It's no secret that seafood is extremely popular at the Benson's. One of our favorite dinners to prepare is to shuck a dozen or so fresh oysters to enjoy while waiting for the water to boil for cooking live lobsters. (Hey, we were in Boston, what do you expect?)

We have been known to carry live lobsters with us when visiting friends in Georgia, North Carolina and other places. When in Boston, we buy them exclusively at Joe's Bay State Lobster in Lynnfield, MA. They also have plenty of shrimp, crabs, oysters, fish...you name it.

Peg Benson (Allen's mother) tried out some of the shrimp and oysters during a New England-style Thanksgiving dinner in 2000.

(left) Robin - ready with the cracker tool