Fresh saltwater clams! Cooked in steamy beer broth

Back to the good 'ole World of Karen.....

We had a ball when we went clamming on Ocracoke.  Just wade around in the grassy sand near shore - in about a foot or so of water.  Dig with a rake or just your hands.  When your fingertips brush something hard in the sand, immediately stop and dig that wonderful clam out of the sand!!!!

I'll repeat the photo of us right after we came back from clamming - on the back of Gary and Alice's boat.

That nice bucket of clams got divided two ways.  Gary got half and I got half.  Sharon isn't a big clam fan, so she declined her share.....

We let them "breathe" in clean salt water for a few hours.  This is supposed to give them time to filter out all the sand that they have in their system.  It worked pretty well.

I kept them in the fridge for a couple of days until I could get home and get the right ingredients for some steamed clams.  (We could have done it on the boat, but it was just not in the cards.)

Even just half of the clams was too much for me (remember, Duane can't eat them!) so I divided it up again and gave half of mine to Dick and Lindy!

Washed and ready for a quick dunk in a steaming bath!

Ingredients for the broth were some of Robert's home-made beer, olive oil, chopped onions and garlic,  and some fresh basil from Lindy's garden (that I had frozen months ago).  Brought this to a boil and then quickly "plucked" each shell out just as it opened up.  Wouldn't want to overcook at all!

My platter - clams were just perfect...slightly translucent.  What a joy to harvest, cook and enjoy!  A wonderful feeling.

Thought I'd share the photos of Lindy's dinner also - she did something similar over some pasta.  Looks quite yummy also.

I think Dick's saying "come on, let's eat!".    Good fun!