Bacon Broccoli Salad

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We had our first snow fall on Chincoteague last night. It wasn’t much – but was enough to get the kids out of school for the day, and enough to make a batch of snow cream for breakfast. I made an affogato with mine (I got a new espresso machine a couple weeks ago, y’all!), and it was pretty much life changing.

So now that we’ve gotten our dose of snow, I’m really ready for the warmer days ahead. Ready to have my playlist be whole again, for one. I have to remove quite a few songs that I just can’t listen to in the winter, without bawling like a baby…

This year I’ve been in better spirits due to our get-together’s we’ve had with the LBC (Little Beach Crew) in the off-season. Friends who are like family, that we spend so many glorious boat days with in the summer.  And while that’s been great, it’s safe to say that we’re all ready to resume our Sunday suppers out on the water!

We usually plan out our meal via Facebook chat during the week, everyone bringing something. This broccoli salad was something I always begged Rebecca to bring. Her sister Jessica also makes it as well, but I’m usually begging her to bring cookies…

I happily ate this broccoli salad, week after week, month after month. Always squirreling away any leftovers into our cooler, so that I could enjoy another round later – after the boat was out of the water and boys were in bed. Figure that’s better than the cookies, right? There are never any of those leftover, by the way.

Everyone has their own riff on broccoli salad – but for me this one will always win. Slightly crunchy broccoli, crisp bacon, and chunks of cheddar are the centerpieces. And the dressing couldn’t get easier: mayo (I substitute in some Greek yogurt), a sprinkle of sugar, and a splash of vinegar. It’s not QUITE as good as it is out on the boat, but everything always tastes better outside anyway.

So until the LBC is pulling into our “one particular harbor” – I’ll be getting by with my broccoli salad and Buffett ballads. Which really isn’t all that much different than summer anyway, I suppose. Stay warm, friends!

Bacon Broccoli Salad

6 pieces thick cut bacon, chopped
2 heads broccoli, florets removed and roughly chopped
1 red onion, peeled and finely diced
8 oz cheddar cheese, diced
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp granulated sugar
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
kosher salt

In a medium skillet over medium high heat, cook the bacon until evenly brown and crisp. Remove to paper towel lined plate and set aside.

In a large bowl prepare the dressing by whisking mayo, sugar, and vinegar.

Add in chopped broccoli, diced onion, cheddar cheese, and cooked bacon. Toss to combine with the dressing. Season to taste with salt.

Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Oysters with Salicornia Mignonette

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It’s always so hard to see summer go. If you’ve been keeping up with me on Insta, you know that it was a crazy whirlwind couple of months spent in the sun and on the water. Our “Flat Bottomed Girl” got quite a few more nautical miles under her belt,  and I cooked and shared all kinds of goodness with friends (and strangers!) out at our local hangout of Little Beach, on neighboring Assateague Island.

Boatside Bistro was in full effect, y’all! I find myself cooking on the boat more than I do in my kitchen from the months of May – September.  I think the pinnacle was catching fish offshore, cleaning and fileting them on the boat, then turning into fish tacos and enjoying on the beach. However, we had alot of great meals out there this season, and which of them was the best is still a topic of debate…

At any rate, the days have finally started to turn brisk. And while we must say goodbye to some things that fill our heart and soul, there are always others to look forward to. Like watching the vibrant green marsh fade into a rich gold hue – with the occasional burst of salicornia in the mix. It’s an edible plant that grows in abundance in our marshes here on the island, appearing green in the summer months and then turning a vibrant red hue in autumn. It’s crunchy, and briny, and tastes of the sea. Not to mention it’s beautiful!

I have fun harvesting it and coming up with new ideas how to use it. Vodka infusion is a favorite (can you say pickle shot, y’all?), adding it to salads, or chopping and adding to pimento cheese. A few weeks ago I helped harvest a haul to brew a stout with at Black Narrows Brewing, which was absolutely delicious!

It just so happened that I had a bunch of beans after the beer release at the brewery, which I then took to the Chincoteague Oyster Festival with me the next day – and whipped up this super simple salicornia mignonette…

A “mignonette” is just fancy French term for a vinegar sauce that is traditionally served with oysters. I used a red wine vinegar, some chopped shallot, and threw in some chopped salicornia. Talk about tasting the “salt life” – was a hit all around. And I felt so fancy coming up with it!

Which brings me to something else we have to look forward to in the fall and winter months – oyster season! What do you guys look forward to the most?

Oysters with Salicornia Mignonette

1 dozen oysters, on the half shell
crushed ice
lemon wedges

For the mignonette:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 shallot, finely minced
2 Tbsp chopped salicornia (about 15 “bean” stalks)
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp kosher salt

For the sauce, combine all ingredients in a small bowl or ramekin. Mix to combine. Let sit for 20 minutes to let the flavors mingle and meld together.

Meanwhile, place the crushed ice in the bottom of a shallow serving dish. Carefully lay the oysters on top of the ice for serving.

Serve the mignonette alongside the oysters with the lemon wedges.

Hot Pizza Dip

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With Super Bowl Sunday coming up this weekend, I thought it was only pertinent that I share one of my favorite easy appetizers. Honestly, it’s probably my favorite appetizer. Ever. During football season I probably make it close to every weekend. For years now.

It’s all of your favorite things about pizza, in a creamy dip form, that is approximately one million times easier than making traditional pizza. The recipe is easily scaled up, making it convenient to feed a large crowd. I also love that it is layered, and not mixed together – making for a nice presentation.

As far as toppings go, you can certainly get creative. But, I like to stick with classic options – pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, green peppers, red onion (they, along with the peppers, lend a  lovely little crunch). I serve with store-bought pizza crust that I’ve cut into bite size pieces, but it’s equally good on crackers if you don’t have that on-hand.

Add this to your line-up this weekend, you won’t regret it!

Hot Pizza Dip

1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup pizza sauce
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 mushroom, thinly sliced
1/4 cup mini-pepperoni (or quarter regular sized)
2 Tbsp black olives, sliced
2 Tbsp green peppers, finely diced
2 Tbsp red onion, finely diced
1 tsp dried oregano
store-bought pizza crust (like Boboli), cut into bite-size pieces

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a 9-inch pie plate, spread the cream cheese evenly over the bottom of the plate. Spread pizza sauce on top of cream cheese. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Place mushroomms, pepperoni, and olives evenly over the cheese. Sprinkle the peppers, onions, and oregano on top.

Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Serve with warmed pizza crust pieces or crackers.

Source: adapted from Taste of Home

Chesapeake Caramel Corn

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Did you guys know that March 9th is National Crab Day? It’s true. So, while I’m counting down the days until I’ll be taking the back road to Saxis to buy a bushel of #1’s right off the boat, we’re not quite there yet. Nevertheless,I still wanted to mark the occasion here on the blog by sharing some crab-centric recipe recipe with you guys.

Now, it’s a well known fact that folks here on the Eastern Shore will put Old Bay on just about darned near anything and everything. In fact, I think it’s probably a part of my blood content at this point in my life. My dad had me dipping crabs in vinegar spiked with Old Bay as far back as I can remember, probably even before I started on solid foods. Heh. And, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Whether it’s a more traditional application of the seasoning – like steamed blue crabs or succulent steamed shrimp. To something a little more unconventional- like sprinkled on top of a creamy potato salad or a Chesapeake Bloody Mary. Or maybe by adding a subtle spicy twist to a batch of your homemade caramel corn…

I happen to adore salty and sweet combos to begin with. But add in a little spicy kick with a few savory notes going on (I’m looking at you celery seed),  and you really have something quite phenomenal going on.

I’m going to be making batches of this all summer long to take out on the boat with us for our fishing trips and beach days. It stays good for a few weeks if kept fresh in an airtight container, not that it will last that long. Handy to have on hand!

Chesapeake Caramel Corn

1 cup popcorn kernels, un-popped
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Old Bay

Preheat the oven to 250° F. Line two rimmed baking sheets with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray, set aside.

Pop popcorn using your preferred method, I use and air-popper and have to do two batches. Place the popped popcorn onto the baking sheets.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, mix in the corn syrup, brown sugar and salt. Increase the heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Boil for 5 more minutes.

Remove the mixture from the heat. Stir in the baking soda, vanilla extract, and 3 tsp Old Bay. The mixture will bubble up and become frothy. Evenly drizzle the caramel sauce over the popcorn on the baking sheets, and use a silicone spatula to gently toss and coat thoroughly. It’s okay if there are some clumps of caramel throughout, it will melt and coat popcorn while baking.

Place in preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, removing from the oven to stir every 15 minutes or so.

Remove the baking sheets to a wire rack, and season with an remaining Old Bay – about 1 tsp per tray. Stir one last time, and allow to cool to room temperature before placing in an airtight container for storage.