Age-old questions: What’s life without entertaining? What’s a boat without a party? What’s an appetizer without a glass of wine?
If you’re lacking foodie inspiration, we have an easy menu (and a wine pairing guide to boot). Plus, you can make it all while cruising!
All recipes make approximately 24 small bites.
Cool Crab Cups — Wine pairing: Sauvignon Blanc
Prep these crab salad cups for your next party.
Ingredients:
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup diced celery
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
¼ tsp. cayenne, Old Bay, or another hot pepper seasoning
1 lb. lump crabmeat, lightly broken up
Salt
Filo mini cups, prepared according to package directions
Directions:
In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise with celery and lemon juice; season with cayenne. Gently fold in crabmeat and season with salt. Fill cups or with crab salad and serve.
Chardonnay pairs nicely with the mild flavors of the chicken.
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
½ cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp. prepared mustard
1 Tbsp. vinegar
3 Tbsp. oil
Dash of salt and pepper
3 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
¼ cup celery, diced
½ cup onion, diced
Directions:
Combine lemon juice, Parmesan, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper. Whisk together until it has emulsified. Add the chicken, celery, and onion and toss to combine.
If too dry, add a little more oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Place a teaspoon of chicken salad on small lettuce cups, in phyllo cups or Scoops tortilla chips.
Red Pesto Tortellini Skewers — Wine pairing: Rosé
Ingredients:
These heirloom tomatoes would be a welcome addition to tortellini skewers.
¼ lb. pepperoni or spicy salami, chopped
3 Tbsp. prepared mustard
2 Tbsp. garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. fennel seeds (optional)
7 oz. sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and the oil reserved
¼ cup oil (from sun-dried tomatoes and additional oil, if needed )
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
Salt and pepper
2 lbs. tortellini
24 skewers
24 basil leaves (optional)
Directions:
For the pesto: Place the chopped pepperoni, mustard, garlic, fennel seeds, and sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor or blender. Process 30 seconds. With the motor running, add the oil through the food processor tube in a thin steady stream and process until smooth. (You can also finely chop and blend dressing ingredients by hand, adding oil, for a more rustic feel). Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
For the tortellini: Cook tortellini per package instructions. Drain. Combine warm tortellini with pesto. If pesto is too dry, add a little oil or warm water until pesto evenly and lightly coats pasta. Skewer two or three tortellini per toothpick and top with basil leaf. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Your guests will enjoy a cool glass of pinot grigio on a warm evening.
Ingredients:
8 oz. cream cheese
¼ cup finely chopped onion
1 Tbsp. chopped dill or a pinch of dried dill
1 Tbsp. drained capers or minced dill pickle
¼ Tbsp. lemon juice
4 oz. smoked salmon, chopped
Sliced French baguette or party rye
Directions:
Line a mini loaf pan or small bowl with plastic wrap. Leave the edges of the plastic with enough overhang to cover pan.
Blend the first 5 ingredients. Spread 1/3 of the cheese mixture evenly in the bottom of the pan. Top with half of the sliced salmon, then top salmon with another third of the cheese mixture, followed by remaining salmon topped with remaining cheese mixture. Cover and chill 4 hours or up to 3 days. Turn the loaf out onto a platter.
Top with a few extra capers or chopped pickle. Serve with spreader and sliced baguette, party rye or crackers.
Dress up your wine bottle with this Compass Rose Wine Stopper from Chart Metalworks. Made in Maine, USA, this showy wine stopper features a quality pewter, breathable cork stop, which measures 3 inches from top to bottom on a 1.5-inch face. The satin, silver finish pewter is lead-free and mimics sterling silver. FDA approved.
Royal Stabilis Antispill Wine Glasses remove the need for cup holders on your boat. The set of four lead-free crystal glasses are integrated with magnets and used with a magnetic stainless steel board that has non-slip bumpers and can be placed anywhere on your vessel.
Carrying case included.
MSRP $99 (wine glasses), $59 (board);
Hmmmm…what to get the boater in your life? If you’re puzzled by this question, we’ve got some answers for you in Southern Boating’s 2016 Gift Guide. Give Santa a break this year and bring your boating buddy some holiday cheer for all to hear. All these products have been the SB&Y stamp of approval.
Click the arrows left and right to see our choice gifts for 2016.
Happy Holidays!
Montague’s Allston Folding Bike
Easily folds to fit aboard almost any vessel.
Montague’s new Allston model is a versatile folding bicycle that combines functionality with a folding ability that’s perfect for taking it on the boat. No matter where you end up, the Allston is easy to store, simple to set up and provides one of the most reliable riding experiences on the market. MSRP $1,895; montaguebikes.com
Schiller’s S1 Water Bike
Exercise made fun!
While we’re on bikes…Schiller’s S1 water bike allows you to adventure anywhere. This high quality, sustainably built water bike has responsive steering and simple storage options that will take you from land to water in less than 10 minutes. MSRP$4,500-$5,000; schillerbikes.com/s1
Mustang Survival’s Elite Life Jacket
Mustang Survival’s Elite Life Jacket.
There’s no compromising performance for function with Mustang Survival’s Elite Life Jacket. It’s built with a revolutionary new construction that keeps the vest in place at high speed and also automatically inflates when immersed in water. MSRP $239.99; mustangsurvival.com
tutublue
Save your skin with Tutublue.
Get sun protection with style from tutublue. A full product line comes with UPF50 protection in each stylish beach suit. It can be worn anywhere, comes in a variety of cuts and patterns and is the perfect alternative to sunscreen. MSRP varies; tutublue.com
Seabob
Dive into the depths with Seabob.
Dive in and discover with SEABOB. This high-performance craft is highly maneuverable and comes standard with a diving depth of 2.5 meters. Scuba divers can use the onboard electronics to reach a depth of 40 meters. MSRP $8,980; seabob.com
Ardbeg
Drink up!
Enjoy the holidays the right way with these two single malt World Whiskies of the Year in one easy gift pack from Ardbeg. Enjoy the peatiest of Islay malts with the Ardbeg Ten Years Old and the deep smokey taste of the 50ml Ardbeg Uigeadail. MSRP $77.99; ardbeg.com
Plum Wine Dispenser
No more spilling on the teak.
Enjoy a premium wine-by-the-glass experience with Plum—the first ever super-automatic wine appliance. Plum will automatically identify the wine, individually chill each bottle and preserve the wine so it can be enjoyed one glass at a time, all with haute technology and an elegant design. MSRP $1,499; plum.wine
Farmer’s Stitch collection from Mamara Imports
Enjoy the softness of cashmere with the versatility of 100% raw, unbleached Turkish cotton with the Farmer’s Stitch collection from Mamara Imports. It’s perfect for cozying up on the boat with a good book and a glass of wine, and its wide range of colors matches any interior design. MSRP $100; mamaraimports.com
World Coast Guards: Global Sea
The perfect read for a long cruise.
World Coast Guards: Global Sea Guardians is the perfect addition to any onboard library. Written by Gaspare Marturano, the book is dedicated to the hardworking servicemen and women of the U.S. Coast Guard. MSRP $24.99; worldcoastguards.com
Talent Not Included
Hours of fun does come included with Talent Not Included!
Enjoy some great family entertainment with Talent Not Included. This humor-filled action-combat platformer is a challenging and rewarding game experience. It’s perfect for long excursions on the water and is sure to get the entire crew and family involved. MSRP $12.99; talentnotincluded.com
SeaDek’s Dual Density Anti-fatigue Helm Station Pad
Keep the Captain’s feet happy with SeaDek.
Enjoy a level of comfort like never before with SeaDek’s Dual Density Anti-fatigue Helm Station Pad. The pad offers increased shock absorption and dramatically reduces fatigue during long hours on the water. It’s also available in a variety of color options. MSRP $119.95; seadek.com
Spot Gen3
“Get lost where you want to. Get found when you need to.”
SPOT GEN3 gives you a critical, life-saving line of communication for when adventure takes you outside the ream of cell service. Keep in touch with friends and family, and even send emergency responders your GPS location with a simple touch of a button. MSRP $169.95;findmespot.com
Aquatic AV’s Pro-Series 6.5” Speakers
Pump the volume with these speakers by Aquatic AV.
Pump up the volume with Aquatic AV’s Pro-Series 6.5” Speakers. They provide superior sound quality under the most demanding conditions on the water and cater to even the most demanding of music aficionados. MSRP $149;aquaticav.com
C-Map Insight Pro
Feel free to venture anywhere with C-MAP Insight Pro. This unique cartography system with exclusive chart data creates all new mapping options for cruisers. The new charting packages can be embedded in future Lowrance, Simrad and B&G displays. MSRP inquire; lightmarine.c-map.com
Lillipad Marine’s Diving Board
Enjoy the world’s only diving board specifically for boating with Lillipad Marine’s Diving Board. It’s fun for the entire family and can be installed on almost any boat larger than 18 feet in length. Simple installation and an award-winning design make this diving board one of the best upgrades you could possibly make. MSRP $1,294-$1,395; lillipadmarine.com
FUSION STEREOACTIVE™
Enhance any outdoor activity with the new FUSION STEREOACTIVE™. A rugged, waterproof and portable construction delivers crystal clear music quality. Enjoy audio from multiple sources ranging from your personal library to a popular streaming service. It’s perfect for any cruiser on the go. MSRP contact company; fusionentertainment.com
Swrve’s 3L Anorak
Flattering, stylish, and effective.
Forget the boxy look. Swrve’s 3L Anorak is both slim and flattering, and it’s also waterproof, breathable, and has a full-length zipper for easy on and off. MSRP $300; swrve.us
Pakpod
Get up close and personal with Pakpod.
Pakpod is the ultimate adventure tripod. No matter where you are, its durable construction allows for perfect time-lapse photography and video, even underwater. Its patented stabilizing stakes keep the tripod secure in turf, sand and snow. MSRP $99; pakpod.com
Superfeet Outside Sandal
Turn your feet into super feet with the Superfeet Sandal.
Superfeet OUTSIDE sandals provide the ultimate comfort and support that ordinary sandals just can’t match. No matter whether you’re post-race or post-hike, or even poolside, you’ll enjoy comfort every step of the way. MSRP $59.95;superfeet.com
Guy Harvey Conch Shell Necklace
This beautiful and unique necklace is a must-have.
This beautiful and elegant Guy Harvey Conch Shell Necklace is accented with genuine White Topaz and comes numbered with a certificate of authenticity, gift pouch, and Guy Harvey gift box. MSRP $199; guyharveyjewelery.com
She’s At Sea
Learn in a judgement free environment.
Learn to boat safely, intelligently & independently. Schedule a hands-on tutorial in the Florida Keys with Capt Elizabeth Jolin. Contact for pricing. shesatsea.com/
