Lobster Rolls

For a time before my adoption, I lived with or spent weekends at my grandparents house in North Reading, Massachusetts. A far north suburb of Boston. Each summer, I remember having the chance to have two lobster rolls. When the Eastern Star lodge, and when their church, had fund raisers.

When I got older, and could drive myself up for visits to my grandparents house. We would sometimes get lobster rolls from a local fish market, called the Lobster Claw. This special treat was amazing, and something I always look forward too. The buttery toasted top split hot dog bun, the rich, sweet, and creamy lobster meat. It was magic in your mouth.

After my adoption, we would visit my dad's parent summer homes on Cape Cod (Chatham) or in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Lobster, and other local seafood was a major part of each visit. I love that as well, but it a different set of memories, and for another entry.

In Norwich, Connecticut, Their was this super fish market called Seafood, Ect. It was a  super shop that served the community.. Sadly, it burned down shortly before my parents moved away. They had plans to rebuild, but I never found out if it happened or not. I can't recall, but would guess that my parents would get lobster rolls sometimes. They visited this shop a lot. In the summer it could be 2 or 3 times in a week. 

My children have tried lobster before, but not in a lobster roll. They didn't dislike, but it was a big hit as well. This just left more for me, so I have never pushed them to like it or even try it again.

The following are two lobster roll recipes from the July / August 2012 issue of Food Network Magazine:

Maine - Style

Fill a large steamer or pot with about 2 inches of water. Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Put 2 lobsters (about 1 1/2 pounds each) in the steamer basket or directly in the pot; cover and steam until shells turn bright red, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the lobsters and rinse under cold water until slightly cool. Remove the meat from the shells and roughly chop; chill the meat. Mix 1/3 cup of mayonnaise, 1/4 cup of diced celery, and the zest and juice of 1 lemon in a bowl. Stir in the chilled lobster meat and season with salt. Divide among 4 split-top hog dog buns and top with celery leaves.

Connecticut - Style
Fill a large steamer or pot with about 2 inches of water. Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Put 2 lobsters (about 1 1/2 pounds each) in the steamer basket or directly in the pot; cover and steam until shells turn bright red, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the lobsters and rinse under cold water until slightly cool. Remove the meat from the shells and roughly chop. Melt 1 stick unsalted butter in a saucepan with the juice of 1 lemon, and 1/8 teaspoon of paprika. Remove from heat; stir in the lobster meat and season with salt. Divide among 4 split- top hot dog buns. Serve Warm.


This next recipe is the most complicated I have seen, but looks wonderful and tasty, so I had to make it part of my entry. You can find it, and its sub-parts in Jasper White's, The Summer Shack Cookbook. 

Classic Maine Lobster Roll
4 New England -style hot dog buns
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 Boston or Bibb lettuce leaves, washed and dried
Lobster Salad*
4 dill pickle spears
Potato chips

1) Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Spread the sides of the hot dog buns with the butter, using 1/2 tablespoon on each side. Place the buttered buns in the hot pan and toast, without moving, until golden brown on one side, about a minute, Turn and cook the other side, about 1 minute more. Remove from heat.

2) Open the buns and place in paper bun holders or on a small plates. Place a lettuce leave to the side of each bun. Divide the lobster salad evenly among them. Serve with the pickles and potato chips on the side.

*Lobster Salad
1 pound cooked lobster meat or 5 pounds live lobster
1 small to medium cucumber (4 to 5 ounces), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4 inch dice
1/2 cup Jasper's Lobster Mayonnaise** or Mayonnaise
2 or 3 small scallions, trimmed, and thinly sliced
Freshly ground black pepper
Kosher or Sea Salt if needed

1) if you are using live lobsters , steam them until fully cooked and allow to cool to room temperature. Crack and remove the meat from the claws, knuckles, and tails. Remove any cartilage from the claws and intestine from the tails

2) Cut the lobster meat into 1/2 to 3/4-inch dice. If using whole lobsters, you can pick all the meat from the carcasses and add it to the meat.

3) Place the diced cucumber in a colander and let stand for at least 5 minutes to drain the excess liquid.

4) Combine the lobster, cucumber, mayonnaise, and scallions in a bowl. Season with a bit of pepper if needed, Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

**Jasper's Lobster Mayonnaise
3/4 cup Homemade Mayonnaise*** or just Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Dash of Tabasco sauce
1 tablespoon ice water
1 teaspoon of fresh tarragon and/or
2 teaspoons of fresh chervil

1) Combine the mayonnaise, mustard, Tabasco, and ice water in a small bowl and whisk well to combine. Fold in the tarragon or chervil. Transfer to a bowl or other container, cover   tightly, and refrigerate until ready to use. The mayonnaise will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

***Homemade Mayonnaise
3 large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 cups grapeseed or canola oil
1 tablespoon ice water
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
small pinch of cayenne pepper
freshly ground black pepper to taste

1) Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and whisk very well. Or, if you have the technology, mix the vinaigrette with a handheld mixer; or place the mixture (in two batches) in a blender jar and combine on low speed for 10 seconds, or blend (in two batches) in a food processor.

2) Transfer to a quart jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate until ready to use. The vinaigrette keeps refrigerated for up to 3 weeks; shake or stir before using.

Makes: 4 Buns

America's 236th Birthday

Happy Birthday, United States of America!!

On July 2, 1776, the brave and wise men of the second Continental Congress voted for Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

On July, 4th, 1776, the Congress, risking their very lives, signed the Declaration Of Independence. This was the moment of birth for our great and noble nation. This document, along with our Constitution, may be the greatest in the history of our nation, if not the world.

We have come a long way since that day, 236 years ago, but we still have much to work on as a nation and people. We must be vigilant, for we do have enemies both foreign and domestic, but also always work for that more perfect union that the founding fathers wanted for this nation.

We, as a nation, should never take the freedoms and rights we enjoy for granted. Many, even today, around the world don't have them. Freedom comes with a price. Over the years, countless numbers have given their own lives to maintain what the men who wrote and signed the Declaration Of Independence and Constitution started. Many in my family, both birth and adopted, have served in our military, no matter if they enlisted or were drafted. Many others have served in their own way to help this nation. I believe that my work as a political activist is a form of service to my country. During your own celebrations, please take a moment to remember those who have served and continue to serve our nation in any way.

No matter if you are a Socialist, Green, Democrat, Justice, Independent, Republican, or Tea Party, today is not for partisanship, but to pause and remember that, despite our different views and cultures, we are all Americans.

Being born in Boston, and growing up around New England, I have visited many of the major points of history on the way to becoming our own, free nation. A field in Lexington - Concord, Old North Church, Bunker Hill, Paul Revere's House, Old South Church, the site of the original Boston Tea Party, and many more.

My children and I will spend some time talking about the history and why the 4th of July is special, but we'll be celebrating as well. Although I'm not 100% sure what we'll do, most likely we will have a cook-out of some kind, watch some baseball, take a swim, and maybe even a quick visit to This Is The Place Heritage Park. In the evening, we are going with some friends to Sugar House Park, here in Salt Lake, for Utah's largest fireworks show.

I don't think we'll be setting off any personal fireworks ourselves. It's legal here, in fact this is the first time the new law that allows airrels is in effect. Many government officials are asking people to refrain from setting off fireworks, because it's so hot and dry, and many wild fires are still burning within the state. On top of that, I am sure many people will be setting them off all over the valley and state despite the warning.

"Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. " - Wikipedia

Enjoy your celebration, have fun, and be safe.....

Voting: A Legacy And Our Civic Duty

On Tuesday, June 26th, 2012, I had a chance to cast my first vote in Utah.  As always, my children stood beside me and watched as I completed the process...

You must have reached the age of 18 years here in America before you vote.  In some states, they let you register a bit early as long as you'll be 18 by the time the next election is held.

Long before I had reached the proper age, my parents would take me with them when they would cast their votes.  I would see the process, and stand in the voting booth with them.  In the car, sometimes we talked about why they voted the way they did. Most of the time I agreed, at times I didn't.

By my parents example, I came to understand just how important it was to vote as a citizen of the United States of America. This left a major impression on me.  My parents, when I was living with them, never missed an opportunity to vote.

Voting is something special.  At first, it was only white, male, land owners who could vote, but then it was all males.  Later on women, and African - Americans got the right to vote.  This wasn't easy thing to accomplish.  In fact, it was a hard, and long struggle for both groups.

Even today, if you're convicted of a serious felony, you can (may) lose the right to vote.  Sometime you can get the right to vote restored, but often that is not the case.

When I cast my very first vote for Clinton - Gore in 1996, I was doing something a lot of people my age were not doing.  Not many people under 25 vote, if they register at all.  This is why most politicians don't listen to the concerns of this age group.

Just like my parents, I'm doing my own little part to change this. This is why I take my children with me when I cast my votes.  I'm teaching them about the process, and how to vote on the modern machines.  I try to explain to them why I voted or didn't vote for a certain person, or ballot question.

I would love for them to be loyal Democrats, that is my hope for them.  That said, It doesn't matter what party they associate with as long as they register, and vote in each primary and general election.  Moreover, I wish them to be informed voters and, if nothing else, know the basics of the issues.

I hope that I'm raising a couple of....