Blackberry Cream Soda

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Blackberry Cream Soda

The Cream Soda has long been one of my favorite cocktails. Such basic ingredients, and it tastes so darn good. I remember being shocked by how much the simple combination of Capt. Morgan’s, ginger ale, and fresh lime tasted exactly like a cream soda. You remember, those sodas from your childhood that no one else would drink? They were always the last thing floating in the cooler of ice, long after all the Cokes had been picked out. But, this one definitely isn’t for the kids…

I recently tried a bottle of Captain Morgan’s newest release, their Black Spiced Rum. It’s darker and bolder than the “OG” – but everything you love about the traditional spiced rum is still there. Notes of molasses, vanilla, and cinnamon. And smooth! An absolutely wonderful rum.

I think it’s safe to say we’ve all had a few nights “sailing away with the Captain”, and this is definitely a drink that makes it easy to do. Since I was using the Black rum, I thought it would be fun to add another “black” twist – in the form of blackberries. They added a gorgeous hue and a little pucker that I loved! But still completely tasted like a cream soda.

It’s only Monday, but I’m already looking forward to the weekend. Memorial Day is the official start of summer here at the beach, and we are all ready for it to begin!

Blackberry Cream Soda

1.5 ounces Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
3 ounces ginger ale
1 tsp blackberry puree*
1 lime, juiced
lime wedges
ice

Fill a glass with ice. Add rum, ginger ale, 1 tsp lime juice, and blackberry puree. Stir with spoon to combine. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

* To make blackberry puree, combine 1/2 cup fresh blackberries with 1 tsp. granulated sugar in a food processor. Blend until smooth, then push through a fine-mesh strainer to remove large pieces of pulp and seeds.

Crab Imperial

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crabimperial

Summer is just around the corner for us here on the Chesapeake, and for my family – that means bushels of crabs steamed on the regular. My dad and Jon run the trotline early on Sunday mornings, and are usually home by 10 AM with a full bushel of #1 Jimmies (or males). This year, our oldest son Andrew – who just turned five, will be old enough to go out and help man the line and net. I know everyone is excited for that!

They haven’t had a chance to go out yet this year, as the water is just starting to warm up. But, I managed to get my hands on a few to steam, and then pick to make a delicious dinner out of to share with you guys. Crab Imperial is on just about every local restaurant menu here on the Eastern Shore. It’s usually used to stuff into fish or shrimp, which of course is delicious. But a GOOD crab imperial – well, I think it’s bright enough to shine on it’s own. Lump crab, tossed with a luscious cream sauce, then baked to perfection – it’s divine. I found the cute little vintage crab dishes at a yard sale, but a ramekin or shallow au gratin dish would be just fine to bake in as well.

I’m so thankful to live in an area where my boys can experience this – learning to crab from their grandfather, who learned it from his father before him – right here on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.

Time to stock up on Old Bay and Boh, Maryland kiddos – summer is coming!

Crab Imperial

1/2 lb fresh lump crab meat
2 oz cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp Old Bay seafood seasoning
1/3 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
fresh parsley, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, heavy cream, and egg. Carefully mix until combined (I used my mini-food processor). Add the crab meat, lemon, Old Bay, and salt. Toss gently to combine.

Spoon mixture into 4 individual ramekins or another small baking dish, and place on baking sheet. Top with a bit of the cheddar cheese.

Bake for about 20 minutes, until everything is starting to brown and bubble.

Garnish with parsley and serve with lemon wedges on the side.

Pink Moscato Sangria + Giveaway

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Pink Moscato SangriaI hope everyone is busy planning their Mother’s Day festivities! Whether your the lady being celebrated, or are lucky enough to be celebrating with your mom this year – I think there’s one thing most ladies in your life could use: a lovely cocktail that includes lots of fresh berries this Mother’s Day! One of my favorite wines to drink in the summer months are Moscatos – and I’ve been seeing more and more of them pop up on the shelves these days. They are light and fruity, and if they’re good  – not to sweet.

One of my favorites is Bello Boy, a Moscato infused with rose petals to give it a distinct flavor, and a gorgeous shade of rose. It’s delicious, light & complex at the same time. The man behind it is Jaime Laurita, a well-known chef who’s worked with many notable people and artists in his culinary career. Incidentally, he also happens to be of the Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Laurita crew, which I’ve made no secret is a guilty pleasure. He’s got a couple bubbly wines under his label now, as well as some other wonderful Italian products – top notch olive oils and dried pastas to name a few.

The sangria comes together in a snap, and just gets better as it sits and the flavors mingle. I went with a berry theme – choosing strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. But really, any combo of fruit would be wonderful. Looking forward to fresh peaches from the orchard down the street, they’ll be a wonderful addition.

And to celebrate Mother’s Day, I thought it would be fun to have a giveaway! For the past couple months or so, I’ve totally been crushing on the folks over at Hen House Linens. They’re based right here in Maryland, and their selection of fun, colorful prints is out of this world. Any fellow food bloggers will know what I mean when I say “kid in a candy store”. They’ve been so kind to offer an adorable cocktail apron to one lucky winner. All you need to do is comment below answering the question: What are your plans for this Mother’s Day weekend? I’m looking forward to spending time with all my guys. And on Sunday, our first taste of crabs for the year at The Red Roost with my parents. It’s become our Mother’s Day tradition. You have to take a 2-car ferry to get there – the boys just love it, and so do we!Hen House LinensWant a couple of extra entries?:

Like Hen House Linens on Facebook – leave a separate comment letting us know you did so.
Like Bello Boy Moscato on Facebook – leave a separate comment letting us know you did so.

Contest will end Thursday, May 16 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST. Winner will be selected using a random number generator.

Congratulations to Entrant #2 – Diana. Thanks so much for entering, everyone!

Pink Moscato Sangria

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 (750 ml) bottle Pink Moscato wine
1/2 cup Grand Marnier (or orange liqueur)
1 cup sparkling water
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
fresh mint, for garnish
ice

In a large pitcher combine berries, wine, orange liqueur, sparking water, lemon juice, and lime juice . Stir to combine. Chill for 1 hour to let flavors mingle. Serve in ice filled wine glasses with a sprig of mint for garnish.

Disclaimer: I received Bello Boy Moscato and Hen House linens to review at no cost. As always, all opinions are my own.

Chicken Tacos

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Chicken TacosGuys, I don’t know how I got away without sharing this recipe with you guys yet. I know everyone is probably Mexican-ed out from Cinco de Mayo – but just trust me. This is one you want to Pin, or bookmark, or whatever it is you kids are doing these days!

Our family friend Stephanie introduced me to them a few years ago now. We went through a phase where I made them, like every week, for months. Needless to say, I kind of burnt ourselves out on them. Not to mention, they’re not exactly the healthiest option in my repitoire. But, oh are they good!

We always fry our own corn tortillas – but these are different. They’re almost deep fried. The crispiest taco you’ll ever find! And they retain their crispiness – even cold, after sitting on the cooling rack for 2 hours. Not that I speak from experience or anything..

And, they certainly could be tweaked to be healthier. The filling itself isn’t too bad – with some whole wheat tortillas, or even flour – your calorie count would come down significantly. But the fried shells are really worth trying once!

Chicken Tacos

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs – cut into thin strips
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp cumin
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder (regular chili powder is fine too)
1 tsp kosher salt
ground black pepper
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
canola oil
12 corn tortillas
lettuce
cilantro
shredded cheese

Place a cooling rack inside/ over a jelly roll pan. Place a layer of paper towels over the cooling rack. Set aside.

Heat a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil, as well as the chicken. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring frequently until chicken is cooked through and starting to brown on the edges – about 5 minutes. Remove from pan to a cutting board to cool before chopping into small pieces.

Add another tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until peppers and onions are soft and starting to brown on the edges – about 5 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, and chili powder and cook for an additional minute. Add the chopped chicken back to the pan, as well as the chopped cilantro and lime juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, and place taco filling in a medium-sized bowl.

Wipe the skillet clean, and return to stove over medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of oil to the pan. Place a tortilla in the pan and let it fry for about 15 seconds, then flip over. Place about 3 Tbsp chicken taco filling inside the tortilla, right down the center.

Using tongs, carefully fold the tortilla in half, forming a taco shell. Fry on one side for about 1 minute, then using a spatula (I like using my fish spatula) carefully flip over and brown the other side. Remove to the paper-towel lined cooling rack. Repeat process with remaining tortillas. You can usually get 2 or 3 tacos going at the same time once you have the hang of it.

Serve tacos with shredded lettuce, fresh cilantro, and shredded cheese.

Source: adapted from a family friend recipe. Thanks, Burke crew!