Oyster Stew and New England Clam Chowder Beat the Winter Blues

Article Written By: bsullivan

When people think of seafood, they think of long hot summer days, but the colder weather is also the perfect time to cozy up with a bowl of oyster stew or a steamy cup of creamy New England Clam Chowder. There's nothing quite like the taste of the sea on a chilly winter's day. The joy of eating oysters has been celebrated seafood lovers, the world over - almost since time began! For instance the Britons had plentiful oyster beds as early as 55 B.C. And, when the Romans invaded Britain, they became so captivated by the exquisite flavor of the oyster that they began shipping them back to Rome in bags of snow and ice.

Throughout their history, oysters have been prepared in many ways ranging from raw or roasted to plan or seasoned. A popular dish that has evolved over the years is oyster stew - elegant and satisfying.

When shopping for oysters, George Baxevanis has some advice.

"Never buy one that has even a slightly gaping shell," he says. "They are alive and fresh only when their shells are tightly closed."

If you are planning to make your own oyster stew, you have some choices when it comes to buying oysters. You can either buy them in their own shells, or already shucked and in their own liquor by the pint or quart. If the oysters have been opened by your fish store, you must use them immediately. Since oyster stew is a popular dish, you will find many recipes online. Simply Google "recipes for oyster stew" or better yet, head out to your local seafood restaurant and try some of theirs.

A steaming bowl of New England Clam Chowder, with a sprinkling of oyster crackers, can make a satisfying and pleasant one-meal dish. Baxevanis explains that you can buy clams in their shells by the dozen, or shucked by the pint or quart.

"If you buy them in their shells, they can be sandy, so make sure that when you open and clean them that you wash them very well," he says. "Nothing can destroy the pleasure of eating clams quicker than a few grains of sand."

The most familiar clams on the East Coast are either soft or hard. Soft clams are the ones with the long hose-like neck. They are also called "steamers." The soft clam is ideally suited for steaming, but it's also good for any recipe that calls for chopped clams, and many people prefer soft clams to hard for making chowder.

New Englanders will insist that there is no better clam, except perhaps the quahog - the Indian name for hard clam. You will buy hard clams under three different names, depending on their size. The largest hard clam is called a chowder clam; the medium size is a cherrystone; and the smallest is the littleneck. Since these hard clams are so adaptable, you can use them however you choose to in just about any recipe.

On the pacific coast, there is a much greater variety - the two most well known are the famous Pismo and razor clams. Occasionally these will turn up in East coast restaurants and fish stores, but not often.

About the Author

Bryan Sullivan - For more information about seafood and recipes visit: http://fishermansquarters.info

You Can Link Directly to "Oyster Stew and New England Clam Chowder Beat the Winter Blues" by using the url:
http://www.allbestarticles.com//food/cooking-tips/oyster-stew-and-new-england-clam-chowder-beat-the-winter-blues.html

This Article Has Been Published on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 and Read 275 Times

Find All Best Articles at http://www.allbestarticles.com

Rating: Not yet rated

Comments

No comments posted.

Add Comment

You do not have permission to comment. If you log in, you may be able to comment.

Related information on Cooking Tips

A Weekly Menu Plan to Organize Your Daily Meals
Plan For Healthier Family Meal Ideas
Smart Ways To Achieve A Healthier Meal Plan
The Endless Benefits Of An Online Meal Planner
A Menu Planner Can Save You From a Week of Wondering
Use a Meal Planner to Make Your Holidays Unforgettable
A Menu Planner Can Free You From the Same Old Boring Meals
An Online Menu Planner is Perfect for the Holidays
How to Make Menu planning with Low Costs and High Nutrition
Choose a Quick and Easy Menu Planner
Online Menu Planning for Weeks and Months in Advance
Impressive Recipes for Healthy Dinner Party
Keep Track of your Favorite Recipes with Menu Planner
Family Meal Ideas For a Strict Budget
Easy Meal Plans for Stress Free Life
Meal Planning And Dinner Ideas For Busy Moms
Cooking Amaranth - DIY Guide
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Breast - DIY Style
How to Cook Mung Beans
How To Cook Lima Beans
How to Cook Fish Curry
How to Cook Edamame
A Guide To Cooking yams
A Brief Guide To Cooking Frozen Chicken
How To Cook Pearl Barley