Seafood Night Tips

This months cooking club was a great success. We had seafood night at Heather Sheehan's home. The ambiance was very nautical with lighthouse plates, and a very cute sand and seashell centerpiece. Heather made us "Sand in your pants" frozen drinks while we all feasted on coconut shrimp, clam chowder, cheese garlic biscuits, and rolled our own sushi. Then to top it all off, there were cute fish cookies for dessert. We had fun learning how to make new dishes, and just chatting away into the night while enjoying great food.

Heather shared with us some tips on cooking seafood. She said the biggest mistake people make is to cook seafood too long. Unlike chicken and pork which we tend to cook long to avoid food poisoning; seafood cooks very quickly and should NOT be overcooked. Good fish, like a good steak, does not have to be fully charred to be "safe" as can be seen with many sushi which may contain completely raw fish. In fact, most people who say they don't like seafood is simply because what they have tried was most likely overdone. Shrimp and other shellfish is pink raw, and should be cooked just until plump. Cook it too long and it becomes rubbery and tough. Fish fillets should be cooked just until opaque and flaky.

Thank you, Heather, for hosting; and we're looking forward to a night of "Healthy Dinners" at Melissa McRae's home next month. We hope to see a lot of you there!