There is no place finer in the world to me than where I live on the “Crystal Coast” of NC. The seafood is plentiful & the history of native fishermen is so intriguing. We frequently visit Ocracoke Village on the Outer Banks of NC in the summer, staying with friends at Teeter’s Campground. The locals are friendly and there are no words to describe how good the food is. We even fished our boat up to Ocracoke a few times last summer; it’s nice having our own little “ferry”. We even had a few “friends” ride along side of us on the way…..
I LOVE to clam. Believe it or not, I asked for my own clam rake for our first wedding anniversary. And of course I got it 
A few native Ocracoke locals, who have become good friends of ours, were nice enough to guide us to their clamming “honey hole” on our last boat trip. Clamming is good exercise and you don’t walk away “empty-handed”…..we sure didn’t that day! When we returned to the campground, our friend made us clams casino. It was truly a treat that I will always remember.
The recipe I’m sharing is from one of my new favorite cookbooks, The Outer Banks Cookbook. I like to shop locally when I can, & I purchased this book from Ginny Gordon’s Kitchen Supply Store in Morehead City, NC. One lucky person will win a copy of this cookbook!
The Outer Banks Cookbook
To enter for the drawing, simply comment below this post, and tell me what your favorite seafood dish is, and if you have another seafood recipe cookbook that you enjoy. One random “commenter” will win this cookbook; the winner will be announced at the end of the day on Thursday, January 19th. Here is the recipe for my favorite clams casino:
Ingredients
- 24 medium size clams
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- Cracker meal, (made from crunching 12 saltine crackers with a rolling pin)
- 8 slices Swiss cheese
- 6 cooked slices of bacon, cut into quarters
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Fry bacon over medium high heat; cook until crispy.
- Place on paper towels to absorb grease.
- Once bacon slices have cooled, cut each slice into 4 pieces. I've found that kitchen scissors work well for me:
- Crush saltine crackers to make the "cracker meal" using a rolling pin:
- Combine softened butter & minced garlic in a small bowl; set aside.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Open, or "shuck" the clams. My husband made this nifty little gadget to open clams with inexpensive supplies from our local hardware store:
- Once you open each clam, loosen the meat from the bottom shell. Leave the clam open-face in it bottom shell & place in a shallow baking pan.
- Sprinkle the clams lightly with the cracker meal, then dab approximately 1/2 tsp garlic butter over each clam.
- Top with a slice of the Swiss cheese (cut to the size of the clam) and then place 1/4 slice of the cooked bacon over the Swiss cheese:
- Place in oven & bake for approximately 8 minutes, or until the clams are bubbly & hot.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Source: The Outer Banks Cookbook
Oh My Amy! That LOOKS and sounds so good! I have to admit, as many cookbooks as I own, I do NOT own a seafood cookbook! Can you beleive that?? I so enjoyed the stuffed crab your mom made!! YUM, YUM!! When I really crave a special seafood dish it is crab stuffed flounder that is broiled in a butter, wine, slight garlic sauce served with fresh sauteed asparagus and restuffed baked potato! I have to eat early enough in the evening to be able to sleep well after a meal like that; so good and filling! Excellent!!!!
Thank you for sharing your recipes and Good Luck in your new adventour! 2012 is THE YEAR for GREATNESS is so many ways and I am wishing that for you!!
Robin
read your story and all the recipes I have seen look yummmy.
Looks yummy Amy! Sure hope you are making this for lunch for me sometime ! Hope to try it as soon as I can get out and catch some fresh clams . I have to say my favorite seafood recipe is Shirmp and Grits ! Keep up the awesome work ! Sure would love to win that cookbook !
WOW!!! LOL! These clams are pure-t sinful, they taste sooooo good. My all time favorite seafood dish would have to be your Carolina Fish Stew recipe posted on theblondcook.com
Looks delicious!
Pne of my favorite seafood dishes is a good pot of Minced Drum and crispy cornbread. It is divine. I also love Oysters raw, steamed and fried up crispy.
I have to say that I don’t have a favorite cookbook for seafood! I don’t live on the coast, but get clams and seafood as often as I can from the meat store! I am sure not as good as fresh from the sea!
I would absolutely love this recipe!! It looks so good and will be trying it soon.
Looking forward to seeing other’s you have!
This recipe sounds so good I can almost taste and smell it. I like your presentation, looks nice. Also, I like your neat nefty clam opener, very creative. My favorite seafood is all of it (fresh in season and from our area only). Thanks for sharing your recipes and I will be checking in on you later.
Oh my Gosh!!! Those pictures look so good that i can almost taste them! I cant imagine a better way to have clams. Thanks for the recipe and i look forward to more!! Its almost imposable to pick just one favorite seafood..i guess if i had to pick one it would be shrimp..
Amy those were the most clams I ever ate in my life that weekend at Ocracoke, soooo yummy. All seafood is tastey to me but your crab dip is my favorite.