Maine Lobster Tail and Crab Cakes. Next time Shrimp and Whiting

Last night was a family seafood fiesta at my house. My mother in law is a big QVC and HSN person. She bought some Maine lobster tails and some Maryland crab cakes a some time ago. Of course, I was asked to prepare the meal.... Mom knows the thing I love most is cooking for family. And in exchanged for an expensive meal, that was a great bonus!

The dinner menu included baked Maine lobster tails, Maryland lump crab cakes, italian roasted potatoes, and best ever corn fritters.

I watched this video by Luis Ortiz on preparing the lobster tails

Preparing a Lobster Tail for Cooking -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Here's how the preparation went- I prepared the lobster tails per the video. I put the six tails in a shallow baking dish. I sprinkled them with sea salt, paprika, and pepper. To the pan I added about 6 oz. of white zinfandel. Next, I lay out the crab cakes on a baking sheet to finish thawing. The seafood would require the same amount of cooking time, about 20 minutes, at 375. I set the seafood aside for a bit.

Next, I went ahead and prepared my favorite roasted potatoes. I like to cook them at 350 until they are brown, about 30 minutes or so.



I clarified two sticks of butter by heating slowly, skimming the foam, then gently pouring the clear butterfat out of the pan while leaving the solids on the bottom. I brushed the lobster tails and crab cakes with clarified butter at the beginning of baking and at the halfway mark.

image courtesy of http://www.usmenuguide.com/rosieogradysdinner.htm

Finally, I made my corn fritters. They are quick and easy, but oh so impressive. So much so that Mom even took some fritters home.

The dinner came out better than I could have ever hoped for. Mom ate more than she has in months she said, and hubby was grateful to both of us. In fact he talked about it most of the evening!

Today was Angel Food Ministries pick up day. My mother in law and I always order together. Many times I fly, she buys! What a wonderful gift she gives our family during these hard times. In this order mom bought the seafood box. I picked up the food (fly), then delivered mom's order. I always help stock her food in the freezer. When we got to open the seafood box, I thanked her again for the wonderful lobster and crab meal last night. She said again that it was a delicious meal, and she had fun. As we unpacked the seafood, she asked me how to cook the shrimp, then the whiting....

I took the shrimp and the whiting home with me. Next seafood dinner will be steamed shrimp and spicy fried whiting. [big smile]

♥