Got home from the Outer Banks a couple of hours ago and have been unpacking ever since.
I see there's been lots of activity during the week I was gone, which I'm glad to see. It'll take me a few days to catch up, I'm sure. But wanted to provide a quick overview of the trip.
Overall it was great. Although it was 97 and 97 when we got there Sunday, and repeated that on Monday, the rest of the time we had perfect weather. Temps in the 80s, little humidity, and, of course, an ocean breeze.
We had one day when the smoke from the forest fire drifted in, but it wasn't too bad. When we left Saturday, however, you almost couldn't see across the street the smoke was so bad. The fire is centered about 70 miles southwest of Norfork, but I understand that when the wind was wrong it traveled as far as Richmond.
Didn’t do as much fishing as we’d planned. The crabs were running, and Friend Wife discovered that she really enjoys crabbing. So we did more of that. Took about 30 keepers (minimum 5” across the shell) and God only knows how many undersized ones. At least 150 of them at any rate. Barbara actually thinks picking crabs is fun. Go figure. This is a lady who won't clean her own fish (although she loves to catch 'em) So I steamed and cleaned the crabs and she picked ‘em.
Even so, managed to catch some Spanish mackerel and a rather large triggerfish---my new best friend! Although they’re a ***** to clean (their skin is literally like leather, and it takes a very sharp knife and a firm hand to filet them), I have never had a better tasting fish. Fantastic flavor and firm textured, flaky white flesh.
I made them quite simply: Napped with Creole mustard, then breaded with Panko seasoned with salt, pepper, and some fresh lemon zest. Didn’t even need a sauce. Served them with a medley of summer squashes sautéed in butter along with some onion and red pepper. This was spooned over sautéed portabella mushrooms.
We only ate out once. Barbara had soft-shell crab (of course!). I had an interesting sandwich: breaded & fried mahi-mahi, with ham and thousand island dressing. They called in a Mahi Reuben. I told them the only thing I didn’t like about the sandwich was the name, because other than the thousand island it had nothing in common with a Reuben. This insisted that around there Reubens were made with ham as well as pastrami. I’d never heard of such a thing, and didn’t want to argue the point. Suffice it to say, the sandwich was tasty; although I think it would have worked better with country ham as both the boiled ham and mahi were on the bland side.
Crab? Well, we ate it every day. I made crab cakes, and that hot dip I’d posted earlier, and a crab salad, and deep-fried crab-stuffed won tons. Hey! I told you the crabbing was great. And I made some boiled shrimp (locally caught) with my home-made cocktail sauce. And learned I still have the knack of shucking oysters (or “aysters” as they say on the Chesapeake).
Friend Wife played on the beach to her heart's content. Barbara is a beach person. Me, well, I agree with the Walrus: If seven maids with seven mops swept it for half a year...... To me sand is something that separates me from the high surf.
All in all, a wonderful trip, though. Only far to short. There's no question; when we hit the lotto we know where we're moving.
I see there's been lots of activity during the week I was gone, which I'm glad to see. It'll take me a few days to catch up, I'm sure. But wanted to provide a quick overview of the trip.
Overall it was great. Although it was 97 and 97 when we got there Sunday, and repeated that on Monday, the rest of the time we had perfect weather. Temps in the 80s, little humidity, and, of course, an ocean breeze.
We had one day when the smoke from the forest fire drifted in, but it wasn't too bad. When we left Saturday, however, you almost couldn't see across the street the smoke was so bad. The fire is centered about 70 miles southwest of Norfork, but I understand that when the wind was wrong it traveled as far as Richmond.
Didn’t do as much fishing as we’d planned. The crabs were running, and Friend Wife discovered that she really enjoys crabbing. So we did more of that. Took about 30 keepers (minimum 5” across the shell) and God only knows how many undersized ones. At least 150 of them at any rate. Barbara actually thinks picking crabs is fun. Go figure. This is a lady who won't clean her own fish (although she loves to catch 'em) So I steamed and cleaned the crabs and she picked ‘em.
Even so, managed to catch some Spanish mackerel and a rather large triggerfish---my new best friend! Although they’re a ***** to clean (their skin is literally like leather, and it takes a very sharp knife and a firm hand to filet them), I have never had a better tasting fish. Fantastic flavor and firm textured, flaky white flesh.
I made them quite simply: Napped with Creole mustard, then breaded with Panko seasoned with salt, pepper, and some fresh lemon zest. Didn’t even need a sauce. Served them with a medley of summer squashes sautéed in butter along with some onion and red pepper. This was spooned over sautéed portabella mushrooms.
We only ate out once. Barbara had soft-shell crab (of course!). I had an interesting sandwich: breaded & fried mahi-mahi, with ham and thousand island dressing. They called in a Mahi Reuben. I told them the only thing I didn’t like about the sandwich was the name, because other than the thousand island it had nothing in common with a Reuben. This insisted that around there Reubens were made with ham as well as pastrami. I’d never heard of such a thing, and didn’t want to argue the point. Suffice it to say, the sandwich was tasty; although I think it would have worked better with country ham as both the boiled ham and mahi were on the bland side.
Crab? Well, we ate it every day. I made crab cakes, and that hot dip I’d posted earlier, and a crab salad, and deep-fried crab-stuffed won tons. Hey! I told you the crabbing was great. And I made some boiled shrimp (locally caught) with my home-made cocktail sauce. And learned I still have the knack of shucking oysters (or “aysters” as they say on the Chesapeake).
Friend Wife played on the beach to her heart's content. Barbara is a beach person. Me, well, I agree with the Walrus: If seven maids with seven mops swept it for half a year...... To me sand is something that separates me from the high surf.
All in all, a wonderful trip, though. Only far to short. There's no question; when we hit the lotto we know where we're moving.