Instructions: This sounds like a decorators recipe, but it is not. There is a beautiful pink-shelled scallop that lives in the waters of Puget Sound, that inland body of salt water near which Seattle and Tacoma are situated.

The pink scallop has a bright taste that is not as sweet as that of the eastern, or bay scallop . . . it is more like the wonderful brininess that one associates with a good oyster or clam.

This special pink creature is sometimes called a "singing" or "scooter"

scallop because he lives on top of the sand under water, and snaps his shell shut, thus forcing water out of the shell. The scallop can jet propel himself about the sea bottom in this way.

I doubt you are going to be able to taste this bivalve unless you come to Seattle. The scallops must be very fresh, and they do not take well to travel, unless they do it on their own. If you do find some Pacific Northwest pink scallops, cook them just as I do my Steamed Clams (see recipe). The whole creature is edible and just delicious.

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