A Bite of Seafood

 One of the joys of summer is a buttery or grilled bun stuffed with seafood.It could be lobster,.It could have a filling of chopped shrimp or tangy spiced crab.These are the tastes of summer to be savored with a side of fries and a tall glass of something icy and refreshing.

Lobster rolls are a classic summer sandwich. The new York Times Wednesday Food section recently published an article by Korsha Wilson about hot and cold lobster rolls.Yes, hot lobster are a thing now.It's actually not new but a century old.It was first created at Perry's in Milford, Connecticut on the Long Island Sound. A dinner wanted a lobster and butter sauce to go so the meat and sauce were put on a bun.Both hot and cold versions are pretty easy fixes. You can buy lobster meat at your local  grocery or  seafood market.The tail meat which is the meatiest and sweetest is always used for the sandwiches..For the hot lobster toast the buns in butter in a skillet. Put them inside part down for a couple of minutes. After that let the pan cool, wipe it and add more butter. Toss in the lobster meat and cook in butter and gently warm it Stuff the rolls with it and sprinkled with  celery seeds.The cold or Maine version has a pound of  chilled lobster mixed with a cup of mayo and four chopped celery sticks. Put this on fried in butter hot dog rolls. This is the one everyone likes and orders .

Shrimp salad is another summery lunch or dinner treat.Keep in mind that you have to be careful when buying fresh shrimp.Its fine if you live in a coastal area and you know the place is reputable. If not then go for  frozen shrimp.They're typically flash frozen once they're caught so this ensures freshness. Boil a pot of water and add the shrimp for two minutes.They'll turn a bright pink when they're done.As for the dressing it's mixing mayo with lemon juice. Dill and parsley are added for color and flavor. You can chop of the shrimp so it's easier to eat. Unlike lobster salad, shrimp salad can go with any bread.It's good stuffed into a pita for a lighter bite or on a sliced croissant for a more elegant meal.Crab meat is also great in a salad. Turn it into a salad for the San Francisco classic sandwich. Crab can be expensive to you can buy imitation crab which is really a paste of Pollock along with other fish pressed into shapes that resemble crab meat. You can also use crab legs too if you want Again use mayo here and mix it with freshly squeezed lemon juice  and diced celery.Fresh dill and chives work well with the crab meat so these can be added too. As for the bread you can use a Portuguese roll, much like the San Francisco version . You can also turn them into sliders too.

It's summer. It;'s the perfect time for a seafood salad. Have one with a tall glass of iced tea for a truly warm weather experience