Memories of Key West and Sonoma (mostly)

Crab Cakes On Eggplant Medallions

2 c. fresh white bread crumbs
8 oz. Lump crabmeat (about 1 lb. snow crab clusters, shelled and picked)
1/4 c. celery, chopped fine
2 T. onion, chopped fine
1 tsp. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1/8 tsp. tabasco sauce
dash of powdered ginger
1 egg
1/4 c. low-fat mayonnaise
3/4 tsp. lemon juice
1 large eggplant, cut in 1/2" slices crosswise.

Chop celery and onion in food processor and place in bowl. Process bread in food processor until the crumbs are fluffy. Add to bowl with celery, onion, flour, Old Bay, tabasco, ginger, egg, mayonnaise, and lemon juice and blend thoroughly. Mix in crab. Divide into eight portions and shape into cakes. (This can be done in advance, with cakes stored, covered, in refrigerator.) In a frying pan, saute eggplant slices in 1 tsp. garlic-flavored olive oil until browned on both sides. Remove and keep warm. Cook crab cakes: melt 2 T. margarine in the frying pan over medium-high heat. Saute crab cakes until brown, approximately 3 min. on each side, turning once. Place each crab cake on a slice of eggplant and serve with honey wasabi sauce and lime hollandaise sauce.

1 c. low-fat mayonnaise
3 T. honey
1/2 oz. Wasabi paste (half of the 1.3 oz container that Wegman's sells with sushi)

Blend or whisk ingredients until smooth. (This is an "adjust to your taste" recipe. Your proportions may vary. )

1/2 c. salted butter
2 eggs
2 1/2 T. lime juice
1/4 tsp. salt
Pinch of cayenne

Place all ingredients except butter in food processor or blender and blend. Meanwhile, heat butter over medium heat in small saucepan until bubbly but not brown. Immediately pour into blended mixture and blend for 1 min. Now remove sauce from food processor and place in plastic container. Microwave at medium energy, stopping every 30 seconds to whisk the sauce briskly. Stop when it thickens - it's easy to overcook and have a spread, rather than a sauce. (It usually takes about 2 or 3 minutes in my microwave.) (Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Rewarm cautiously in microwave, stirring often.)