Goddammit Bobby Flay!!!

Goddammit Bobby Flay!!! Why is it that I can't help but love your recipes!?!! Complicated yet easy, Bobby's Flay's recipes are perfect for those adventurous chefs out to try something different and a bit more challenging (but not too challenging). This week, I tried to make some mussels and searched around for some recipes- I stopped at Bobby's because it seemed so simple with such simple ingredients (forget the saffron, Ina). It turned out great! (And was a lot more simple than I thought it was going to be) The recipe follows:

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3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 Spanish onion, thinly sliced

4 large garlic cloves, chopped

2 teaspoons fennel seeds

1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning

1 cup dry white wine

2 (1/4-inch-thick) lemon slices

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

2 1/2 pounds fresh mussels, scrubbed, debearded

1/2 cup chopped seeded tomatoes

8 slices crusty Italian bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick

Olive oil

Heat grill to high. Heat oil in heavy large pot on the grates of the grill. Add the onion and cook until soft. Add the garlic, fennel seeds, crushed red pepper and salt and cook for 1 minute. Add wine, lemon slices, and 1/4 cup parsley; bring to boil. Add mussels. Cover pot and cook until mussel shells open, stirring once, about 6 minutes; discard any mussels that do not open. Using slotted spoon, transfer mussels to large shallow bowl. Boil broth in pot until reduced to 1 cup, about 3 minutes; season, to taste, with pepper. Pour broth over mussels. Sprinkle with tomatoes and remaining parsley. Brush bread on both sides with oil and season with salt. Grill until golden brown on both sides. Serve mussels with bread for dipping.

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Obviously known for his grilling, this recipe was meant for...well, the grill. Since we all know how poopy the weather has been lately, going out and starting the grill was just too much of a hassle- so I just did it on the stove- and it worked out fine! (Besides grilling the bread of course). This recipe was so simple and fast and it came out so delicious! I would add a bit more crushed red peppers- it didn't come out half as spicy as I was expecting it to be, but other than that, the simple flavors were great! Want to impress your friends with your cooking skills? Try this recipe for a seemingly complicated yet completely easy to make dish! It definitely hit the spot. Ok, Bobby Flay, another win for you.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 20 minutes

Taste: 8.7