Back in my school days, February was an important month â not just because it included the eagerly-anticipated Valentineâs Day, but because even though it was the shortest month of the year, it encompassed two holidays for which public schools were closed: Lincolnâs Birthday (February 12) and Washingtonâs Birthday (February 22).
Oysters of tropical and semitropical seas are mature and ready to hand on life at the age of three years. Osyters of cool winter waters, as a rule, are mature at the age of four years. Edible oysters are pampered and tended by fishermen. The settled youngsters are called oyster spats until they become two inches long.
Remove the pan from the oven and quickly fill it with 3 dozen scrubbed oysters and 1 cup of water, then cover the pan tightly with heavy-duty foil. Return the pan to the oven and roast the oysters until the shells just begin to open (about 1/16 inch). This takes about 10 minutes. Serve the oysters as they open, removing them with tongs, and roast any unopened oysters a few minutes longer, covered with foil. Discard oysters that do not open.