Cupids & Crabs.

Valentine's Day
Such a pressured day for many in this world. Not sure the fuss. I think society (or Hallmark)  has made such a big deal about this being a couples only holiday that it's ruined the fun innocent mystique of it all. I think someone needs to create a campaign that showcases the holiday as being nothing more than sharing your love for the people close to you or even to strangers. It should be a day where people forget about their selfish agendas and do little things that are nice and caring, sharing gratitude for a friendship, a relationship and more.


Now don't get me wrong, I'm a romantic when it comes to meddling in other peoples business. Like Hannah for instance... her friend Evan gave her a Valentine and then asked her out. She now has a boyfriend thanks to Saint Valentine! Or my sister Barb, she was given an opportunity to start a new chapter in her life today as a new teachers associate for a special education classroom in Waukee, IA. Talk about sweet. Romance comes in different shapes, different packages, different outcomes. It's really the romance of life that we should all celebrate on this fine Saint Valentine's Day. 

So our bit of romance this evening included crab legs, roasted potatoes, asparagus and sourdough bread, straight from the north-western part of America.  Such memories from enjoying crab legs as a family. I remember when we were stuck in Atlanta for a 6 hour layover years back, coming home from Mexico with Hannah and Elie. We took a cab to an awesome restaurant call Spondivits, a steak and seafood place. We sat outside and gobbled up a bucket of crab legs and took home our cab tools (as pictured). 


Crab Legs
2 lbs. crab legs
Bay Seasoning added to a stock pot of water.
Steam and serve with melted butter (can add garlic) in ramiken


Heart-shaped Roasted Potatoes

6 large potatoes (about 2 pounds for 4 servings)

1/4cup olive oil

1tbl kosher salt

freshly ground pepper

Make Heart Cutouts

• Fill a pot with  about 1quart -2quart  of water  to boil, add about 1tbl salt

• In the meantime peel potatoes, slice them , using a small metal cookie cutter cut out as many hearts as you can. Reserve scraps in water, you can also par-cook scraps or make mashed potatoes
• Cook potatoes in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain potatoes and let cool slightly
• Combine all the ingredients for the marinade
• Preheat oven to 400F
• Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick spray
• Spread marinaded potatoes evenly onto the baking sheet
• Roast them for 20 minutes, using an off set silicone spatula carefully turn the potatoes as needed(don't forget to use oven mittens when handling hot baking sheet!)
• If your oven has a broiler, broil potatoes for additional 5 minutes or so until they are golden on the outside

* Recipe originated from this great blog: http://hanielas.blogspot.com


Happy is.