Once upon a time, lobster was a luxury item, something you'd eat on a special occasion at the height of summer. These days, though, the Maine lobster population has exploded, with lobstermen hauling in record numbers. The result: rock-bottom prices. And not only are the crustaceans plentiful in the waters off the New England coast, they're also quite colorful. As the Associated Press reports, odd colors have been showing up in catches lately: orange, bright blue, yellow and white (the photos are stunning).

And when life gives you a surplus of inexpensive lobsters with the promise that some may even be cerulean, we can't think of anything better to do than make the easier-than-it-sounds Lobster Thermidor. You could also fold the sweet meat into mac 'n' cheese (rich and buttery, with a decadence we didn't know was possible). Or, take the outdoor route and grill your lobsters and serve them with chili sauce. One more idea: simply mix together a lobster salad and scoop it up with toasted slices of baguette.

Finally, open up a bottle of equally cheap summer wine (perhaps raising a glass with a lobster-tinted manicure?).

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