Crabby Patties or Don't Look Gift Crabs in the Mouth

It all started with a gift from Alaska, air-shipped frozen, crab.  A lot of it.  Bob is not too happy with shellfish, or any fish really, unless it's ahi tuna, small amounts of mahimahi or ono.  But he is a Sponge Bob fan, so I said we were going to have Crabby Patties!

Coincidentally, I was at the hairdresser's that day,  flipping through magazines, waiting for my turn, and spotted a recipe for "crab cakes".  Yes and almost copied it out by hand.  But, having joined the techno age, realized in time that my iphone would do it for me. Perfect timing for our crab.

I emailed my friend, Linda, to see if she would like to help with all that prying out of meat from shells, for a good share of it. Thus a crabby party was hatched.  Good kitchen shears were useful, ice pick, pliers and nutcracker.  We set to work, ending up with 3 pounds of shelled crab meat.  And relaxed after with glasses of lemon mead and chips.

Sorry Bob for a very crabby week-end, ha ha.  We had not only the Crabby Patties, but crab with melted butter, lemon and new potatoes, Crab Quesadillas and Crab Salad Niçoise.   I hear Linda enjoyed her share as well.

Crab Salade Niçoise

There was a very large pot of shells left which were contributed to my banana patch.  And before someone tells me I should have made stock with them, that was done first.  And thrown out after I decided there was not enough room in the fridge or freezer for it.

Note: Instead of oyster crackers, I used crushed Masala chips.  The patties were fried up in my cast-iron skillet and served with eggs for breakfast.  Oh boy, they were, no joke, the best I've ever had.   Apologies to Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab. The quesadillas were awesome as well.  Will share the good times with Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking meme.  Do feel free to contribute a post on something food related and  link up thru the weekend.