Up until a few minutes ago I had not realized that the blog I started in 2009 is celebrating 13 years of sharing my thoughts on finding out about events, restaurants, reviews, where to shop and what to cook for dinner today. http://www.aboutmybeaches.com
No photos at the beginning until I caught on how important photos are to all of us. We are so visual.
The first post was about McCabes Gourmet Market in Bethany Beach. No longer McCabes, times have changed. Great store that we all loved for many years. Their Queso (Mexican Cheese Dip) Recipe is on the website. Click on it and put it on the Search.
My second post was Agave. The ever present Margaritas, the Avocado Martini, music, best chili, guacamole and so on.
At the time blogs were beginning to take place in our society. But, people would still smiled like saying: really? Blah, Blah, and Blah. The point of my blog was that I could put my two cents in about places that I have been to, my beloved beaches in Southern Delaware and beyond. Food, recipes and reviews. We all have different tastes, likes and dislikes but it was my diary sort of speak of. I can write when I want to and other times I just take a break and put tidbits on My Facebook page.
Since the beginning I have spoken of how good the corn is in Southern Delaware. I just took this photo the other day. White corn, but they have yellow and a mix kernel ones, as well. Freeman’s on Robinsonville Rd. in Lewes is the best. Every day it is picked and it is so fresh that you can eat it raw. I usually eat one or two ears like that. Amazing.
Lewes’ Lighthouses are something to see.
Strolling the Boardwalk day or night.
I have lived here for so many years. I am a foodie and love to eat and experience different cultures.
My blog continues and one of the best things that have happened since opening AboutMyBeaches is that I have learned so much about our area. It is not just the beaches, so much more depth. It has given my family a very nice life. I don’t take it for granted. I appreciate it.
Until then check my Facebook Page, and Instagram and stop here for recipes and information. It’s all good.
Love Crabs….these ones from Suicide Bridge.
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All Summer long the Freeman Stage located in Selbyville about 4 miles west from Fenwick Island offers amazing shows for the whole family. Last night on a what I thought was going to be a rained out event, we were there to see Trombone Shorty. He is everything you can imagine a performer should be. The first thing he said was that it was so nice to be able to perform again.
It was so much fun and such a high energy performance. Trombone Shorty is best know as a trombone and trumpet player. He also plays drums, organ and tuba. He sings too, so a well rounded entertainer. A lot of fun and the perfect evening, as well.
There are still plenty more at the Freeman Stage. For more info., tickets, etc. etc. you can check their Facebook Page or their website
In the evening the shows start at 7 p.m. for the most part. Since I am also interested in what are we going to eat, you will find food trucks and also a grill inside the grounds. If you check their FB page they will tell you what food trucks will be there for each performance.
Perfect for last night the food truck that attracted our attention was Old Shoal Food Truck. They also have a Facebook Page. A creole menu for this week was exactly what was called for.
Joe was cooking but we talked to Sara who took our order. If you Google them it will show that they are in Exmore, Virginia. They have relocated to Lewes. Joe has been a chef in the area in the past at various establishments. So, the experience is there. They offer their services for private events, fundraisers and you name it, they can do it. This Sunday, tomorrow, they will again be at the Freeman Stage. If you are going please try them. The food comes out hot, deliciously seasoned and served with a smile on their faces.
We had the Crawfish & Crab Etoufee…crawfish, crab, green peppers, tomatoes and onions, served over rice with maque choux (creamed corn and other veggies; a Cajun dish) and jalapeno corn bread. It had a kick to it and if you want more of a punch there is plenty of hot pepper sauce to help you achieve that level.
All in all Summer 2021 continues to fly by. Enjoy your weekend.
Remember AboutMyBeaches has its own page on FB.
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“Real cooking is more about following your heart than following recipes.” unknown
That unknown quote is really so true. The Tuna Avocado Salad I will be sharing in this post did not start as my own. But, I made it my own by changing it a lot. It is easy, it is healthy and perfect for the summer weather here at the beaches.
In 2009 I started my blog. So it has been 12 years. I had forgotten all about it. It is a diary of sorts and still a lot of fun to put my thoughts, ideas, experiences on paper.
This is the final look of the Tuna Avocado Salad. It was enjoyed last week. Presentation is always something I care about. It adds to the mood of the evening.
The first thing I changed was the canned tuna. Fresh Sashimi tuna is what I used. Be mindful that you can modify this salad to your liking, using crabmeat, shrimp, lobster, chicken salad or whatever your heart or tummy desires.
The second thing that happened was that I needed a cylinder in order to make a perfect round stack. Could not find it anywhere so I opened a large can that held 32 ounces on both ends. For future references this recipe says that it feeds 2 people but it really feeds 4 if you use a smaller can. We had leftovers.
Ingredients:
two large fresh Sashimi grade tuna fillets (I usually say I need 2 good size pieces)
Mayonnaise ( I only use Dukes and you can start with a tablespoon and add more, but don’t let it get too soggy.
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (If you don’t like it, and a lot of people don’t, use fresh Italian parsley.)
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lime juice
Avocados (They were small so I got 4 and used all of them.)
Pico de Gallo (Homemade, recipe will follow, use enough to top the stack. From 1/2 cup to a cup.
1/8 teaspoon of salt
PICO DE GALLO RECIPE
Pico de Gallo
This is not my recipe but it very easy and you can use it for so many things. Pico de Gallo is basically a Salsa. You can buy salsa at the store but why would you want to do that when it is so easy to prepare.
6 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, minced
3 tablespoons of chopped fresh Cilantro or Italian Parsley
1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (I used bottled sliced jalapenos)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 clove of garlic, minced
a pinch of garlic powder
a pinch of cumin or to taste
salt and black pepper to taste
Combine the tomatoes, onion, cilantro or parsley, jalapeno pepper, lime juice, garlic, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper together in a bowl. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving. You will have leftovers and use it for tacos or for salsa with chips. Mind you that the jalapenos give it a kick. I do love that though.
Continue with the Tuna Avocado Stack
Dry the tuna steaks and season with salt and pepper. Heat a good skillet with a bit of oil. We only seared it, so it is rare in the middle. Of course, you can make it your way.
Take fillets out and cut them in small pieces for the stack. Not tiny pieces, just small. In a bowl mix the cut tuna, mayonnaise, cilantro or parsley and juice for half a lime. Add salt to taste and stir it together.
Peel and chop the avocados. Put them in a bowl and mash them a little bit but also leaving some of the chunks. Salt to taste.
Place the cylinder in the middle of each plate. First put avocado in and pack it in. Remember that you are making a stack so you want it to hold its shape. Then a layer of the tuna. Again, press on it gently so it stays. Finish with the Pico de Gallo salsa. Go on to the next second serving.
Always treat your stack gently when you are taking the cylinder out. You see that photo above. I was scared it was not going to work but it certainly did.
The Chili Bean Salad made it look that it was placed on pebbles. This Salad was a recipe given to my children’s school cookbook many years ago. It is very good.
Recipe
1 15 ounce can each of black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans and whole-kernel corn
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/4 chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup diced celery
1 4 ounce can chopped green chilies, not drained
Dressing:
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons leaf oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon of hot pepper sauce (I used Crystal)
Drain and rise beans and corn. Put all dressing ingredients in a jar; shake well to mix.
Combine all ingredients except dressing in a large serving bowl. Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Cover and chill 6 hours or overnight and mix it from time to time so all beans take advantage of the dressing.
When preparing your serving plates, just put it around it just like the photo shows. You will have leftovers.
Life around a table…”If the home is a body, the table is the heart, the beating center, the sustainer of life and health.” shauna niequist
This post is a little long and you may think this recipe is hard to make. I can tell you that it takes no time. I think you will love it.
AboutMyBeaches has its own Facebook page and Instagram Page.
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Erma Bombeck’s quotes were so on point. I love this one. “I am not a glutton-I am an explorer of food.”
I feel that is what I am. Everywhere I go I want to try the local delicacies. At a restaurant, it’s the most ordered dish. Will I like it? You never know. Taste is an individual thing. But trying different foods and later making the decision to see if you like it or not, is the thing to do. It may open doors to a fantastic new food adventure that you never knew. And, starting children at an early age is important.
I have my favorite restaurants here. I will travel to eat good food. There is one restaurant in Fenwick Island, DE that has the best chicken. I get a craving for it. I am not kidding. It is the best. The restaurant is Our Harvest located at 1106 Coastal Hwy. Telephone is 302-581-0377.
The only day it closes is Monday. I am visiting my restaurants because it will be harder once all the summer visitors descend on all these beaches.
This is what we had last night. First we had a great table. We could see the open kitchen and the beautiful food being prepared.
Look at those peppers. Don’t really know what the one on the right was but on top of their serving table it made for a good entry photo and our table was right there.
This Prosciutto Flatbread was going somewhere but not before a photo moment was taken. There are different ways to eat at Our Harvest. If you are coming with a large group they have feasts that can be ordered for the table to share. There are small plates and regular size entrees. And for the Vegan, there are plenty of choices, as well.
A Grilled Baby Caesar Salad was ordered and it was topped with a Boqueron which is a white anchovy. They are from Spain and totally perfect addition to a Caesar. The baby romaine was from Baywater Farms, charred sourdough bread and a Caesar aioli finished the salad.
Also for the tables we ordered the Baywater Blistered Shishitos, with sambal butter and sesame salt. Sambal is a chili sauce made from a variety of chili peppers. Shishitos peppers are slender and wrinkly. They have a bright green color. You can’t just eat one. Give me a full bowl. They are mild but once in a while you get one with a little bit of heat. Charring them is the best.
An order of short ribs topped with Chimichurri sauce. This was considered a small plate. I liked them, I ate them, but I did find them a little dry even though they fell off the bone. I needed more moisture or more Chimichurri.
You may say why order chicken when you can have something else to eat. You don’t understand, this is the best roasted chicken. Whole Amish Air Chilled Chicken is part of their feast. We usually order it and take home whatever we do not eat. It is a whole chicken. It is brined in Arnold Palmer tea and wood fired with lemon and rosemary. I tried it at home and marinated chicken parts for 2 days and then grilled it and it really gives the meat a distinct flavor.
So good I cannot wait to eat the leftovers tonight.
Please make reservations early. Restaurants are getting so busy and cannot imagine how busy they will be a month from now.
Food brings us together. It starts conversations and make new friendships. Enjoy you time with friends and family.
AboutMyBeaches has a Facebook Page. If you want to leave a message, please do so.
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Southern Delaware and its restaurants!! You find them up and down the coast line. I always say “Good Food, Will Travel”. The Flying Fish is located at 300 Coastal Hwy. in Fenwick Island, Delaware. From Rehoboth Beach, where I live, it is only about 20 minutes. Depending on the time of the day and the season it could be more.
Right before you get to the intersection of Rt. 54 and Coastal Highway the cluster of red buildings is called Village of Fenwick Shoppes. You have arrived then!!
Reservations are a must for dinner. The restaurant is small. Tel. 302-581-0217. Have in mind that it is worth going.
I am trying to catch up with the restaurants before Memorial Weekend arrives. It is the official opening of the summer season. This year promises to be a very busy one.
I was dying for some Sashimi. It is my favorite. For some, having raw fish is not their thing but The Flying Fish has plenty for everyone.
I started with a Seafood Ceviche of squid, octopus, crab, scallop, fish and shrimp. It was served on a bed of greens. After eating the ceviche I asked our server if I could have some of that ginger dressing and it was perfect!! That ceviche was marinated in just enough of sesame line ceviche oil to give it a very light and tasty flavor. My friend, Sharon, decided to get the Gyoza Dumplings with a homemade dipping sauce. The Gyoza is a thinner dumpling wrapper and more finely chopped stuffing. Delicious, by the way.
I got the Sashimi Sampler which usually has the chef’s choice but since I love sashimi scallops I asked if that could be included and they obliged. Everything tasted so fresh. Loved it.
If you see on my plate there is wasabi. Well, in reality what it is usually served at sushi restaurants is horseradish that has had coloring added to it. It is strong, almost too strong and it really takes away from your rolls and fish. Fresh Wasabi is amazing. It has a slight sweetness to it. It is an expensive delicacy and most restaurants add a couple of dollars to your dish. Please try it and you will taste the difference. Where have you been all this time? Haha
Sharon’s roll was a the Mexican. It is a roll that has been around for a long time. Topped with crab meat.
As you can see, she also ordered fresh wasabi.
It was a nice dinner. Time to catch with a friend. And off we went to drive around Bethany Beach and tour Rehoboth Beach’s neighborhoods at night.
Have a great weekend. Remember that AboutMyBeaches has its own Facebook Page. Let me know how the Flying Fish was. Thanks.
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I remember when I was young Sunday was a day to gather at my grandmother’s house. After church it was the satisfaction of gathering with cousins and with good comfort food. My grandmother was a very good cook; always cooking with the best ingredients she could fine.
Not sure why I think of Cornish Game Hens as a Sunday Supper dish. I have stuffed them, cooked them with prosciutto and figs as well. They have great flavor. And what are they, really? I found out that they are the product from a cross between the Cornish and White Plymouth Rock chicken breeds, that it is served young and immature, weighing no more than two pounds ready to cook.
We have a good butcher here in Rehoboth Beach. Hickmans!! I picked these Cornish Game Hens around the holidays. They were pretty big. Last week I made this recipe. By no means the recipe is my own, but I did give it my own spin.
They are easy to prepare. I usually do not serve a guest a whole hen even though you could depending on the size.
2 Cornish Game Hens
salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, cut in half
rosemary sprigs (2 per hen)
olive oil
15 cloves of garlic and more if you do like garlic like I do
2/3 cup of white wine (it is a great additions to the sauce)
2/3 cup of chicken broth (I used chicken stock)
More fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
honey
The first thing to do is to preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Then take gizzards and neck from the hens and put them aside. You will use them in the broth.
Rub the hens with salt and pepper. Place one of the lemon wedges in the cavity along with a sprig of rosemary. Also put one garlic clove in each of them. If you look closely you can see that I drizzled honey over the top. Very yummy!!
Arrange them in a heavy roasting pan. Take some of the rosemary leaves and spread them around the pan. Put the whole garlic cloves around the hens in the pan. In order to avoid the garlic to burn since you at first will be cooking on a high temperature, take some extra chicken stock and pour into the pan in order to cover the cloves a bit.
This is how they will look before going into the oven.
You are going to roast them in that temperature for 25 minutes.
The gizzards and neck that you took from the oven place in a pot and cook for 10 or 15 minutes. Once that is done, cut the gizzards, heart and set aside. This is totally optional. I just think it adds to the broth.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together wine, chicken broth, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the cut gizzards, etc.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Pour the broth above the hens and continue roasting about 25 minutes longer or until hens are golden brown. Baste with the pan juices every 10 minutes.
Transfer the hens to a platter, pouring any cavity juices into the roasting pan. You can put the pan on top of your burners and heat up the juices, smashing those garlic cloves which will be amazing combining them in the broth. I used a little bit of corn starch because I wanted the broth to be a tad thicker.
You can cut them in half or serve them whole. Cranberry looked pretty and appropriate with them. And, those veggies? I will give you the recipe because they went perfectly with the hens. Easy too. Next post.
Here is a photo of the hen in half. It depends how hungry your guests are. And please make sure to put a lot of broth in the plate.
Enjoy!! Talk to you later.
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In the winter there is nothing like a warming bowl of soup. It was cold on Sunday. But, today at the Delaware Beaches the temperatures will rise to the upper 40’s. I’ll take that.
Over the years I have bought tons of magazines. A lot of them have been food oriented. I go through them many times and then I start cutting recipes out and putting them in folders. With a morning coffee I go through them and if something catches my eye, I take it out.
I picked an Onion Soup Recipe that got my attention back in 2013 in a Food & Wine Magazine. It is a healthier version of the traditional French Onion Soup. Traditional soups are fantastic but making them healthier while conserving flavor it’s the trick. That hunk of bread and thick layer of melting cheese makes it high in calories and sodium. Sorry, but it is true.
For Meatless Monday and being that it is a cloudy day this onion soup might be just what you need. I made it yesterday and it is a keeper.
Meatless Monday is a worldwide organization trying to have folks like us eat meatless at least one day per week.
The Recipe
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 large onions, (sweet or regular) halved and thinly sliced
Kosher Salt
1/4 cup of dry white wine
1 tablespoon soy sauce
6 cups of beef stock or low sodium broth
Baguettes (either cut your own or buy prepared ones) I used small ones for my large bowl.
Gruyere shredded cheese. I packed that cheese on the baguettes.
In a large pot heat oil until shimmering. Add the onions and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and just starting to brown. Maybe about 7 minutes or so. Taste the broth and add a bit of salt and continue to cook over moderate low heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are soft and golden. I would say 20 minutes?
Add the wine and soy sauce to the pot. Cook for a few more minutes.
Add the stock and bring to a boil. Then, simmer over low to moderate heat, again stirring occasionally until the onion broth is well flavored and slightly reduced. Taste again and if needed add more salt.
You can make the soup ahead of time until this point.
Then pre-heat the broiler and arrange the baguettes on a baking sheet and top with the Gruyere cheese. Broil until melted.
To serve this onion soup, ladle it into bowls and top with the cheese toasts. You may sprinkle a little bit of cheese all over the soup prior to placing the cheese toasts, as well.
Hope this will be a keeper for you too. Remember AboutMyBeaches has a FB page just in case you want to chime in.
This blog started in 2009 with the idea of offering the readers who want to be in the know about events, restaurants, reviews, where to shop and what to cook for dinner.
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I call it the Art of Wining and Dining. There are 5 elements that are key to food presentation. There is color, shape, texture, arrangement, and garnish. Using the best local ingredients is a must.
First time this summer, just last week, we went to Our Harvest located at 1106 Coastal Highway in Fenwick Island, Delaware. They are open 7 days per week. There is parking and they accept reservations. Awesome!!
Even though we decided to eat inside, the outdoor seating on these trying times was very cute and complemented the restaurant’s aura. Inside the restaurant is very spacious and tables are placed according to the new regulations.
I knew what I was going to eat. They have a chicken that is to die for. It is a shareable dish but think about it, you can take the leftovers home. We had enough for 2 extra dinners.
Doesn’t it look amazing? Believe me, it is. Usually people don’t go to a restaurant to eat chicken but at Our Harvest this is a very popular dish. Even a signature dish I would dare to say.
This chicken is called the Whole Amish Air Chilled Chicken. It is Arnold Palmer brined, and wood fired with lemon and rosemary. An explosion of flavors.
Baywater Blistered Shishitos, sambal butter and sesame salt. I have always been told that in a group of Shishitos there is usually a hot one. I have yet to found it. Also a shareable Small Plate.
Baywater Farms Stuffed Squash Blossoms. Got great reviews and the squash blossoms were crispy and stuffed with ricotta, local crab meat, and creamless cream corn.
This is the Grilled Calamari with charred bead, and warm tomato bagna cauda. To tell you the truth, they were not the favorites. A little overdone and probably I would have preferred olive oil, capers and garlic.
This was another winner. The Crispy Rice Flour Soft Shell, paprika aioli, pea shoot salad, and a celery seed vinaigrette. Nice size soft shell and delicious combination of flavors.
Our service was perfect. We had enough time to talk and there was no rushing us.
If you have the opportunity to go to the restaurants that are in all our beaches, please do so. It is not a long drive. My motto? Good Food, Will Travel.
Have a great week. Enjoy the Season!!
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