Trent's B-Day Dinner :)...................... and a word from Tyrese!

Don't you hate when someone is really good at figuring out surprises? Well, that's the dilemma I face with Trent whenever I want to do something special for him. The way to keep it a secret is to just not tell him that you have a surprise, but I always end up saying something. Well I'm planning a special dinner for his birthday, which is January 9, and I want to include CRAB CAKES. Now Trent LOVES crab cakes, but has not had a good one since we've been in Virginia AND Maryland! (I know right!! I'm just as shocked as you are!! ) So to overcome this serious problem, I'll just make the crab cakes myself.

I've been searching high and low for the best recipes, comparing and contrasting, figuring out what are the basic ingredients that constitute a crab cake, and have come up with my own great recipe called, "Those other 'crab cakes' aint got nothing on me!, CRAB CAKE"

Pretty catchy name huh, lol. I thought I'd share this recipe with you too. It could be a Romantic Dinner for you and your hunnie bunnie one day. The recipe follows below :)

"Those other 'crab cakes' aint got nothing on me!, CRAB CAKE"
1 lb          Jumbo Lump Crab Meat
1 cup       Mayo
3             Garlic Cloves (Minced)
1             Celery Stalk (Chopped)
1/2 cup    Red Bell Pepper (Diced)
1/2 cup    Scallion (Chopped)
2 T          Parsley (Chopped)
1 cup       Yellow Onion (Diced)
1 1/2 cup Panko Bread crumbs
1             Egg
1 tsp        Dill Weed
1 T          Old Bay Seasoning
1 tsp        Pepper
3 T          Olive Oil (For Cooking)
               Lemon Wedges (Garnish)

In a large skillet, heat to medium high and add 1T of the Olive Oil. Add in Celery, Bell Pepper, Onion, and Garlic. Cook for 5 minutes until tender. Take off heat and place mixture in a large bowl.

Mix all the remaining ingredients (except Olive Oil and Lemon Wedges) into that large bowl and form small or large cakes. I usually will form about 6 with 1 lb of meat.

In the same skillet, heat the remaining 2 T of Olive Oil to medium high and cook each cake for about 4 minutes per side or until golden brown.

Serve with a Remoulade Sauce or Aioli, and garnish with Lemon Wedges.

I plan on serving these crab cakes with a spicy aioli and a cool Avocado Mayo. I'll have to test those recipes out first and then let you know. Also as side dishes, I'm thinking about some Garlicky Herbed Mashed Potatoes with some type of green vegetable. Right now I habe some brussel sprouts so they may have to do right now.

No birthday dinner is complete without DESSERT!! I'm thinkin of making Churros ( A Spanish Doughnut that looks like a huge French Fry. Usually served sprinkled with sugar or honey.) I'm going to serve them drizzled with honey and alongside some Rich Hot Chocolate. Yummy... and it's snowing outside right now, so this will warm us up :)

If you have any ides that could help me with Trent's B-Day dinner or any other special occasion for two, comment below and help me out :)

And now, a word from Tyrese:

"When you look a certain way, that says how you feel about yourself, " says Gibson. "When you're in shape, you don't have to walk up to somebody and say, 'Yo, I love myself.' You look like you care for yourself." -Tyrese Gibson.

P.S. Shout out to Trent's sister, Tracy. She just had a beautiful baby girl this past Wednesday, Jan 5, 2011. :)