Gone to Carolina In My Mind
June 7th, 2010 § 38 Comments
If you were to call my grandfather right now in Myrtle Beach, SC, to ask him what my favorite food is, he’d tell you to call back because mass is on TV. But when you call back in an hour, he’d first tell you a story about the funny thing that happened at the post office, then just a tid bit of the conversation he had with Dr. Giovanioli about his ears, and maybe about how ungrateful his grandchildren are, but then…if he remembered your original question (what’s Andrea’s favorite food), he’d tell you outright, “Crab legs.”
You see, my earliest memories include summers in Myrtle Beach with Nana and Papa. A dayglow shade of zinc on my cheeks to at least pretend to protect me from the horrendous sunburns I was getting daily. Wet feet. My bathing suit bottom sagging with sand. Salty water. Grape soda.
My brother and I spent one full Carolina month with my dad’s parents each and every year. And of all sweet snapshots I have in my mental files, I think crab legs are at the forefront. Piles of ravaged shells, pink meat plunged in clarified butter. My grandfather, as proud as a peacock at my 5 year old cracking skills. Over the years, crab legs crept up my list of favorite foods. Unfortunately, don’t tell Papa, they aren’t my absolute favorite. That prestigious number one spot belongs to my one and only: Peanut butter and fluff sandwiches. Not another rival in sight.
These little crab cakes pay homage to those beachy summers and my longtime red-shelled love, crab. They are as nostalgic as watching “Days of Our Lives” with my Nana and learning to swim. Maybe heavier on the soap opera-watching than the swimming because I still don’t quite know how to swim. Not a proper stroke anyway. Doggie paddle or bust.
This recipe belongs to Miss Paula Deen. Since that foxy lady has a penchant for butter and frying, I knew they’d be good. I followed it almost to the T, save for a few adjustments to lighten it slightly. 1) I used panko bread crumbs instead of Ritz crackers in the mix and 2) I used light mayonnaise, and 3) I used less oil to fry them- the amount called for (1/2 cup peanut oil) isn’t completely necessary to get that crisp, seared crust. But if you’re going to greatly reduce the amount of oil, like I did, I highly recommend a nonstick skillet. These cakes just scream “I will stick to the pan.”
They’re utterly simple and undoubtedly delicious. Moist, tender, crab meat with bright notes of lemon, ground mustard, and garlic. The mixture is wet, and the cakes have a tendency to get crumbly, so be forewarned. Cook them for at least 5-7 minutes per side to allow them to firm up a bit.
Crab Cakes (recipe courtesy Paula Deen, FoodNetwork.com)
(serves 4)
- 1 pound crabmeat, picked free of shells
- 1/3 cup crushed crackers (recommended: Ritz) – I used panko bread crumbs
- 3 green onions (green and white parts), finely chopped
- 1/2 cup finely chopped bell pepper
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce — I used soy sauce since Worcestershire was out of stock in my pantry
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Dash cayenne pepper
- Flour, for dusting
- 1/2 cup peanut oil — I used 1 TBSP
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients, except for the flour and peanut oil. Shape into patties and dust with flour.
I formed 8 patties.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, carefully place crab cakes, in batches, in pan and fry until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Carefully flip crab cakes and fry on other side until golden brown, about 4 minutes.
You always paint such beautiful pictures in your posts…I am both always hungry AND blissfully happy at your adventures, past and present!
so LOVE crab cakes.
I need breakfast now.
do you mean peanut butter and marshmallow cream? “fluff”
or did I interpret that wrong?
that sounds addictive …. I never met a jar of Marshmallow cream that I didn’t devour with spoon in hand.
Happy Monday!
Cindy, that’s exactly what I mean: pb and marshmallows. OH BOY.
i think i remember seeing paula deen making these one and drooling. i may have just done that again.
Your crabcakes look fantastic! Crab somehow screams summer to me. Yum! But I thought your comment about peanut butter and fluff was too funny! I’m like that with grilled cheese… I don’t care what kind of exotic, amazing fare I discover, I will always love good melty cheddar.
Your crabcakes looks so light and tasty. I would love to risk making crabcakes. I just think I might burn them. Oh well, I guess I can drool over yours.
Dear Andrea – Paula may have a penchant for butter soaked foods but you my dearie have a penchant for writing the most poignant, heartfelt posts. On top of that sharing such a delicious recipe that would be perfect for the summer is an added treat.
Note to self – Include lump crab meat to shopping list~
Ciao, Devaki @ weavethousandflavors
Devaki, thank you for always bringing a huge smile to my face! Your words always touch my heart. Have a lovely week!
oh i love this story…thank you for taking us back! and this looks like a fabulous recipe-YUM!
This post is exactly the reason I am testing a vegetarian month for June and not July, when I vacation in South Carolina!
I love the beautiful stories you tell about food. Is there anything you’re not good at? What a great memory! And my husband would love these crab cakes. He’s from Maryland’s Eastern Shore–crab central–so it’s his favorite food.
Awww, my college boyfriend’s grandfather lived in Myrtle Beach too, and we used to drive from Charleston to go visit him! Such a great beach town!
Your crabcakes look great!
I like crabcakes a lot but have never attempted to make them myself. I might have to give these a go. They look doable! haha!
They look fantastic!
Yummy, I love crabcakes, but always buy them from the prepared foods section of the grocery store. I need to try to make my own!
Crab cakes are something I have on rare occasion- I can get sick of crab pretty quickly… no idea why, because I love most sea food!
And Paula pretty much rock. You can just tell anything she makes will be decadence…
Last time I had crab cakes I broke out in acne. I think I’m sensitive to seafood
Oh no! What an awful reaction!
Seeing as I live in Maryland, right along the shore of the Chesapeake Bay, you better believe I am a huge fan of crab cakes!!! But I’ve actually never made my own – I must give it a shot!
You have me SO excited for the fresh crab cakes I will be having at the beach in less than two weeks! They are my favorite dinner to order at seafood places. Or just a bunch of crab legs…mmmmm….
I love crab cakes. Which is kind of strange because I dont actually like crab. Artificial crab, yes. Real crab, no. It makes no sense.
Those crab cakes look wonderful!! Can you believe I’ve never had a crab cake? Crazy, right??
Em, get your cute little bottom to the nearest market and get a crab cake! They’re deeelicious!!…and have a great day!
When we lived in MD, I’d make crab cakes often because crab was so cheap! I haven’t made any since we moved to SC. I bet Josh misses them…I need to get on that
Great meal and your gpa sounds pretty awesome.
Erica, you’ve lived in so many places it seems! I love it! How long have you been in SC?
Peanut butter and fluff is pretty fantastic! (We used to call them “fluffernutter” sandwiches.
) These crab cakes look absolutely delicious too!
I’ve never made crabcakes, but I have always wanted to! I love ordering them, especially the ones with big chunks of crab meat. These look amazingly delicious. Your food always looks so beautiful
Crab cakes are definitely one of my favorite foods. If they’re on the menu at a restaurant, I’ll order them 99% of the time. The thing is, though, that crab cakes are so hit or miss :/ But yours look DELISH! And I mean, you can’t really go wrong with a Paula Deen recipe. Homegirl knows what she’s doing!
love this story!! I have a Nana and Papa too, and all of my memories with them surround food, church and the stock market (papa watches every day still!!). Those crab cakes look awesome! BEST DISHES to you and Mrs. Deen.
Oh where do I even start? My love of Myrtle Beach, Days of Our Lives, crab legs, or Paula Dean? Because I love them all. I live in SC and Myrtle Beach is always a summer trip for us. Myrtle Beach or bust. Half of my childhood summer memories involve Myrtle Beach. And Miss Paula Dean? She’s my hero. OK, not really, but she’s up there. Amazing woman. And living proof that butter is not the devil!
Aaah, a fellow Myrtle Beach lover! I spent every summer at Ocean Creek Resort, right across from Barefoot Landing. I’m in love with that place!
I LOVE crab cakes, but never would have even thought to attempt making them on my own. Looks like they are amazing!
You and Paula Dean? A match made in culinary heaven.
Oh, Ilove crab cakes!! These look amazing and easy to do. Did you use canned crab or fresh?
Hey Krista! I used fresh crab, sold in little jars at Whole Foods. It was claw meat.
crab cakes are one of my favorite things to eat. thanks for making me drool.
Love the title! Definitely one of my favorite songs b/c 1- I’m a (North) Carolina girl and 2- I’m a Carolina (UNC – not USC) grad. Nobody is allowed to graduate from Carolina without professing their love of James Taylor and their undying devotion for Tarheel basketball.
Crab cakes are the best! My soon-to-be mother-in-law make the best (in my opinion). They live on the water so we throw crab pots out of the dock and have fresh crab cakes straight from the “back yard”.
Wow, I bet those crab cakes are truly the best- so fresh! I’m jealous!
I love hearing stories of the good ol’ childhood carefree days! Oh, it’s been a while since my last glass of grape soda….yumms!
Crab is definitely on the tops of my list too. They can taste so sweet even just plain steamed.
Your crabcakes look amazing! I’m going to have to bookmark this one for sure. Always love your step by step. Thank you for sharing Andrea!