Old Bay…

Ever since our boys were little we let them choose whatever they wanted to do or have for their birthday dinner. When I was little my parents gave me the choice of where I wanted to go out to eat for my birthday; I always picked either a Chinese or Italian place.

I am making a low-country boil tomorrow for Sam’s birthday. I’ll also be making a court bouillon to “boil” the shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob with lobster or crabs if I can find them, hopefully they aren’t outrageously expensive; however, if the four of us went out to dinner it would be much more expensive for sure.

I’ve made a low-country boil before, but I when I did I didn’t make a flavorful court bouillon, I may have used just water.

I looked up a few legit low-country boil recipes and saw they all used either Zatarain crab boil seasoning or Old Bay. I had an old crab boil seasoning way in the back of my spice cabinet. I didn’t buy it so I am guessing I took it when I closed up my mother’s apartment after she had her stroke. Why she would have it is beyond me since she didn’t cook. It was probably my dad’s who passed in 2000! Yikes talk about old spice! Lol! 

I wasn’t going to buy either Old Bay or crab boil seasoning since I don’t make low-country boil often; plus I have all the spices that I needed right here. 

When I looked up recipes for crab boil and old bay, true to my nature I decided to combine both and make my own low county boil seasoning.

Out of curiosity I looked at the almost empty crab boil can to see what the ingredients were: salt, red pepper and spices. Very specific indeed! 

I used 16 spices, which is a shit load, more than my jerk seasoning that I make. I grabbed a spoon and started throwing spices into the mortar and pestle. I had an idea of the quantity ratios from the recipes I read. 

I tasted mine then bravely tasted the 20+ year old crab boil and there was no comparison. Well no kidding…one was old as dirt and one used fresh spices, but it wasn’t even that, the combo I used was better. For a 20 year old the crab boil still packed a ton of heat, that was about it. 🔥 

I was surprised to see the large array of spices used in Old Bay, ones you wouldn’t think of. I started digging through my spices and got out my mortar and pestle. 

Making your own small batches of spice blends is a practical idea. When I see people at warehouse stores buying their spices in bulk I think how long will it take them to use that shit up…like my father’s crab boil seasoning. 

I’ll let you know how it comes out on tomorrow. I also made a gf yellow cake and pastry cream for a Boston cream pie as Sam’s birthday cake. It’s a surprise do don’t tell him! 😉