CRAWFISH BOIL

On our way home from Bass Pro Shop, we stopped at Capt. Jacks, which is a seafood shack about twenty minutes from the house. Their sign out front read... "Live Crawfish". Marc entered the shack returning 15 minutes later smelling like seafood and wearing a HUGE smile. He was so excited he could hardly tell me what he found out. He was as happy as when the Saints won the SuperBowl. Capt. Jacks offers Live Crawfish and Crabs... SCORE. Now Marc has the opportunity to enjoy some of his favorite seafood like he did growing up back home in New Orleans. He can have Boiled rather than Steamed, which is how it's prepared here on the Mid-Atlantic Coast.

So the plan for Sunday was to have his first (since living in VA since '98 because he couldn't get Live Seafood before now) CRAWFISH BOIL. He headed off to Capt. Jacks after lunch to fetch our guests for dinner, or rather... our guests WERE dinner.

When he got home, he filled a metal tub with water and dumped in 10lbs of Live Crawfish.

Then he set about getting the pot to boil.

We came home from New Orleans last month with 6 Large Jars of the Main Ingredient (other than the actual Seafood) to a Delicious Seafood Boil...

Can't forget all the fixins'...

Once the Crab Boil was in the water, the air was permeated with a wonderful smell... Marc was in heaven. He said it brought back great memories.

While awaiting their final bath, the Crawfish swam around in the metal tub. One seem pretty persistent about pleading his case for freedom.

Luke came outside after his nap, and was fascinated with what he found in the metal tub.

He didn't really like it when Marc placed one of the Crawfish on the ground. I think he was afraid he was going to be attacked by this wee warrior.

Then Grey got up from his nap and joined the party.

I think Luke is telling Grey to be sure to not put his hand near the water.

They both enjoyed just watching the Crawfish.

Then... it was time for our guests to enter the boiling water.

After a quick boil and short soak... they become a brilliant red-orange color.

Dinner is served.

We invited Jim Usas over to join us in our feast. He had never had boiled Crawfish before now, and was soon a big fan. I even picked my own... Marc was so proud. He'll make a CoonAss out of me yet.

Boiled versus Steamed... When Seafood is Boiled, the Seasonings and Flavor is absorbed into the Meat, making it tasty and moist. When Seafood is Steamed, the Seasoning is added after the fact, so the Meat is dry and tougher. According to my husband, people here on the East Coast just don't know what they're doing when they Steam everything. They are totally missing out on the total Yumminess of when Seafood is Boiled.

We plan to have at least one Crawfish or Crab Boil a month this summer.