Crab and Lobster Soup, Anyone?

We had some friends over the other day for a dungeness crab and lobster boil the other day. Needless to say, there was some leftover crab, which I promptly shelled and froze. Also, prior to everyone eating, I gathered the lobster heads and crab shells in a pot and boiled it, rendering about 7 cups of stock. The stock I kept frozen as well until 2 weeks later....

The following recipe is a lighter version of your traditional bisque without the roux. I'll save the heavier bisque for the fall and winter months. So, I guess it's just a soup.

Sake Crab and Lobster Soup

Ingredients:
7 cups crab/lobster stock*, reduced to about 5 cups

1/2 a stick of butter
3-4 shallots (or 1/2 a sweet onion), chopped/diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup of Sake

3 cups of crab meat (approximate)

1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup of flat parsley, chopped

salt and pepper to taste
Method:

1. Melt butter, add in chopped shallots/onions, and minced garlic
2. Sweat onions/garlic until translucent, and just about to carmelize.
3. Add in 1/2 cup of sake. You may light it if you wish to burn off the alcohol. Bring to a boil, until almost dry.
4. Add in crab/lobster stock. Bring to a boil.
5. Add in crab meat.
6. Turn down heat, and add in cream.
7. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
8. Serve soup decorated with sliced lobster meat, and a sprinkling of chopped parsley.

*the crab/lobster (5 lobster heads, 5 dungeness crab shells) I used to make the stock had been boiled in crab boil seasoning. So, there was already quite a bit of flavor in the stock. If making the stock from scratch, I would saute some garlic, onion, a couple of carrot sticks and celery, with the shells, together with a cup of wine. Add a bay leaf or two, and enough water just to cover the shells.

Hawaiian Trifle

I have to say, I LOVE theme parties. If done right, it's a great way to learn about another culture (even if it is superficial) for a few hours. Attendees who take the time to seek and don on appropriate wear, show that they made some effort in finding out about the dress of another place. The food, if mimicking the theme delicacies, offer guests a gastronomical insight to another world.

So when, my daugther's daisy scout troop had their end of year party, luau styled potluck. I jumped on the chance to make something Hawaiian; or at least Hawaiian influenced. My mind raced through all the wonderful food I sampled in Hawaii - Ahi Poke, chicken long rice, manapua... but kids being the finicky eaters they are sometimes, I settled on a dessert. It just had to be something simple to make, and I did not want to bake. Scouring the web, I came across a number of Pineapple trifle recipes, which was the base for the inspiration of the one I put together.


Hawaiian Trifle (kids version)

you will need a trifle bowl or a tall clear bowl to see the layers.

Ingredients:
1 sour cream angel food cake (cut into 1 inch cubes)
1 fresh pineapple (cored and cut into bite size pieces. Save the crown for decoration)
1 large tub cool whip (I really recommend whipped cream, but if pressed for time...)
1 large instant vanilla pudding mix (prepared according to directions)
1 pint strawberries (quarted or sliced & slice 2 for decoration)

1 tbs rum extract (mix into prepared pudding)
1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut (optional)

Method:
Layer bottom of bowl with angel food cake
Dollop/spread a layer of vanilla pudding on cake layer.
Add cut pineapple and strawberries, and sprinkle toasted coconut (if you wish)
Dollop/spread a layer of cool whip
Repeat process with cake, fruit, pudding, etc.
Finish off layers with coolwhip.
Stick on the washed/cleaned pineapple crown, and decorate with strawberry hearts around.
Keep dessert chilled until ready to serve.