Baltimore - "The Greatest City in America"

I love Baltimore City. I love its varied neighborhoods. I love its history. However, on the way to my son's school I saw a city bench that read "The Greatest City in America". Now I'm obviously not the most observant soul as I'm sure this is not a new motto, but seriously, who came up with this one? How about some of the past ones? 

"Baltimore - Independent City" - independent of what?! of Baltimore County?! Tell that to my taxes.

"Get In On It" - (motto) - 2008 

This one I think was to promote tourism & to get people to move back to the city.

 

"Charm City" - (nickname) hmm, aren't we like the 9th rudest city?

 "The City That Reads" - okay, our literacy rate is getting better. 18th place in 2010 but Pittsburgh, yea PITTSBURGH! was 5th!! 

"Believe" - (motto)  what? What? 

"B-more" - (nickname) So much for the city that reads. oye

"The Land of Pleasant Living" - (brewery induced motto) Tell that to the 32.97% of 4 member household living below the poverty level. Think about that. Almost 1/3 of the households in Baltimore city! 

So yes, I think this new motto of "The Greatest City in America" is pushing it a tad. 

How about we just go for honesty. "Baltimore - Come For Our Crabs, Just Don't Blame Us If You Leave With Them"

Pat Boyd's Shrimp Creole

OMG I found Mom's recipe!! I doctor a lot as I cook creole, but this looks like a good base recipe.

Ingredients:
1 box quick frozen shrimp (I'm assuming a lb box)
1/2 c diced green pepper
1/4 c minced onion
1/2 c diced celery
                   (I use a good tsp of minced garlic, if not more)
3 T butter
1 T flour
3/4 c canned tomatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1 T sugar
1 bay leaf (I personally use several)
1 sprig parsley
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce (I used a lot more)
                  (I add several shakes of hot sauce)
1/3 cup cooked rice

Directions:
Saute green pepper, onion and celery in butter for 5 minutes.
Add flour and blend.
Add tomatoes, 1/2 the salt, sugar, bay leaf and parsley
Cook gently 30 minutes
Remove bay leaf
Add shrimp.
Cook until shrimp are done, about 5 minutes. Pink and curled. 
Serve over cooked rice.

Pat Boyd's Chicken Salad

Ingredients:
8 cups cooked chicken or turkey, diced
2 8oz cans water chestnuts thinly sliced
2 1/2 lbs seedless green grapes
2 cups celery thinly sliced
2 1/2 cups toasted slivered almonds
1 T curry powder
2 T soy sauce
lettuce leaves
28 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained

Directions:
Combine chicken, water chestnuts, grapes, celery and half of the almonds.
Mix mayo, with the curry powder and soy sauce.
Toss mixture into chicken mixture.
Chill.
Spoon over lettuce leaves and garnish with remaining almonds and pineapple.

Serves 16

Crab Cheese Puffs

Ingredients:
1 pkg English Muffins
2 jars of Kraft Old English Cheese Spread
1 can crab meat
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1/4 t garlic salt
1 stick margarine melted

Directions:
Pick crab meat to remove any shells
Mix with cheese, salt, mayo and margarine.
Melt in saucepan.
Mix with spatula and spread on cut muffins
Immediately broil 'til bubbly.

Betty Baker's Sauerkraut Balls

Betty Baker's Sauerkraut Balls

Ingredients:
1 lb sausage
27 oz sauerkraut drained & chopped
1/2 onion chopped
4 T bread crumbs
8 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp garlic salt
4 tsp parsley flakes
1 t dry mustard
1/2 tsp pepper
2 eggs

Directions:
Fry sausage and onions.
Blend in sauerkraut and all the rest of the ingredients except the eggs
Make balls and dip in beaten eggs
Deep fry 'till golden brown