Pacific Northwest Microwbrew Steamers With Bread Food

PACIFIC NORTHWEST MICROWBREW STEAMERS WITH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large non-reactive pot with lid, melt butter.
• Add garlic, pepper, shallots, tarragon, thyme, parsley, chives and beer.
• Heat just to a simmer and stir in mussels or clams.
• Cover and steam 4-7 minutes till shells have opened.
• Discard any that have not opened.
• Put clams in individual bowls and ladle broth over.
• Serve with crusty bread for sopping.

EASY PACIFIC NORTHWEST STEAMERS

Steps:

• Rinse and drain clams; set aside.
• Heat olive oil in large heavy pot over medium heat.
• Add garlic, dill, and thyme and heat until garlic is just starting to brown (about 2 min).
• Add sherry and water and heat until steaming (about 1 min).
• Add clams, cover pot and cook 5 minutes.
• Add butter and stir gently until well blended with juices.
• Ladle out clams into a large serving bowl.
• Remove any clams that did not open all the way.
• Pour remaining juices over clams.
• Serve hot with fresh bread on the side.
• I served this with a lighter beer and fruity white wine in keeping with flavors of the Pacific Northwest.
• Don't forget another bowl to throw the shells in!

STEAMERS AND BROTH

Steps:

• Begin by cleaning the steamers in a large pot filled with the vinegar and ice cold water to cover. Discard any clams that rise to the surface, they are not alive. Allow the steamers to soak for at least 30 minutes, then rinse in cold water and drain in a large colander.
• *Vinegar is the secret to de-sanding steamers during the cleaning process. Live steamers dislike an acidic enviroment, and will naturally purge themselves of any excess sand.
• Fill a tall, narrow pot with 2 inches of water and the celery and bring to a rapid boil. Carefully add the steamers to the pot, so that the shells do not break. Cover and cook over high heat for 8 minutes, or until the shells open; discard any that don't open. Meanwhile, melt the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan and divide among 6 small bowls.
• Transfer the cooked steamers to medium serving bowls, discard the celery, and ladle the steamer broth (the water left in the pot)into separate small bowls. Serve immediately with the melted butter and more bowls for discarding the shells.
• *To eat pull the steamer from its shell, dipping it in the warm steamer broth water to remove any remaining sand, then dipping it in melted butter, and finally eating it as you pull the skin off the neck of the clam.