Seafood lover's spice kit from CookOutsidetheBox

When following a favorite recipe, it’s not long before you come to know the ingredients by heart. If made often enough, you start keeping the key ingredients on hand, always. Cooking coastal-inspired dishes works the same way. Once you are familiar with the basic flavors found in your favorite seafood recipes, you can stock your kitchen accordingly with the essentials. At 365Beach.com, we have found a few common threads across many of our recipes – both those we follow religiously, and those of our own that we create along the way. Again, these are based on our personal flavor preferences but we think it’s a list of staple ingredients that will work in most kitchens, if you’re prone to the occasional coastal meal. Here’s our Top 10 list of must-have ingredients:

1. Old Bay Seasoning: This is a classic basic ingredient used in everything from simple boiled shrimp to stuffed flounder. Any crab boil seasoning will suffice, but we prefer the brand, Old Bay.

2. Lemon & Lime Juice: Seafood and citrus go hand-in-hand. Though you can use everything from pineapples to mangos, it’s hard to dispute that the lemon and the lime are absolute essentials. We prefer fresh lemons and limes, but in a pinch there’s nothing wrong with using bottled juice which also has a much longer life span in the refrigerator.

3. sauce: Even when used in small doses, this is a basic ingredient for kicking up flavors. Louisiana Hot Sauce is a good brand to keep on hand, but we like to experiment with all brands and flavor varieties. A recent favorite is St. George Island Peach and Pepper Hot Sauce from the Sometimes It’s Hotter Seasoning Company.

4. White wine: When is wine not a staple? Certainly, when cooking with fish, wine is an easy way to add subtle flavor to just about any fish. Both red and white wine are often paired with seafood, but we find that we reach for the white wine more often. Using a good cooking wine is definitely acceptable, but we prefer to buy a decent, but inexpensive, drinking wine for more full-bodied flavor.

5. Heavy cream: In a world where cooking light seems to be the preference, we find it difficult to give up heavy whipping cream as a foundation for sauces and baked seafood dishes. If heavy cream is too rich, keeping whole or 2 percent milk on hand also works.

6. Blackened Fish Seasoning: This type of seasoning works well sprinkled on almost any fish – baked, fried or grilled. It’s also the perfect addition to almost any recipe, including gumbos and soups. We recommend the Blackened Redfish Magic Seasoning Blend from Chef Paul Prudhommes collection of spices. It has a strong flavor without being overpowering.

7. Garlic: Using fresh garlic bulbs is a simple way to add flavor to fish. Keeping your kitchen stocked with a jar of diced garlic is an easy and acceptable substitute for fresh bulbs.

8. Crackers/bread crumbs: Crackers are used as a base for crab cakes and any stuffing, or as a crusted topping for baked fish. Any basic or premium cracker works well, as do stale breads.

9. Fresh herbs: In an ideal world, we prefer to grow our own rosemary, basil, parsley and chives. This makes it easy to always have quick access to fresh herbs. Buying from the local grocer is always an option, but the shelf life is limited. Bottled, dried spices are fine, but it’s hard to beat the fragrance and flavoring of fresh, hand-picked herbs.

10. Extra virgin olive oil: Keep a fresh bottle of quality extra virgin olive oil in your kitchen and use it as a butter or margarine substitute. A staple for all types of cuisines, it works well in just about any and every seafood recipe. To ensure freshness, be careful where and how you store the oil. Keeping it in a cool, dark place (such as a pantry) is best – but do not store oils in the refrigerator. Kept properly, a good olive oil should keep for up to two years.

Tip: Get a jump stocking up on coastal-inspired spices by purchasing a spice kit filled with blends created specifically for seafood. We like this “seafood lovers” kit (see picture) from CookOutsidetheBox (Etsy.com).

Tranquil St. Barts Blue Duvet

When one thinks of a soft, comforting fabric to snuggle under, “rough linen” doesn’t exactly sound like it would fit the bill.

However, this high-quality linen fabric actually feels wonderful and is quite soft, with a handwoven-style texture.  That’s why we can’t imagine a more delightful material for these amazing duvets from Rough Linen.

The feel of this natural fabric, combined with the gentle hue of the Orkney Rough Linen duvet or the St. Barts Blue duvet  just makes us want to crawl under the covers and spend the day! These hand-sewn duvets range from approximately $200 to $450 (King) but are worth every dime.  Pillows, shams and bed skirts are also available, of course – and equally worth the splurge.

You should also know that great care goes into the creation of each piece by a wonderful seamstress and designer who envisioned this line of luxury bedding. She uses “French seams… overcast raw seams… and Gutermann thread” to name just a few of the techniques and materials.  We don’t pretend to know what any of those things are, but they sound intricate and precise. What we do know is that the outcome is lovely! The Orkley duvets also use buttons (as shown below) for a very natural look – and there are several button options from which you can choose for a truly custom piece. It’s yet another example of the care and attention to detail that goes into every piece.

The Orkney Rough Linen is a very subdued hue for a calming, neutral palette. For those of you with a more playful side, the “St. Barts” linens have a more nautical inspiration with “soft, sun bleached colors.”  These linens are also made with a “lighter, finer texture” but are just as soft and inviting. If you’re shopping for a new look for your bedroom or guest rooms this summer, these duvets offer a beach-inspired subtlety that is ideal. Enjoy!

Karen’s work, first inspired by a “naive, folk painting style,” is now infused

with her passion for the “lively and colorful.” It’s easy to see how these two artistic views easily collided into a single, whimsical vision. To our delight, this Orlando-based artist has swept her brush across the canvas to capture scenes inspired by the sea.

These bright, engaging works of art seem to beg you to kick off your shoes, roll up your pantlegs and dip your toes into the water. It certianly makes us want to pack a picnic lunch and head for the shore to watch the sailboats glide along the water. That’s why we think these coastal-coated canvases deserve to hang in a place of honor in your beach house (or any beach lover’s home that strives to share a bit of whimsy and fun).

Do you have a favorite coastal artist? Drop us a line at info@365Beach.com and let us know so we can share their talents.

Ducks at Sailboat Bay by Karen Fields

We found these hand-woven lanterns offer the exact warmth and glow that we desire this time of year. The Big Sur Lanterns

Cozy candlelight from Big Sur

are made from sliced vines that are intricately woven into a globe with a glass hurricane inside the globe to hold your favorite candles. We love that these little gems are inspired (and named after) the Big Sur area – offering a rustic look that is perfect for any beach bungalow, or a home that wants to bring in that casual beachy feel.

Velocity offers the Roost Big Sur Lantern in three sizes from 12″ to 19″ in diameter. They range in price from $60 to $105 each (the best prices we’ve found yet for these). These lovely lanterns are sure to become a seasonal favorite.