brutal winter

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress

Categories: Fish and Seafood, Sauces and Such, Sources, Eating Out, Posted on February 16, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten

This one has been one for the record books. Polar plunges. Incredible ice storms. And my dear mom’s heath battle. She is a fighter and a champ, but like this winter it’s been a relentless rollercoaster.

It’s hard to find your footing when you feel like you’re constantly skating on thin ice. Having my folks so far away has been difficult. They are Florida residents and two flights away. The travel has become routine. And with it my quest to find bright spots along the journey. Spending so much one-on-one time with each of parents certainly tops the list. A close second- fresh stone crabs right off the boat.

Merrick’s Seafood in Cape Coral is a haven and a refuge. When dad would spot me at the hospital at noon I’d often head over to Merrick’s to pick up a couple pounds of stone crabs for our dinner. And since it was lunchtime I would most times grab a stool at the Fish Tale Grill next door, order a dozen oysters on the half shell and their incredible chopped salad with candied pecans, roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, chopped tomatoes and craisins.

curry sauce

The view out the window onto Big John’s Plaza would always make me laugh. The three-story effigy looked like Paul Bunyan had finally become a snowbird.

curry sauce

You see one of my mom’s most famous dinners was stone crabs. She called it the dinner of a thousand plates. Even when it was only family she never held back. She was the consummate entertainer and her table always looked like a spread in Architectural Digest. Her meals were a feast, and not only for the eyes.

curry sauce

She served her stone crabs with an incredible curry sauce. The recipe couldn’t be simpler. Combine a cup of mayonnaise, a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of Dijon mustard, and half teaspoon of curry powder.

curry sauce

Whisk together.

curry sauce

And of course serve in a suitable dish.

curry sauce

This recipe, like my sweet mom, is truly the best.

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