OK, so we're halfway through August (egads, even more than half!), and if you haven't had your summertime fix of lobster and steamers yet, I ask you to do so immediately. Lobster and steamers is hands-down my favorite summertime meal. Of course I love a good bbq with ribs, pulled pork, and all the trimmings, but in July and August its hard to beat steamers and lobster. While in Maine a few weeks ago I was lucky enough to pick up incredibly fresh seafood at the Beach Plum, which made for a perfect vacation-home-cooked dinner. A few shots of the process, with a recipe following:  Here's my approach, which i think was the best version I've ever made:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb steamers
• 1 & 3/4 lb Lobster
• 2 Tablespoon Kosher Salt
• 3 Tablespoons melted, unsalted butter

Process:

• Soak the steamers in cold water for 5 minutes, and drain. Do this 3-4 times until you no longer see sand in the water. 
• In a large pot, bring 2 inches of water (with the salt) to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. 
• Drop in your lobster, cover and cook for 8 minutes
• Add the steamers, cover and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until the steamers open
• Remove the steamers as they open to a serving bowl
• After a total of 12 minutes, remove the lobster and set in a plastic bowl for 5-10 minutes
• Meanwhile, ladle out some of the broth from the pot (hopefully without any sand) into a clean serving bowl
• While the lobster is resting, eat your steamers! Dip each removed clam into the broth, then the bowl of melted butter, then drop into your mouth. Amazing!
• After you've eaten your steamers, come back to your lobster, set it on a cutting board and give it a good whack with the back of a chef's knife along the side of each claw to help you cracking at the table, and also drain any excess water. Hold the lobster up by its tail with the claws down and drain any water over the sink. 
• Serve on a plate, break open as you desire and and eat away with more of that melted butter

And if you're lucky enough to have a wife like mine who enjoys baking (and is insanely good at it), end the meal with some homemade blueberry pie with wild maine blueberries: