July 2nd, 2010
Ocean City, Maryland is celebrating the 4th of July with events, both, uptown and downtown.
Downtown:
Sunday, 7/4/10 – Concert by Dr. K’s Motown Review at 8:00 p.m. on North Division St. and the Beach.
4th of July Fireworks will follow the concert at 9:30 p.m.
Uptown:
Sunday, 7/4 – Concert by Rick K & The Allnighters at 127th St. at Northside Park at 8:00 p.m.
4th of July Fireworks – 9:30 p.m. at 125 St. & The Bay.
More Info.? Please call 800-626-2326 or 410-250-0125.
Please remember to bring chairs and blankets and the traffic will be heavy so, get there on time so you won’t miss the show!!
July and August – Tuesday nights watch the sun set over the Isle of Wight Bay from the perfect location in Ocean City. Enjoy beer and wine while listening to music beside the bay at Ocean City’s newest park. The event will start at 7:00 p.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m.
Admission to the park is free; drinks are for sale.
The first concert on Tuesday, 7/6/ will be by Barren Creek Band – 60’s and 70’s Rock.
The location is Sunset Park at South Division St. Bayside (Bayside Boardwalk Inlet). For more information, please call 800-626-2326.
Happy 4th!! Have a great one!! Talk to you later…
June 30th, 2010
Popcorn – It is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs when heated. It was originally discovered by Native Americans. It became popular as a snack in the U.S. during the Great Depression.
The corn pops because the kernels have a hard moisture-sealed hull and a dense starchy filling. This allows the pressure to build inside the kernel until it pops.
This is one of those posts that is so easy to talk about. The subject? Popcorn!! Not just any popcorn but Fisher’s. I have sent this popcorn to many places; California, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, New York and Puerto Rico.
On Saturday I decided to walk around downtown Rehoboth Beach before all the parking spaces were taken. I saw a familiar face at Fisher’s so we started talking. I asked Corey if I could take some pictures and he graciously agreed.
Fisher’s Popcorn has been a family business for over 70 years, all the way from Ocean City, Maryland to Rehoboth Beach. The location I am blogging about is the one right on Rehoboth Avenue.
The address is 44 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tel. 302-227-2691. Website is www.fishers-popcorn.com.
Fisher’s Popcorn arrived in Rehoboth about 4 years ago. They did not need any introduction since anyone that has visited the Maryland and Delaware beaches has eaten Fisher’s and taken some to friends and family back home.
Fisher’s makes its popcorn in-house and you can actually see them mixing the caramel corn in a big kettle by hand. When it is ready then it is dumped in the store front display and if you are passing by there is no way you are going to keep on going. Warm but crispy, sweet but not overly so, nice edible chunks…the best. I kid you not!!
Fisher’s flavors are: caramel, white cheddar, caramel with peanuts and buttered. The all time favorite is the caramel.
Even though I stepped inside Fisher’s I will have to tell you that you will not see a recipe anywhere. It is a family well kept secret.
A big part of Fisher’s is their mail order. They do so year-round. They are also able to send their popcorn to the military. They have all sizes ans styles of containers, so please check their website.
So, next time you are in Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island or Ocean City, Maryland, please stopy by because you will not believe how good it is!!
Note: The caramel popcorn at Fisher’s is gluten free.
A tip: If you want to eat it warm, just put some of the caramel popcorn in the microwave for not even a minute and it will taste as if you had just bought it.
Talk to you later….again, from Boulder, Colorado for a few days….
Information on popcorn was taken from http://en.wikipedia.org.
Have a Good Day….
June 28th, 2010
I was in the mood for some comfort food. I think if you ask anyone from Puerto Rico they will probably tell you that they consider “tostones” their comfort food.
Off to Giant, our local supermaket, I went and they did have plantains. I needed them green for the “tostones”. I don’t think there is a translation for “tostones”.
Plantains are from the same family as the bananas. They are a starch and they do have less sugar than the bananas.
The easiest way to peel the plantains is by cutting the tips on each end. Then, place the plantains in the microwave for 1 minute. Make a slice with a knife, lengthwise, just on the skin and peel it back. Cut the plantains in one inch chunks and place them in a bowl of water with a teaspoon of salt. I like my “tostones” thin so that’s why I gave you that measurement.
Drain the plantains and in a deep fryer or deep frying pan put enough Canola oil to submerge the plantain chunks. Fry them until they are golden.
Place them to drain on paper towels. Yes, it is too bad that they need to be fried but I am telling you, that’s why they are so good.
The next step is to flaten them. All you need is waxed paper and a plate. Put one chunk at a time in between the wax paper and flaten it with a plate. Continue to do so until all pieces are flatened. Believe it or not, it really does not take long.
Back again into the frying pan. Fry them until they reach a very deep golden color. They will rise to the surface of the oil. Drain again on paper towels.
Some people just eat them as a side dish and others like them as a snack. Some put just butter on top and a bit of garlic powder and some, like me, make a Mojo.
Yes, the Mojo really came before the alcoholic Mojito. It is one of those sauces made in a Pilon (Mortar and Pestle), if you have one. If not, then improvise. Garlic and salt are the first condiments of my Mojo. Then mash with the pestle. Add about 3 tablespoons of olive oil, mixing everything in. Then add a small can of tomato sauce, the juice of a half a lime, cilantro to taste, pepper, and a dash of Tabasco or more. The measurements are not exact, as you can tell by the way I am writing. Some times I think it needs a little more lime, or maybe more cilantro so you will probably have to make this recipe your own.
The Mojo is a sauce used for a lot of dishes. I was making some shrimp with onion, peppers, olive oil, a little bit of butter. I just sauteed all the vegies and at the last minute the medium shrimp went in and cooked until nice and pink. I added some of that Mojo to give it a nice sauce.
I had gone to Tomato Sunshine and got really pretty tomatoes. Once summer starts giving us good tomatoes then I love to make mayonnaise. You wonder why? Well, it is homemade and delicious.
Homemade Mayonnaise
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups salad oil
Aple Cider Vinegar
Dash of Worcestershire Sauce
Dash of Tabasco
In a small bowl put mustard, salt and egg yolks. Mix together with a mixer on low speed. Then add oil, 1 tsp. at a time a t first, mixing well after each addition. For the first 1/4 cup be sure to add only a little at a time.
As the mixture thickens, thin with 1 tsp. vinegar. Keep mixing with the mixer.
After 1/4 cup of oil, you may add the oil a little faster. The first additions of oil make the emulsion. If by any chance it separates during this time, take another egg yolk in another bowl and start over. After you get this well started, you can add the old separated mixture to it. I don’t think you will have any problems.
When mayonnaise is finished, add a dash of Worcestershire and a dash of Tabasco to taste.
Enjoy and make it your own.
Talk to you later…..as usual….
June 19th, 2010
“Fathers like Mothers, are not born. Men grow into Fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.”
I was coming out of a parking lot, when out of the corner, a family was passing me by. Single line, Mother leading the way and Father watching their backs.
I could not believe it, but what a tender moment!! I knew those 2 pictures were going on the post.
We celebrate Dad. Not only our fathers, but all men who have acted as father figures in someone’s life; Uncles, Stepfathers, Grandfathers, Adult Male Friends and even Big Brothers.
The first Father’s Day was observed on 6/19/1910 in Spokane, Washington.
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father’s Day. But, it was not until 1966, when President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father’s Day.
So, I wish the best to all of those Fathers that serve as role models to all children. Thanks so much!!
Have a Great Week-End and, of course, A Wonderful Father’s Day!!!
Talk to you soon, as usual…..
June 17th, 2010
It’s interesting how when the town of Berlin, Maryland is described, it is mentioned that is like traveling back into the past. It’s not just back into the town’s own past history but also my own.
I have mentioned that this is where my children spent their primary school years so believe me when I tell you that Berlin became my home, as well. And, every time I visit, I cannot help to reminisce.
Berlin is in Worcester County. The town is west of Ocean City, Maryland and dates back to the 1790s.
This is another of those towns where the citizens have worked hard to preserve its history and charm. The renovations of the town and its historic preservation are, definitely, a cooperative effort.
Restaurants and shops line Main Street in Berlin. This town is well known. The movie industry loves it. Two major motion pictures have been filmed here. In 1998 Runaway Bride with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts and in 2001 Tuck Everlasting with Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley and William Hurt.
I decided to visit Tada on Wednesday because it is the perfect place for what I was looking for. A wedding gift. I figure that Patty and Blair would be able to help me since they knew the bride.
TaDa is located at 18 N. Main St., Berlin, MD 21811. Tel. 410-641-4430. Website is www.blairelizabeth.com.
The mother and daughter team that owns this beautiful store? Patty Falck and Blair Elizabeth (Blair Falck Parsons). Yes, she got married.
Coming into TaDa at this time of the year gave me the same impression as when I visited in the Fall. The beautiful colors, now even brighter as the summer season is upon us. The displays are perfectly located. Only someone with an artistic eye could put them together in such a way.
Patty is an artist. She paints for her store but accepts custom orders. Her painted glassware has a following.
Blair is also an artist; designing and making her own jewelry. Mother and daughter are definitely a team.
TaDa has something for everyone. Wether you are looking for home accents, a gift for someone close, art, tableware, they have it.
It was a Wednesday and all of a sudden the store was packed. Patty and Blair were so at ease talking to everyone. The customers really engaged them in conversation. And, that’s what I love about shopping in the local stores in all of our towns; you get to know their owners.
This store is always on my “must stop shop”, and it still takes my breath away.
Have a great day….it’s beautiful out…
June 7th, 2010
Living at the beach means that in the summer you are definitely going to have guests at any given moment. It’s just the way it is.
So, entertaining with casual elegance and never losing your mind is something I am trying to master.
The following recipe is one that I think you are going to really like. I have not thought about it in some time but it is one of those that you can keep in the freezer and have it ready when friends arrive.
Spinach Balls
2 10 oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
2 cups herb stuffing mix
1 cup firmly packed freshly grated Parmesan cheese (5 oz. wedge)
1/2 cup butter, melted
4 small green onions, finely chopped
3 eggs
dash of nutmeg
mustard sauce – (recipe follows)
Combine all ingredients, except sauce, in a large bowl and mix well. Shape into 1″ balls. Cover and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Set balls on ungreased baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve with mustard sauce.
Mustard Sauce
1/2 cup dry mustard
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
Combine mustard and vinegar in small bown. Cover and let stand 4 hours at room temperature.
And, with a nice glass of wine…..hmm great!!
Note: The painted glass is from TaDa, 18 North Main St., Berlin, Maryland, 21811, Tel. 410-641-4430. I wrote about TaDa on 10/27/09. If you would like to see it, please click on the month of October, on the left hand side of this blog and scroll down to the date.
June 2nd, 2010
Who would make an appointmet in Baltimore, Maryland the day after Memorial week-end? Well, I did. That was really crazy because just in Ocean City, Maryland, right here at the beaches, there were 250,000 visitors that decided to spend the week-end with us. I don’t know how many in the Delaware beaches but plenty were here, as well.
Needless to say, they have to go home so on Tuesday we all drove West in caravan style.
At one point we are at a dead stop on Rt. 404. Many of you know which route this is. A suggestion was made in my car to take a “short cut”. Yeap, the short cut took us 10 miles back on a winding road that was sort of familiar but really wasn’t.
It did not matter to much to me and I just laughed and hoped that other suggestions would not be made.
My thoughts were really on where I would, definitely, be stopping on my way back. Harris Crab House is a must for me when I find myself traveling these roads. The restaurant is located right there in Kent Island and I have talked about it in the past. And once again I am talking about it because you never know how the food or service is going to be. The location is perfect for a crab house. Right on the water, watching the boats go by.
Harris Crab House is on Kent Narrows Way, North, Grasonville, MD 21638. It is Rt. 5/301, Exit 42. Tel. 410-827-9500 and website is www.harriscrabhouse.com.
It was late in the afternoon but not dinner time so the idea was to have just an appetizer. Well, I have to confess that I love steamed clams, especially, cherrystones.
Of the small clams there are “littlenecks” that are from Littleneck Bay, Long Island, N.Y. and are better eaten raw or in chowders, and the “cherrystones” which are slightly larger in size and named for Cherrystone Creek, Virginia. These could be eaten raw or cooked, but I love them best steamed, as mentioned above.
I really was a pig; I ate 60 clams. Yeap, I did. I am not guilty beacuse they were so good; sweet and salty and the perfect size. Then I just had 3 crabs; a balancing act.
The crabs were not as good as they usually are. The man at the next table who had eaten plenty of crabs in his life thought they were paper thin. And, they were, even though they were tasty. The waiter said that they were hit hard during the week-end. The size of the crabs were large but not that large, really. They were out of the jumbos, and the prices were high.
This man mentioned that his favorite crab house in Ocean City, Maryland is The Crab Bag. Probably so, but I will have to check it out since I have not been there this season. Will let you know.
By the way, I had lunch in Baltimore, Maryland yesterday at a restaurant called Tark’s Grill. I did not take pictures but it is worth mentioning in case you are in the area of Greenspring Station, Lutherville. It was delicious with an extensive wine list and menu. There is outdoor seating available and my signature salad, Lindsays Chicago Chopped Salad with Blackened Chicken was great. It had chopped pickles, almost unnoticeable, but it really added to the salad.
Tark’s Grill is a traditional American Bistro. The address is 2360 West Joppa Rd., Suite 116, Lutherville, MD 21093. Tel. is 410-583-Tark. The website is www.tarksgrill.com.
I hope you have a great day…talk to you later…
May 31st, 2010
If you have decided to stay in Ocean City and continue with the celebrations of the Memorial Week-End, then you are in luck. Ocean City has a full week ahead. Check the following information:
Until June 6th – Ocean City Restaurant Week – Week-long culinary experience allows guests to indulge in the finest Ocean City fare and fixed prices.
Participating restaurants will offer 2 and 3 course meals at $20 and $30 respectively.
For more information, please call 800-626-2326 or visit www.oceancityrestaurantweek.com.
Saturday, 6/5 and Sunday, 6/6 – Ocean City Car & Truck Show at the Ocean City Convention Center located at 40th St. & Bay. This is the biggest automotive and Youth Culture event on the East Coast. There is an admission fee. Saturday 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Please call Brian Stoer at 302-436-0183 if you need more info.
Saturday, 6/5 and Sunday 6/6 – Ocean City Air Show at 16th St. and Boardwalk. For information please call 800-626-2326 or visit http://ocairshow.com. This is a free event.
The O.C. Air Show is back for the 3rd year and it is a great spectator event. It will be visible along the entire length of the Boardwalk creating an inspiring experience for visitors.
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds Precision Aerial Demonstration Team will anchor the show.
Saturday and Sunday, Noon until 4 p.m. Rehearsal Day will be Friday, 6/4.
Note: I have heard that this show should not be missed.
Saturday, 6/5 – It is Flag Day – It will be held on the Beach at 16th St. & Boardwalk. Celebrate the Nation’s symbol. A ceremony to be held at the opening of the O.C. Air Show.
The United States Navy Seals will parachute to the beach and deliver the flag to selected veterans. This will take place at 12-Noon.
Have a great week and remember to kick back and relax!! ….
 
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