Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 07:14 AM
One of my favorite summer time recipes is Pasta Fra Diavolo: sea scallops, litleneck clams, and shrimp all simmering in a spicy tomato sauce and served over pasta. I often make this dish when my husband’s family visits from out-of-town because it is a great way to offer up the best of New England’s seafood in an easy one-dish meal. In my town, we are fortunate to have a wonderful fish market that supplies many restaurants. So I head there to buy my ingredients before I begin to cook.
When you make a meal like this, it is tempting to make it just for the grown-ups in the family and to make something a little more plain for the kids. But that would be making two dinners. And I really try to avoid making two dinners. This is not a restaurant, I tell my kids. I have to admit that until now, I did not serve my kids Pasta Fra Diavolo for fear of shellfish allergies. Most pediatricians advise parents to wait until children are over three to introduce shellfish. I take the uber-conservative route when it comes to potential allergies, so I waited until my kids were 5 and 7 to feed them clams!
While I could go to the trouble of making the sauce for this dish from scratch, I opt for the easy route during the beautiful summer weather in order to spend more time outside playing and less time in the kitchen cooking. All you need is an onion, a jar of Fra Diavolo sauce, some seafood, and some pasta.
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped (NuVal score: 93)
2 lbs. littleneck clams (NuVal score: 82)
1/2 lb chopped clams (NuVal score: 82)
1/2 lb sea scallops (NuVal score: 51)
1/2 lb shrimp (NuVal score: 75)
1 jar Fra Diavolo sauce (NuVal scores vary – see below)
1 lb pasta, cooked (I used Dreamfields Linguine with a NuVal score of 87)
Directions:
Oh, it’s soooooo easy. In a non-stick skillet, heat the onion.
That, by the way, is my Circulon pan. I think it is like over 14 years old and it still looks brand new. Love it!
While you heat the onion until it is almost translucent, have your helper (your husband or child), scrub the littlenecks to remove any sand.
Add scallops and chopped clams to the pan:
When the scallops become opaque, add Fra Diavlo sauce, shrimp and littleneck clams:
Cover, and simmer until the clams open – about 8 – 10 minutes.
Toss with hot cooked pasta in a big, beautiful bowl. Serve with a crisp green salad.
The NuVal scores for Fra Diavolo sauce really vary. Here’s the highest I could find, the lowest, and one that was in the middle:
- Rao’s Homemade All Natural Arrabbiata Fra Diavolo Hot Sauce: 65
- Sclafani Medium Fra Diavolo Sauce: 38
- Newman’s Own Fra Diavolo Sauce Hot and Spicy: 23
So, how did the kids react? Overall, they were pretty adventurous eaters. Out of the different kinds of shellfish, they liked the scallops the best and the clams the least (a little too chewy for their little teeth). Surprisingly, they did not complain about the spicy sauce. They loved the fact that they had real live clam shells on their plates.
The best part about this meal? Leftovers!! We reheated and got a whole second dinner out of it. You gotta love just microwaving plates on a hot summer night.
The worst part about this meal? Forgetting to take the kitchen trash out that night. Pee-you!!!
CSN Stores Giveway:
Congratulations to Commenter #30, Angela! Please email me at abetterbagofgroceries@gmail.com to collect your $40 gift card. Thanks to all who commented and tweeted!
Become a NuVal Fan on Facebook:
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Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Dinner Recipes
Tags: Dreamfield's, Pasta Fra Diavolo, Seafood
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at 07:12 AM
Hello Blog Friends! It’s Trade-Up Tuesday, the day where I blog about a Trade-Up I’ve made since learning about NuVal and give some of it away. Do you remember me telling you how dreamy Dreamfields pasta is? I love it so much I just had to make it a GiveAway! And it is worth you taking the time to comment because Dreamfields retails for $2.79 a box at my local grocery store. So it ain’t cheap. I’m giving away 4 different boxes: spaghetti, angel hair, linguine, and rotini. All of these Dreamfields varieties get Rock Star scores of 87on the NuVal scale. Why, oh why, eat plain pasta? I’m also giving away a fabulous NuVal T-shirt! Which I would advise you NOT to wear while eating your Dreamfields smothered in tomato sauce.
Speaking of tomato sauce, I highly recommend my friend Heather’s amazing marinara sauce. I made some last week and it was incredible.
It is the perfect accompaniment to your Dreamfields pasta.
So, why do I love Dreamfields so much that I’m willing to pay a higher price for it? Well, long-time readers of ABBG know that I’ve traded up to whole wheat pastas (most notably, Barilla Plus, score of 91) since learning about NuVal scores. What I love about Dreamfields is that there is nothing wheaty about it at all. It tastes just like regular pasta. Actually better. It’s so smooth and creamy. That is the only way I can describe it.
To Enter:
In keeping with the Dreamy theme of today’s giveaway, leave me a comment below telling me either:
- A “carb” score that you find interesting in the Scores section of the NuVal website. (Bread, crackers, cereal)
OR
- What you most like to daydream about
Leave your comment by 11:59 pm Eastern time tonight. I’ll randomly select one lucky winner. Good Luck!
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: Dreamfield's, Pasta, Trade-Up Tuesday
Tags: Dreamfield's
Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 06:51 AM
Have you checked out the BBG Awards? Right there on the Green Bar, you can click on “The BBG Awards.” BBG is for Better Bag of Groceries. I know…..so original! Anyway, like the Academy Awards, I reserve these for products that I just love that also get an amazing NuVal score.
So, in the category of Best Pasta, the BBG Award goes to Dreamfield’s Rotini!
I first noticed this product when I was at the American Dietetic Association Conference (otherwise known as FNCE) back in October. However, I was so busy at the conference talking to dietitians eager to learn more about NuVal, that I never got to sample some. A couple of months later, I was out at a Price Chopper store when I noticed this Dreamfield’s Rotini on the shelf with a NuVal score of 87! I bought a box and brought it home, but I’ve been so into Barilla Plus (also a BBG Award Winner) that I never got around to opening it up. Until this week. Dreamfield’s, where have you been all my life?? This pasta is extraordinary. It really is dreamy. And photogenic. That picture of it covered with my homemade sauce looks pretty good, doesn’t it?
So what’s the deal with Dreamfield’s pasta? I checked out the Dreamfield’s website to find out. Here’s what they say:
“Dreamfields is a delicious pasta with about the same high fiber as whole wheat pasta (5 grams; 20% of the daily recommendation), fewer digestible carbs and a lower glycemic index than traditional pasta. Its delectable taste and nutritional benefits make it a healthful option for people with diabetes and a flavorful, nourishing pasta for the entire family.”
Who knew? I do not have anyone living with diabetes in my household, but I do have family members affected by this disease. It is great to know that I could serve this pasta for a big family dinner and everyone would be happy. If I cooked it, they would come.
I can’t wait to hear Dreamfield’s acceptance speech! And to see who they’re wearing!
Question of the Day
What product would you like to nominate for the BBG Awards? For fun, you can also add your favorite nominee for this year’s Academy Awards.
Posted by: Melissa
Posted in: BBG Awards
Tags: Dreamfield's
