A Seamaiden's Wedding Slipper

I know, I know. These wedding slippers are some seriously high-heeled pumps, but the Seamaiden wouldn't have them any other way! These Dusk D'Orsay Badgley Mischka pumps in a posh shade of pink are all I could ever have dreamed of for my wedding day. Now to have Faye Daniel Designs conjure up the veil and bouquet to complete the Seamaiden bride's ensemble (now being custom designed by K&B Bridals and Event Planning). Stay tuned, fellow seamaidens. This is getting exciting!

A Seamaiden's Tin Sign

My latest shell art masterwork is a tin sign depiction of the iconic Bath Salts Mermaid embellished with shells (pink murex, cone and clam) and pearls around the frame.

Find a Seamaiden's Treasures at Everything Goes Consignments & More

The Seamaiden's hand-crafted jewelry (including pieces from the Nereid Jewelry Collection) is now available at the chicest little shop on Main Street, Bel Air. Stop by Everything Goes Consignments & More and snap them up today. You can also snag a few select pieces of my shell art, too!

The Nereid Jewelry Collection: Thaleia

The latest addition to the Nereid Jewelry Collection is Thaleia, named for the Nereid of the "blooming" sea. This necklace features black glass and shell beads with a faux gem clasp and a black glass pendant with aqua, green and amber "blooms."

The Seamaster's Crabcakes

The Seamaiden isn't the only cook in our happy little lagoon. The Seamaster happens to make one mean (in the yummy sense) crabcake.

Ingredients
16 oz. colossal crabmeat
1 large egg
1 tbsp. mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp. chopped chives
3/4 cup panko

Directions
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well blended.
Make 6 crabcake patties out of mixture.

If desired, sprinkle each patty with additional Old Bay and coat with additional panko for a crisp outer texture.
Grill or broil crabcakes until browned on each side.

Grilled Chicken with Tomato Salsa

Grilling season has officially returned to the Seamaiden's lagoon!

Ingredients
For Salsa:
6 plum tomatoes, diced
5 green onions, chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 cup basil, chopped
1/2 tsp. sea salt

For chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sea salt
Pepper
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. basil

Directions
To prepare salsa, combine all salsa ingredients and mix well.

To prepare chicken, sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
Mix lime juice, olive oil, garlic, thyme and basil in a small bowl.
Grill or broil chicken, brushing with lime juice mixture often, until done.
Spoon salsa over warm chicken breasts.

Crepes with Chicken

The crepes can be made ahead of time and frozen. Simply stack crepes between sheets of waxed paper, freeze and thaw before cooking.

Ingredients
For crepes:
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1 cup milk
Dash of sea salt
1 tbsp. melted butter

For chicken mixture:
1 yellow onion, chopped
6 oz. mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp. butter, divided
2 tbsp. flour
1 1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup cooked chicken, chopped
3 tbsp. chives
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Shredded cheese


Directions
To prepare crepes, beat eggs, flour, milk and salt in a bowl. Stir in melted butter.
Heat a small, lightly greased skillet.
Add 4 tbsp. of batter to skillet and tilt to spread the batter evenly.
Cook on one side only. Remove from skillet and keep warm.
Repeat with remaining batter until 6 crepes are made.

To prepare chicken mixture, saute onion and mushrooms in a large skillet with 1 tbsp. butter.
Sprinkle with flour and add milk gradually, stirring constantly.
Cook for 5 minutes.
Add chicken and chives and heat through.
Add salt and pepper.
Remove from heat.

Place even amounts of chicken mixture onto crepes. Roll crepes and place in a baking dish seam side down.
Sprinkle with shredded cheese and remaining tbsp. of melted butter.
Bake at 475 degrees until cheese has melted.

Crispy After-Easter Nests

The Seamaster and Seamaiden were hit with a veritable tidal wave of tasks to accomplish over the Easter weekend, so today is the first chance I have had to whip up this healthier version of an Easter treat. Besides, these crispy little nests are so adorable, why limit them to your Easter celebration? They will make a pretty and yummy presentation at any springtime gathering!

Click here for the recipe. (And the Seamaiden must confess that I substituted my favorite Cadbury Mini Eggs for the recommended Jordan Almonds.)

Chicken with Sage-Browned Butter

This is a light sauteed chicken dish that is an absolute breeze to make!

Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Cooking spray
3 tbsp. butter
2 sprigs sage
2 tbsp. green onions, chopped
1 tsp. fresh thyme
2 tbsp. lemon juice

Directions
Pound chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap until 1/4 inch thick.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and dredge in flour.
Coat a pan with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
Add chicken to pan and saute on each side until done.
Remove chicken and transfer to serving plate. Keep warm.
Add butter and sage sprigs to pan.
Cook over medium heat until butter begins to browns.
Discard sage and add green onions and thyme to pan.
Cook for 30 seconds.
Add lemon juice to pan.
Cook for 30 seconds.
Serve sage-browned butter over chicken.

Garnish with additional sage leaves if desired.

A Seamaiden's Jewel Box

What better place for a seamaiden to store her stash of precious pearls and sea glass gems? I created this little treasure of a musical jewel box by covering the glass lid with seafoam green mosaic tiles and an assortment of seashells.

A Seamaiden Swims into Vintage Style

1960s Suzy Perette Silk Suit. Part of the Seamaiden's personal vintage clothing stash!

The Seamaiden is thrilled to announce that I am now the Bel Air Vintage Fashion Examiner. This is a switch from my former role as the Baltimore Antiques and Collectibles Examiner. Check out my first article on the topic of Bel Air vintage style, "A crash course in vintage shopping."

If you happen to be a Bel Air or Harford County vintage clothing, jewelry and/or home decor maven, the Seamaiden wants to hear from you! I would love to hear about your vintage collections and your shopping and style tips. And if they are are truly fin-tastic, I will include them in future articles. Contact me at catherinesbaubles@gmail.com.