Creamy Seafood Sauce Over Pasta

4 slices of bacon
2 Tablespoons of butter

1 cup of scallops or shrimp
1/2 lemon
1 stalk of celery
1/2 of a large onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 Tablespoon flour
1 cup of cold milk
1 Tablespoon of Old Bay Seasoning
1/3 cup of cream cheese
Lemon thyme for garnish (fresh, not dried)

Drain on paper towels

     Saute the bacon over medium heat in a large skillet until crispy.  Add 1 Tablespoon of the butter and the scallops.  Continue to saute until until the scallops are browned.  

     Remove the bacon and scallops to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the pan.

 
     Squeeze lemon juice from the lemon over the scallops and bacon and set aside.

  

Add the Celery

     Lower the heat under the pan to medium-low and add the celery.  Cook for about 5 minutes.  Add the onion, red pepper and remaining 1 Tablespoon of butter and continue cooking until the peppers are soft.  

    

Onions, peppers and butter added

 

Sprinkle in the flour

      Slowly, sprinkle the flour over the entire mixture, coating everything and stir for 5 minutes.  

     Return the scallops and bacon to the pan and stir in the milk, adding the milk all at once. Add the Old Bay seasoning.  Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and stir in the cream cheese.



     Serve over pasta.  Garnish with lemon thyme and salt to taste.  The amount of salt will vary depending on the saltiness of the bacon.