Bay Scallops With Portabella Mushrooms

January 3, 2011 • Recipes, Seafood

I keep repeating to myself, “I am not obsessed with 10-minute meals, I’m not obsessed with 10-minute meals.” The fact is, most evidence these days points to the contrary. Even when I have plenty of time to cook a meal that requires several steps, I inevitably feed the urge to simplify the prep time by substituting this or that to make what will find its way into an ever growing list of quick meals for

families like myself. I can’t help it. It’s the fault of all who continue to write me and comment on my posts thanking me for meal ideas that cut back on the trips for carryout, fast food or those nights that nothing sounds better than popcorn. Yes, I admit I’m such a speed and convenience junky that I have made a meal out of popcorn simply because I haven’t an ounce of energy to muster any inspiration to prepare even a quick meal. More times than not, the idea must jump out and slap me before I’ll obey its call. As it so happens to be, many of you share my plight and I being the architect of my own misery at times have found this search for the best, the simplest, and the tastiest meals for you, the eager to know, to be cathartic in more ways than you’ll ever imagine. I have wrapped myself in this cause and it has turned into a crusade of growth and a back to basics call, with a twist of course, the twist being that of convenience intertwined with a little home-style values of getting us all to reconvene around the family dinner table. I had the mentality of “Cook, and they will come.” And, it’s turning out quite nicely. So many of you have written me with the kindest remarks of encouragement and thankfulness and what I didn’t expect were the countless “empty nesters” that have commented on how hard it is to cook for two and how the quick meals were excellent alternatives to both food waste and dining out. It’s when I hear these responses that I am inspired to do more, be more and want more. This year I have uprooted the deepest beliefs within me. Mostly, I am a question without answers. Spending hours upon hours thinking, wondering, supposing, and exhausting every possibility within me, I realize questioning is good. It summons us to action. And somewhere inserted among the action the answers really don’t matter. It’s the doing that keeps the body and soul fresh. I had a reader comment on this recipe saying she had a weekend without the kids and she couldn’t wait to try this week’s quick fix. She then said, “Who am I kidding, it will probably be a Special K meal for me.” My response: “Get the ingredients for this one, it’s that simple–treat yourself.”