You know those days when it seems like a whole two weeks have transpired in a matter of hours? Those extra long ones that feel like an Olympic-level obstacle course of errands and appointments, where there’s little room for anything but transit and smoothies. The days when life just lifes and there is nothing to do but get through it.
I don’t know about you, but those are the ones when I feel like what I really need most is a healthy, fortifying, nourishing meal — but, realistically, also when I might be inclined to order a pizza. Or throw together a quick pasta. Or grilled cheese. Or even (gasp) cereal.
So, would you believe me if I told you that wild Alaskan seafood completely recast my definition of what I consider to be non-fussy, easy-to-make food? That a hearty seafood meal is at once nutrient-dense, decadent, healthy, and also in the category of quick and simple? Let me hit you with some examples:
- Your in-laws are coming over but you just found out one hour ago. You want to serve something not only decent, but also memorable — because on top of everything else, you also forgot that it’s your mother-in-law’s birthday. But then you remember that you have a pack of weathervane scallops in your freezer. So what if they’re frozen? — just open the package, place the frozen scallops into a ziplock baggie and seal it, drop it into a bowl of water, and within the hour, those scallops should be thawed. Then, all you need to call it a delectable feast is some butter, salt and pepper to sear them, a salad, maybe a little bread, and you’re good to go.
- Your kid is coming home from college and he’s yearning for a home-cooked meal. Alas, you’re not ready…until you remember that you have a bag of Dungeness crab in your freezer, which you can boil from frozen and have ready in less than five minutes. So, on your way home from the airport, you stop to pick up some potatoes and corn on the cob, and by the time junior gets to the table, you’ll be the cool mom to present him not only with a home-cooked meal, but a bonafide crab party.
- You’re hosting a cookout this weekend and you get home to unbag your groceries. After putting everything away you’re hit with the proverbial question: where’s the beef? You literally forgot to buy beef and now your cookout is ruined. Except it isn’t! Because you suddenly realize that you took advantage of last week’s ground salmon member special and you have a 2-pack in your freezer. If you put them in the fridge now, they’ll be thawed by morning. The possibilities are endless as to how you can use ground salmon meat: burgers, sloppy joes, meatballs, gyoza, tacos, and more. And just like that, your guests will have no beef with you :)
Finally, if you’re the type that likes routine and also likes to keep things simple, here’s a pro-tip: Set a timer or reminder on your phone for a certain time each night, which is when you’ll remove the next day’s seafood out of the freezer to thaw in the refrigerator. The next day, there is no, “I forgot,” because you didn’t!
Hope these tips help you, the way they did for me, to demystify seafood as being time-consuming, complicated, or fussy to cook.
Live Wild!
Monica
Pictured above, clockwise from starting at upper left: a mouth-watering crowd of freshly seared weathervane scallops; a plate with Dungeness crab legs, corn, and breaded halibut cheeks; a platter of pan-fried sockeye salmon, finished with capers; a quick salmon burger made alongside zucchini fries; and a platter of salmon burgers ready for that cookout crowd. Besides all being delicious seafood, the common denominator here is “can-be-made-fast-and-fuss-free.”
