By Ryan, F&B Intern at Harbor Magic Hotels

You know you’re in Maryland when everything has Old Bay in it. Here, we put Old Bay on everything and anything you can think; from pizza to French fries to corn on the cob… you name it, we put it on it. However, perhaps what its best known for is its use on seafood. Old Bay was first discovered and manufactured right here in our Chesapeake Bay area. Seafood fanatics not only just crave Old Bay on crabs and shrimp, they truly believe that it’s the only way it can be eaten. Marylanders love Old Bay so much that they found a way to incorporate it into their morning diet, going to the extent of mixing it into their Bloody Mary’s.

 The Pier 5 Hotel, located right in the heart of the Inner Harbor, is a great place to try some excellent dishes made with Old Bay. Every Monday through Friday, they provide a crabby hour from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm offering free wine, local craft beer, and crab dip made with Old Bay. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy some relaxing time the true Maryland way…with crab and beer!

All this talk making you hungry for some Old Bay seasoned dishes? Here are some excellent recipes you can try at home provided by Old Bay:

CREAMY CRAB DIP

Ingredients:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese softened

1 cup mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon McCormick® Ground Mustard

1 pound lump crabmeat

1/4 cup cheddar cheese shredded

crackers or sliced French bread

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350° F. In a medium bowl mix cream cheese mayo OLD BAY and ground mustard until well blended. Add crabmeat and toss gently. Spread in a 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese and additional OLD BAY. Bake 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Serve with assorted crackers or sliced French bread.

SHRIMP SCAMPI

Ingredients:

1/3 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic minced

1 pound large shrimp peeled and deveined

1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning

1 tablespoon lemon juice

pasta or rice (optional)

1 teaspoon McCormick/ Parsley Flakes

Directions:

Check your watch. Heat oil in large skillet on medium. Add garlic. Cook and stir 30 seconds or until fragrant. (Do not brown.) Add shrimp and OLD BAY. Cook while stirring 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve over cooked pasta or rice.

OLD BAY BLOODY MARY BASE

Ingredients:

2 cups tomato juice

1 teaspoon Old Bay® Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

Your favorite vodka (optional)

Directions:

Stir tomato juice, OLD BAY, lemon juice and vodka, if desired, in small pitcher until well blended. Pour into ice-filled beverage glasses.

Tips:

Serving Suggestion: To rim beverage glasses, place about 1 tablespoon OLD BAY on small plate. Wet outside rims of beverage glasses with lemon wedge or water. Dip glasses into OLD BAY to coat.

OLD BAY CRAB CAKES

Ingredients:

1 egg, beaten

1 pound lump crabmeat

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons Old Bay® Seasoning

2 teaspoons McCormick® Parsley Flakes

½ teaspoon prepared yellow mustard

2 slices white bread, crusts removed and crumbled

Directions:

Mix bread, mayonnaise, OLD BAY, parsley, mustard and egg in large bowl until well blended. Gently stir in crab meat. Shape into 4 patties. Broil 10 minutes without turning or fry until golden brown on both sides. Sprinkle with additional OLD BAY, if desired.

For more ideas and direction on how to add Old Bay Seasoning to your favorite meals,

visit: http://bit.ly/1uBT79I