Nearly nine weeks ago I set my watch to Eastern time for our vacation to Maine, and even though we have been back for nearly six weeks now, I have yet to set it back to Central time. I just like that when I look down at my watch I’m reminded of our family trip. I know one day it’s going to end up making me really late for something (like when the time changes this fall), but for now, it makes me smile.
So in honor of the Eastern time zone and family vacations, and because it’s nearing the official end of summer, we’re going to close out our Maine recipes this week. First up, a Classic Lobster Roll.
We prepared this dish from some of the leftover lobster meat we had saved throughout the week. I know you’re thinking, “Leftover lobster? Surely they didn’t leave any uneaten lobster on their plates!” And no, Mike and I certainly didn’t leave any lobster on our plates, but Mr. N and Miss A can’t quite finish a whole two-pound lobster just yet. (Although Mr. N can come close!) So, we chopped up the leftover lobster.
Next we chopped up about 1/2 a rib of celery and added it to a bowl with the lobster meat. 
We then tossed in some good ol’ Hellman’s mayo. Rebecca Charles, the author of the cookbook we used throughout vacation, Lobster Rolls & Blueberry Pie, insists that it must be Hellman’s. So it is. 
Miss A added the juice from half of a lemon and then ate the other half. I’m not quite sure how, but she just sucks on them like they’re oranges.
While Miss A was finishing off her fruit, we mixed all the ingredients together and tossed the bowl into the fridge for an hour. When it was time for dinner we then toasted some top loading rolls in a skillet with butter and chopped chives. 
And finally, it was time to load in the lobstah. We served the lobster rolls for our last night at the cabin; and being the last night, we also gave the kids the option to eat whatever they wanted. Not surprisingly, they opted for pizzas. It was their loss, but our gain. 
Mike and I both loved the simplicity of this classic dish. It’s a no frills sandwich that packs a ton of flavor, comfort and satisfaction. That said, it’s not our favorite way to eat lobster, so it didn’t earn the full 4 spoon rating. It did come in at a solid 3 spoons though. 
It was the perfect way to close out our time in Maine. Well, almost perfect. After all a Maine vacation wouldn’t be complete without…wait for it…wait for it…No really, wait for it. We’ll be back on Thursday. 🙂 (I’m sure you can all venture a guess though!)
Print this recipe: Classic Lobster Rolls
Eat, Play, Love 
That bread looks so delicious in the skillet with butter and chives! This post is making me want to go and buy some lobster! I’m drooling and it’s 9am in the morning over here and I just finished eating breakfast too!
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LOL! I know what you mean! I usually read most of the blogs at night…after dinner. And I usually find myself hungry yet again. 🙂 Hope all of the studying is going well!
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You I am so drooling now, I wanna have that bread.
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It was a great sandwich! Not a bad way to eat leftovers at all. 🙂
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I love the idea of keeping your watch on vacation time..it is so sweet 🙂
and I second Caroline..I am impressed your kids even eat lobster but it really looks like they missed out on the rolls
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Or crazy – I’m just so afraid it’s going to make me late. I’m thinking it’s about time to switch it back. 🙂 LOL.
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I’m really bad at waiting…I want to know now! Haha OK fine, I guess I can wait. That lobster roll looks so creamy and delicious. Great way to use up leftovers. I’m just impressed that Mr. N and Miss A even eat lobster! I was a terribly picky eater when I was young. It was chicken fingers, chicken fingers and more chicken fingers.
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Me too Caroline! For me it was pizza, pizza, pizza though. 😉
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This dish wow!! Easy to make and tasty!
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Thanks! I figured this one was best kept simple. 🙂
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OMG, That lobster roll looks amazing. I can’t stop starring at this.. maybe because you just made me hungry lol. I haven’t had lobster in a while so I think I will try this with a thin piece of bread. Now you make me wish I could go on vacation now lol.
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You and me both Kay! This makes me want another vacation too. 😉
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That is a perfect lobster roll. Some people try adding other ingredients and sometimes they are good. But…a true lobster roll is just the way you made it.
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Thanks Karen! Sometimes simple and classic is best. 🙂
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**Fat-free mayo**!!!
I had to put down my sushi to respond to that heresy!!! No, no, a thousand times NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
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LOL! Mike completely agrees with you. I’m not a mayo fan in general, so I don’t mind that the fat-free stuff doesn’t taste the same. But I acquiesced this time and did the straight-up, real, stuff. 🙂
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I shouldn’t be such a mayo snob as I gave up Hellman’s over 20 yrs ago and haven’t bought anything other than Miracle Whip for the house, but it’s the principle of the thing. It’s what I stirred masago (capelin roe) and Sriracha into and spread inside my surimi (fake crab leg), shrimp and avocado rolls tonight. And then I added some wasabi to each piece before popping into my mouth. 🙂
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I’m a purist when it comes to leftover turkey sandwiches… absolutely has to be the real thing the day after thanksgiving. Otherwise I’m not a big mayo eater anyway, so I can live with whatever. Turkey, though…
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I think we all draw the line about our food choices/preferences. Your real mayo on leftover turkey sandwiches is as good as any I’ve heard of. Turkey sandwiches are very tasty the day after Thanksgiving though I like mine on toasted bread and with leftover gravy poured over it. A bit of leftover cranberry sauce on the side and some fries … what’s better than that?
Ok, maybe my turkey pot pie with onion gray.
Or a really good bowl of turkey noodle soup… “)
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You’re totally giving me my sushi craving this week. 🙂
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Pizza over Lobster Roll?! For shame! Well, I probably would have made the same choice when I was their age. The wisdom of age! Beautiful looking sandwich – makes me wants it! Actually come to think of it, with all your lobster posts recently, it’s really rare to see lobsters where I live… too bad 😦
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Oh me too! At their age I wouldn’t have come near a lobster roll. I’m just impressed they eat it at all. 🙂 No blueberries and no lobster. Well, if you and your wife ever find yourselves in the Midwest U.S., we’ll treat you to both! 🙂
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Here in Toronto, they serve Lobster rolls in hot dog buns! Really? It’s sacrilege, really! Your bun looks like it has some texture to it. I also love it that you toasted it.
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That is definitely sacrilege! It’s got to be a good hearty roll! I think they were just sandwich buns from the grocer’s bakery. They didn’t come sliced, so we were able to make them top-loading. 🙂
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Seems like a good way to use leftover lobster. Anyway you use lobster is good in a sense! You really made the most of your time in Maine.
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We sure did! Hopefully it will last me another few years. We’ve got some new places we want to visit before another return to Maine. 🙂
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I have been wanting a lobster roll all summer long and now it is almost too late! I am just going to have to pretend I am eating this with you because it looks utterly sinful and amazing to me! I just love lobster rolls, shrimp rolls, crab rolls, you name it!
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I didn’t even buy the fat-free mayo this time. 😉
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I have to say those are some mighty generous lobster rolls! I’d probably just eat up the lobster salad and leave the roll! Your watch reminded me of a trip I took having the time change and purposely leaving the time set just to be able to reflect back!!
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We actually split this roll in half – it was quite a big roll! 🙂
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I loved reading about your watch set to vacation time and how it keeps you planted in the nostalgia of your holiday. What a smart idea to toast the rolls in the cast iron skillet – I’ve never done that before! (don’t you find just lifting those pans gives you a workout? :)). This is a lovely classic lobster roll Kristy – it brings me back too – so hard to say goodbye to summer (and beautiful Maine!). Looking forward to Thursday’s post 🙂
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You know I don’t have a cast iron skillet at home and it was so much fun to use on vacation – and yes, quite the workout. I felt like I needed a wrist brace hoisting that thing! Yes…Maine. It’s so easy to get lost in daydreams about vacations! LOL! Back to work though… 😉
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Isn’t that something? When I’m away from home long enough to change the time pieces, be they in the car, on my wrist, or wherever, the very last thing I normally do when I return is to reset the time. It can be days, or longer, before I do it and, like you, it’s a reminder of the good times recently enjoyed. Oh! The lobster rolls? YUM!
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I’m just hoping that it doesn’t make me late! LOL. I think when the time falls back I’ll have to come back to CST. 😉
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Could there be any better leftovers in the world – NO! Fantastic!
Have a super day.
🙂 Mandy
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You know I’m really not sure if there are any better leftovers than lobster. (Although leftover Chicago deep dish pizza for breakfast comes quite close!) 🙂
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Speaking of lobster, I wish I had bought 2 last Saturday cause the one I ate was barely over 1 pound and I was just getting in to it. I even ate the tamalley and roe without any fancy additions and now you’re rubbing in lobster ‘leftovers’. 🙂
PS: Any hint what country Miss A picked next?
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LOL! Don’t worry…I’m rubbing it in to myself too. We haven’t had lobster since our trip and I sure miss it!
A hint about Miss A’s pick…it’s in South America. 🙂
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This makes me think of our recent vacation, too. When we did our New England / family trip we spent a few days at my parents’ home. They cooked a dozen lobsters just for Hubby. (Well, we all had some, but dinner was lobster because they know it’s his fav!) 🙂
*drooling*
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Now that sounds awesome!!! I’m going to go visit your parents too! 😉
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