Lazy Man's Lobster

There are two sorts of Lazy Man's Lobster dinners on the Vineyard.

The First--call any of the local fish stores and order steamed and cracked lobsters to go. All you need to do is pick up the lobsters, a few lemons, and a stick of butter, a quart of ice cream and a bottle of wine. A perfect Martha's Vineyard dinner is yours.

The Second--pick up the steamed and cracked lobsters and put together this classic Vineyard lobster casserole. It is as old as the hills and has a hundred variations, but it is still delicious and very, very Vineyard. It has always been called Lazy Man's Lobster, and remains a favorite with islanders. Add a simple salad, the appropriate wine and finish with some ice cream topped with Island berries.

The pulled meat from two 1 ½ pound lobsters
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons of heavy cream
3 tablespoons of dry sherry or vermouth
24 butter crackers (like Ritz) reduced to crumbs
Dash of Tabasco sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

In a large heat proof casserole melt the butter over medium heat, add the pulled lobster meat, and stir often for 3 minutes. Add the cream, the sherry or vermouth and all but a handful of the cracker crumbs. Season to taste with Tabasco and salt and pepper. Sprinkle the remaining crumbs over the top and bake in the center of the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until brown and bubbly.
Some of the many variations on this theme; include sautéed mushrooms or tender young peas; add fresh herbs like tarragon or basil. You could even top the casserole with grated Parmesan cheese before popping it in the oven.

View Dinah's Cooking From the Farmer's Market | Picnicking