Monday, September 29, 2008

sittin' on the dock of the bay


Our house is on the market. The new property has been purchased. The plans aren't finalized, but we're getting there. The wait has begun. It's agonizing knowing how bad the market is and how badly we want to start building. It makes good financial sense for us to sell our house and get the money before we build. The prospect of moving into a rental until our house is ready is a real bummer, but I can do it. I just want to build that house.

The property is on the water. Its called "Pretty Lake" or "Little Creek". It runs into the Chesapeake Bay, so the possibilities are endless. We may not be able to start a house right away, but the dock?? Absolutely:) The process went fast and Chris had a ball building it. The children can't wait to go there after school and hang out. Marshall tosses the cast net and does some fishing whenever he can. We couldn't ask for a better backyard- even without a house on it!

Chris brought home some shrimp last week that he caught from the dock. OHHHH YEAH!!!! I am sooo gonna love this:)

There weren't that many, but I wanted to make a meal out of it. Our neighbor is a commercial fisherman and works on a scallop boat. He brings over gallon-sized ziplocs full of huge scallops when he comes home from a trip. I was thinking a seafood lasagna might be especially good with the shrimp from our dock and the scallops from Mike the fisherman. I was right. You could really use any combination of seafood. I would have used crab, too if I had any.


Seafood Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups half-and-half
1 cup grated Mozzarella
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
dash cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
3/4 pound sea scallops, cut in half or quartered if very large
3/4 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
10 oz. frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 13 by 9 in. pan with cooking spray.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles until they are just done, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large, heavy skillet and cook the onion over low heat until very soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute more. Over medium-low heat, stir in the flour with a whisk, then gradually add the half-and-half, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly before adding more. When the sauce has thickened to about the consistency of whipping cream, add the cheese and stir well. Add the nutmeg, cayenne, salt and pepper and stir again. Add the scallops and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes, then add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or just until the shrimp turn pink. Turn off the heat.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the sauce from the skillet into the prepared pan. Cover the bottom of the pan with 4 noodles, placing them side by side. Spoon 1/3 of the sauce over the noodles, distributing half of the seafood evenly, scatter half of the spinach over top. Layer 4 more noodles, 1/3 of the sauce, and remaining seafood and spinach. Cover with the last 4 noodles and the remaining sauce. (For the top layer, do not spoon any seafood on top of the noodles; just use the sauce.) Tuck in any edges of the noodles so they're all coated with sauce. Top with the Parmesan.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, uncovered, until bubbly. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

I can fret about our house not selling fast enough or the market going kapoowee. I could do that...or, I could sit back and take a big bite of this lasagna and realize I have nothing to complain about at all.
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13 comments:

allyn said...

ohman! i didn't even think about this being a source for some mouthwatering recipes. how fun to have a seafood garden in your backyard. the dock looks good and sturdy, too. you are so good at looking on the bright side of things. others might not be so perky under similar circumstances.

thanks for checking out my blog. i need to update.

Teresa said...

Yah, that is pretty great what you guys are puttin together there. What great memories your kids will have at that place.
One question bout the lasagna...what is the dark looking stuff? I thought spinach, but I don't see it in the recipe. We are total seafood fans, so I may be trying this one soon. Thanks!

morganne blair witchfield said...

i want to go kayaking.

Janice said...

That lasagna looks good! I'm glad you guys can still do some things with your property before you get that wonderful house on it! I'm sure your house will sell before you know it.

Martinez Family said...

YUMMY:) Thanks for the reciepe and update! I hope you guys are doing well!!

heidigoseek said...

Teresa-
I fixed the recipe:) Thanks for the heads-up. I hardly ever get the recipes typed correctly on the first try.

Butler Family said...

The recipe sounds yummy. And we hope all goes well with selling your house

morganne blair witchfield said...

we could pay her....

Becky said...

Looks like heaven! You could always just set up a tent on the dock and live there.

Your favorite sister said...

Looks so fun heidi! Enjoy your time out there, I know we would!

Brooke said...

hummm....I seem to remember an invitation to come and visit the dock.....

Little Hensley Fam said...

other awesome thing about your house is you live right by Sonic! =)

The Barton Family said...

I cannot believe you caught shrimp!! That will be so cool when you live there and can just tell Chris to run out and get something for dinner. I've never had seafood lasagna, I'll have to try it.