OYSTERS IN THE SHELL RECIPES

Steps:

• Cover a piece of grilling mesh with heavy aluminum foil making rimmed edges so the juices are contained. Oil lightly. Prepare wood charcoal grill adding any wood smoke that you like with seafood or chicken.
• Mix butter, crushed garlic, parsley and Cajun spice (or any spices you prefer)
• Drain a dozen or so of oysters, dry each with paper towel and place on oiled aluminum foil. Dot each one with the butter mixture.
• When outdoor grill is ready, cook oysters on indirect heat, turning occasionally, checking for firmness. Move each one over the coals and brown until they show grill marks and turn a slight brownish red color.
• Serve with hot sauce or any of your favorite dipping sauce for oysters. ENJOY :)

Steps:

• 1. When you buy oysters, make sure that they are tightly closed and heavy in the hand. Ideally, oysters should be straight out of the sea when you eat them.
  2. Give them a rinse in cold water before you start preparing them – this can be tricky so please be very careful!
  3. To open them, you’ll need an oyster knife which is short, thick and quite blunt. Do not use a normal kitchen knife – it’s dangerous and you’ll probably snap the tip of the knife off! A screwdriver is probably a better bet if you don’t have an oyster knife.
  4. Hold the oyster curved-side down on a chopping board with a folded kitchen cloth between the shell and your hand – this is to help you get a good grip and protect your hand.
  5. Look for the hinge between the top shell and the bottom shell, and poke the knife tip into the crack. You need to push quite hard and work it in there but eventually you should be able to prise the top shell off. It’s not always that easy so it might be a good idea to try a few before dinner to get the hang of it. Wear an apron too in case you get a bit dirty.
  6. When you get the oyster open, throw away the top shell. If there is any seawater in the bottom shell with the oyster, try and keep it in there.
  7. Pick out any fragments of shell and place the oyster on a plate with a mound of rock salt or crushed ice in the middle.
  8. Season it however you like – I'm a big fan of lemon juice or Tabasco – then tip that lovely fresh oyster into your mouth!