holiday essentials: creamy crab & shrimp soup

How To Make holiday essentials: creamy crab & shrimp soup

• 
  1

  PREP/PREPARE
• 
  2

  Dry Sherry: There are two types of sherry… drinking sherry, and cooking sherry. In the matter of which one to use, I will defer to the late-great Julia Child who said, if it is not good enough to drink, it is not good enough to cook with.
• 
  3

  Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
• 
  4

  THE SOUP BASE
• 
  5

  Add the butter to a saucepan over medium-low heat, and allow to melt, then whisk in the flour until it is blended with the butter. Finally, add the cream cheese, half & half, and milk, then bring up to a simmer, while whisking.
• 
  6

  Add the old bay seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste, then bring down to a low heat, where it is barely simmering.
• 
  7

  THE SHRIMP
• 
  8

  I like to cook the shrimp in butter, wine and lemon juice, over medium heat, until cooked through. So, about a tablespoon of each.
• 
  9

  THE CRAB MEAT
• 
  10

  I like to take the same pan that I cooked the shrimp in and toss the crab meat for a few minutes in the leftover juices from the shrimp.
• 
  11

  Chef’s Note: I like to add a bit of lemon juice, and Frank’s hot sauce to the soup base, to brighten it, and add a bit of hidden heat.
• 
  12

  PLATE/PRESENT
• 
  13

  Add the soup base to a shallow bowl, put the crab meat in the center, and then add the shrimp in a decorative pattern. Saltines or oyster crackers are a must. Enjoy.
• 
  14

  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
• Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
• Printable Recipe Card