This is the Cover Recipe from a Febuary
issue of Bon Appetit. It has wonderful flavor,
color and is a fast meal.

Seafood Stew with Tomatoes and Basil

4 servings

1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/4 cups chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
4 tsp dried oregano (second time I used 2
tsp)
1 1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
2 1/2 cups crushed tomatoes with added puree
2 1/2 cups bottled clam juice
1 cup dry white wine
2 6 1/2 ounce cans chopped clams, drained,
liquid reserved (I used fresh sea scallops)
1 lb. uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
(I buy the frozen, uncooked, deveined,
peeled ones at Costco)
1 6 ounce can crabmeat, drained (use fresh,
if available, or Phillips pasteurized crab from Costco)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
cayenne pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in heavy pot over medium heat.
Add onion, garlic, oregano,and fennel seeds
and saute until onion is tender about 8 min.
Add tomatoes, clam juice, white wine and if
used, liquid reserved from clams. Increase
heat and boil until slightly thickened, about
15 minutes. Add clams (or scallops) shrimp,
crabmeat. Reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.
Mix in fresh basil, and simmer until shrimp
are just opaque in center, about 2 min.
longer. Season stew to taste with cayenne,
salt and pepper.

I also added some fresh lemon juice and lemon
zest. Have the Tabasco bottle at the table
for those who want to add some additional
spice.
Serve with some great sour dough and a lovely
white wine.
This is better made one day ahead so flavors can develop, which makes it a great no-stress dish.