Hot Granny, Tomato Crab Soup™

Post written on 10/01

Today the area feels as if it has been cleansed and the ground fed.  The air is fresh, cool and surprisingly dry this Friday evening, after over a day of torrential rains.  It is just the right temperature to induce a subconscious desire for a hot and spicy soup.

How many times do you go into the store for a specific item or two and reach the cash register with a half a dozen or more items in your hand basket? 

This PM, at Bloom, I stalled too long at the seafood section* and picked up a half pound of pre-cooked snow crab clusters that pulled me in and bit me for a total amount of $2.45. (Fair price.)

The majority of the crab was picked and eaten for dinner this evening.  But, I did not get overly zealous in the picking the smaller strands of meat out, as I wanted to experiment by making a tomato crab soup.

You know how you can never quite replicate your grandmother’s dishes because she never wrote the recipe down and always cooked by feel and taste?  Well, not so bad here for what I am calling HOT Granny, Tomato Crab Soup™, as I have some general measurements for use of commercially sold items.

In a large pot add:

·         ½ lb pre-cooked snow crab cluster shells with some strands of meat remaining

·         Use just enough water to cover the crab

Boil for approx. 20 minutes

Remove from heat and use tongs to remove shells from crab broth

Add to pot of hot crab broth:

·         2 – 10 ¾ oz cans of concentrated tomato soup

·         1 – 14 ½ oz can deiced tomatoes and juice

·         1 – 16 oz container of fresh salsa (contains - tomato, cucumber, green pepper, red pepper, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, tomato juice, garlic, poblano pepper, Serrano pepper and salt)

·         ½ teaspoon of Old Bay Seasoning (use more or less to taste)

Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Check for taste and a slightly thickened consistency to determine if soup has simmered long enough.

Serve up this hot & spicy soup with a dollop of sour cream, ice cold beverage and enjoy!

*I am rather surprised, that some of the local grocery stores, over the last couple of years offer fish in one variety or another on special Friday’s, as not many Catholics and other Christian faiths are strict about not eating meat on Friday.  Mainly, the local Asian supermarkets have Friday seafood offers, but now I am seeing other mainstream grocers also placing seafood specials on Friday, as well.