lazy day

Yesterday was a good day at the cabin. We decided to go out to lunch at the Black Horse Tavern. A couple of weeks ago (probably during my birthday festival), we went for lunch and they had an amazing special - Seared Scallops on Panko Potato Pancakes with Mornay Sauce. So last night I tried to duplicate it - not exact but quite good. The picture does not do the dish justice and you have to pretend that I found the Panko bread crumbs instead of just making a patty out of the mashed potatoes. We ran out of food shopping time before I could make another stop at another market. Next time for sure.

I roasted 2 huge baking potatoes and scooped out the inside. I added butter and milk, salt and pepper and mixed it all together. Jack formed this into pancake shapes. Next time I will dip them in beaten egg and the bread crumbs and saute until lightly browned. I will try not to use too much olive oil and butter.

I made the Mornay sauce and set aside over very low heat. I used 1 shallot minced very fine as an addition. Start with 2 tablespoons butter in a sauce pan. Melt and saute shallot. Add 2 tablespoons flour and cook together. Then add 2 cups hot milk (I used the microwave) and stir until blended. Add 1/2 cup grated Gruyere cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Stir until cheeses melt. Taste for salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Melt butter in a saute pan and add scallops seasoned with salt and pepper. Cook on medium high about 4 minutes per side. This is tricky because you want them to sear not burn.

Then put a pancake on a plate, top with scallops and spoon sauce all over! Very much a "white" dish but I will liven it up next time with greens and paprika.

Then we went to one of our favorite antique stores. Deb's Flowerbed Farm Antiques is just a collection of everything. I am, of course, thinking tablescape. We cannot get out of there without a purchase!

I bought the little turquoise majolica type pitcher there last year and my Sascha Brastoff dishes this year. Most of the dishes and "stuff" for the cabin come from there. This week Jack has bought an old platform rocker and a framed tapestry. I bought a hammered aluminum ice bucket. We both did a little damage last week as well.

This glassware is exquisite.

I might need that pitcher!

I will be taking a couple of days off from the blog. I need to finish that quilt! See you on Tuesday!