Cooking With Dried Seafood

I like trying unusual foods. With this in mind, friends recently gave me a collection of dried seafood (sea cucumber, clams or pips, and dried oysters) from a Chinese store. I don't know what to do with them. Apparently I soak them, but then what? If anyone has used these items before to make a meal, please let me know what you did. Tried and tested only please.

Cathy