Crab Boil With The Geriatric Group

This past week several of my husband's family (His parents, 2 Aunts, and 1 Uncle) drove to visit us here in Kansas from Kentucky.  This group... whom we loving refer to as the "Geriatric Group"... because they are the older relatives... but... they are hilariously fun!!!  We laughed, giggled, and shared many memories from all our past get togethers, and the time just flew by.

My husband Joe just LOVES any, and all kinds of seafood... his specialty meal being his famous "Crab Boil".  Joe and I have had crab boils many times over the past several years, but we usually do them when our daughters and their husbands are in town, and as a summer time get together event with friends.  We have talked about these crab boils with his parents (who also just LOVE seafood of all kinds) afterwards, but they have never been around to experience one.  So.... when we found out they were coming for a visit this year, we decided to do a crab boil just for them.  It was a HUGE success and very enjoyed by all!

Several years ago I bought Joe a turkey fryer for frying his Thanksgiving turkey... but this pot is also good for crab boils as well.  It is a large pot that sets on a stand that is connected to a propane tank.  When he fries his turkeys he fills the pot up with peanut oil... when he does his crab boil he fills the pot up with water and makes his own seafood broth.  This turkey fryer has been well used for over 10 years now, and is still going strong with many more turkey fryings and crab boils to go.

Joe begins by layering his ingredients into the huge pot... placing the food items that take the longest to cook in the bottom, and ending with the food items that just need to be quickly steamed on top.  The longest part of doing the crab boil is getting the cooking broth up to boil... after that the whole process goes very quickly.  First in the pot is the baby new potatoes (kept whole), then he places ear corn nibblets on top (whole ears of corn that have been cut in half), then in goes the smoked sausage.  It is at this point that he adds in his water, spices, seasonings, and herbs to flavor the boil.  Then after the broth starts to boil, he adds the crab legs, shell on shrimp, then the clams, and finally the mussels.  When he has determined everything is cooked to perfection... he then pours the entire contents of the pot into large aluminum roasting pans and sets those in the middle of the table... then declares... "It's time to feast!"... and the feasting thus begins!

We set up tables outdoors with plastic disposable tablecloths on top, so that when the feast is finished and everyone is completely satiated, fingers licked, and all juices have been sopped up with the crusty bread we serve with the crab boil.... we then... just gather up the plastic tablecloths and dump the whole nasty mess into a garbage can and VOILA.... clean up is a breeze!  As Joe is preparing the crab boil, the table is set with plastic dinnerware... utensils aren't needed... just your fingers... little bowls of butter for dipping for each guest, a couple rolls of paper towels for face and finger wiping, another aluminum roasting pan for all the empty shells... that's it!

This is definitely a warm weather kind of eating experience so that you can keep all the mess, and seafood smells out doors, and for an easy cleanup.  After all bellies are full to brimming over, we then continue to sit outside and enjoy wine and conversation until dark.  Every time we have put on a crab boil it has been such a fun relaxing treat for everyone.  We are doing another crab boil just next week when our youngest daughter and her family visit (Lauren, Kevin, and Henry)... and they have been looking forward to the crab boil for 6 months now!

To make a crab boil you basically need a large pot over a hot heat source... then you can add any ingredients and seafood you desire, as well as any flavorings to make the broth as you desire.  There are lots of recipes to be found for crab boils... don't be afraid... they are very easy and basically are a "One Pot Meal".  But do be sure to have lots of crusty bread around for lots of broth sopping after all the delectable nibbles have been consumed.

Grab some family and/or friends.... begin a new summer time tradition and have a crab boil, wine/beer and have a mav-ah-lous good time!   YUM YUM, SLURP SLURP AND SOP SOP!!!!