The Shopping List

Maryland Crab Cakes
1 pound special or claw crabmeat
1 pound jumbo lump or backfin crabmeat
1 1/2 cups light mayonnaise
1/2 cup fresh parsley
3 lemons
1 large egg
Dijon mustard
Old Bay Seasoning
30 saltines
4 cornichon pickles
1 shallot

Corn and Scallion Salad
3 packages (10 ounces each) frozen corn kernels
2 to 3 scallions
3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon

Garlicky Roasted Asparagus
2 pounds asparagus
4 garlic cloves

Fresh Cherry Tart
9 graham crackers (each 2 1/2 by 5 inches)
6 ounces bar cream cheese
3/4cup heavy cream
1 pound fresh sweet cherries
1 tablespoon seedless raspberry jam

Staples
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Butter, salted and unsalted
Olive oil
Sugar
Pure vanilla extract

The Schedule

Up to 1 Day Ahead
Make crab mixture; form cakes. Refrigerate in an airtight container.
Prepare tartar sauce; cover and refrigerate.
Make corn salad; cover and refrigerate.
Prepare asparagus. Cool completely, cover, and refrigerate.
Make cherry tart; cover and refrigerate.

1 Hour Ahead
Bring corn salad and roasted asparagus to room temperature.

Just Before Serving
Broil crab cakes.