Tag: recipe

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Recipe: Maryland Crab Soup

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this vegetable-based “Maryland” favorite crab soup.

This is not the Cream of Crab (which is also delicious). So, if you want to cook up a pot of Maryland Crab Soup for the weekend – here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

Maryland Crab Soup
Bowl of Maryland Crab Soup
  • 1 doz well seasoned Maryland Steamed Crabs
  • 3 lbs mixed frozen vegetables
  • 2 lbs frozen corn
  • 2 lbs frozen string beans
  • bay leaves
  • Old bay Seasoning
  • Oregano
  • 1 16 oz can tomato sauce
  • A few cans tomato paste
  • 1 lb fresh bacon
  • Sea salt

Directions:

  1. Place the crabs in a large pot
  2. Add enough water to completely cover the crabs.
  3. Bring the water to a boil and boil the crabs for 15 to 20 minutes. You will know when they are done because they will be bright orange.
  4. While the crabs are boiling, cut the bacon into 1 inch pieces and cook in a separate pan.
  5. When the crabs are done, remove the crabs from the pot and place them aside to cool. Tip: They will cool faster if you go ahead and break them open.
  6. Add the tomato sauce and 3 cans of water to the pot.
  7. Add the frozen mixed vegetable, frozen corn, and frozen string beans to the pot.
  8. Toss in the Old Bay Seasoning, a couple of bay leaves, and a couple of dashes of oregano.
  9. Add the crabs back to the pot and add the bacon as well.
  10. Simmer on low for 2 to 3 hours.
  11. Add the tomato paste to the soup to help thicken it up some. How much you will need depends on how think you like it. It should not be very thick, but you definitely want it to be a little thicker than water.
  12. Add the potatoes to the soup and let it cook until the potatoes are soft.
  13. Taste the soup and add more Old Bay Seasoning and sea salt to taste.
  14. Ladle into bowl and enjoy!

Variations:

  • If you want to save your family, friends, guests, the trouble, do not add the whole crabs back into the soup at step 9. You will want to pick the crab meat out of the crabs first and add just the crab meat.
  • If picking the crab meat out of the crabs is too much trouble, then you can certainly buy tubs of crab meat by the pound at a grocery store or market, but beware, it won’t taste as good!

Tips:

Buy:

  • Don’t always have time to make your own?
  • Pick up some already made Crab Soup from your local market or even from Amazon.
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Recipe: Maryland Style Steamed Shrimp

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this quick and easy recipe for steaming shrimp – in the Maryland “style” of course – often called “Old Bay Shrimp.” Here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

SouthBmore Shrimp on a Plate
Steamed Shrimp Ready to Serve
  • 1 pound raw shrimp (the shell can be on or off)
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup beer (Don’t use an expensive brand. A simple Budweiser will do.)
  • 3 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning

Directions:

  1. Combine water, beer, and Old Bay Seasoning in a large pot and bring it to a boil.
  2. Place a steaming rack in the pot over the water and add the Shrimp. If you would like your shrimp to be a bit spicier you will want alternate layers of shrimp and sprinkling Old Bay Seasoning to taste.
  3. Cover and steam for 2 to 3 minutes until they are done. You will know they are done when they have turned pink.

Variations:

  • You may wish to use ½ cup of water instead of beer.
  • Some people like to add a couple of celery stalks chopped into large pieces to the pot. If you choose to do this, add the celery when you add the water, beer, and Old Bay Seasoning.
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Recipe: Steamed Maryland Blue Carbs

Do-It-Yourself has never tasted so good as with this easy recipe for steamed crabs. So, you want to know how to cook crabs? Here’s what it takes…

Ingredients:

Steamed Crabs with Old Bay Seasoning
  • 1 dozen Maryland Blue Crabs
  • 1 cup beer (Don’t use an expensive brand. A simple Budweiser will do.)
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 1/4 cups Old Bay Seasoning (or more if you like them spicy!)
  • MORE Old Bay Seasoning!

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, stir together the beer, white vinegar, and Old Bay seasoning.
  2. Place a steaming rack in the pot making sure that the steaming rack is above the liquid.
  3. Bring the liquid to a boil then place Maryland Blue Crabs in the pot on the steaming rack.
  4. Sprinkle your desired amount of Old Bay on top of the Maryland Blue Crabs.
  5. Cover and steam until they are done, approximately 20 minutes (for large crabs). You will be able to tell if they are done because they will be bright orange in color instead of blue/green.

Variations:

  • You may wish to use 1 cup of water in place of the cup of beer. However, true Marylanders use the beer.

Tips:

  • The best way to eat Maryland Steamed Blue Crabs in to expect to get messy! Lay down some newspaper or brown craft paper, get out some knives and mallets (used in helping to open the crabs and to get the meat out, and enjoy!
  • Wait until the crabs have just started to cool down to a comfortable temperature for touching them and that is the time when you will have your best shot at pulling big chunks of crab meat out when you pull the legs off.
  • You may choose to serve Maryland Crabs with little cups of melted butter or extra Old Bay Seasoning for dipping.
  • Marylanders love to have their steamed crabs with fried chicken and corn on the cob on the side.