Pull off an Everything Crab Dinner, Like a Wiz!

A generation ago watermen gathered their family together to pack enough crab cakes to make it through the winter. Talk about roughing it! They had to eat crab cakes to survive during the blistery cold months. Maybe feasting on all that jumbo lump , bay spices, mayonnaise, egg, and crushed crackers would cause heartache. We think not! The true Bay Lover knows this sounds like heaven! Same true for the blue crab catch. Chesapeake Bay crabs have either burrowed in mud, slightly resting; but mainly hibernating from the frigid waters or swam out to the Continental Shelf along the shoreline. Either way, Maryland crabbers need to use some ingenuity to bring “Maryland Style Crabs” to the table. A generation ago, that was a hopeless feat. That explains the massive crab cake packing parties. Now, crab boats charter southern waters for “crab cousins” to the Chesapeake Bay crabs. Buttery, salty-sweet and heavy, this southern catch receives acolades from those Crab Lovers throwing a feast.

Coupling these two favorites, steamed crabs and golden brown cakes and you have an “Everything Crab Dinner.” Some guests may prefer the ease of simply biting into a tender cake, while others enjoy the comradery of the sport, picking every ounce of claw, lump, and jumbo from the crab. We suggest soup as the great equalizer. Yes, cold temperatures or even breezy summer days warrant a hot broth, and sipping it will clear the palate between mounds of meat and a remoulade drizzled cake. Some even try picking the crabs and dropping the delicious morsels into the soup. Try these top players for a truly successful dinner. Roasted Corn Soup with freshly cut onions, carrots, celery, and white corn kernels creates a creamy pureed soup perfect for freshly picked lump. White Gazpacho boasts an earthy, but slightly sweet puree that will complement the buttery jumbo. Lastly, Red Pepper Soup will boldly take soup sipping to another galaxy! Heavy with cream and zesty from red pepper and garlic, claw meat will add a tender texture to this puree. It’s all about making everything crab! What about the crab cakes? Try dipping them into the soup. Delish!

Seafood Pizzas for the Seafarer in you!

Step out of the ordinary and savor a flatbread pizza, both sophisticated and fun. Crab Artichoke Pizza on a wheat flatbread crust mixes cream cheese, extra virgin olive oil, artichoke hearts and crab meat into one cheesy masterpiece. With 10 grams of protein and 175 mg of calcium, crab artichoke serves as a healthy choice. Likewise, our Buffalo Shrimp Pizza slices up a zesty succulence. Tossed with the same flatbread, but dressed in bleu cheese and extra virgin olive oil, buttery shrimp with hot sauce and cayenne pepper gets everyone’s notice! Hot, sweet, and tangy buffalo shrimp boasts 11 grams of protein and 136 mg calcium. Sail on over for a perfect addition to your menu!

Keep the Preparations Easy.

• Preheat the oven to 400 °F.
• Remove the pizza from the wrapping and place on a lightly greased cooking sheet.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, while waiting for the light golden brown. The internal temps should read 165 °F.
• Promptly remove from the oven and allow to set for 2-4 minutes and then serve.