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Thyme for Cooking, the Blog

Caprese Salad Seafood and Vegetable Kebabs with Tzatziki Couscous Pilaf

Cooking time: 60 minutes for menu Cooking schedule: see below for menu instructions

Tomato with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil, also known as Caprese salad  Time:10 minutes

1 ball mozzarella de Bufala
2 - 3 garden ripe tomatoes
1 large handful fresh basil
Balsamic vinegar
olive oil - the good stuff

Select 2 lovely, large dinner plates.  Slice the mozzarella into 6 or 8 slices - this depends on the shape of the mozzarella and the sharpness of your knife.  Slice tomatoes - you want 4 nice slices per person about 1/4 inch thick, so you will use 2 or 3 tomatoes depending....  Tear large basil leaves in half, leave small ones whole.  Arrange tomato and mozzarella artfully on plates, toss basil leaves on top.  Serve, with oil and vinegar on the side to be added by each person to taste.  
Note: if you have nice cruets for the oil and vinegar use them.  If not small bowls with small spoons work fine - or, just put the bottles on the table - we're all friends here...

Seafood and Vegetable Kebobs with Tzatziki            Time: 30 minutes

6 - 7oz (200 gr) sea scallops
6 - 7oz (200 gr) cleaned, large shrimp (1/2 lb if you need to clean them)
1 lemon
1 red or yellow pepper...or any color you like
1 red onion  less 1/4 for couscous
6 - 8 large button mushrooms
6 - 8 large cherry tomatoes
2 tbs snipped fresh tarragon  substitute 2 tsp dried  
2 tbs snipped fresh chives      substitute 2 tsp dried
2 tbs olive oil
1 tbs lemon juice
1 tsp garlic powder
wooden (or fancy, metal ones) skewers

If using wooden skewers, soak them in water while you do the prep work - minimizes burning opportunities.  In large bowl mix 1 tbs tarragon, 1 tbs chives, 1 tbs olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.  Add shrimp and scallops, toss well to coat and set aside - refrigerate if not using within 30 minutes - but don't marinate too long or you'll have ceviche.  Clean peppers and cut into pieces, roughly 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) square.  Peel onion and cut into 6 or 8 wedges, depending on size.  Clean mushrooms, removing stem.  Cut lemon in half then each half into 8 wedges.  When ready to cook thread vegetables on 2 - 4 skewers, alternating peppers, onions, tomatoes and mushrooms.  In small bowl mix remaining herbs and oil.  Brush oil on vegetables.  Thread shrimp, scallops and lemon wedges on another 2 - 4 skewers, alternating.  The reason I don't do them all together (which makes a prettier presentation) is that the vegetables need a wee bit longer cooking time and we don't want the seafood overcooked - it can get tough.  Cook skewers on barbecue grill, 8 - 10 minutes for vegetables (they should have color but still be kind of crunchy) and 6 - 8 minutes for shrimp and scallops, they should be just opaque.  Remove and lay skewers over a platters of couscous and serve with Tzatziki (optional). 

Tzatziki                                                                         Time: 60 minutes 

8 oz (250gr) plain yogurt
1/2 cucumber (about 4", 10cm) save the other half for the salad later this week
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs olive oil, the good stuff
1 tbs lemon juice
1 clove garlic, crushed or finely chopped
1 tbs snipped fresh dill leaves (weed)  substitute 1 tsp dried
2 tsp fresh snipped chives                    substitute 1/2 tsp dried

Drain yogurt:  line a strainer with several layers of paper towels. Note: if you have a 'fine mesh' strainer, lining is not necessary.  Spoon yogurt into center and let drain for 30 minutes.  Using a spatula, scoop/scrape yogurt into a bowl.  Peel cucumber, then finely chop.  Add salt, stir well and put into another strainer for 30 minutes.   After 30 minutes, wrap the cucumber in a paper towel and squeeze as dry as you can.  Put the yogurt into a bowl.  Crush or finely mince garlic and add to yogurt.  Add cucumber, snipped dill, chives, lemon juice and olive oil.  Mix well and refrigerate at least 30 minutes.  Serve with kebabs

Couscous Pilaf                                                              Time: 15 minutes

1/2 cup couscous
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 carrot
1 stalk celery
1/4 onion  from kebabs
4 cherry tomatoes
1 tbs snipped chives
2 tsp olive oil - the good stuff

Heat chicken broth to a boil.  Put couscous in a medium bowl.  When broth is boiling pour over couscous, cover and let stand for 10 minutes...Do not stir it.  Chop carrot, celery and onion. Cut  cherry tomatoes in half.   Heat oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium heat.   Add carrot, celery, onion and sauté until crisp-tender, about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Snip chives When couscous is ready, uncover, add vegetables, tomatoes, chives, fluff gently with a fork to combine and serve. 
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Cooking schedule: 60 minutes for menu Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Put yogurt in strainer (lined or not) and drain Peel and finely chop cucumber Add salt to cucumber and put in another strainer 20 minute break - nice evening? A brief walk? Clean shrimp if needed Soak skewers Cut vegetables for kebabs Snip all herbs Mix marinade for scallops and shrimp Add shrimp and scallops to marinade Mix basting oil for vegetables Crush or mince garlic Put yogurt in bowl Put cucumber on towels, squeeze dry Add cucumber, garlic and all remaining ingredients        to yogurt, mix well, cover and refrigerate Light/turn on barbecue grill Finely chop carrot, celery onion

Heat stock for couscous Start to sauté carrot, celery, onion Slice tomatoes, mozzarella Arrange tomatoes, mozzarella on plates Scatter basil on tomato/mozzarella Get the Balsamic and oil ready for the salad Put vegetables on skewers, baste with herb oil Put shrimp, scallops and lemon on skewers Remove carrot, celery and onion from heat Put couscous in bowl, pour stock over, cover Serve Caprese Salad, relax and enjoy Half way through starter put vegetables on grill -                 indirect heat Finished with the Salad?  Turn vegetable kebabs Start to cook seafood kebabs Add veg to couscous, fluff, put on platter Mind the kebabs Get the Tzatziki from fridge Arrange kebabs on couscous and serve Serve and enjoy

 

 

 

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