Wine and Crab Cakes

Oh these delicious Crab Cakes. Crab cakes combine light, sweet crabmeat with crispy, fried crumbs and rich cream sauces.

The earliest use of the term "crab cake" is commonly believed to date to Crosby Gaige's 1939 publication New York World's Fair Cook Book in which they are described as "Baltimore crab cakes," earlier usages can be found such as in Thomas J. Murrey's book Cookery with a Chafing Dish published in 1891.

There are various recipes associated with Crab Cakes. A crab cake is a variety of fishcake popular in the United States. It is composed of crab meat and various other ingredients, such as bread crumbs, mayonnaise, mustard (typically prepared mustard, but sometimes mustard powder), eggs, and seasonings. It is then sautéed, baked, grilled, deep fried, or broiled. Crab cakes are traditionally associated with the Chesapeake Bay, in the state of Maryland.

The sides accompanying crab cakes are usually french fries, coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad. Restaurants serve crab cakes with a lemon wedge and saltine crackers and sometimes with other condiments.

Cape Breton snow crab cakes make for a delicious light dinner and are so quick to put together.Snow crab doesn’t make reference to its geography in snowy Canada, but instead the snowy white colour of its meat when cooked.

Snow crab shells are easy breakable.

Ingredients*

1.5 cups cooked snow crab meat

1/2 cup red pepper minced.

1/4 cup green onion, minced

2 tbsp fresh dill

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 egg white

1/2 cup panko, half for mix and half for breading cakes

1 tsp Old Bay seasoning

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Mix all ingredients well, remember to keep 1/4 cup panko crumbs aside.

Form into 12 cakes and roll in panko crumbs.

Heat skillet over medium heat with a bit of vegetable oil. Add snow crab cakes, but do not crowd skillet as you'll need to gently flip after 1-2 minutes or when golden on each side.

Garnish with chopped dill and serve with sriracha dipping sauce.

The Wines 

Pairing wine with crab cakes can enhance their taste and make the experience even more delightful. The right wine can balance the richness of the crab meat and the seasoning, making each bite a flavor explosion.

1. A nice Sparkling wine is always a good idea. Nova Scotia has some outstanding world class Sparkling Wines.

2. Sauvignon Blanc. If your cakes have lots of herbs or fruity dipping sauces, the super aromatic and tropical-fruited style of Sauvignon Blanc works well. This wine is also great when the cakes have a little extra heat from jalapeños or Asian chile sauces.*

3. Pinot Blanc is also a good idea as is Petite Milo.

4. The all dependable Chardonnay.

Although white wine is usually the wine of choice for these types of dishes, you’d be surprised to find that mild-bodied red wines like Pinot Noir pairs well with crab cakes.

* baconismagic.com ~ Kristin Donnelly 

 Be Kind to Your Health

One of the best food for your health is cucumbers. Cucumbers provide various nutrients but are low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium. People around the world grow and use cucumbers food and medicinal purposes since ancient times, and they have long been part of the famous Mediterranean diet.

Cucumbers can be the star of a meal, whether raw or pickled in sandwiches and salads, or sautéed, braised or roasted. They’re also a flexible match for nearly any fish, dairy, fruit or herbs. Regardless of use, the right wine can bring out some of their more subtle, complex flavors.

~ Cucumbers consist mostly of water, and they also contain important electrolytes. They can help prevent dehydration in hot weather or after a workout.

~ Vitamin K found in Cucumbers helps with blood clotting, and it may support bone health.

~ As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family of plants, cucumbers contain high levels of bitter-tasting nutrients known as cucurbitacin. These are believed to help fight cancer.

~ Cucumbers may help in controlling and preventing diabetes. It contains substances that may help lower blood sugar or stop blood glucose from rising too high.

~ The cucurbitacins in cucumber may also help prevent atherosclerosis.

~ One theory is that the cucurbitacins in cucumber help regulate insulin release and the metabolism of hepatic glycogen, a key hormone in the processing of blood sugar.

~ Cucumbers may have anti-inflammatory  . Inflammation is a function of the immune system.

When it comes to the right wine try Pinot Gris/Grigio: 

Pinot grigio (pee-noh gree-jhee-oh) is a white wine that is often light, crisp, and dry with plenty of zippy, mouth-watering acidity. It goes by several different names depending on the country—pinot grigio in Italy, pinot gris in France, grauer burgunder in Germany, and grauburgunder in Austria. Pinot grigio is the second most popular white wine in America,

Pinot Gris provides only slighty different characteristic it all depends on the region of origin.

Albariño: a white wine from Spain that is found on the coast. This is a refreshing white wine with lemon/lime, peach, pear, sometimes apricot, minerality that adds texture, and green vegetal notes that make it an exciting food wine and not just a sipping wine. 

Some food and wine writers suggest Muscat. The wines are generally on the low side in acidity, tannins, and alcohol. Clean to syrupy, golden sweetness is the name of the Muscat game. 

 

The Best Wines of 2023

These are the best wines that found their way into our home in 2023. We consider then to be the best of the best!

Festina Lente Vinmum Regum Reserve

The small family run winery in Langley Township, British Columbia stoled the show. The Winemaker and co-owner is Bill Townsley. An Extraordinary mead, 3 months in first-run Kentucky Bourbon barrels. 100% honey as a fermentable sugar. Aged 1 year before release Lifespan: 50 years Closure: Nomacorc Envirocorc (compressed sugar cane). Its a sweeter wine busting with flavour with a lovely honey finish , phenomenal. 99

Nagging Doubt -2021 Sallow Road Vineyard off dry Siegerrebe -

We never expect such a fine wine from a very small, new , Kelowna winery. Rob Westbury is the owner winemaker. This is an amazing wine. Not may people do a Siegerrebe. This one is perfection in a bottle. The wine is intensely aromatic – an extremely complex profile of flowers, lychee, tangerine, spice, and citrus can be detected. But that extra bit of sugar has allowed the wine to undergo a second fermentation in bottle, which means it has a sparkly effervescence. Note this wine was not subsequently filtered so will throw some sediment. Best Siegerrebe in years!! 98

Church & State 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a really good wine. It starts an intoxicating aroma of Black Cherry. The flavour follows through providing hints of blackcurrant and plum.. The finish is smooth Nice balance.. 96

Wild Goose 2021 Pinot Gris

A classic. with its lively zesty flavours. It represents what a true Pinot Gris can be. Flavours include Honeydew, lemon, and grapefruit. The wine begs you to say more please. 96

Vineland Estate Cabernet Merlot Reserve 2016

It is a dry combination of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41.5% Cabernet Franc and 14% Merlot Lovely favour of Bing cherry and blueberry. Each sip brings out a different rush of favour 95

50th Parallel Riesling 2021

Curtis Krouzel and Sheri-Lee Turner-Krouzel have created a world-class wine destination only 15 minutes from the Kelowna. Winemaker Matthew Fortuna has been with 50th Parallel since 2013 . Their Riesling is a perfect wine for those hot summer days. Featuring flavours of Peach and citrus fruits. A bolt of summer sweetness! 95

The View Gewurztraminer 2022

Year after year this family winery continues to produce top quality. Their Gewurztraminer is among the very best. The winemaker is Kristy French ,Wonderful fruits from the tropics A lovely pear finish 95

The View Black Rhino 2020

Under the guidance of president Jennifer Turton- Molgat The view has established itself among the best! The Black Rhino is very good Pinotage offering excellent notes of dark cherry Hints of spice. A smooth finish 95

Castoro de Oro 2020 Merlot

This small winery on the Golden mile in Oliver will surprise you with their "fine" selection of wines . Bruno Kelle is the winemaker. An excellent merlot displaying notes of plum, boysenberry, cherry and hints of raspberry. Barbara was impressed! 95

Chaberton Bacchus 2022 

The Fraser Valley's oldest and most distinguished winery. A very fine wine reflecting what a true Bacchus Can be! The wine features flavours of lime, ripe peach and fresh pear 95

Chaberton Madeline Syvaner 2021 

Chaberton's Madeline Syvaner 2021 is an very fine wine. It starts with the aroma of fresh lychee followed by flavours of citrus fruit and green apples. Its smooth with a delightful finish; saying more please. The grapes are estate grown. A small percentage of the wine was aged in new French oak for 4 months to accentuate the creamy and vanilla flavours, while keeping the fruit and floral notes from the remainder. 95

Forbidden Fruit Organic 2021 Pearsasion

Forbidden Fruit Winery is a family owned and operated certified organic boutique winery located on Ven’Amour Organic Farms, Owners Steve Venables, Kim Brind’Amour and their son, Nathan, initially added grape wines to their portfolio to satisfy the consumers who had ventured all the way to this secluded winery and found just fruit wines. The wine is a wonderful Pear wine bursting with favour. Made from the Shinski and Asian Pears. Their are hints of Vanilla ,lemon grass and Lychee 95

McWatters 2018 Chardonnay

The time family of wineries has taken the Okanagan by storm. Lynzee Schatz is the winemaker. You will be hard press to find a better chardonnay. Lovely fruit flavours extremely smooth 95

Intrigue Wines - I Do

A most favourable frizzante style wine. Featuring strawberry, raspberries and hints of honey. Also notes of peach. A blend of Riesling and Gewurztraminer Merlot,Ehrenfelser and Malbec. The winemaker is Roger Wong.94

NightHawk 2018 Cabernet Franc

Nighthawk Vineyards is the passion of two families…Daniel & Christy Bibby, David & Melanie Flotten. The winemaker is Dakota Bibby. The wine - Oh Chocolate. The aroma is all about chocolate. Followed by black current and vanilla. 94

Ve Oh Lay Acres Appeachiation 2022

Okanagan's newest meadery. Maddison Vioet , daughter of the founders of Domaine Chaberton is the winemaker. The mead its refreshing Its light its delicious A blend of honey and peaches 94

Ex Nihilo Riesling 2021

Outstanding from the Okanagan Lake Country. The winemaker is Jim Faulkner. assisted by Jory Lumley. The aroma is bright and fresh dominated by Lemon. On the pallet Honey suckle and Apple. 94

SpearHead Pinot Gris 2022

No wonder they were named best preforming small winery at the Nationals. Grant Stanley is the winemaker. The wine is so nice and refresh notes of pear,p each and marinade. Followed by hints of honeydew and melon 94

Ward's Original

Ward" cider is part of the View winery, under winemaker Kristy French. A hard Apple cider. thats refreshing, bright and delicious. The traditional recipe has been passed down for five generations. The cider is crafted from the perfect blend of apple varieties grown in Ward's old growth orchard. Notes of Pear and melon. 94

Jost Vineyards L’Acadie Blanc, Pinot Grigio

Happy to have had the opportunity to enjoy a Nova Scotia wine. Gina Haverstock is an amazing winemaker. The wine is fresh and smooth. Lovely flavours peach, honeysuckle, McIntosh apple, anjou pear, , gooseberry, lemon, lime and ripe gooseberries. 94

Nostalgia Wines Kerner 2021

Located on the Black Sage Bench. The winery is owned by Gina Fernandes Harfman. She is also the winemaker. A perfect wine for those hot summer days. Refreshing citrus flavours hints of honey and pear 94

Benjamin Bridge 2018 Brute Rose

On the nose, a rich bouquet of blood orange, toast, soil tones and rose petals, seamlessly supported strawberry notes distinctly coming from the Pinot Noir. The winemaker is Jean-Benoit Deslauriers 93 

Meadow Vista Mabon

Mabon is a metheglin style mead made by fermenting BC honey with spices. I feel the cinnamon and nutmeg along with the honey. Yum The winemaker is Electra Logan c0-owner 93

Ex Nihilo Pinot Noir 2021

A very good wine from the Okanagan Lake Country. The winemaker is Jim Faulkner. It starts with a nice aroma. Featuring black cherry, hints of carmal and cola. 93

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