Scallops l'Orange

• Preparation Time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 8 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lbs Scallops
• Juice from 2 small Oranges (about 1/2 cup)
• 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier Liqueur
• 1 or 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 2 Tbsp Butter, melted
• 1 tsp Parsley, dried
• White Pepper, to taste

Directions:

Lightly dust the scallops on all sides with the pepper. Heat a large skillet to medium high. Add your oil. Now, feel free to drop in your scallops, flat side down and saute until golden brown (about 2 minutes, or so). (You may have to do this in two batches, since you don't want to crowd the scallops like a box of saltine crackers).

Turn your scallops to saute on the other side (until you see that golden browness thing again). If need be, reduce the heat so as to not burn any of your pan juices. Get that skillet off the heat and, using tongs (the idea here is to keep the juices in the pan), pluck your scallops aside into a warm bowl.

Reheat the pan to medium low. Toss in the garlic and saute for about 15 seconds, or so. Pour in the orange juice. Add the melted butter and while you're at it. splash in the grand marnier and lob in the parsley. Using extreme vigilance here 'allow' your sauce to simmer for about 4 minutes, or so, to slightly thicken.

Place your scallops onto individual plates. Delicately drizzle your sauce over your scallops. Garnish with slivered green parts of a scallion and a slice of fresh orange. Serve with your favorite sumptuous steamed rice and various vegetables. Or, serve your scallops around a magnificent mound of mashed potatoes particularly placed in the middle of your plate, which will of course be triumphantly topped with a splash of melted butter.

Submitted by Lare Austin