Clams Casino

 

Rock salt or pickling salt

24 cherry stone clams (buy them scrubbed, split them and loosen clam)

1 stick butter, softened

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning

1 teaspoon black pepper

A few drops hot sauce

4 slices bacon, look for package marked “Center Cut” its lean and thin, cut slices into 1-inch pieces

 

Pour rock salt into a shallow baking pan or dish. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Set clams upright into salt. The salt will steady them. Mix butter with shallot, garlic, spices and hot sauce. Dab each clam with 1 teaspoon of the mixture and top with a piece of bacon. Bake 5 to 7 minutes, until bacon is crisp and butter is brown and bubbling