Crab Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Andrea

There’s been a lot of experimenting going on with crab here at the HQ. Both Scott and I adore crab and while crab cakes are tasty, sometimes you need a little more out of life.

I’ve been hesitant in the past to mess around with crab because it is a pricey protein option and the idea of messing something up didn’t sit well with me.

However I reached a point where I realized that if we don’t experiment in the kitchen we won’t grow as cooks. And that doesn’t do anyone any good. So in the name of Embracing Cooking, I decided to start experimenting more with crab.

And that lead to twice baked potatoes!

Andrea’s Crab Stuffed Twice Baked Potatoes

2 Large Russet Baking Potatoes, scrubbed

8oz Crab Claw Meat, drained, rinsed, and checked for shell

1/2 Red Pepper, finely chopped

1/2 Green Pepper, finely chopped

1/4 Red Onion, finely chopped

4 Slices of crispy bacon, chopped

Spicy Shrimp and Crab Corn Chowder

Posted on November 10, 2011 by Andrea

Scott and I were out to dinner recently and he ordered some corn and jalapeno soup as a starter. The soup flavor was great, there was bacon in it providing a smokey background and the corn stood out. As I always do, I started trying to figure out how I could make this at home.

I had some crab that needed to be used and it occured to me that I could make a sort of crab and corn chowder. I pondered over this for a few days until I had a set idea in mind. Then I put it into motion and came up with a chowder that just might be one of my favorites.

Andrea’s Spicy Shrimp and Crab Corn Chowder

8oz Lump Crab Meat

2C, Frozen cooked shrimp (if using fresh, about 10-12 peeled and deviened shrimp)

1/2 Large Onion, chopped

2 Carrots, peeled and chopped

2 Ribs Celery, chopped (if you have some of the leafy hearts, use those)

Fancy Tuna Salad

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Andrea

We didn’t go out to eat a lot when I was growing up. Occasionally we would get hoagies or pizza out. Sometimes hitting up the golden arches but that was rare and my mom really really really didn’t feel like cooking on those instances.

On the off chance that I was out at a restaurant some place, I noticed that the chicken salad and tuna salad sandwichs were always on croissants.

Being at a restaurant and seeing a croissant instantly equaled fancy in my mind. Dining out was a privilege and meant for special occasions. Croissants were exotic and Parisian, automatically labeling them as decadent.

I never ordered those sandwiches though, always admiring them but not connecting.

On a recent grocery trip, Scott noticed that the croissants were on sale and suggested picking some up. The thing to know about Scott is that he doesn’t often suggest getting food. The only requests are that he will on occasion ask me to prepare a specific dish but otherwise not a peep out of him.

Sauteed Kale with Shrimp and Wheatberries

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Andrea

One pot meals are my favorite. When I cook dinner, most nights I play a game with myself to see how I can reduce the number of pots and utensils I have to use. This makes cleanup faster and easier!

My goal is to try and only use one pot. Sometimes I’m successful and other times I’m not but at least I gave it a try! Wheatberries are a new obsession for me. I love them! They cook up fast, can be made ahead, and the chew factor they have is outstanding.

Little nuggets of goodness! They are a lot chewier than brown rice and have a more intense slightly nutty flavor. I can purchase these in the bulk bin section at my local Whole Foods.

Place some wheatberries in a pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes, maybe 10, until they are softened and chewy. Not crunchy but a lovely soft chew to them.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Andrea

Tuna Noodle Casserole is a new one for me. I didn’t eat it growing up. My mom might have made it once but eating warm tuna sort of threw me for a loop and I didn’t dig on it. At all. No one must of liked it because she never made it again. My previous tuna experience was tuna salad which of course is cold, that I can handle. Warm tuna, not so much.

I know it’s a staple and source of comfort food for many though and that includes Scott. They apparently had it in their dinner rotation and somehow a box with a giant hand on it was part of the equation.

I never made it for him because I couldn’t get past the idea of warm tuna.

Then a few months ago I decided to give it a try. Hey I’m eating lots of new stuff I never liked before, might as well hit up tuna noodle and see what it has to say for itself.

Purchasing Smoked Salmon

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Andrea

The smoked salmon post generated a lot of feedback from you guys! Two readers chimed in wanting to know more about smoked salmon.

Linzi asked:

I’ve been wanting to make a sandwich like that..yummy! Where do you typically find your Salmon? In the seafood area of the grocery store or somewhere else. That has been my biggest challenge. Knowing where to find it.

Great question!

I do typically find smoked salmon in the seafood department of the grocery store. It is typically sold in vacuum sealed packs and can be found next to the area that also has crab and other seafood items that are prepackaged and ready to eat.

Occasionally the seafood counter will have smoked salmon in the case and you can ask them to slice you some. I have never done this though, all the smoked salmon I’ve bought have been in packages.

Melissa asked:

MMMMM! I enjoyed sampling from a classic smoked salmon platter at a party the other night: smoked salmon, a creamy dip, red onions, capers, and crackers. I want to buy some smoked salmon for myself but hesitate because I assume it’s expensive. Any tips on a good affordable brand?

This is another great question! I think this also shows how most people view smoked salmon, that it’s expensive. I for one had that same notion. Now I will start off by saying that smoked salmon isn’t super cheap and probably not something you will be purchasing weekly. However it isn’t crazy expensive either.

Read more on Purchasing Smoked Salmon…

OHC Cooks Bivalves

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Andrea

Next to pork, seafood is my favorite source of “animal” protein. I could eat it all the time! Well, okay not all the time as I sort of get tired of animal protein. But I like it a great deal! Let’s go with that instead.

The first time I ever had bivalves to eat (clam chowder from a can doesn’t count!) was with Scott. We lived in a small town outside of Philly when we graduated college. There was a little Italian restaurant that we used to frequent and they served clams in a white wine sauce. Heaven! It was the best thing I ever ate and it was amazing.

The first time I ever had mussels, we were living in North Carolina at the time and ordered mussels Rockefeller. I hated them. The mussels were chewy and just not something I enjoyed at all. I left the rest for Scott to eat. I’ll stick with clams, thank you!

Spicy Shrimp and Sausage

Posted on March 4, 2010 by Andrea

Scott and I love seafood. Like LOVE it, in what probably results in something verging on ridiculous. I try to make sure that we have seafood at least twice a week since that is our preferred “animal” protein source. Tuesdays we have fish so that leaves another day free for whatever.

And while I don’t eat a lot of meat, one thing I love is sausage. My love for it would be just a few levels down from seafood. Seafood I would eat everyday if you gave it to me, sausage I have to be in the mood for. I swear I’m not trying to make a joke with that statement.

Sometimes those two wants just happen to collide with each other.

I will tell you that because I love food so much, I am constantly thinking about it. I would guess this is the way most foodies behave. Wondering about your next meal, when you can get in the kitchen and create. Or maybe that’s just me?

Read more on Spicy Shrimp and Sausage…

Chipotle Glaze

Posted on May 24, 2009 by Andrea

Chipotle Glaze

This was another idea I came up with while working and thinking about what to make for dinner. At least I’m a great multitasker! Scott and I love fish and seafood. Because it’s such a great protein source along with all the other goodies it contains, I try to make sure we get fish at least twice a week. We were having salmon one night and I wanted a different way to serve it up. I usually marinade the salmon in a teriyaki mixture because it takes to that flavor so well. But this time I wanted something a little different.

Since I’ve been working on my heat tolerance level, I decided to try something new with the salmon by creating a sweet and spicy glaze. Glazes aren’t something I really work with too much and I thought it was about time I changed that up. I pulled out some chipotles and put together this really great tasting glaze.

Salmon Patties

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Andrea

all mixed up

My mom used to make salmon patties all the time and admittedly I didn’t really care for them (sorry Mom!). They were a little too on the fishy tasting side for me. A little potent. Once I left and was on my own for meals I forgot about them.

And then I picked them back up again. I’m not sure how it happened. If I was watching a cooking show maybe and saw someone make something simliar or what, but my interest was renewed. I realized I didn’t have to make them the way my mom had, I could make them however I wanted and jazz them up a bit.

Sometimes it is really interesting to see the differences in the types of foods Scott and I each grew up with. He did not have salmon patties as a staple growing up or even had them before I started making them. This was something totally new for him. He loves fish, so I was sure he was going to like it. Over the years I have come up with a standard salmon patty recipe that isn’t overly fishy tasting and results in a light flavor not leaving you weighted down.