Tiger Prawns with Garlic

Ok, so now I am no longer strictly vegetarian. For the sake of harmony and peaceful eating, I have (through Andy's request) began to eat seafood again (won over by the argument that most fish is virtually free-range and scallops have no pain sensors).

I don't look for it, but I do enjoy eating sashimi, shrimps and scallops. I went to dinner with friends in a Japanese restaurant called Zuma (Moustafa, I know you thought it was appetizers, haha) and they served some grilled Tiger Prawns. It looked relatively easy to do so I made some for Andy.

Really easy - all you need to do is

* de- vein the tiger prawn and slide in the middle (so it looks like a butterfly)

* take out the shell if the head but not the inside

* put in boiling water (water should be boiling already), for 15secs (yup this quick)

* sautee garlic, onions and mushrooms in olive oil, salt and pepper to taste

* pan fry the shrimps in high heat (for about 45 secs) on both sides

* top with the sauted mushroom and garlic mix

Elise's French Courgette Tart

One of my best girlfriends here in Dubai is Elise - she's french, has small feet and is a really good cook. One of our favorite dishes that she whips up is her french tarte. I particularly like the courgette tart with tomatoes - she's shown me how to do it, and tonight she went over the house and we cooked some dinner for Andy and Georgenes (who is Brazilian and only eats meat, well not this time).

Neither Elise nor I have the patience to make the pastry - so we bought a ready made one. For tonight, we also substituted Rouqefort cheese with gorgonzala (I like smelly cheese)

French Courgette-Tomato Tart

* 1 courgette, sliced

* 2 eggs beaten together with 1/2 cup fresh cream

* season with pepper, salt and spices

* top with tomatoe slices

* french pastry (not puff) for the base

* 150 grams smelly cheese (we used gorgonzola)

Beat the eggs with the fresh cream, salt, pepper and whatever spices you like. Place the sliced courgette at the bottom of the pan. Pour in mixture. Top with the cheese then the tomato slices.