Jb's Incredibly Awesome Clams Casino

Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 dozen top neck clams (bigger than little neck, smaller than cherry stone)
• 2/3 cup sea salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 green pepper, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cracker crumb (i use butter crackers or saltines, but trying others could be interesting)
• 1/8 teaspoon thyme
• 1/8 teaspoon marjoram
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon sage
• 1/4 lb bacon, chopped in small squares

Recipe

• 1 rinse and scrub clams with a soft-bristled brush in cold water. any clams that are open and do not snap shut should be discarded to prevent food poisoning.
• 2 soak the clams in a mix of 1 gallon water with 1/3 cup of sea salt for 15 minutes.
• 3 drain, rinse and scrub the clams again.
• 4 soak the clams in a fresh mix of 1 gallon water with 1/3 cup of sea salt for 15 more minutes.
• 5 drain, rinse and scrub the clams again.
• 6 steam clams in pot with 1" of water using a glass lid. when the clams pop open, remove from pot and allow to cool. reserve the water (called 'clam juice') from the bottom of the pan.
• 7 when clams cool, remove from shells and mince.
• 8 heat the olive oil in a large saute pan. saute parsley, onion, green pepper and garlic 5-10 min until soft but not brown. remove from heat.
• 9 combine spices and cracker crumbs, add to saute pan.
• 10 add enough clam juice to moisten. add minced clams.
• 11 pick the best 24 half-shells and fill with clam mixture. top with bacon pieces. place on baking sheet.
• 12 bake at 400 for 15 minutes. then brown under the broiler for 2 minutes. serve on a bed of lettuce with lemon wedges.