maryland appetizer

[carolynne]

help.......... I have a tradeshow coming up next week and it has been suggested that to draw people in we provide wine from
where state the company is based. I need to provide a terrific
room temperature finger food to serve as well. thought about shrimp with "old bay seasoning" any other suggestions?

[Mamasue]

Maryland is known for their crabmeat...blue crab I believe. I can't help you with tried and true recipes because we don't really care for the taste, but I am sure that little crab cakes formed in bite size pieces with maybe some sort of salsa topping would work.

[TheresaM]

Carolyn, please tell use what type of wine you are serving. And
do you think shrimp is smart item for the summer. Unless you
plan to keep it on ice !

[TheresaM]

If you do a search on this website there are quite a few recipes for old bay seasoning.

[Mamasue]

I just did a search at the Epicurious website that Theresa posted above. If you type in Crab cakes, you will get loads of them to choose from. Good Luck! :)

[Vanessa]

HI. Welcome to Maryland & great success in your trade show.
I suggest since your trade show is here go to www.marylandwine.com
this is the association of Maryland wineries where you will get info on the wineries wine etc. One yr we went to all the wineries and it was fun.
Since you will be having the trade show here well Maryland wines might be a good idea.
About food Maryland has such a variety. If you go to Baltimore there are so many cultures (italian, Greek, POlish, German) which of course you can savor great food. Maryland is definitelly known for crabs and of course people love crab cakes. Actually Maryland has great assortment of seafood (oysters, crab, clams, shrimp, rockfish etc)
The recipe below is from Gov of Maryland
Crab Cakes
1 pound Maryland Crab meat
1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Margarine, butter or oil for frying
Remove all cartilage from crabmeat
In a bowl, mix bread crumbs, eggs, mayonnaise and seasonings.
Add crab meat and mix gently by thoroughly. If mixture is too dry, add a little more mayonnaise. Shape into 6 cakes.
Cook cakes in a frying pan, in just enough fat to prevent sticking, until they are browned (about 5 minutes on each side).
Another liked recipe around here is:

Fishing Bay Chowder
Ingredients
6 strips of bacon
2 cups cooked dices potatoes
1 cup chopped onions
2 lbs skinless fish cut into bite size pieces
1 quart milk
1 teaspoon Old Bay® seafood seasoning
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped parsley

Preparation
In a four quart sauce pan cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan and break into pieces. Drain most, but not all fat from pan. Add onions to pan and cook until tender (do not brown). Add fish and enough water to just cover the fish. Cover pan and simmer for about 12 minutes or until fish is cooked. Add potatoes then slowly stir in the milk. Add the remaining ingredients including the bacon pieces and cook over low heat until thouroughly heated. It is important to prevent this chowder form reaching a boil. Serve as an appetizer or as the main cousre with oyster crackers and a garden salad.
One that you can enjoy in many parties is:

Hot Crab Dip
1/2 pound (8 ounces) Maryland regular crabmeat
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons salad dressing or mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1-1/4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, grated
pinch garlic salt
paprika, for garnish
Remove cartilage from crabmeat. In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, sour cream, salad dressing, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and garlic salt until smooth. Add enough milk to make mixture creamy. Sir in 2 tablespoons of grated cheese. Fold crabmeat into cream cheese mixture.
Pour into greased 1-quart casserole. Top with remaining cheese. Bake at 325 degrees Farenheit until mixture is bubbly and browned on top, about 30 minutes.
Serve with crackers. Makes about 4 cups dip.

Another one for parties:
Imperial Crab
2 pounds Maryland backfin crabmeat
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons chopped pimento
2 teaspoons whole capers
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
6 drops liquid hot pepper sauce
8 aluminum or ceramic scallop shaped baking shells
8 tablespoons mayonnaise
paprika for garnish

Remove all cartilage from crabmeat. Place crabmeat in a large bowl. Mix mayonnaise, pimento, capers, Worcestershire sauce, salt and liquid hot pepper sauce together and blend well. Pour over crabmeat and toss LIGHTLY. Divide crabmeat between eight scallop shells and top each shell with one tablespoon mayonnaise. Sprinkle with paprika. Place shells on cookie sheet or shallow baking pan and bake for 20 minutes in 375 degreee Farenheit oven. Serve at once.

Makes 8 servings.

Let me also suggest other appetizers which are enjoyed in Maryland
Oysters Rockefeller
Camembert FrittersStuffed shrimp
Shrimp in any form (fried, boiled etc)

[Nancy171]

The August Bon Appetit has an article (and recipes) on Old Bay Seasoning. It might provide some inspiration.

[carolynne]

thank you so much for all the wonderful and quick responses. We will be serving a white wine ( leaving it up to my boss to select ) and hoping to have iced cooler for the seasoned shrimp on hand. Vanessa - the crab dip recipe sounds wonderful. I am researching borrowing a fondue pot with sterno. I think pieces of bread dipped would be a wonderful compliment. Thoughts......
Also thought a give away of crab molded lolipops would tie in the maryland theme.

[Vanessa]

Hi Carrolyne.
Glad I could help. Yes the dip is a good idea. You did not mention the amount of people you are expecting or where you will be having this trade show. If you are having a lot of people you might wish to look into catering. In the Inner Harbour there are many restaurants that can provide mini crabs, or any other specialty. If its a smaller group I guess you could take care of it yourself. May I suggest besides white wine and coolers a red wine or Merlot? About souveniers anything with crabs or Orioles etc would be neat. You might want to get ideas in the Inner Harbour there are lots of stores souveniers and of course food!
I wish you a fun time!