Diver Scallops for One

By Lori Powell
For One or Two Bites, a blog for singles and couples

In an effort to keep my vacation memories and affect glowing bright, my 30-minute dinner for today’s post consists of a remake of a dish I ate at Ford’s, a little-known lobster shack (until now) that opened about four years ago on the coast of Connecticut near Mystic.

Now I must have driven by Ford’s a bunch of times but the sign is small and sits on the side of the road and could pass as a place to just purchase lobsters.

One of my main goals in the great state of Maine while on vacation, including the road trip to and back from the Hudson Valley to get there, is to seek out and try as many lobster shacks as possible. How Ford’s has evaded me till now is a mystery.

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Hail, the Caesar Salad

By Ben Mims
For Cooking Newbie, a blog for beginner cooks

One of the greatest salads ever created (and I’d venture to say, the most popular in America) is the Caesar salad. It’s simple, spicy and tangy, and makes use of romaine, one of the most versatile lettuces that’s not iceberg.

I love a Caesar salad as a side to a hefty meat lasagna, spaghetti with meatballs, pizza, or any red-blooded Italian-American dish. And even though that wasn’t its original purpose, lets be honest, that’s how everyone loves it.

Many people are intimidated about making the dressing from scratch because they’re worried about raw egg yolks or anchovies and having to make croutons. And while I can’t advocate using a store-bought dressing, I can offer a simpler variation.

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Food to Comfort and Nourish

By Sandy Hu
The latest from Inside Special Fork

Recently, a friend who had a stroke was flown to San Francisco for intensive care. His wife and children, all from out of town, rushed to the hospital to be at his bedside. Since he was in the ICU, only a limited number of people could visit.

In wondering how to show support, I decided to bake up a batch of brownies to take to the hospital for the family. It was a small thing, but I thought something home-baked might provide a measure of comfort.

It seemed to be so appreciated by the family that the next day, I pondered what else I could do. Since there were young grandchildren involved, continuing to bake more sweets didn’t seem like such a good idea. It was Saturday, so Steve and I went to the farmers’ market, where we picked out white peaches, nectarines, crisp champagne grapes and the sweetest organic strawberries. I lined a shallow Costco box with parchment and filled it with pre-washed fruits for Steve to take to the hospital, along with a paring knife and napkins.

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Labor Day Sides and Desserts

By Sandy Hu
The latest from Inside Special Fork

Special Fork’s summer vacation comes to an end next Tuesday. After Labor Day, all bloggers will be back with more delicious recipes and food ideas to fit the 30-minute prep limit that we’ve set for ourselves, to ensure that no recipe is too time-consuming for busy home cooks.

Meanwhile, I wanted to leave you with a last look back at recipes from previous blog posts. This week, I’m showcasing side dishes for your Labor Day get-together. You’ll find recipes for salads, salsas and desserts for your end-of-summer enjoyment on a special Pinterest board.

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A Summer Project

Special Fork is on summer hiatus from August 5 through Labor Day. Each Monday, while we’re on vacation, I’ll present another facet of Special Fork and highlight some features you might have missed.

By Sandy Hu
The latest from Inside Special Fork

Like going on vacation, the start of summer seems to stretch on languorously, with the bright promise of many leisurely days ahead. But about the midpoint of a vacation – and of summer – the days begin to quicken, flying by so briskly that the second half seems shorter than the first.

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