Memorial Day / Soft Shell Crabs and stuff

Florida Grillin Girl

We spent the weekend at the beach, and believe me, we know how lucky we are to have this beautiful beach right out our front door. This is the Gulf of Mexico:



The disinterested teenagers went skimboarding at sunset:



We headed home to cook up a great Egged dinner for Memorial Day.

First time for soft shell crabs on the egg. We dipped them in melted butter mixed with hot sauce and lemon juice and put them on a 400 degree egg, cooked about 5 minutes before flipping them:





Wow - were these good with a little wood char on them and a hint of heat from the hot sauce. I wish we had a whole big platter of them - next time we will.

This was 1 1/2 lb. piece of Sea Bass with skin on. I brushed with butter and a little spin, then made a pepperanata to place over the fish - red, yellow, orange peppers, capers, olives cooked in olive oil with some anchovie paste. It was perfectly cooked and tasted like butta!



Next, we threw a sirloin on that my brother Jeff (SingleMaltPirate) had marinated in some Lawry's jerk seasoning that he doctored up. Cooked it on 600 dome and pulled it at 125:



This casserole was also egged and it was a surprise for the family - a Pineapple casserole. They initially turned up their noses at the sound of it, but after tasting it, they LOVED it and now they requested it be placed the Thanksgiving/Christmas menu.

20 oz. can, crushed pineapple drained, reserving 3 Tbps.
juice
3 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup sugar (or Splenda)
Mix up the above.
Add in 1 cup sharp shredded cheddar cheese
Place in greased casserole.
Melt 1/2 stick butter and mix with Ritz crackers and spread over top.
Bake at 350 30 minutes.
Your will have to double or triple it when you realize how much your family will love it.

On the egg it was awesome, got all brown and gooey on the bottom:



We served it all with some corn and a chilled watermelon salad with fresh mint.



It was a fun weekend and a great dinner to top off the weekend.

Faith

Hungry Celeste

Damn, those crabs look good. One of my favorite ways to cook softshells; now I'll have to find some to cook very soon. I like to baste them with a garlic & tarragon compound butter.

vidalia1

That all looks awesome...btw you have mail...

Village Idiot

Wow ! That looks great !!! I'm gonna have to find me some soft shelled crabs to fix.

But, I'll have to get my Floridian wife to show me how to eat them. The last time I had crab at a restaurant, I tried to send it back because it was rotten. After watching me try to eat the new crab, the waiter said, in horror, "don't eat the lungs". :(

Florida Grillin Girl

Gary, these were already cleaned before cooking, lungs and face removed! You cook them and eat the entire thing.

Faith

eenie meenie

Faith, everything looked fabulous. I am especially intriqued by the soft shelled crabs. Did they get crispy? Nice selection of food for the holiday!

Florida Grillin Girl

Yes, Rebecca, they got crispy and crunched nicely, though you can't tell they were in the pics. I think I will cook on 450 next time, but this time I didn't because of the Sea Bass was cooking at the same time, and I didn't want to overcook it.

Smokin' T

Your Memorial day cook looks great!!

I wonder where you bought the crabs----maybe Surf-n-Turf market on Tampa road ??? Maybe not!!

Tom,
Dunedin,Fl

Gator Bait

 
I used to love skimboarding, we'd steal the lid off the rain barrel for the afternoon and use it.

Great post Faith, your cooks are always outstanding and your photos are great. That's a nice looking sunset. I think you have inspired me to head for the beach sometime today. :cheer:

Gator

 

2Fategghead

Looking very good Faith. I never had soft shell crab. You say you simply pick it up and bit a leg off and eat it? Then the body?

I will save your post for the pineapple casserole. Thanks

I remember a time when I lived in Bradenton and some of us went out to eat crab. It was all you can eat and I was taught to open the crab shell body and eat the meat out of it and not eat the lungs. It was very good. I could sit and eat crab all day. yum yum Tim :P

Florida Grillin Girl

Tim, yes, you eat the entire crab. We cut it in fourths to serve. They are usually served sauteed or fried in restaurants, but I wanted to see how they would taste on the egg. I highly recommend them cooked on the egg.

Faith

Capt Frank

Great post and great food Faith, thanks for posting :cheer:

Capt Frank
Homosassa, FL

SmokyArkie

I just got back from a great trip to Orange Beach Alabama. My only regret was not having my BGE to cook on.

The fishing pier was great(Red Fish), the beaches were beautiful and the people were friendly but the condo didn't allow grills of any kind. After seeing your photos of the Memorial day crab cook I am envious. It all looks delicious. Makes me wonder how good fresh grilled Red Fish would be.

Village Idiot

Faith,

I went to my favorite fish monger today and asked if he had or could get soft shelled crab. He said he should be getting some in a couple of weeks. He then said they are expensive .... like $7.50 a piece. Is that totally out of line for Florida prices?

Florida Grillin Girl

SmokieArkie, Red Fish on the egg is delicious. Just ask Frank from Houma. I tasted his at Eggtoberfest and it was awesome!

Too bad about the condo, that stinks that they don't allow grills.

Faith

Florida Grillin Girl

Gary, I think it depends on the size. These were called whalers, and they were $4 apiece. I called around and found 2 places here that had them. They are in season right now and I wouldn't think they would be too hard to get in Texas. These were frozen though, but individually wrapped and cleaned.

Faith

cookn biker

Faith, Nice pics of the beach. What a feast you all had. Great pics of all that food. Those soft shells look delicious.

Susan Egglaine

All looks great! I am going to have to try the pineapple dish

Little Steven

Faith,

Truly great cook. I so wish we could get softshell crabs here.

Steve

Big George's BBQ

The food looks great The casserol sounds awesome. Love the soft shell crabs