How To Boil Crabs

Plunge the crabs into boiling water containing a table-spoonful of salt and a little vinegar to each two quarts. Boil from ten to fifteen minutes, or until they turn red.

How To Dress Crabs

Cool the boiled crabs and remove the spongy substance and the small piece at the lower part of the shell, which is called "the apron." Then pick the meat from the bones and use as desired.

Devilled Crabs

To each cupful of crab meat allow two tablespoonfuls of melted butter, two tablespoonfuls soft bread crumbs, one or two egg yolks, a teaspoonful of minced parsley, a half teaspoonful of lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. If it seems dry, moisten with a little milk or white stock. In the meantime wash the shells, trim into shape and heap with the mixture. Sprinkle with dry bread crumbs, mixed with a little melted butter, and brown in a moderate oven.

Crab Meat Cakes

3 cupfuls crab meat

1 small egg

1/2 tablespoonful flour

1/2 teaspoonful salt 1/8 teaspoonful pepper Paprika to taste

Mix the ingredients together in the order given, form into flat cakes, roll in flour and fry gently on a well-oiled griddle. Serve with a rich white sauce.

Crab Meat Timbales

2 cupfuls flaked crab meat, freed from shell

3 eggs

1/2 cupful soft bread crumbs 2 teaspoonfuls lemon juice

4 tablespoonfuls melted butter 1/2 teaspoonful salt 1/8 teaspoonful pepper 1 teaspoonful minced parsley

Beat the egg yolks well, and add to the crab meat with all the other ingredients as mentioned. Mix thoroughly, then fold in the egg whites, beaten stiff. Bake in well-oiled timbales or custard cups, set in hot water, for thirty minutes - unmould and serve with white sauce containing chopped olives.

Fried Soft Shell Crabs

Pull back the skin (which will later harden into shell) and remove the soft spongy substances; then replace the skin, dip the crab, legs and all, into flour, dust with a little salt and pepper, then roll in egg and fine bread crumbs, as for croquettes, and fry golden brown in fat hot enough to brown a bit of bread in two minutes.