If you have read Dine & Dish for any amount of time, it won’t be any secret to you that I feel like I’m not living in the right place. As lovely as Kansas is to raise a family, I have always had a very strong pull towards east coast living. The coast of the Carolina’s, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard…I have always felt like that is where I need to be.
Well, with four kids and a husband pretty much firmly planted in his “forever” job, my dream of moving East is most likely not going to happen. So, what does one do when they are faced to continue the rest of their life living in Kansas? They bring the East Coast to the Midwest!
This past weekend we hosted a shrimp boil, a classic coastal living party with our neighbors, right here in our Kansas backyard. Instead of the rush of waves, we heard the rush of traffic passing by. Instead of buying shrimp fresh off the boats, we got ours “fresh” from Costco. Our firepit was freestanding in our cul-de-sac versus dug into the sand. The squeal of kids took the place of squealing seagulls. The end result, however, was the same regardless of the location… we all had a fantastic time eating delicious shrimp and being together.
So yes, I would adore east coast living and hope that someday I’ll get to experience it first hand, but as I sit back and count my Kansas blessings, I would have to say the only way you are getting me there is if I can bring my friends and neighbors with me.
Original Old Bay Seasoning Shrimp Boil
4 quarts water (16 cups)
1 can (12 ounces) beer (optional)
1/2 cup OLD BAY® Seasoning
2 tablespoons salt
8 medium red potatoes, quartered
2 large onions, cut into wedges
2 pounds lean smoked sausage, cut into 2-inch pieces
8 ears fresh corn, shucked and halved crosswise
4 pounds unpeeled jumbo shrimp (21 to 25 count)
Bring water, beer, OLD BAY Seasoning and salt to boil in 12-quart stockpot on high heat. Add potatoes and onions. Cook 8 minutes. Add smoked sausage. Cook 5 minutes. Add corn. Cook 7 minutes.
Stir in shrimp. Cook 4 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink.
Drain cooking liquid. Pour contents of pot into large serving bowl or platter. Or, mound on paper-covered table. Sprinkle with additional OLD BAY Seasoning, if desired.
For our pots, we used Turkey fryers filled with water and that worked out great!
Yum! Let me know when you’re heading my way. I’ll help you unpack.
I love that you got to live a piece of their dream in their own backyard. What a feast!
I love that you did this! I’ve always wanted to have a shrimp boil or a clambake… we spend summers in New England but I can never manage to get organized for one of those. Maybe I need to just have it in my own backyard here in San Diego 🙂
Amazing! And it sounds like a total blast! Also–looks incredibly delicious. 🙂
I KNEW I should have hopped in the car when you invited me!!….this looks amazing!!
Ohhh we do this as well and my kids always request this for their birthday! Love it!
Looks like y’all had a great time, Kristen. And you know, regardless of the location, the love of friends and family is what makes it home. And I think you are well-loved!!! 🙂
Living near the coast would be awesome! But many of us are removed from it geographically. I’d settle for a summer house near the coast – preferably oceanfront!
Yum! Looks like a grand time Kristen!! LOVE LOVE that picture of the table. We love a good shrimp boil down my way for sure. Course, ours are Gulf Coast shrimp and we devoured 100 pounds of ’em along with some crabs this Labor Day weekend. 🙂
I’m so glad you did this even though you long for the coast – it looks like such a great time! And that table – wow filled w/all that shrimpy goodness, corn & potatoes!! I’d be quite happy to be your neighbor!
I’m near the East coast! I really like it too. 🙂 And that sounds fabulous!
I like your attitude. Instead of complaining, you do something about it and wow, what you did was terrific. The folks in Edgartown or Chatham couldn’t do any better.
Glad the food brought you home! It looks delicious!
East coast?! No, no, no. I see you in Seattle, in a house next to me. We have water (no waves), sun (honest!), and plenty of beach BBQ pits (rocky beaches, but never mind that).
Sounded like a fun party!
Aww this sounds super fun! What a great excuse to get friends and family together to cook! I officially pronounce you an honorary East Coaster!
Who needs the east coast when you can do this in your backyard???
I didn’t know you wanted to be on the east coast. That’s a very impressive event you arranged. And I love Costco!
I agree with you, I have been wanting to get out of KS and either to Nantucket or Sonoma for a vacation – either coast is OK with me! I used to live in MA and now am stuck in KC, but I do love the Fall temperatures we have had lately. Your shrimp boil sounds delicious! I love the idea of bringing the coastal life to you. Looks delicious! 🙂
Awww this is awesome! I’ll probably never leave the East Coast (I hope not at least!) but I do ave a special place in my heart for the Midwest 🙂
Mmm, that looks delicious! You’re so right – if you can’t chase your dreams, make them come to you 😉
As a born and bred East Coaster who grew up spending summers at the beach with clambakes, I have to hand it to you for doing a truly authentic job! My family had a wonderful time, and we are so truly blessed to have you as neighbors and most importantly, friends! Looking forward to next year!!
What a fun time! The food looks fantastic too! I am a midwest girl…I miss it sometimes, but we are happy in Utah:)
I admittedly don’t love boiled corn or potatoes, especially all together, but can’t pass up these type of get togethers. I do like this alot better than a trash can party though, that’s just gross, LOL, even when the can is clean. I’ll eat a little, and thoroughly enjoy the company. It looks like it was so much fun!
I hear ya. We are living in CA right now, but my heart is in FL. We’ll get back there someday! Love the addition of the beer to the shrimp boil!
What a fun way to gather your friends! I love shrimp boils. We took part in a fish boil in Door County, WI – that was very good as well. I like the communal eating.
Kristen, I just love the idea of the shrimp boil no matter where you live. By the way I had no idea you guys live in Kansas. My hubs is from there. At BlogHer we will need to chat about that! He left KS for NYC and then on to the OC. xo
Oh geez, when I read the title of this post, I thought to myself … I really need to get to the east coast (lobster bakes, shrimp boils, closer to Europe, the list goes on & on). I feel the same was as you; but, boy, do I wish I could say my partner was firmly planted in his job and the kids are in school. Instead, I dream about the day of leaving the city … waiting until the time is right. If I was in Kansas, I would be clicking my heels very often!
Regardless of my woes, your shrimp boil looks amazing!
Fabulous idea, Kristin! And I sure wish I could have been there. We do the same thing once in a while and dump it on newspapers just like that!
Such a nice tribute to friendship, Kristen. And the recipe looks good, too! You know me – I’m all about the emotion.
What a great get together. I love where we live, but Kansas isn’t that just the perfect place? Great recipe!
Love that idea! I live in the midwest and always wish I could have local seafood. Your Costco stand in gives me hope that maybe I could pull off something similar.
I would trade life on the east coast for four kids any day! In fact, four is always the number of kids that I thought I wanted. Life handed me only one, but she is such an amazing kid I try to be thankful for what I’ve got. Good for you for bringing your dream here. You know, I’m in KC too. We should get together one of these days!
I really want to have a boil like this for my friends and family