Sunday, February 17, 2013

Crab!

Yesterday was busy - I did a volunteer job for the Friends of Vista House at Rooster Rock State Park in the early afternoon - then we attended the annual Crab Feed at Portland Yacht Club in the evening.  We arrived shortly after 5 pm and I snapped this shot of the sailboat harbor on the Columbia River.  Our boat, Stargazer is 2nd from the end on the middle dock in the photo.
I zoomed in and you can see her stern, the black one with gold trim. 
We enjoyed an hour and a half of visiting with people and waiting for dinner to begin, having some drinks in the lounge area.  Then at 6:30, the ship's bell was rung, signaling the beginning of dinner.  I had written our name on the paper table cover for 8 places.  My sister Roberta's son and his wife Tami have joined the club and they invited my sister and husband Teddy as their guests.  We invited my younger sister Denise and husband Steve.  On the table was a tray of oyster shooters.  They put a raw oyster in a cup, with a dash of cocktail sauce and a bit of lemon in each.  I could not muster up the courage to try one.  :-)  (Sorry for the fuzzy photo!)
Having fun picking crab!  Dayle, me, Denise and Steve.
Cliff, Tami, Roberta & Teddy. 
There were almost 400 people there for dinner!  The menu was all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab, oyster shooters, cole slaw, warm garlic bread, beer in pitchers and 3 kinds of cake for dessert!
Here is a whole crab, they're about 12 inches across including the legs as pictured.
Here's my plate before I began ripping the legs apart and picking the meat out body end, then you take a mallet and whack the shells and pick the meat out of the leg sections.  The "prize" is a huge chunk of crab in the claw.  You should hear everyone having a ball doing this!  
This is a pile of crab meat before you eat it!  They had this wonderful sauce to put on top, it's called --

Continental Cocktail Sauce

1 C mayo
1/4 C ketchup
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 dashes Worcestershire
1/4 C sherry
They even had a live band in the ballroom - it was kind of nice as we were in the dining room below, so it wasn't real loud while we were dining.
We had a wonderful time!!  We even brought home a crab and it's in the fridge - we might have crab on top a green salad for dinner.  I wanted to share this photo of our Daphne plant when I got home yesterday - it won't be long and I'll have bouquets of the fragrant flower in the house.. and it's the middle of February!
And look at my Snowdrops!!  I love these first flowers of the year.. we have big patches of them all over the farm!
And the first Stargazer Lily has opened.  I adore these flowers, we had them in our wedding in my bouquet and on the cake.  :-)
We are relaxing today - what are you up to?  Our brother-in-law Steve cooked up a new trip for us in a year - we're going to fly to Las Vegas, enjoy some time there, then rent a van and drive to the Grand Canyon and Phoenix, Arizona!  Sounds fun, huh?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

19 comments:

  1. That looks such fun Teresa. The snowdrops are so lovely. DH ad I went a walk today and on the way back saw some snowdrops in someones garden so pretty.
    Yesterday I went card making - sadly though the lady who owns the barn is having to close as business not good. On our walk we went to visit friends and sadly too my friend is unwell. Various problems but the main one at moment is suspected DVT- she had to go back to A&E this afternoon for another injection. She has a scan tomorrow. She looks so poorly I am worried about her.
    Anne x

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  2. PS I think my post might be a little sad - will understand if you don't want to put it in your comments Anne x

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    1. Anne, all our lives have happy and sad - I'm glad you tell me how things are going, no matter what it is. ((hugs))

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  3. Gosh, your life is so full and interesting, Teresa! That photo of the harbor is gorgeous, how nice to have a sailboat. And the crab dinner must have been wonderful. Your flowers are beautiful and so many snowdrops! Enjoy them. :)

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  4. I think the crab fest sounds amazing. My favorite is soft shell crab, oh yum my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Your new trip sounds fantastic. I have always wanted to see the Grand Canyon.
    Hugs to you and Dayle,
    Meredith

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  5. Yum Teresa I would have loved that meal. The trip sounds fab...my daughter and son and law did part of that on their honeymoon trip up the west coast and had a ball. Lovely to see all your flowers. Have a great week, Jane x

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  6. I love crab! Looks like a fun and yummy time! I'm envious that you already have flowers blooming. No sign of crocus or anything here yet.

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  7. The scenery where your sailboat is docked is beautiful! and it looks like you all are having the time of your life! Love your crab bibs.....looking very fashionable for the occasion! Very excited for you about your trip to Vegas!
    Hugs to you!
    Shari

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  8. Hello Teresa, that looks like the "crabbiest" bunch of people I have ever seen, lol. As usual I see there is no moss growing on your north side and you and your hubby are out and about. You make my head spin with all you do. I am still laying low after the loss of my husband, not feeling much like posting and just looking around blogland at what is new with all you sweet folks. The flowers are wonderful. I don't have anything peeking up outside yet, but a friend says her hyacinths are poking up a tiny bit in her bulb garden. It is 29 degrees here today and I turned the heat up. My hands and feet have been cold all day, I just can't warm up. Awhile ago my one friend called from Fort Myers Florida and she said it will be down in the 30's for them tonight. Brrrr.....
    (((HUGS))) Susanne :)

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  9. This dinner looks just like my kind of thing! You will really like the Vegas/Grand Canyon trip. I have been to the area a couple of times and it is really enjoyable!

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  10. Each! It looks like you had a great time with all of your family. You are so lucky to have your siblings close by and that you enjoy each other.
    So when is your big trip planned? I'm hoping to be back in Portland on Friday, March 8. Do you think lunch could be in the works that day with Grcie and Taci?
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  11. Wow...now that is CRAB!!!! So fun, and so good!!!!!
    You enjoy your family so much!!!
    Love that,
    XO Kris

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  12. Yummm....crab....can't do the oysters. I'm allergic to them. I can't believe all the blooming that's taking place. I've seen a lot of bulbs around here.

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  13. I have serious crab envy.. My very favourite food .. Oh ans oysters too. Wish I was there x

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  14. Looks like a GREAT time! I bet it was delish too. Yum-yum.

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  15. That first photo of the sailboat harbor is wonderful!
    Isn't it awesome to see our daphne flowers SO very close to opening? I can hardly wait:)I LOVE your snowdrops---after your and Sophie's posts on them I made a reminder note on my phone so I won't forget to plant them this autumn.
    Your plans for a trip sound wonderful...lot of great places in AZ--Lake Havasu (to see the London Bridge), Sedona (incredible artsy community), etc. AND lots of sun!
    Blessings, Aimee

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  16. How fun Teresa!!!
    I have an award for you my friend. Go check it out when you have some time :)

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  17. The crab feed looked like great fun as well as being yummy [accept for the oysters, maybe :-)] I especially enjoyed your picture of the harbor, also, and your beautiful flowers as well. The trip sounds like it could be WONDER FULL !
    Did I ever tell you that back in 1970 I rode down and up Bright Angel trail on mule back in the Grand Canyon? [One of my greatest adventures :-)] It has been many years since I have been to Las Vegas, but currently the youngest daughter of a dear friend is one of the performers in Cirque O show. She was on the gold medal Olympic sycro. swim team and the film clips I have seen of the current Los Vegas show are amazing! xx, Gracie

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