Baked Scallops With Bacon, Sauteed Apples, And Cider Sauce - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, quartered crosswise
12 -16 large sea scallops (about 1 lb. total)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large golden delicious apples, each cored and cut into 8 wedges
sugar
1/2 cup apple cider
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
salt
fresh ground black pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450\u00b0.
Saute bacon in a large skillet over med-low heat just until it renders its fat, about 4 minutes, do not brown.
Transfer to a piece of paper towel and drain.
Discard the bacon fat and wipe the skillet clean.
Lightly butter a medium baking dish and arrange the scallops in a single layer, leaving space between them; then place the bacon on top of the scallops.
Bake 10-12 minutes just until the bacon browns and the scallops are cooked.
Meanwhile, beat the butter in the skillet until melted.
Add the apple wedges and sprinkle with a pinch of sugar.
Saute over medium heat, stirring and turning until the apples are golden, about 5 minutes.
When the scallops are cooked, remove from the oven and spoon off the juices; add the juices to the apples, along with the cider and lemon juice.
Heat, stirring gently, over high heat until the juices boil and coat the apples, 3-4 minutes.
Place the bacon-topped scallops on each of 4 dinner plates, dividing evenly.
Arrange 4 apples slices in a fan design on each plate.
Spoon the skillet juices over the scallops; season with salt and pepper and serve.