A Lit'l Bit of Me

Ok, Krystal, here goes:

My Great Crab Adventure

I went crabbing today with Krystal and Will and the kids. I love spending time with the kids! They're so much fun! I really do miss seeing them every day, and spending that quantity of time with them!

Anyway, a superhot summer day in Washington, on the Peninsula, at Joemma Beach State Park, a favorite crabbing location. Me and the kids are playing, Krystal and Will are fishing and playing, too. When we left, they'd pulled a crab out for me, the one with the biggest claws, they said, cause I'm not much into the innards portions, but like the crab legs meat.

After finding out how expensive the crabs are to buy around here, $7.50 a pound is what we paid on Krystal's birthday in June for live crabs, and that's when I found out you have to buy about 2 pounds per person, and about 1 pound of that is thrown away, I told Krystal I actually think I prefer the imitation crab! It's cheaper, it's easier, and it's just as tasty (I'm not one who has discriminating tastes, not at all!). I think Krystal was borderline horrified to hear me say that (SHE does have discriminating tastes!)

When the kids dropped me off at home, they gave me a (HUGE) crab in a 5 gallon green bucket of water from the bay. The bucket was green, not the water. :) And instructions on what to do with it: bring a big pot of salted water to boil, put the crab in, return to boil for 20 minutes. Then eat it. Something about using tongs. Ummm, ok. I'm a pretty good cook, actually, so that sounded simple enuff. And I was there when Krystal and I cooked the fresh crab for her birthday. But...I don't remember those crabs running around.

Leaving the crab to sit for a minute in the bucket, I went to my best friend, the internet, for some professional advice. First, I put the big pot of water on to boil, cause who knew how long that would take!

Ok, the internet said the most humane way to do it is to let the crab rest in the freezer for about half an hour, then put it in the boiling salted water, return the water to boil, and continue to boil for about 15 minutes. It gave additional instructions on breaking it apart, cautioning me to be careful not to burn myself on the crab guts. This is the website url: http://everything2.com/title/How+to+cook+and+clean+a+live+crab

Ok.

A lot of this sounded familiar from what the kids had said. Including using my long tongs to pick it up with, as Krystal suggested. I found the long tongs I thought safest to use; no way am I picking the thing up like the kids do! I pulled him from the water and he immediately went into his attack pose, poor thing. He grabbed my tongs with his claws, and was actually almost pulling them from me. I had to put him back in the water and try again, with a better grip!

I had cleaned out the top shelf of the freezer for him. I guess it wasn't roomy enuff. I put him on the top shelf, and pulled my tongs away from him. I closed the freezer. I heard some scuttling around noises, and then a clunk. I edged open the door very slowly, and found the top shelf empty. ? Where did he go? Oh, there he is, on the bottom shelf! I closed the door again very carefully so not to squash him, and ran to get the tongs from the kitchen where I'd left them. I retrieved him and replaced him back to the top freezer shelf.

I closed the door again, and again heard the scuttling noises. This time, as I very slowly pulled open the freezer door, I followed the sounds of his slow progress to the bottom of the freezer. He didn't stop when he landed, but fell on out of the freezer onto the floor. I again went after my tongs, wondering why I hadn't had them ready already. When I got back, he was on his feet, and scuttling sideways. I could just imagine him getting away and me chasing him all over with the tongs! Those things can move pretty fast once they get going!

I captured him again and returned him to the top shelf of the freezer. Third time was the charm. He was calmer this time, colder I guess. I put him way in the back and he stayed put this time. I closed the door and heard no more from him.

I went and salted the water, and added more water to it. I wanted to be sure he was well covered. I left the crab in the freezer and left the water to boil, while I came to work on the story. Krystal requested I do one.

I went back and retrieved the crab, with the tongs, and dropped the live, unaware crab into the boiling water. I winced in case he screamed, but he didn't. If he did, I didn't hear him. He started turning red quickly, tho. I was surprised how quickly the water returned to boiling. In 20 minutes or so, I'll be trying to eat fresh crab, with no crab shell cracking tools. :D Not the first time for that (Krystal's birthday).

It's ok, I have my professional instructions from the internet! And a headache from too much summer sun. Or did the crab scream, after all?

Oh! He floated to the top! I wonder if that means he's done? It's been around 20 minutes of boiling...I kinda lost track of the time. I always do. :) I talked to Krystal later, and she said yep, they float when they're done. So, crabs and pork tenderloins (the portion in the restaurant, that's how you tell when it's done, too).

Now...to figure out how to get him open...?

I got my trusty super strong fork that we used last time, and went at him! It seemed harder this time than last time, but the missing ingredient this time was my family. It was more fun around the table with Krystal and the kids, and talking, and laughing, than it was this time at the sink with just me. Family and friends are so very important!!

My hands hurt, I bent the tines of my trusty super fork, and this is all I got for it. :( Yep, I prefer imitation!

Really? Really??

Ok, ok, I got some good quality family time, fresh air, sunshine, great views, a lotta laughs...I thank you, Krystal and Will, for the crab! I don't want another one, but I'll go crabbing with you anytime! :D