Mussels - How do I cook thee?

[Steve B]

Sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor. We can wait to see your pics after you are done. We will survive. Bon appetite.

[David Parrish]

OK so the meal was good but I learned a lesson today. I should have put the drip and griddle pan on the charcoal grate and the mussels on the bare food grate. Liquids leaked out and pooled in the pan. This pooled liquid really slowed down the cook and the mussels ended up taking 40 minutes to cook. Shells didn't open as much as they should have due to the liquid, but the mussels were nicely done and the meal was good. Pics!

Water was at a very high boil


Steam production was STRONG


Mussles are done in this pic. There was WAY too much liquid in the pan. I should have placed it on the charcoal grate and put the mussels on the bare grate.


Meal turned out good anyway!

[Steve B]

David, David Parrish . Well done. Maybe a deeper dish to hold the liquid. So dipping those nice toast points in, to soak up that beautiful flavor, may have put it over the top.

[David Parrish]

I want to thank everyone again for their help tonight. We have a LOT of great knowledge in The Pit and it always amazes me how good you folks are at helping other members out, even when it's me!

[ecowper]

David Parrish the mussels look great. Were you happy with the flavor/smoke intensity? I love smoked oysters, clams and mussels, so I'm curious. Also, what wine did you have with them? I find the wine is really key, actually.

[David Parrish]

David Parrish the mussels look great. Were you happy with the flavor/smoke intensity? I love smoked oysters, clams and mussels, so I'm curious. Also, what wine did you have with them? I find the wine is really key, actually.

The wine was Raeburn Russian River Valley Chardonnay and the smoke flavor was nill. CINCHOUSE (Commander in Chief - House) made it clear smoke flavor was NOT welcome for this meal. I used only fully lit charcoal and no wood. I was happy with the result but I think it would have been improved if I'd put the drip and griddle pan below the mussels instead of putting the mussels in the pan.

[ecowper]

The wine was Raeburn Russian River Valley Chardonnay and the smoke flavor was nill. CINCHOUSE (Commander in Chief - House) made it clear smoke flavor was NOT welcome for this meal. I used only fully lit charcoal and no wood. I was happy with the result but I think it would have been improved if I'd put the drip and griddle pan below the mussels instead of putting the mussels in the pan.

Hey, I speak Army .... CINCHOUSE is obvious to me :-) ... nice wine choice. Too bad CINC was opposed to smoke flavor.

And yes, totally agree with you .... If you want flavors other than the mussels themselves, then create your broth as something to add to them. Cook the mussels straight on the grate. With clams, I will smoke them, then add a broth to them right as I pull them.

Still, looks good!

[ecowper]

If you can get your hands on some wild clams, do half with smoke, and half without. Let CINCHOUSE try both.

[David Parrish]

Hey, I speak Army .... CINCHOUSE is obvious to me :-) ...

We are BROTHERS! Except I'm prior USAF, but close enough

[ecowper]

Totally brothers ... former military and love our grills and smokers! You guys flew me to Mogadishu back in the day ... not sure if that is good, or bad. ;-)

[David Parrish]

Hey, orders is orders...

[Mr. Bones]

I could use a nice, relaxing, long ride in a Herkey-Bird right now, my dang self...

Something about those red webbed seats, and the soothing drone of the engines.

Brings back a lot of memories! Spent 8 years flying in The Proud Birds with the Camouflage Tail. C-130, C-141, C-5A/B, as well as the usual Rotorhead inserts / extracts. Even a Bronco ;-)

[David Parrish]

I could use a nice, relaxing, long ride in a Herkey-Bird right now, my dang self...

Something about those red webbed seats, and the soothing drone of the engines.

Relaxing and soothing, eh? I'm not sure we're talking about the same plane lol

[Mr. Bones]

Them long flights was about the only rest us Air Det guys ever got. I still owe you! ;-)

[Thunder77]

David Parrish, where did you get the awesome griddle pan? Did you make that yourself? Being prior Marine aviation, I flew in a few C-130s myself. Got to ride in a C-5 once, too.

[troymeister]

They look awesome!! I like that griddle pan.

[David Parrish]

The pan is a new product I'm working on. Sign up for my newsletter for more info.