January 4th, 2021

New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Southern Delaware Eats, Delaware Beaches, 2021, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Wining and Dining at the Delaware Beaches

I don’t know about you but I think we are becoming better cooks nowadays. I wish I could say the same about baking. It is not my forte but I can make a few things too.

I always say that Thanksgiving is a time for an overabundance of food, but, Christmas I like a more simple meal. If you saw my last post a prime rib roast is nothing simple. It makes an amazing presentation, more so if cooked right.

As New Year approached I think I had my fill of beef. Time for some lobster. It looks so pretty at a table and it is delicious. I decided to make a Lobster Newburg. I usually make recipes my own because I add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. At times a secret ingredient of saffron can make it taste out of this world. A few sweet peas….not sure if that’s even on a Lobster Newburg. Some make toast points…..Oh no, we had it over pasta. Pair it with a French 75 cocktail using Courvoisier instead of gin, believe me it is to die for.

The broth had so much taste because using the shells it is the way to go when making a seafood broth.

Save the rest of the broth. You can freeze it for another time.

New Year’s Day is a new beginning. Starting up with a decadent breakfast is always a must. Eggs Benedict, my own style too. Did not want any bread so on top of the grilled asparagus and Surry ham from Surry, Virginia, poached eggs and homemade Hollandaise Sauce.

And then came the Apple Toddy. This recipe has winesap apples which are hard to get around here, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, sugar, grated orange rind, rum, peach brandy, apple brandy, bourbon and lemon juice. You need to start this by cooking the apples then everything goes in a crok in a stoneware crock for 16 weeks. So start way before the holidays and place it in your garage in a cool place.

To drink it pour in your desired glasses and you can cut the apples up in bite size pieces. I never used to enjoy it years ago but I have acquired a liking for this old family recipe.

So in order to finish the day I wanted to get some black eyed peas. Nowhere to be found. Yeap, I went a little too late to some of the stores. I wanted that good luck everyone says they bring you. Black beans will have to do. I decided to make a black bean soup which if I say so myself was pretty good for not planning anything in advance. A little garnish here or there and it turn out as good as the photo shows.

And so another year begins. I did not make any resolutions. I will take one step at a time, enjoying every moment, every day.

Wishing you the best for 2021.

December 31st, 2010

Toot the Horn, Lightship Overfalls, New Year’s Eve, Event, Historic Lewes, Delaware Beaches

In the information available on the Lewes Chamber of Commerce’s website I found out about “Toot the Horn”.  It is a celebration in Historic Lewes; New Year’s Eve, at the Overfalls Maritime Museum on Front Street.  It will take place at midnight so be there before that time because it will be just  “Toot the Horn” as we welcome 2011!!

One of the advantages of having a blog or passing information along is that at the same time I am learning about my own backyard.  I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know what the Lightship Overfalls was.  So, I took a little drive to where it is located.  I had seen it before but, once again, have passed it by without giving it another thought.

And there it was.  Bright red and white; the snow covered ground made the whole area so pretty. 

The following information came from the Delaware Public Archives, 2003, SC-175 and is also in the marker explaining its history.

“The Lightship Overfalls was built in 1938 at the Rice Brothers shipyard in East Boothbay, Maine.  It was one of the last lightships constructed.  Duty stations included Boston Harbor and two locations near Long Island, New York.  After retirement from active service it was given to the Lewes Historical Society in 1973.  The ship was renamed to recognize the lightship station on Overfalls Shoals that marked the southern entrance to the Delaware Bay.  On December 2001, ownership of the ship was transferred to the Overfalls Maritime Museum Foundation.  The Lightship Overfalls is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.”

“The United States government initiated the use of manned lightships or “floating lighthouses” in 1820.  These vessels, like Lightship Overfalls, addressed many needs.  The beacon on the lightship’s mast and the sound of its foghorn contributed greatly to the safe passage of ships in various weather conditions.  My the mid 20th century the increasing use of automated lights and radio signals made these vessels obsolete.”

It is so easy to get to where it is located.  If you are on Savannah Rd. by the bridge, you will take a right or left, depending where you are coming from, on Front Street.  Right past the tennis courts on the right you will see it.  Plenty of parking is available.

Lightship Overfalls is one of ony 17 remaining lightships out of a total of 179 built from 1820 to 1952; also one of 7 lightships in this country still open to the public.

At the present time group tours and off season tours can be arranged by request.  There are a few telephones:  302-645-7377, 302-645-5071 or 302-645-4773.

The website is very complete and informative.  Please visit www.overfalls.org.  You can even take a virtual tour.

But please remember to be there tomorrow, New Year’s Eve; the beautiful town of Historic Lewes at 11:59 p.m.!!

Have a great time………