Recipe for … the Perfect Evening for Two!

Looking for some ideas for the perfect romantic evening for two? There are few things in the is world that beat delicious seafood, a perfectly matched wine, some flickering candles and happy conversation. Today we check out some 'recipes' for the perfect evening for two, matching your seafood order to a delicious wine, and pairing the culinary elements up with a venue!

Chardonnay and king crab legs on the boardwalk

Look for a chardonnay that is said to have a rich, buttery and creamy taste - then match it up with the delicate flavors of king crab legs and hollandaise sauce. All that buttery goodness will probably leave you feeling a bit heavy after dinner - so why not pack up your picnic basket (and a few moist towellettes for your face and hands!) and hop down to the boardwalk, a river view, or anywhere else that you can take a spectacular walk after dinner.

Riesling and teriyaki glazed salmon before a county fair

Riesling, especially German rieslings, are light and sweet, and match beautifully with barbecue teriyaki-glazed or even Cajun shrimp. All that sugary sweetness will give you plenty of energy (and stop you looking longingly at the cotton candy) at a local county fair … wander round afterwards in the bright lights and see if you can win your sweetheart one of those giant teddy bears!

Barbecued salmon and pinot noir on your balcony or deck

Bring out a blanket if the weather's getting a little chilly- but don't forego the pleasure of having some beautiful wine and awesome conversation as your fresh seafood order of salmon is barbecueing! It takes no extra cash, and you don't even have to brush your hair if you don't want to … but fresh air, good pinot noir, tasty barbecued salmon and conversation with the stars to look at cannot be beaten for romanticism.

4 Delicious Homemade Dips for Your King Crab Legs

King crab legs have such a complex, delicious flavor that there are relatively few sauces you can use with them, while still retaining all the natural beauty that they can express to your tastebuds! If you've managed to chase up some delectable king crab legs and have practiced cooking them to perfection, you'll want the perfect sauce to go with them. Today we check out 4 easy king crab leg sauce or dip recipes that will have you salivating in memory of them for days afterwards!

Clarified Butter

Not really a healthy dip for your crab legs … but sooooo delicious! Clarified butter is quick and easy to make - you simply heat the desired amount of butter in a small saucepan until fully melted, and then leave it to stand so that the milk solids and the oil separate. Skim most of the milk solids off, and then separate the oil by slowly pouring it into a dipping bowl. When you can no longer separate the two, just stop and save the milk solids for another creamy dish made with your seafood order, like pasta marinara!

Hollandaise Crab Leg Dip

Another very easy one - you simply combine all ingredients, heat til nearly boiling, then simmer on very low heat until thickened. Mmmm - here's what you need to throw in the pan:

• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tbsp cream
• 2-3 dashes of paprika
• 2 dashes salt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ cup butter

Bearnaise sauce

Just about any fresh seafood tastes divine with béarnaise sauce, and it's another especially easy one to cook. Simply blend the ingredients and serve the sauce warm:

• A quantity of Hollandaise sauce (see above)
• 1.5 tsp tarragon
• 1.5 tsp parsely
• 1.5 tsp chives
• Pepper to taste

Lemon Dill dip

Onee of life's great mysteries is why seafood and lemon go so beautifully together … the reason may be a mystery, but the concept is a fact! You can serve this hot or cold, and all that needs to be done is to blend the ingredients:

• 6 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp dillweed
• 1 dash salt
• Pepper to taste

The Succulent Sablefish

Have you tried sablefish yet? Next time you buy fish, give it a try! They can be baked, broiled, or fried and are especially apt for Asian cooking.

While it was totally unknown outside of Japan until just a few years ago on menus, it has quickly become one of the most popular items on restaurants from San Francico to Rome.

A fish by any other name does taste as sweet. The sablefish gets called “black cod,” but it is not at all related to cod. It also gets called “butterfish,” but it is not a true butterfish either. The fillets are flaky and delicate, and ever so succelent. Moreover they are high in oil content, which is great for your heart health, and may account for the “butterfish” name.

For you scientifically minded, the sablefish belongs to the family, Anoplopomatidae, which includes only sablefish and skillfish. They can range in size from one to 10 pounds.

These fabulous fish are found from central Baja california north to British Columbia. While most of the catch comes from Alaska, you can buy fresh fish, line caught, from great seafood markets along the California coast, where it falls into the category of “sustainable” fish, I’m happy to note. You can even get order them from online seafood delivery services!

These fish are particurly sought for Asian cooking and sashimi. . . so small wonder that more than 50 % of the U.S. catch is exported to Japan, where it fetches a premium price.

Give the sable fish a try at a restaurant or in your home. Kasu cod, or gilled sablefish marinated in sake and leeks, is quite the in thing, as is cold-smoked sablefish. Experiment with various recipes at home. When I googled “sablefish recipe,” I got over 76,000 hits, ranging from lemon broiled to miso glazed.

For a really spectacular but simple recipe, try the Grilled Sablefish with Spicy Soy Glaze from Epicurious. Marinate for at least 20 minutes two sablefish fillets in a mixture of 3 tablespoon light soy sauce, juice of 2 large limes, 1 very hot chili (finely sliced crosswise), 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or honey), dash of sesame oil, 1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil. Grill 4 minutes on each side and dress with a bit of reserved marinade. Enjoy your fresh fish!

Make Your Own Sushi—It’s Out of This World!

One of the highlights of going out for sushi is admiring the itamae (sushi chef) as he artfully crafts our dinner. Like a well trained artist, he quickly sculpts the nori, rice, and bits of fish and vegetables then slices them into perfectly beautiful rounds reminiscent of the elegant French millefluers paperweight here on my desk—sheer delight of color and form. And of course with sushi, there is that delight to the palate.

With no pretense to becoming an expert, I’ve been fooling around with making sushi at home, much to my own delight and that of my husband. I’d like to share a few key learnings along the way, and I’m sure there will be more later!

1. Buy the best sushi-grade fish you can find.The final product is never better than the ingredients that go in to it. It is really easy to buy fresh fish and sea food on line from reliable sources, which is important here.

2. Get all the other supplies before you get the fish.

You want to use that fresh sushi fish as soon as you can. So in advance, get together the rest of your supplies: the mat, nori (the sheets of seaweed), rice, wasabi, sushi ginger, and the vegetables (avocado or whatever). Make it simple—order on line from a great online

sea food market.

3. Take FREE lessons in your own home.

Watch some on-line videos for great visuals in how to make all kinds of sushi and related dishes. Restaurant sushi chefs work too fast to really serve as models for beginners. It’s amazing to see that there are videos for all kinds of sushi and sashimi—just Google “how to sushi youtube.com” or substitute something more specific for “sushi” as you wish. (That search brought me 1, 450,000 hits in 0.42 seconds!)

4. Do not worry about being perfect.

If your rolls are lopsided or fall apart, smile like Buddha and eat it anyway. Practice makes perfect. And the taste is still great! Tell yourself “It’s not a mistake, it’s an experiment.”

When you get the hang of it, have a sushi party! Everyone can have some fun inventing new combinations that could rival that ever popular California roll. Just put that fresh fish together with your favorite veggies, and voila! In addition to the popular sushi tuna, try some Fresh King Salmon, and even cooked crab and scallops for those who are skeptical of fresh fish at first.

For entertainment at your sushi party, show a really amazing recent NASA video of the first sushi chef in space -- astronaut Soichi Noguchi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency aboard the International Space Station. Now that sushi really was out of this world!

Give the Gift of Fresh Sea Food

What’s your idea of the perfect gift to give?

Some know how to say it with flowers. Want something different? Then let me recommend sea food too you! What could be simpler than placing an online seafood order to be delivered to someone special?

Seafood makes a special gift for countless reasons. It is easy to store (much can be frozen), easy to use, delicious, and healthy! Who wouldn’t be delighted to hear the bell ring for a special sea food delivery—and discover that they’ve just received a package of jumbo shrimp or crab legs, or perhaps fresh king salmon or some other delicacy from the sea?

When you think seafood as a gift, the options are many, from fresh or frozen seafood to cookbooks, to accessories. Specialty sea food shops will be glad to offer gift certificates as well.

For Congratulations, Offer the Gift of Pride. More and more people are into gourmet cooking. I remember when my teen-age son added a sushi kit to our shopping cart a few years back. It was amazing to see him develope pride in fixing homemade sushi for family and friends.

Who do you know that loves seafood and just needs a little nudge to develop his or her culinary talents? Consider a great cookbook or a high-quality fish knife as your own encouragement to a budding chef—and you are offering the potential for pride. For the new parent, you might add the gift of convenience with already-prepared seafood dishes! Here are some ways to offer congratulations and best wishes:

· Promotion: Caviar (and champagne!)

· Graduation: King Crab Legs (you are going places!), Seafood cookbook

· New Baby: Chowders and other easy-to-prepare dishes

· Happy Birthday: Fresh Lobster Tails or person’s favorite fish

For Anniversaries, Thank Yous, Offer the Gift of Joy. More and more of my friends are discovering the joy of fresh cooking. Couples will appreciate your gift of sea food or accessories as well. Some of the happiest couples I know are those who spend quality time in the kitchen together, creating a great meal that they then enjoy together afterwards. If this is not a custom yet, let them know that research shows that mates who learn new things together actually become happier!

So to express love or gratitude, here are some ideas about how you can give seafood and seafood-related gifts to create a memorable occasion.

· Thank Yous/Hostess Gifts: Oyster knives or lobster implements

· Bridal Shower: Seafood Cookbook, Fish knife

· Happy Anniversary: Seafood Platter for two

· I Love You: Fresh Oysters (enough to share!)

Those are just a few good ideas for giving unique, memorable gifts. Now expand and adapt—just as you would with any good basic recipe, and enjoy the good feelings you are creating!

P.S. Don't be surprised if you get some great sea food in return when it's your day to celebrate!

Pregnant Women Should Eat More Fish for Smarter, Healthier Babies

We already know that fish is good for adults as it can improve heart health. Did you know that fish consumption during and after pregnancy is also recommended? The oil from fish turns out to be brain food for your child!

Scientists studied over 12,000 pregnant women, as reported in the Harvard School of Public Health, and what did they find?

• Children born to mothers who ate less than two servings of fish a week performed more poorly on tests of intelligence, behavior, and other developmental milestones.
• Children of mothers who did eat fish at least twice a week showed better visual recognition.
• Children of breast-feeding mothers who eat regularly ate fish had similar benefits.

Some people are concerned that increasing their intake of fish may harm their health due to contaminants such as mercury of PCBs. But research by the Environmental Protection agency shows that the calculated health benefits for healthier development and healthier hearts far outweighs the infinitesimal danger from mercury or PCBs.

“The healthiest approach for women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children is to eat two servings per week of fish or other seafood, including up to one serving per week of white (albacore) canned tuna, and avoid the four fish species higher in mercury (shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel),” notes the Harvard report, quoting the Environmental Protection Agency.

So if you are in this category, remember to avoid those four species and enjoy the benefits of fresh seafood the rest of the time! If you are considering local freshwater fish, check with experts first. [Note: If you are not in this category, the restriction does not apply—and all the evidence supports regular consumption of a variety of fish and seafood.] One of the easiest ways of assuring really fresh fish is through a quality online seafood delivery service. When you are a busy mother or mother-to-be, this can be a great time-saver.

Also, nutritionists recommend that when cooking fish, consider baking or grilling instead of frying. Perk up the taste with herbs, lemon juice, and even fruit salsas rather than high-fat, high-sodium sauces. If now and then you decide to fry some fish, say a great fresh halibut, use an olive oil spray for additional health benefits.

As parents, offering fresh seafood twice a week benefits you as well as your children. Continue this family habit as your children grow, cooking fresh fish and serving it attractively. What a wonderful way to offer your children a legacy of taste and health.

Fresh Seafood at your Door Step

Searching for the best fresh seafood at a top quality seafood market can become aggravating when you live in the coastal areas, now just imagine if you lived in somewhere in the center of the map where fresh seafood is unheard of? You may never have the opportunity to experience the best cuts of fresh seafood, mouth watering shellfish, a variety of seafood chowder and all round best seafood. Why allow another day to go by without the fresh seafood you deserve and love no matter where you live in the United States? With the assistance of a seafood company that has been delivering fresh seafood all over the United States within twenty four hours of your order you can enjoy all your seafood dishes and appetizers anytime of the day or night. Placing an order is simple and easy with the assistance of professional customer service members who are awaiting your call or on line order. Not only will you receive the best in fresh seafood but the largest variety along with the best prices available including, in some cases, extra discounts and coupons.

Ordering seafood for your family or special occasion has never been easier with the assistance of the seafood specialist who have been bringing only the best in seafood to your neighbors doors for years. Now they can start delivering to your door and best of all within twenty four hours of your order. If you are planning a simple dinner with family and friends, a social dinner for your boss or potential clients, even for your daughter’s wedding reception or rehearsal dinner you can will find not only the best cuts of fresh fish, top quality shellfish, outstanding caviar and other delicious seafood but you will have access to the perfect wines that accompany your choices as well as delicious sauces and mouthwatering recipes. Now you can cater your own events and save an endless amount of money without risking of ruining your reputation when it comes to taste.

Never settle for frozen seafood again when you are entertaining or merely feeding your own family. With the endless amount of choices and wonderful next day service you can place your order on line or over the phone with the seafood company that is family owned and understands the importance of fresh seafood. Bringing you only the top quality seafood and perfect menus to help you plan the important dinner upcoming dinner party your meals will be a success. Enjoy shopping with the family who has made delivery fresh seafood to you and your family their top priority for years.