Water Signs

WHAT A GIRL EATS CAN NOW BE FOUND AT....http://whatagirleats.com/

I am Cancer, the Crab, water sign. Sometimes I feel...

I am Ocean

Ruled by the moon

Ebb and flow

Sometimes wild, sometimes calm.

But sometimes I wish I were a...

Sailboat

Safe in the open sea...away from the crashing, chaotic shore.

Teak hulled, brass fitted sailboat.

Quiet at night, waves splashing  against my sides, lulling me to sleep, 'til dawn comes and I can unfurl my sails again and chart a new course.

Ketch me if you can.

or maybe I am...

Sea Glass

What I am now, is not what I was.

Rough edges worn smooth.

No longer transparent...Opaque.

Ahh, but I could be a... 

Shell

Twisting, spiraling, maze-y shell.

Hold me up to your ear and I will whisper

A siren's song.

Or maybe I am just...

Sand

In between your toes...

Under your skin...

Tickling your nose?

Crab is my absolute favorite seafood. Feed me a plate full of Alaskan King Crab legs and I am putty. Is there anything more romantic? You cannot rush a crab leg dinner...each appendage must be cracked and the meat pulled out with a tiny two-pronged fork. What's left in the little leg?...well, there's only one way to get out that last bit of meat. Did I mention butter? Drawn butter? Dribbling down your chin. Phew! Now what a disappointment this will be! Crab Cakes?  Crab Cakes aren't really romantic, but they are a tasty, reasonably healthy version, of the kid friendly "fish stick".  I started with Paula Deen's recipe, and added more veggies, switched the "dusting of flour" for panko bread crumbs to make them more crispy and made a Lemon-Tarragon Mayonnaise to go with them. Easy enough for a week-night meal. Use your best tool, your hands to carefully mix all the ingredients together!

Crab Cakes with Lemon-Tarragon Mayonnaise

1 lb. crab meat, picked free of shells ( you can buy this in a can in your grocery store chiller with the fresh seafood)

1/3 cup crushed Ritz crackers about 8...I counted and measured for you.

3 green onions, finely chopped

1/2 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 stalk celery, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1/4 cup mayonnnaise

1 egg

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 lemon juiced

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

Dash cayenne pepper

2/3 cup Panko bread crumbs or flour for dusting

Peanut oil for frying

1. Gently mix everything together, except the bread crumbs or flour, with your hands.
2. Form into patties, (about 1/3 cup mixture per patty)
3. Coat in Panko bread crumbs or dust with flour.
4. Heat oil in a large skillet, about 1/4" to 1/2" oil until shimmering.
5. Fry crab cakes in batches, 3-4 at a time, cooking about 4 minutes per side.

Lemon-Tarragon Mayonnaise

1/2 cup mayonnaise( I should be making this from scratch, but I know if I did, I'd lose you...or you'd laugh at me...so I use Best Foods Olive Oil mayo)

2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, finely chopped

1 tablespoon finely chopped chives

Juice of 1/2 lemon...(hey...use the other half now!)

Salt to taste

Whisk all ingredients together. Chill until ready to use.