First I have to apologize to all my friends and readers for not posting on Monday, but what a busy week it has been for me!!! It was my wife’s birthday week and to help celebrate it we took an impromptu trip to New York on Sunday, two and half hours each way to get there, to spend 4 hours walking through central park and having lunch in an old church turned pizzeria. The park was beautiful, the day was breezy and not humid and we had a wonderful walk through the park, with a stop at The Plaza Hotel in New York. We do have to stay there one day! The pizza at the “famous John’s” in New York was average at best……..great crust, so-so cheese, and so very little sauce it was almost non existent. But we still had a great day and a nice train ride.
Monday was her birthday and I spent 3 hours driving to Baltimore for a two hour meeting…..sigh…..then 2 hours to get home (traffic was better). I am in the minority but 5 hours of driving for a 2 hour meeting, no matter how good the meeting is, is just counter productive to my overall happiness. I spent 2 days in Baltimore last week to finish up a class I had been taking (it was the best class I have ever taken!), so as much as I love Baltimore, I do not want to go there again soon, 7 times in the past two months is enough for a while!
On the way home though I did bring something back, 2 dozen of the most beautiful Maryland Blue Claw Crabs I have seen in many years. You see my wife’s favorite meal is steamed crabs, I have even done those for valentines day, so to celebrate her day we had more crabs than we could possibly eat, in fact eating more of them over pasta on Tuesday. Now you might think I got them in Baltimore, but I will not lie to you I got them in Camden. I know what your thinking, but let me tell you, there is a guy who sells crabs from an old shack all year long, we don’t always see Maryland Crabs but they seem to be running well this year. He always throws a few extra in too, a really nice guy and definitely are go to guy for crabs!!
There is no real secret to how I cook crabs, just a recipe I learned from a friend, it seems to work for us.
I have a pretty big crab pot ( with an insert ) and it gets filled about a 1/3 of the way with water, 2 bottles of a hearty beer, 1/4 cup of pickling spice and 1 cup of Old Bay. Now the important thing is not to overfill the pot, I never put more than a dozen in at a time, they boil some and they steam , I rotate them a few times during a 20 minute cooking process. When they come out of the pot, I hit them with a little more old bay and that’s about it. I don’t claim to be the authority on crabs, but hey it works for me.
We also took a tour of the Morris Arboretum Saturday, which is a place I pass everyday I go to work, it’s right across from our school. So after 5 years of driving by it we finally stopped in. What a beautiful estate, it was the summer home of John and Lydia Morris and what a splendid estate it must have been in its day. WE had a great time walking through the gardens, seeing all the different trees they so diligently planted and the sculptures in the gardens. I am glad I finally went…….so see it was a busy, busy week.
I even had to work a few days….lol…..I actually planned on working all week, but our school is still in the middle of two major projects, replacing the boilers, and enlarging the parking area. So I couldn’t do anything in my kitchen or storerooms…..just no room to work and everything was so dusty! I was promised it would be clean and ready for me on Monday. I did manage to do some work at home, my menu is still in process, and I will share it with you when it’s completed, and I also had a Webinar for our new school website to post pictures, menu’s and general information for my school, its a great new tool we have this year!! It’s hard to believe I will be back feeding my girls very soon, I do miss them!
We ate out a couple of nights, you know Birthday week, so I really didn’t make much to eat at home, but I did manage to make a Raspberry Clafoutis (aka Birthday Cake), I had gotten some great Raspberries at the Market and they were perfect for this creation! My wife loves Creme Brulee so I naturally thought Clafoutis! I made a pistachio digestive biscuit crust for it, I just wanted a little something different and it certainly was.
The Tart turned out great the crust barely sweet, the custard rich and creamy and the raspberries tart and juicy adding a nice contrast to it all.
Before we get to the recipe I would like to mention that Brian @ A Thought for food and
Louanne @ Louanne’s Kitchen were two of my Girard Dressing winners and have posted their first recipe’s using the Girard’s Dressings! I won’t spoil the surprise by telling you what they made, but I promise you won’t be disappointed!! So as soon as your done here head on over to see their newest creations!
Pistachio Crust
1/2 cup Salted Pistachio’s
1 1/2 cups digestive biscuit crumbs (or graham cracker)
3/4 stick of butter (melted)
In a food processor grind the pistachios to a fine crumb, and then do the same with the Digestive Biscuits.
Melt the butter and add to the crumb mixture. I did not add any sugar, I wasn’t looking for a super sweet crust, and the digestives were just sweet enough for this crust. Your mix should be wet enough to mold in your tart pan, adjust if necessary. You want to mold the sides of the tart pan first, you want it to be 1/4 of an inch thick, then add in the bottom. Bake the shell for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then add your cream mixture.
Raspberry Clafoutis adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Paris Sweets
1 container of Raspberries
1 cup Heavy Cream
3 Large Eggs
6 Tablespoon’s Sugar
1 Plump Vanilla Bean Scraped
Lightly beat the eggs, then beat in the sugar. Add in your heavy cream, and vanilla bean scrapings, mix well.
place the raspberries in your tart shell, then add in enough of your custard to cover the raspberries and bake it for 10 minutes at 375 degrees, then add the remainder of the custard and continue baking for about 35 minutes more. At some point you may want to cover your tart with foil to keep it from over browning. A little colour is good but you don’t want it to look burnt. Bake until the custard is firm in the center of the tart.
Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet
What a busy but wonderful Birthday week and yum that pie tart crust with the pistachio's sounds really good.
Sweet Artichoke
This clafoutis looks heavenly… I like the crust recipe and bet I could eat only the crust!!
c♥zy oven
I love your crust idea! Pistachio is one of my favourite nuts, must try it next time! I bet it will taste great with cheesecake too.
Angela
I love these flower photos!! Absolutely beautiful!
Sommer J
Happy belated birthday to your wife! In my original comment said anniversary!
I am a native Marylander living in a part of Germany that's no where near the sea and thing I miss the is Maryland Crabs! The summers anxiously awaiting for the crab shacks to open, the crab imperial, crab cakes and simple steam crab *cries* gorgeous photos! I am now starving for home crabs. Glad your class was so much fun. Taking long trips for work can be tiring I am sure, though. I miss home more than ever, though!
And I will try that Raspberry Clafoutis before this summer is over.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Foodessa
It's funny the way great beauty is right in front of us and we rarely have time to smell the roses…I'm glad you finally did.
Happy belated young Birthday wishes to the love of your life.
BTW…crème brulée…is hands down my favourite too.
Your berry clafouti looks scrumptious…will try this out ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Sprinkled with Flour
I want a piece of that raspberry clafoutis right now 🙂 I love using Digestives instead of graham crackers too.
denis [email protected] quickies on the dinner table
Hope the missus had a lovely day 🙂
I love the way you do your crabs and that raspberry clafoutis is to die for!! Absolutely gorgeous photos!!
The Lonely Radish
“The crab that walks too far falls into the pot”
Haitian Proverb
Torviewtoronto
the crabs the flowers and the dessert looks lovely
Cristina
It sounds like you and your wife have a beautiful relationship and I enjoy reading about the loving things you two do together. Spending a day in New York sounds so fine! I've been wanting to get out there all year and looks like it's not going to happen, afterall.
Gorgeous clafoutis/bday dessert, Chef, and adore the pistachio crust! 😉
LaDivaCucina
Yummo!!!! Pistachio crust raspberry clafoutis? Fabulous! And those crabs look deelish!
Wish we could get on a train and go to NY. Since living in Miami, we like "city" holidays. We used to live in L.A. and the traffic will destroy your soul and will to live.
C U cheffie, Happy Birthday to the wife!
Juliana
Wow, the photos are just amazing…the crabs look so yummie, the flowers so pretty and the raspberry clafoutis just amazing with pistachio.
Jenn
The clafoutis looks wonderful!! But I'm a sucker for anything with raspberries in it! Happy belated birthday to your wife…what a fantastic trip you took with her.
[email protected]
Your clafoutis looks wonderful. My husband would love it! And that crust – so easy and sounds so tasty! I am a huge fan of a cookie crumb crust and with pistachios and digestive biscuits – perfect! Yum!
Biren
A belated birthday to your wife. Crabs are so tasty but it's been a while since I had any. That raspberry clafoutis looks fantastic!
From the Kitchen
Deliciously beautiful post! I wish I had a dozen or so of those steamed crabs to empty out on our table today!
Best,
Bonnie
Salsa Verde
Hi Chef Dennis,
Amazing pictures and what a lovely day it must be!!
Fantastic recipe. I love clafoutis and the raspberry one, must be so delicious!
Love,
Lia.
Daniela
Buon compleanno a tua moglie, anche se in ritardo. Splendidi quei granchi, avrei mille ide su come cucinarli. La torta è splendida. Buona settimana Daniela.
Indie.Tea
That raspberry clafoutis…with a pistachio crust to top it off…sounds like heaven.
thecompletecookbook
Happy belated Birthday to your wife. Sounds like she had a fabulous week with all the spoils! I LOVE crab. I grew up eating crab caught in the river where we live – simply perfection. My husband's favourite are pistachios, so you got us both very happy in one post!
🙂 Mandy
Jessica
Clafoutis!!! One of my favorite words, and one of my favorite eats! Looks wonderful!
Nithu
Oh! I love this. Such a nice recipe.
Debbie
That is a lot of crab! I love it, but am a little nervous to cook it myself still!
Also love the pistachio crust, fabulous idea!
Maren
I don't know if I could ever steam or boil live shell fish. It seems so scary.
Candace
What a wonderful birthday memory that you made with your wife! I hope to visit New York one day. And your food always looks amazing. I come over here and get hungry. :0)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Have a great week,
Candace
Jean
Well, a Happy Belated Birthday to Mrs. Chef Dennis! It sounds like you both had fun celebrating all week. That's always more important than your posts, although your loyal readers look forward to them. 🙂
One day, I'll have to cook crabs myself and when I do, I'll use your method. As usual, everything you made looks beautiful. The raspberry clafoutis is gorgeous!
Jen
You had me at pistachio crust – YUM!
Happy belated birthday to your wife – sounds like a great celebration!
Kaz
That clafoutis looks so brilliant! I wonder if I can substitute full-fat coconut milk for the cream (can't eat dairy, alas). I want to try it, yum!
Your photography is stunningly beautiful! I come to your blog for the recipes, but always get swept away by your lovely pictures. =)
Nirmala
This looks so easy and simple, and gorgeous. Do you have a recommendation for a tart pan?
Grace
I just want to jump right in and grab a piece of your clafoutis, looks delicious!
Carolyn
Happy birthday (belated) to your wife. The clafoutis looks wonderful. I love creme brulee but have never tried my hand at clafoutis, yet. I may have to get on that!
Sushma Mallya
Very beautiful pics chef, and pistachio crust looks awesome, very tempting one..
Cooking Gallery
Look at those crabs, yum!! And the raspberry clafoutis looks fantastic too!
RamblingTart
Oh, you're a lovely fellow, Dennis! 🙂 Your pictures are GORGEOUS!!! The crabs, the clafouti, the flowers – amazing. 🙂
Marguerite
Hi Chef Dennis, it's no nice to meet you! You are such a sweet husband to plan such a lovely birthday for your wife. Your photos of the gardens are spectacular and your raspberry tart looks divine! Those crabs look fabulous and made me wish that I still lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for the follow!
baking.serendipity
What a great birthday your wife had! I've never been to NYC, but am dying to go. Sadly, it's a much longer drive from Phoenix. Your raspberry clafoutis looks delicious! Pistachio crust is a great touch!
Kelsey
oh how i love your idea of making a pistachio crust!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO UR WIFE!!! clearly she'll be enjoy yummy birthday food 🙂
have a wonderful weekend!!
Jen Cheung
Look at all those beautiful flowers!!! the raseberry clafoutis looks delicious! your wife must be a lucky women!! heheeh
jen
Jacqueline
What fun you must have had. The crabs look just incredible. We had king crab this weekend on the houseboat and it was so delicious.
Your raspberry clafoutis looks incredible too. I love the pistachio crust.
Gree
What a good hubby you are! I love the idea of the pistachio crust, what a great idea! Unfortunately I am now allergic to shellfish (in the dangerous lots of hives and stop breathing way)but I fondly remember them and live vicariously through you!
FRS
You have the most beautiful photos, Chef Dennis, so I am passing on yet another blog award for you, if you are so inclined:
http://foodieroadshow.blogspot.com/2010/08/tea-and-cake-giveaway-winner-plus.html
Mo
Awww, what a sweet meal for your wife. 🙂
It's strange – for someone who lives so very close to Maryland, the last and only time I've had crab that didn't come in a refrigerated tin was in San Diego. o.O Whaddup with that? 😛
A wonderful dessert, as well!
PS: Your poem made me smile. 🙂
Mackenzie
Pistachio crust? Brilliant! The clafoutis look delicious!
Marly
Wow – pistachio crust sounds amazing. I've never had that before but anxious to try it. Thanks, Dennis!
Allie
Fantastic! I love the pictures, Maryland crabs are awesome, and I'm a fan of your components and recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Recipe for Delicious
So many delicious dishes! I love your crab method! I would never think to go past water and salt!
Jackie
Aw Dennis, you are so lovely! I hope Mrs Chef Dennis had a lovely birthday – how could she not with a feast like that?
By the way, your clafoutis looks absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful photo!
Jax x