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In its ideal form, crab dip is a warm, decadent party pleaser full of creamy, meaty seafood and savory spices. Unlike other versions of this popular appetizer, ours has a high ratio of crab to cheese, allowing the sweet crab flavor to come through.
To make it even more party-friendly, we used a cast-iron skillet as an oven-to-table cooking vessel, which ensures that your guests will enjoy the dip while it’s hot.
For a serving option that was sturdy enough to scoop into the rich dip without any need for a spoon, we made a quick batch of crostini from sliced baguettes. To make a savory base for the crab dip, we first cooked onion in the skillet, adding just a bit of Old Bay seasoning and coriander. We then removed the sauteed onions from the skillet and combined them with cream cheese, mayonnaise and parsley.
After gently folding the crabmeat into the mixture, we put the whole thing back in the skillet and baked it until it was warm and bubbly, with the crostini fanned around the perimeter. Do not substitute imitation crabmeat here. To soften the cream cheese quickly, microwave it for 20 to 30 seconds.
BAKED CRAB DIP WITH CROSTINI
Start to finish:
30 minutes
2 (12-inch) baguettes, sliced ¼-inch thick on bias
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 onion, chopped fine
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
1 tsp. ground coriander
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces and softened
½ cup mayonnaise
4 tsp. minced fresh parsley
12 ounces lump crabmeat, picked over for shells and pressed dry between paper towels
Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 400 F. Arrange bread slices in even layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets and bake until dry and crisp, about 10 minutes, rotating sheets and flipping slices halfway through baking. Brush crostini with 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper; set aside.
Heat 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat for 3 minutes. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil and heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in Old Bay and coriander and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds; transfer to large bowl.
Stir cream cheese, mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon parsley, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper into onion mixture until thoroughly combined. Gently fold in crabmeat.
Spread dip evenly in now-empty skillet, then shingle crostini around edge, submerging narrow ends in crab mixture. Transfer skillet to oven and bake until dip is heated through and crostini are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon parsley. Serve.
Servings: 8-10
—Nutrition information per serving: 495 calories; 247 calories from fat; 27 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 78 mg cholesterol; 1049 mg sodium; 45 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 18 g protein.
—For more recipes, cooking tips and ingredient and product reviews, visit www.americastestkitchen.com.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a crash that killed a Franklin woman and her 1-year-old son Tuesday in Iberia Parish, a state police Troop I news release said.

Dylan LeBlanc, 25, of Youngsville, was arrested Wednesday on a warrant charging him with two counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of vehicular negligent injuring, first-degree feticide and reckless operation, said Master Trooper Brooks David, Troop I spokesman.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Troop I was notified of a fatal crash on U.S. 90 west of La. 85. The crash claimed the life of Abbie Sinitiere, 22, of Franklin and her 1-year-old son, Max Sinitiere.

The preliminary investigation revealed LeBlanc was operating a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado on U.S. 90 West. For unknown reasons, the Silverado ran off of the right side of the roadway causing LeBlanc to overcorrect, the release said.

The Silverado began to rotate counterclockwise, crossing both westbound lanes and the center median. As the Silverado entered the eastbound lanes of U.S. 90, it struck an eastbound 2017 Chrysler Pacifica operated by Abbie Sinitiere, the release stated.

Abbie Sinitiere was wearing a seat belt, but suffered fatal injuries. Max Sinitiere was properly restrained in a child safety seat, but also suffered fatal injuries. Both were pronounced dead on scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office, David said.

Three other juvenile passengers in the Chrysler were properly restrained and sustained critical injuries, David said. LeBlanc and his 41-year-old passenger were both wearing seat belts and sustained moderate injuries. Both were transported to a local hospital for treatment, the release stated. Upon release from the hospital, LeBlanc will be booked into the Iberia Parish jail.

Impairment is suspected to be a factor in the crash, and an arrest warrant was issued for LeBlanc, the release stated. Despite the fact that impairment on her part is not suspected, a standard toxicology sample was obtained from Sinitiere and sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis, the release said. This crash remains under investigation.

Area leaders got their first chance Wednesday to talk in person with planners of a study designed to examine ways for Morgan City and Berwick to diversify their economies beyond the oilfield.

Two representatives from Urban Land Institute met with area leaders at the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce office in Morgan City.

Community organization, St. Mary Excel, recently commissioned the institute to do a study focusing on ways the Morgan City and Berwick areas can diversify and boost the local economy.

Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit research and education organization with over 42,000 members worldwide. Members are developers, engineers, architects, urban planners, bankers, investors, economic development specialists, market analysts, land use professionals and real estate agents.

Paul Angelone, director of advisory services for Urban Land Institute, was in town to meet with local leaders. Angelone is also the project manager handling the Morgan City and Berwick area economic diversification study and has led about 15 economic advisory service panels.

Advisory Services Associate Cali Slepin also talked with area leaders during Wednesday’s meeting.

“Cali and I were wandering around a little bit of Morgan City and Berwick yesterday, and we were just kind of struck by the beauty and how wonderful this community is,” Angelone said.

“We’re really excited to kind of dig in a little bit deeper and start talking with everyone about what are some strategic advice and ways to quickly start moving toward implementation of the project,” Angelone said.

Institute personnel plan to conduct interviews with as many people in the area as possible to hear their ideas for the community, he said.

An Advisory Services Panel of eight to 10 people associated with the institute will visit the area Sept. 16-21. Panelists will focus on challenges of land use, economic development, real estate, urban planning, design, land economics and public policy.

St. Mary Excel received over $135,000 in donations from private donors and governmental agencies to fund the study. The organization presented a list of questions for Urban Land Institute pertaining to business, industry, diversification, financing and contracted partnerships along with infrastructure.

Angelone previously ran the institute’s technical assistance and community engagement programs in the Washington, D.C. area. He has an urban planning degree from Ball State University and focused his studies on environmental and international planning.

The public will be able to meet the panelists at an event at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the former M.D. Shannon Elementary School gym on Brashear Avenue in Morgan City.

The panel’s visit to the area will conclude with a report to stakeholders at 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Morgan City Municipal Auditorium.

Berwick Elementary third-grader Khloe Toups, left, and first-grader Arianni Causey get on a school bus Wednesday morning for the first day of school of the 2018-19 school year in the St. Mary Parish public school system. (The Daily Review/Zachary Fitzgerald)