Clams and Celery with Vermouth

Difficulty: Easy

Prep time: 10 minutes plus an hour to soak the clams

Cooking time: 5 minutes

Cost per serving: $1.50

Useful leftovers: Good served cold with a flavorful sauce

Fast and easy and so tasty

Serves 1

4 clams
1/4 rib of celery
1/2 shallot
1 teaspoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of water
1 tablespoon of dry vermouth
Zest and juice of a lemon

Soak the clams in cold water for an hour. Scrub them to make sure they are clean and have no grit.

Finely chop the shallot and cut the celery into 1/2 inch pieces. Saute them gently with the zest in the olive oil.

When they are translucent and slightly browned take the pan off the heat and add the clams, the vermouth and the water. Cover the pan and put it on high heat.

Cook for two  minutes then peek to see if the clams are starting to open. If they are, remove the open clams to a bowl. Season the liquid in the pan with salt and lemon juice. Pour the liquid over the clams and serve.

Super Sauce

Difficulty: Very Easy

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: None

Cost per serving: $0.50

Useful leftovers: Yes

A sour cream based dressing. It really brings out the flavors of certain foods. Great with cucumbers.

I never measure anything so start out light and add more flavorings as you taste it. This sauce is amazingly low in calories and packs a flavor punch.

The light sour cream that I use has only 20 calories per tablespoon. Here is a great trick - before you add the other ingredients whip the sour cream with a wire whip until it lightens and thickens like regular whipped cream.

If you beat it until the volume increases 50% then it is only 13 calories per tablespoon! Amazing.

Start with a half cup of sour cream and whip it until it holds soft peaks. Add any or all of the following flavorings.

I use this combination of flavorings:

1 tablespoon of dijon style mustard
1 tablespoon mushed up blue cheese
1/2 tablespoon prepared or fresh horseradish
Zest of one lemon and half of the juice
1 teaspoon chopped shallot, rinsed
Salt and pepper

Also good:

Capers
Finely chopped olives
Anchovies or a little mashed up smoked fish
Parsley or cilantro or basil
Hot sauce or peppers
Sweet peppers
Finely chopped cucumbers

Be sure and gently fold the flavorings in so you don’t undo all the whipping.

Taste and add ingredients as you wish.