Looking for something gourmet in the middle of the work week?  Try Seared Scallops with Brown Butter Sauce!  The ingredients are minimal and the cooking process is simple.  But the trick lies in developing that golden brown crust on each side of the scallops, which should be served rather well done.  Serve this with a side of Simple Spinach and Red Potatoes with Bacon and Thyme to make it a complete meal.

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
10 oz. large scallops
3 tbsp. salted butter
2-3 wedges of lemon
salt and pepper

Instructions:
1)Wash scallops under cold water and remove the tough muscle from the side of each scallop.  Use a paper towel to pat dry.
2) Heat a 10 to 12″ skillet over medium flame.  Melt butter until it starts to foam and develop a brown color.  Pan should be very hot.
3) Place scallops in pan and cook each side of scallops for approximately 5 minutes until the tops are crisp and brown.  Scallops should be firm to touch.
4) Season with salt and pepper.  Serve immediately with wedge of lemon on the side to squeeze over scallops.

Tips:
To develop the golden crust on the scallops, make sure that the scallops are pat very dry with a paper towel to remove any excess water/moisture.  Also avoid constantly flipping the scallops in the pan.  Leave the scallops to sear on each side undisturbed and only flip them once.