Jonah Crabs, New Found Delight!

Jonah Crabs, delicious and sweet!

I like to consider myself a purveyor of things delicious and ever gathering the inside track on what I must try in my culinary journey and I recently became aware of the Jonah Crab or Cancer Borealis.  This crustacean is harvested and abundant right here in the Americas, on the East coast , Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island bringing in the most.  The New England states are home to many delicacies as seen by food culture and this one more to add to the list.  The Jonah Crab was once seen as a nuisance to many trappers, especially during the 80's, often thrown back when hauled in with the more desirable lobsters and other more popular fare, much to our favor, because they have been afforded the opportunity to thrive, thus making it much more affordable than its counterparts. They are also found further up, in Newfoundland and all the way down to Florida.  

The Jonah Crab is delicious.  I ran across a 2 lb. bag of steamed and scored crab claws and legs at Walmart.  The scoring makes for hassle free enjoyment, missing only a portion of clarified or salted butter and lemon to set the stage for a most beautiful engagement.  Ghee is also an option, I used some and WOW!   The meat of the Jonah Crab is delicate and sweet.  The claws are quite meaty and easy to manipulate.  I found complete satisfaction with devouring them just as they were, steam thawed with some seafood seasoning in my Foodi, but they would be perfect for crab dips and crab cakes if you choose.  The claws are heavy for their size and make for awesome presentations as well.  

I recently purchased a gorgeous blue wooden bowl that would have been perfect for presentation, but after failing to find it in a timely fashion, I ended up standing and dining at the stove top, where the Foodi was situated and eating straight from the pot. Of course, I had paper towels and a large short sided paper towel lined cardboard box to use as my plate. The box was part of the canning process of my Blueberry, Ginger and Bacardi Rum Jam, I will be posting that recipe soon!  

I was able to grab enough blueberries on sale for $1 for 12 oz. cartons, (Thanks Walmart) to make 24 -1/2 pint jars, with some extra to snack on with toast and bagels, fantastic!  I feel that eating seafood out can be a very costly affair if ordering crab legs, crabs, lobsters, etc...so this was a perfect way to get that pleasure right at home for a reasonable price and will allow you to get more for your money, which is always good.  Besides, crabs can be quite a messy meal and who wants to look like a savage in public? Haha, nk.

Jonah Crab Claws and Legs with Butter

 If you are looking for a seafood fix, be sure to be on the lookout for Jonah Crabs, they won't disappoint, I don't know how I made it this far without knowing about these guys, now we can both be in the know and start reaping its sweet and delicious benefits. If you already knew, then have some anyway!  Jonah Crab for the win. 

Atlantic City Sliders, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: A Review

Aside from fun in the sun, a good tan, some much needed relaxation and copious amounts of libations, a trip to the beach  is its own reward.  We normally vacation in North Myrtle Beach every year, sans this year for me and my bestie. Nothing could make that any better, unless you're talking about dropping by Atlantic City Sliders and copping a flight of mini burgers, fries and an ice cold beverage.

 Atlantic City Sliders has a simple and comprehensive menu containing something for all tastes.  My Bestie and I went with a varied selection of sliders, including cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, steak and cheese, hamburger and barbeque, plus chicken sliders and cheese balls to go.  Each and every slider was as good as the next , fresh, hot and juicy, with pillowy, soft bread and complimentary sides of pickles, house made slaw and an atmosphere that will call you back for another round.  

The décor is an exciting and nostalgic collection of pop culture favorites, 50's diner setting, complete with neon, checkerboard and license plates, photos, records, you name it. It is situated directly beside the liquor store by the Food Lion, so it's right on track with two very important stops.  The staff was amiable and diverse, immediately creating an I've been here before vibe!  The owner was on site and right there, in on the grill action.  He was  pleasant and interesting, he even came out into the dining room and chatted with my bestie and me for a bit. He was intrigued by our obvious chemistry (or hysterical laughter ) and  he was amazed at how well we interacted.  He wondered how we managed to still to smile, as some of the couples he's seen, are together but distant, stone faces and grumps.  Part of it is that we are outgoing and bubbly, a dynamic duo, with years and years of experience, when it comes to friendship. We met in college with no pretense or expectations, then blossomed into soul mates.  The rest is living history, love and understanding.  Our dads actually share the same name and we are from a similar demographic.  Things just worked out and we are incredibly supportive of one another.  He is my biggest literary and culinary fan and I am his friend to the end, confidant and homie.

The prices are reasonable and encourage extra ordering. 

 The fries were hot and crispy, fluffy and flaky on the inside. 

 I was delighted that the barbeque was made on site as well. I am a bit skeptical usually, because all barbeque sandwiches are not created equal, but these sliders proved their worth, with the right amount of zing and zang, subtle smoked porkiness, especially accompanied by a dab of the house made slaw. The steak and cheese sliders provided an ample ratio of meat/peppers and onions/cheese, melty and seasoned.

  The classic cheeseburger held its own with properly cooked beef, not over cooked and cardboardy, like some dine and dash burger joints.

 The breaded chicken sliders were simple and delicious, nice and crispy on the outside, supple in the middle, not limp and sogged out in places. 

The cheeseballs were good too.  They had a crunchy outer coating and a molten center.

 We tried to order as many items as possible, amassing a critique for our fellow vacationers and my readers alike.  Atlantic City Sliders was new to us, but it felt like home, and we wondered how we had made it through so many vacations without it, up until then.  We can't wait to go back, for the atmosphere, the food and the owner, he has top notch passion, and it shows in the sliders!  

Atlantic City Sliders

1000 Hwy 17 N

 North Myrtle Beach, SC, 29582  

Mulberry Molten Cakes w/Lemon Curd and Blueberries

Summer has a flavor and it's bright, tangy, fresh, creamy and AH-mazing.This recipe is inspired by a delicious classic, Lemon Meringue Pie and anything with a molten center, hot or cold.  I used a combination of homemade and store bought ingredients, along with some fresh picked and homegrown  delights like the Mulberries, scratch made Lemon Curd and mint from my herb garden.  The cakes are a simple store bought boxed variety of French Vanilla, with the freshly picked mulberries nestled in the bottom of each one.  

The mulberries have a fleeting existence, subject to the elements of wind and nature, the birds, who quickly make light work of the sweet ripened berries, that will fall at the slightest touch when ready to enjoy.  My youngest Bronwyn assisted in gathering the berries from our backyard, which are a part of the breadfruit and fig family and grown in China for its leaves, which are the only variety of leaf a Silkworm will eat! Mulberries provide an array of noteworthy vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. These gems contain  Vitamin C and K, iron, potassium, fiber, polyphenols and anthocyanins giving their brilliant dark red color, plus rutin and myracetin, which are both excellent compounds for reducing cancer risks. 

The sweet tang of the curd is a first time for me, inspired by a Lemon Curd recipe from a popular site.  The icing is of the whipped variety, a specialty item from the grocer, favored for its icing consistency, but without the sickly sweet taste of some traditional icings.  The whipped icing helps to keep this recipe 'light', in taste and mouthfeel.   

The family received the recipe well, as did I.  They are easy enough to make for a special dinner dessert or as a great bring-along to your next cookout, when the opportunity permits.  

Foraging: Morel Mushroom Flatbread

 Old Macdonald had a farm, we learned from way back and if he made flatbread, this would be it.  This flatbread's components are staples and part of everyday farmlife.  We have the grains or bread of course, then we have the meaty, earthy and nutty flavor profile of the morels, then we have our dairy cows with the butter, a little duck fat and a bit of garlic sauteed with the mushrooms, then removed to provide the perfect kiss of goodness. 
I actually used large butter flavored refrigerator biscuits to create the flatbread, creating a delicious and time savvy flavorbomb, with a lid on the stovetop pan to create a mini dutch oven.  After being flipped, the flatbread will reach a crispity, texture filled, crusty bottom, caramelized and to your standard's perfection.  This a recipe perfect for small hauls or when you want something to showcase the mushroom's delightful aromas, texture and flavor. Feel free to toss a few fresh thyme leaves or edible flower petals for an over the top, spectacular presentation! For best results, allow biscuits to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes, for ease of stretching.

Recipe:
In a medium nonstick pan over medium high heat, melt 1/2 pat of butter and about 1/2 tsp. duck fat.*
Swirl pan to combine and add mushrooms, about 1/4 c. cut in half and 2 smashed cloves of garlic.
Saute for about 2 minutes.
SPST . (Salt and Pepper to Suit Taste)
Meanwhile, take 1 of the jumbo butter biscuits mash and stretch with hands until about 2 1/2 times its normal size, and about 1/4 inch thickness.
Push mushrooms together in pan, remove garlic, making sure textured sides of morels are facing down, then cover with dough.
Turn temperature down to medium heat.
Place a plate or tightly fitting lid over pan to cook/steam the dough.
After about 3 minutes, remove lid and carefully flip flatbread over (you may press on top lightly to ensure mushrooms adhere to bottom) and cover again.
Cook until bottom is slightly crisp and golden brown, but not burned, check as needed.
Place on paper towel to absorb any excess oils.
Makes 1 flatbread.

*If you do not have or want to use duck fat, olive oil, schmaltz (chicken fat) or bacon renderings will make great variations.


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Best,
D. Smith :)