The other day at Costco, crab meat was nearly $40 a lb. That’s expensive! Normally, quality crab meat can be available for half that price. The Phillips brand of crab is made from Blue Crabs. Other types of crab meat are also available, but at prices that make you even more crabby!
As an Appalachian and eastern born seafood lover, we enjoyed Blue Crabs from the Chesapeake Bay. Crab cakes and Crab imperial were a frequent tasty meal. No crabs are as a good as Maryland Blue Crabs, which come from the world’s largest estuary.
Montana has no seafood is nearby. The limited choices we get are far from the best. If you like crab and can’t afford the real deal, you can use local fish to fit the bill.
Crab Imperial is a crab casserole that is rich and flavorful. You can serve it in unique crab shaped bowls, on bread, in a mushroom, or as you choose. Here is how you can take your trout, walleye, or other common fish and make it a Mock seafood treat. 
1 pound of fish. Trout do well for this recipe.
1 cup of water
1 tbsp. of Old Bay or seafood seasoning
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp. of lemon juice
1 tsp. of dry mustard
1 8oz. pkg. of cream cheese
¼ cup of Mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste
½ tsp. of Worcestershire sauce
Dash of garlic powder
¼ cup of diced green pepper
Romano or Parmesan Cheese
Butter
Place the fish filets in a pan of water with a tbsp. of Old Bay seasoning, bay leaves, and lemon juice. Cook until the fish flakes easily. Drain the fish and remove the Bay leaves. Set the flaked fish aside for now.
Soften the cream cheese and blend in the Mayo, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and 1 more tsp of the Old Bay or seafood seasoning, green pepper, garlic powder and salt and pepper. Gently fold in the fish and place into a baking dish. Sprinkle some cheese on top and finish with some paprika or some additional Old Bay. Dot the top with butter.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. This recipe can be made ahead of time and frozen. I have served this exotic meal at hunting and fishing camps with great success. It is always fun to serve a seafood meal, made from fresh trout, caught in a remote mountaintop campsite.
Eat like a King or Queen!
Montana Grant
