Potomac Calls to Chesapeake

Maryland! My Maryland!.....

I have lived a good portion of my life in and around and adjacent to horse country.  I don't ride myself but my girls do.  One thing I've learned is that girls love ponies.  And girls who love ponies grow up to be ladies who love horses, and clothes, and parties, etc, etc.

I've also learned over the years that you can certainly find women who love sports but by and large many women won't LOVE sports as much as most guys.  In fact trying to get ladies to watch sports can often just get annoying!

Shannon speaking:

  "Why are they kicking the ball, geesh they only have to make 20 yards on that last down.  Why don't they just throw it to one of those big guys who just stand around trying to stop the people who want to tackle the passer-guy; nobody is paying attention to them."

I know I'm being sexist but really that is the type of thing Shannon would say when I'm trying to watch Big State U on TV.  So if you have a lady who likes the NFL, go ahead and enjoy Lambeau Field on a invigorating late November night just south of the Artic Circle.  

But if you don't, there are other options and the weather in the Mid-Atlantic is damn fine in late May!

In fact this time of year they have this thing called the Triple Crown that is horse racing.  Remember, ladies like horses!  Better yet, they love to party; and nothing is more of a "be seen" event than a horse race.

Around here we have one of those big horse races in Baltimore.  It's our big event and the ladies love it!  Which means you can enjoy sports and ladies at the same time.  It's called the Preakness or "the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans," which is the state flower of Maryland.  I know running for Black-Eyed Susan's is not a sexy as running for Roses, but you already have missed the Kentucky Derby! Anyway, you should try it.

My pick for the Preakness - Nyquist.  Triple Crowns tend to come in bunches.  The golden age of the Triple Crown was in the 30's and 40's with 7 Triple Crown winners over 18 years.  Then there was a 25 year gap until Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973.  Then there was a second golden age as Seattle Slew and Affirmed won Triple Crowns in 1977 and 1978.  Then there was another gap of 37 years until American Pharoah broke the drought last year.  Seems like a good reason to think this is a good time to have another golden age.  Exaggerator came on strong at the Kentucky Derby but Nyquist was solid and ran a very smooth race in Kentucky.  The Preakness is shorter so less track for Exaggerator to make up.  But the Belmont could be the tripping point!

Anyway, if you do watch and you want to cook out or have a party at your crib here is a great classic Maryland recipe to feature.

Classic Maryland Crab Cakes with Old Bay Horseradish Remoulade

Ingredients:

* 1 lb       Lump Crab Meat - cleaned

* 0.5 tsp  Salt

* 0.5 tsp  Old Bay seasoning

* 1           egg

* 2 Tbs    Miracle Whip

* 5           Saltine Crackers - crushed

* dash      Pepper

* to Taste Minced Fresh Parsley  

* As Needed - Crisco shortening 

the state spice of Maryland!

Preparation:

*     Whip egg gently until frothy
*     Combine Crab Meat, egg, and Miracle Whip together in mixing bowl gently, do not break down Crab Meat lumps
*      Add Old Bay, salt, and pepper; gently folding into mixture
*      Add Parsley to taste
*      Form Crab Cake mixture into 3 oz oval cakes.  Place in refrigerator to cool for 1 hour
*      Pre-heat iron skillet on medium heat on stove top.  Melt Crisco into skillet up to 0.5" depth.
*      Place Crab Cakes onto hot skillet.  Once bottom is crispy and brown, gently flip over
*      Cook other side for approximately 3 minutes

Old Bay Remoulade Sauce 

2 Cup      Mayonnaise

1 Tbs       Lemon Juice Fresh Squeezed

0.25 Cup Chopped Fresh Parsley

1.5 Tbs    Old Bay Seasoning

2 Tsp       Dijon Mustard or Horseradish Sauce or a little of both

Mix all ingredients together and let stand for 30 minutes

After party!

The state song of Maryland is in fact "Maryland, My Maryland" with lyrics set to the tune of "O Tannenbaum," just in case you thought you had heard the song somewhere else.  As with many state songs, it's a beautiful tune with rather creepy lyrics.  It was originally written as a rallying cry for Marylanders to rise up with the Confederacy and "spurn the Northern scum! (see last verse)"  It does beautifully capture the writers love of the state however his elegant prose are co-mingled with references to "warlike thrusts," "anointing throngs," and "crucifixion of the soul."  Come to think about it, it sounds like some scenes from the infield at the Preakness!  :)

And if you were wondering what was up with the strange state flag of Maryland it is a blend of the family crests of the Calvert and Baltimore families.