Area chefs and businesses are sharing special recipes this season, as we all begin cooking up a storm. PenBayPilot.com is posting recipes and tips throughout the holidays. Enjoy!

Graffam Brothers Seafood Market, 211 Union St. in Rockport, gives us a recipe for Lobster Mac and Cheese to help make the holidays go a little easier. Lobsters are a favorite to ship during the season. Kimberlee Graffam said that all shipped lobster orders are delivered by either UPS or FedEx, which guarantee 24-hour delivery.

"Lobsters won’t live much past 36 hours,” said Graffam. “Timing is everything. And the holiday falls on a Tuesday this year. That could affect people’s decisions to ship or not. If you choose two, four or six lobsters they need to be packed to prevent them from being jostled around too much. All shipped lobsters are hard shell. Soft shell can’t take the jostling.”

A popular dish you can buy at the market is Lobster Mac and Cheese. It’s made fresh on the premises and sold along with lobster and crab rolls, coleslaw, and crab and fish cakes.

“We have a good reputation for lobster rolls,” said Graffam. Kelly Karus, of Lincolnville, spends her time preparing the lobster rolls.

“We weigh out 4 ounces of meat and it goes into the bun," she said. "You see people say that they put a whole lobster in their rolls, and that is about 4 ounces. A picked lobster yields about 4 ounces of meat.”

“Roll sales are up during and after the holidays,” she said. “AT $8.99 a roll, it’s a nice way to feed a group. Lobster Mac and Cheese is a good comfort food. The lobster kicks it up a notch. It’s trendy and you see a lot of the higher end restaurants offering it.”

Lobster Mac and Cheese
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 box (16 oz) Elbow Macaroni
1 stick plus 3 Tbs. Butter
1 to 1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 quart Half & Half
1 pound Sharp Cheddar Cheese, crumbled)
1/2 pound cooked Lobster Meat, chopped
1 sleeve of Ritz crackers

To make:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Cook macaroni and drain.
3. Melt stick of butter in a sauce pan.
4. Add flour to make a roux.
5. Add Half & Half slowly and whisk until smooth.
6. Add cheese stirring until creamy.
7. Mind the heat under the pan. Do not burn.
8. Add chopped lobster meat and mix.
9. Butter or spray coat a 9 X 13 X 2 baking pan.
10 Add macaroni and mix in cheese and lobster sauce.
11. Crumble the sleeve of Ritz crackers and sprinkle over the top.
12. Melt remaining butter and drizzle over crackers.
13. Bake for 25 minutes or until topping is browned.
14. Remove from oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

More Holiday Cooking Tips:

• Francine Bistro: Brussels Sprouts Salad

• Darby's Restaurant: Pan Seared Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Apricot Brandy Mushroom Sauce

• Delvino's: White Chocolate Candy Cane Martini

• Fresh: Fresh Pastitsio

• Park Street Grille: Braised Duck Adobo

• Graffam Bros. Seafood Market: Lobster Mac and Cheese

• Shepherd's Pie: Roasted Mussels with Cedar Leaf; Roasted Cauliflower with Rhode Island Sauce

• Chocolate Drop Candy Shoppe: Eggnog Milkshake and Chocolate Peppermint Sundae