Coastal Florida Seafood Boil And Tablescape!

 

Coastal Florida Seafood Boil And Tablescape!

Whoopee!!! 

I have always loved Spring and living in SW Florida our coastal climate for me is like a delicious frosting on a perfectly made cake. 

When I think of Spring, and the cooler days turn into warmer days…I think of a year full of rebirth and new growth.

Living on the coast also means lots of fresh seafood, which has always been a favorite of mine…

……and it is the season of the stone crab which means fishermen are checking traps and bringing in all kinds of fresh seafood to our markets and restaurants.  

Shrimp and Lobster tails are my favorite….though the stone crab is definitely right up at the top of the list.

I also did a blue crab tablescape and if you missed it, you can click here to see it.

Unfortunately, Spring is still what we call “Season”….simply put, a time when all the Northerners escape their cold and snow and come to Florida for sunny skies and warm sandy beaches.

Don’t get me wrong…this is very good for our economy, but it is not so good when one wants to go out to dinner and enjoy a fresh catch of seafood and it is standing room only.

Soooooo what does one do?

We make our own.

Today, I am sharing my seafood tablescape and of course lots of yummy seafood!

I particularly like doing a low country boil, which I became fascinated with when watching the movie “Steel Magnolias”...you remember the part at the Chinquapin Parish 

Christmas Festival in Louisiana…. where Truvy and Annelle are working a food booth, scooping up large helpings of Low Country Boil?

And if you remember that part, you will also remember Annelle saying “You really should try one – we’ve already pulled their little heads off and everything!” 

Of course she was referring to all the crawfish being served in the low country boil of corn on the cob, potatoes, onions and andouille sausage.

Me, personally…I don’t care for crawfish.  

Memories of finding them in creek beds and playing with them as a child on the farm, you see.

However…I do love making a low country boil using shrimp and lobster and stone crab.  

So I am attaching a recipe that you can adjust to your liking, using whatever seafood you prefer.

Add or remove seafood….your choice.

My tablescape starts with a crab/lobster trap centerpiece surrounded by sea shells, a pelican and lantern.

The place mats are burlap and the white chippy chargers are off white.

The plates show detailed instructions on how to eat a lobster.

You would be surprised at how many people do not know how to crack crab legs or lobster tails.

Also at the place setting… are the tools needed, such as a wooden mallet for cracking shells and if that doesn’t work, lobster crackers and a pick to “dig” out the sweet, juicy, fleshy parts.

Yum!!!!

The flatware feature sail boats and rope edging, which tie into the red and white lifesaver napkin rings.

I love that the white napkins have lobster and crab images.

The water glasses are mason jars.

So are the red salt and pepper shakers. 

I placed a red lantern on one end of the table…

and a red and white striped pitcher with white flowers on the other end.

There is also a pelican sitting on a pylon near fishnet and more sea shells, many of which I picked up on Sanibel Island which is considered the sea shell capital of the world.

In other words, there are lots of sea shells to find, especially near the old light house.

One can’t have seafood without clarified butter and these little pourable pots provide this yummy part of the meal.

Not all of the sea shells came from Sanibel Island,….. the Captain and I have collected so many from walking along the beaches of Southwest Florida….some may have even been picked up on moonlight walks as the pearly shine of the inside shells glisten in the moonlight.

Just sayin’

I really think the lobster/crab trap centerpiece represents the fishing industry and yes, that is a resin crab climbing up the fish net.

One must have the utensils as well as one’s fingers. 🙂

Chances are you might want to add a “bib” of some sort to keep your clothes from getting a little less messy.

There are many options on making a seafood boil. One is to put “the fixin’s” on a flat cookie sheet and into the oven, making this one of the simplest meals to make.  

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Line half sheet baking pan (18x13x1-inch) with parchment paper.
2. Place potatoes around edge of pan. Dot with 2 tablespoons butter with canola oil; season with 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning. Bake 10 minutes.
3. Place corn and kielbasa onto sheet pan; season with 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning. Dot corn with 1 tablespoon butter with canola oil. Return to oven, bake 10 minutes.
4. Push potatoes, corn and kielbasa to edges of pan. Add shrimp and lemons to middle of pan. Dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter with canola oil; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning. Bake 12-13 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

Another option is using a baking bag like for turkey….so many ways to make this one pot meal and you really can’t go wrong.

No serving dish needed…spread out a newspaper and dump all the seafood and veggies right on top. 

This tablescape is very casual as this is a casual, eat with your hands kind of meal.

Our Mothers would approve of this type of eating with one’s hands.

The stand-by recipe of boiling in a pot is below and so easy to make…add a garden salad and garlic bread to sop up the juices and you are enjoying a mess of good food.  

So whether you boil or bake…this is one delicious seafood meal.

Do you have a favorite seafood?

I love to read your comments….and I will answer each and every one.

Hugs and Blessings