallops: (Faster than chicken to grill)

• Pat dry scallops.  Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper on both sides.
• Grill for 3-5 minutes on each size (depending on size).
• Serve with fresh lemon or squeeze it right on!

Veggie Orzo (Warm, Cold or Room Temperature):  Make some extra, it’s great for leftovers.  You can add a little chicken or soy sauce to it the next day for lunch or toss it into a salad.  Or you can eat it as a snack over your sink (my favorite).

• Cook Orzo (or any pasta) in salted water according to directions.  Drain pasta and reserve about a cup of pasta water.
• Use same pot to cook a little garlic in EV olive oil.  Throw in whatever veggies you have in the fridge (I try to use up everything on Thursday night).  I cooked some snow peas, yellow and red pepper for about 10 minutes until cooked (firm but not mushy).  I remove the garlic.
• Add some (1/4 cup) chicken broth or a little pasta water (and a splash of wine if you like) and some fresh lemon juice.  Stir and cook for a few more minutes.
• Add pasta into the veggies and toss with a dash of salt/pepper and some parsley. 
• Serve any temperature.

What Can the Kids Help With?

• Pat the scallops with a paper towel and help you sprinkle EVOO and salt/pepper on them.
• Ask kids to help pick the type of pasta (orzo, rigatoni, penne, etc.)
• Ask kids what veggies they want in the pasta.
• Picture of scallop shell:  http://beachcare.org/_img/learn/seashells/speckled-scallop.jpg
• Fruit/Veggie Bingo:  http://www.abcteach.com/free/f/fruit_veg_bingo_crds_w_wrdbnk.pdf

Did You Know:

• A scallop “swims” around opening and closing its shell compared to the oyster and clam which anchors itself permanently.
• Shell Oil uses the scallop shell on all their service station signs.
• Scallops are shucked from their shells on board the fishing boats.
• Sea Scallops are the big ones and Bay Scallops are the little ones.  Diver scallops do not refer to the size but rather that they are hand-picked by divers (they do tend to be larger though).