Massachusetts - The Old Colony State

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Massachusetts is known for Clam Chowder, Cranberries, Boston Cream Pie, Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies and Samuel Adams Beer.  I used Emeril's Boston Clam Chowder, it was delicious.  I used canned clams rather than whole clams. 

The Menu

Boston Clam Chowder

Fried Clams

Boston Bibb Cranberry Walnut Salad

Parker House Rolls

Boston Cream Pie

Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies

Samuel Adams

Cranberry Juice

We celebrated Massachusetts with the Warrens (Louise and all 3 kids home from Auburn), The Pilmans and the Wilsons.  It is always a great time when we are together.  The soup was easy to make and turned out great, everything was good, with the exception of the Boston Cream Pie.  I had one bite, which fro me was one too many.  I hate custard so it makes sense that I wouldn't like the Boston Cream Pie.  Only the adults ate the Boston Cream Pie, I think they were being polite by eating it, who knows maybe they like custard.

As good as the meal was, the best part of the meal was the company and the conversations.  Pete showed us videos of a recent trip to Chicago where the band was staying at the same hotel as a Furry Convention. 

We are going to take a few weeks off and start up in the new year with Michigan.  I have no idea what Michigan is famous for but I sure it will be fun!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ M A S S A C H U S E T T S ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ M A S S A C H U S E T T S ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Maryland - The Old Line State

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Made it to Maryland... I lived in Maryland for 14 years, longer than I have ever lived in any other state. The best food there, hands down are the crabs and crab cakes. If you have never had crabs with Old Bay, done Maryland style, you are missing out on a culinary treat. Allen took Sydney to Maryland and introduced her to crabs last year, she has been waiting patiently all year for us to get to Maryland to have them again. The crabs found off the coast of Maryland are called blue crabs and they are hard to locate in Seattle. I found some at Ranch 99 at the last minute and attempted to cook them in Old Bay. They were OK, but something was missing.

The Menu

Crabs with Old Bay  

Crab Cakes

Maryland Style Potato Salad

Asparagus with Old Bay

Smith Island Cake

Black-Eyed Susan's

The crab cake recipe I used was Shirley Lowrie's recipe. Her son was Allen's roommate in college and one of his best men at our wedding. Everything but the cake and the Black Eyed Susan's had Old Bay in it. I loved the asparagus, I can't wait to try Old Bay on other vegetables now. The potato salad was OK, it went well with the crabs.

The Smith Island cake looked like a stack of pancakes. The icing didn't turn out and I thought it was going to be a failure. It ended up being yummy and I will definitely try it again but with a different icing (maybe caramel). My favorite cake is Caroline's Cakes in Annapolis, MD.  My sister in law has sent it to me for Christmas several times, maybe I will try and re-create that one next time.

I looked for Natty Boh (National Bohemian Beer) which is the beer of Baltimore but couldn't find any.  I decided to make Black Eyed Susan's, which is the drink of the Preakness.  I went to the Preakness numerous times while living in Baltimore and never had one.  The Black Eyed Susan's were a hit (for Louise and I, the kids had raspberry soda). I changed the recipe and added kiwi strawberry juice instead of orange juice and added less alcohol. I will definitely try them again! 

I met Allen in Maryland, Sydney was born in Maryland and I still have some of the dearest friends living there. A piece of my heart will always remain in Maryland but my stomach is moving on to Massachusetts and Chowda!

♥ M A R Y L A N D ♥ M A R Y L A N D ♥ M A R Y L A N D ♥ M A R Y L A N D ♥