Seared Scallops with Tarragon Cream

I'm a big fan of shellfish, and sea scallops are tops--even their little shells are cute.

This is an easy, quick recipe that will impress anyone lucky enough to be your dinner guest with this on the menu. Serve with a little side of rice and you're good to go.

1 1/4 pound large sea scallops
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons butter
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1 cup fat free half and half
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

Pat the scallops dry then sprinkle them with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat and add scallops and cook until brown on the bottom, about three minutes. Turn the scallops over and cook until they're opaque in the center, about one minute longer. Transfer scallops to a plate. Reduce the heat to medium and melt the butter in the same skillet. Add the flour; stir one minute and then gradually whisk in the half and half. Simmer until it is thick and smooth, stirring often, about three minutes. Stir in the tarragon and any juices from the scallops on the plate. Season with the salt and pepper and spoon onto plates. Arrange the scallops, brown side up and top with sauce.

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Slurping Life is holding a fundraiser for a sick little boy, Parker, with some nice prizes as incentives. It's worth your time to take a peek.

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And I've been slow with this one (blame it on the vacations we've been taking lately) but I was tagged with the Community Involvement Award and the Thoughtful Blogger Award by Jenn at Something to Say and Karen Shanley (a terrific writer) and again with the Thoughtful Blogger Award/The Creative Blogger Award by Joyful Days and by Sognatrice at Bleeding Espresso (thanks so much!) It's taken me a while but here are some blogs that I'd like to award and acknowledge. When one of these tags hits I like to use it as a chance to introduce some of the blogs I enjoy reading and to say thank you for comments and kind words. Forgive me if you've already been tagged, but then that just proves how much you deserve it.

JChevais at No Place Like It who is an entertaining blogger and a talented illustrator.
Musings of a Housewife who is one of my newer blogging friends and one I've enjoyed getting to know.
Damesfly at Growing a Life who (sniff) didn't get to go to Blogher either!
Rebecca at Prologos who is also rather new to me but who I've enjoyed reading and plan to read more.
Sandy at Sandy and Kurt who's a long-time blogging friend and a great mom.
Blondie at Tales from Clark Street for all her orchid-loving greatness. And she LIVES in Chicago dang it, she's all over the Blogher thing.
Liz at This Full House because I really like to laugh.
Michelle A. from A Happy Heart because she knows about my love of dark chocolate.
Kailani from An Island Life because I've learned a lot about blogging from her.
La Bellina Mammina for life on the other side of the world--the warm side.
Heffalump at A Daily Dose of Mischief who is Oregon's version of Super Mom.
Babystepper at Babysteps who has deserved this for a long time for all her sweet comments.

Technorati tags: seafood, tarragon, recipes, scallops