We are going to do a few columns about getting rid of the winter blues unless we get a thaw and spring is here and we had better hope that is not the case.
This week a simple dish to make to be supremely comforted. This dish would be also very good as an easy to make side for your Super Bowl party.
It all started when I needed some real crab meat for a crab salad. I have found that most grocery stores sell a large can of fresh crab meat for around $14.00. It is very good meat although it is very fragile. Handle it with care!
Do not use the fake crab for this dish. The dish deserves better than that.
I had half of my crab left over and I wondered what to do with it. I had thought of the hot crab sandwiches on English muffins that we used to get at the Red Lion. They were wonderful. Then I got to thinking of that really comforting and gourmet treat, macaroni with lobster in it.
Thinking those thoughts led to this. This is called Mac and Crab. It is simple to make. Don’t over think it. If you spend two hours on it, it won’t taste any better than it tastes when you spend a half hour on it.
You will need
2 cups of fresh crab meat, picked over for shells
2 boxes of stove top macaroni and cheese
3/4 cup butter
¾ cup half and half or cream
A big splash or two of Tabasco
Salt and pepper to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
Cook macaroni and cheese according to package directions. Drain noodles and put in bottom of your pan. Sprinkle with the packaged cheese etc in the boxes. Add the salt and pepper. Add the cream and butter and Tabasco. Stir well. Add the grated cheese and stir again. If too dry add more cream. If too wet add more grated cheese. Then fold in your crab very carefully. Serve hot and be prepared for raves.
