I so love coming home from a great market adventure, in an excited mood, then think, 'What-Am-I...Nuts?' as I unpack everything. As a Foodie, I seem to have little restraint at these places and it must look as though I'm stocking a small (or not so small) restaurant kitchen. My freezer storage space is minimal, and, in spite of intending otherwise, it seems it's always FULL.
I'm finding, there are things in ethnic markets that may be worth trying, but often, that's all it is - a one-time-adventure, which = a lesson learned. . .Case in point:
Asian Corn: I think it's an acquired taste, or maybe if it's the only corn you've ever known, you might like it. Mine was wrapped in husks that were completely dried out, so I thought that was the problem. Yet, when I Googled Asian Corn I discovered the general consensus is, it's chewy and sticky. Amen to that, and I'd add, it doesn't have good flavor. Now I see why yellow and bicolor corn is called 'sweet' corn, this stuff is just blah. It has little flavor, but some crunch, so I wonder if my dogs will like it mixed with their dry food. . .Moving On:
Crab. Ahhh, crab how I've loved thee. . .Giant King Crab legs, and the Dungeness and Red Rock Crab we caught on wonderful boating trips to the San Juan Islands. . .So, when I saw these, 4 for $3.27. . .well, you can imagine how excited I was. . .A sweet Asian gal saw them in my cart and asked where I'd found them. I, in turn, asked how she fixes them. She was clear that they should be steamed, shell side down, only until they turn orange. Got it! Shell side down? "Yes, so you capture all the 'flavorful liquid'!" Okay, thank you so much! As I walked away I remembered a New England trip. Being Ooohhh, so excited over the prospect of having Real Maine Lobster! The whole Giant Crustacean bright red, delivered on a platter! On the first one (we did this at 3 different restaurants - some of us are slow learners) I started breaking apart the logical segments, claws, legs, body and tail. . .when suddenly my platter was almost overflowing with 'flavorful liquid', I quickly realized was liquid LOBSTER POOP. Ugh, really/ How is this done? This monstrosity should be shelled, hosed down, broiled and brought back to me THAT way.
Prior to our trip, I had bought frozen Lobster tails at Aldi's and we chuckled the whole time eating them saying, this will seem SO LAME, once we're eating at a Lobster Shack in Maine. Little did I know what horrors awaited us out east 😳. . .Nope. . .I'll take clean, frozen, packaged Aldi Lobster tails ANY DAY!
On to the Blue Crab. The house already smells like a Stinky Crab Shack, might as well, right?
The fish guy had sort of frowned when I showed him the first package. They looked like little turtles, all sealed in plastic and banded like that. He had trouble with English, but I finally understood 'Crab' - but he frowned again. He pointed to the Blue Crab, nodded and looked much happier. Okeydokey, I'll also give these a go, I sure bought enough! Three packages..😳..I pulled one out of the freezer and they're steaming now.
5oz. Argentinian red shrimp-chopped
