My late mother in law, Louise, was a great cook. Many years ago she made a cookbook just for the girls and boys in the family. Every Christmas we would get an insert. She called this cookbook: Recipes, Begged, Borrowed, & Stolen. The Ratatouille is from her cookbook and it is prepared skillet style.
This is one of those dishes that you can prepare year round. But, in the summer vegetables are so beautiful and delicious that it is probably the best time of the year to make it. Those bright colors shine in this recipe.
Some people consider it a stew. Olive oil, garlic and herbs add so much flavor to the Ratatouille.
Following is the recipe. Hope you like it.
RATATOUILLE
1eggplant, peeled and cut into cubes. (I did not peel mine)
3 medium squash – zucchini, sliced
2 large onions – chopped
1 clove garlic – minced
1 large can tomatoes – or several fresh ones ( I used the fresh ones)
1 green pepper – chopped
1 small jar of pimiento, juice included
1/3 cup olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. marjoram
1/2 tsp. dill seeds
In olive oil saute onions for a minute or so, and add rest of the vegetables and spices. Stir well and simmer vegetable mixture for as long as you wish, stirring occasionally.
It is good to cook it for a long time to get those veggies to soften, but do not let them stick.
You can eat the Ratatouille as a side dish, main dish, over pasta, over polenta like I did, as an appetizer with crackers. Add a dash of hot sauce for some kick. In other words, make this recipe your own.
You can double the recipe. Enjoy!!
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You see it out there? I love this photo showing the point at Cape Henlopen. Our destination on July 20th was the historic Harbor of Refuge. This is one of the two lighthouses located on the Delaware Bay between Lewes, and Cape May, New Jersey.
Cape May-Lewes Ferry
“The earliest lighthouses were simple bonfires built on hillsides to guide ships. The first American lighthouse came to life in 1716 at Boston Harbor.”
The Delaware Breakwater, the East End Lighthouse, and the Harbor of Refuge Light Station entered in 1976 on the National Register of Historic Places as the nation’s first offshore Historic District.
I have been touring these lighthouses for the past 6 years. When I have a guest that might be interested in something like this I go for it. This lighthouses and the breakwater are iconic. They were the first structures of their kind to be built in the Western Hemisphere.
For the purpose of this post I am writing about the Harbor of Refuge. The tour was given by The Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation. They are the caretaker of this lighthouse. Please visit the website http://delawarebaylights.org.
In the website you can check the tours. They usually give the tours until mid September. The telephone is 302-644-7046. You can also check them on Facebook. Usually they say you have to send forms in but I think if you are here at the beach, you might be able to go anyway. Just give them a call or email them.
On July 20th I invited friends from Ocean City, Maryland to this tour. I don’t know if you remember but it was so hot. We arrived at the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal in Lewes. My friends had not experienced this.
On the Rocks is the outdoor restaurant and bar and Dogfish Head has its own little space there, as well.
The organizers of the tour were getting ready. We on the other hand were hiding from the heat.
It was time to go. You do have to wear life vests and make sure you wear closed toe shoes too. The tour departs from the finger pier.
Before arriving to the Harbor of Refuge we got close to the East End Lighthouse for a few photo opportunities.
Along the way you may spot dolphins and all kinds of fish. In the tour you will usually have Red and Garrett and several docents.
The Delaware Breakwater along with the lighthouses are marvels of the 19th century. They were the first structures of their kind to be built in the Western Hemisphere. The breakwater wall started construction in 1828.
On this particular day spear fishing was going on.
The Harbor of Refuge was built in 1926 to replace a previous lighthouse. The Harbor of Refuge is one of the most exposed lighthouses on the Atlantic seaboard. Just this past week, on the Cape Gazette there was an article mentioning how in need of repair is this lighthouse. I think because its precarious location, it is in need of repair at all times. The rocks on one side are coming down because of the erosion. In 2013 I took the first 2 photos and just this year I took this other photo. You can see what they are talking about.
Now you will see the difference in this one.
During this particular tour Bill Harris was with us. He was the last keeper of the lighthouse in 1973.
Each level of the lighthouse had its purpose. Kitchen, sleeping quarters, etc. etc. And throughout the tour the docents are able to answer all your questions.
I recommend this tour. The scenery and the history are just so impressive.
It did not matter if it was that hot. We made it.
On the above photo we were getting ready to go back. You can see Red giving the last instructions, Bill Harris and I think that is Garrett on the far left. And Cindi and I sitting below thinking that just about this time a beer would be wonderful.
I have plenty of post on these lighthouses on this website. Please check them out to see if this is something you might like to do. By visiting and donating to the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation we can keep them going.
I do have a Facebook Page for AboutMyBeaches. You can leave me comments there.
Hope your Summer 2019 has been awesome.
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“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” anthelme brillat-savarin
Everyone’s is a food critic these days. I find that the experience comes from eating out often. It is actually very personal. You might love the restaurant and then someone will come back saying; what were you thinking?
The more relaxed you are while eating, the best it will be for you and your dining companion.
Kris Etze and I chose The Station on Kings located at 720 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE 19958. Tel. 302-645-0300. You can reserve tables online and the restaurant has plenty of parking. They are open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Early morning coffee and baked goods are served. Every day you can enjoy lunch and dinner. Website? http://www.thestationlewes.com
Kris is a well known local personal chef. If you would like to know more about her…..she gives cooking classes too, please check her website http://www.abracadinner.com.
I love to see a beautiful plate full of colorful and well seasoned food. Kris can dissect how perfectly cooked a dish is. A pro at what she does.
The Station on Kings is a one stop shop. Beautifully displays of food, baked goods, home accessories.
Our server was very attentive. We ordered some wine and then jumped into the appetizers.
Have you ever had Blistered Shishito Peppers? Or, even know what they are?
Up close and personal…here is the photo. They are great for snacks. Easy to “blister” too. They are from Japan and sweet. But, caution is in order. 1 in 10 peppers are spicy. Don’t worry, nothing extreme. People that are in the know like Kris, will probably tell you that high heat and quick cooking is what you want. You want them fairly firm but with charred blisters on all sides.
My expert told me they were perfectly cooked. And me, the eating expert, will tell you that they were mild. The dipping sauce of kimchi aioli was also very good.
There is plenty to choose if you are vegetarian or have to eat gluten free.
Kris chose the Vegetarian Risotto. This dish was composed of farro, grilled corn, shaved fennel, house ricotta and chives. It was a nice portion and Kris really commented on how good it was.
I really do love octopus, so every time I see it being offered I order it. You want it to be firm but not dry and chewey and at The Station on Kings it did not disappoint. Perfectly done!! It was served with smoked potatoes, romesco, chorizo jam and salsa verde. Romesco is a tomato-based sauce that originated in Tarragona, Catalonia. The sauce was made by fishermen and should be eaten with fish.
Our choice for a sweet ending was Stone Fruit Frangipane Tart. A frangipane is made with almonds or almond flavoring, butter, sugar and eggs. The combination of cherries and roasted apricots was delicious. Cardamon almonds, brown butter caramel, and rum toffee ice cream. What can I say? Awesome!!
I am looking at these photos and I am salivating. Summer 2019 has brought the local restaurants to bring the best of what they have. Just yummy!!
Check my FB page AboutMyBeaches and comment if you have made it already to The Station on Kings.
Until then, Relax, You are at The Beach.
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A few months ago I needed a mover. As it is usually the case a friend gave me the name of Mary Nicholson who is the owner of Mary’s Touch. Her company, Mary’s Touch Moving & Packing, LLC specializes in new homes, storage and retirement homes. Tel. 302-745-1272.
Word of mouth is the best advertising you can get. You are happy with the work, you will definitely, pass the word around. I have been meaning to write a post on Mary because they were true professionals. At some point or another everyone needs a mover that will pack and move your treasures to either another home or to a storage unit.
Totally recommend this company. Please give Mary a call.
Remember to check AboutMyBeaches FaceBook Page!!
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I was out and about with a friend on Second Street in Lewes, Delaware. The Fall is the time for us “locals” to get out and see what is new. A relaxed way of discovering the town. No parking, which makes a big difference. My friend, Madelon, and I loved the storefront of this boutique that we had not noticed in the past. It is called The Bungalow on 2nd. Second Street is really Main Street in Lewes.
I am sure some of you will disagree but I find boutique shopping the most comfortable way to shop. These shops in small towns all over the United States give clients the opportunity to get to know the store owners. You get a one on one service.
The young woman behind the counter I had to engage in conversation. If you were in a big mall that usually does not happen. No time for small talk, really. Her name is Kaitlin and she has been opened for just about 6 weeks or so. The shop is adorable; so very well appointed. The store is not crowded and she has done a great job in redoing the shop. Before starting this new venture she was a 9th grade teacher. It would be great for you to stop by and welcome her to the community. The Bungalow on 2nd is located at 142 2nd St., Lewes, DE 19958. Tel. 302-644-1544
You can find clothing, presents for friends and family and, of course, a little indulgence for yourself, as well.
There is nothing like the right accessory to enhance an outfit. You can find necklaces, earrings, and bracelets for all tastes.
Clean looks, napkins, table runners, candles, home accents…..all very pretty and affordable.
November 24th it is called Small Business Saturday. Obviously, we live in small coastal towns and promoting the local businesses is something a lot of us find dear to our hearts. We wish Kaitlin much success and look forward to stopping by again.
Until then, have a good one!!
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I got into not eating meat on Monday. Following the Meatless Monday campaign if you want to know. This is an international campaign nonetheless. It is just a way of not eating meat one day of the week to improve your health. This organization was founded in 2003. There is also a Facebook Page called Meatless Monday. To know more about it, please visit http://www.meatlessmonday.com.
A few years ago I was visiting my cousins on the island of Culebra. Gorgeous beaches, beautiful scenery. On the photo a look at Luis Pena from their balconies. One of the recipes they prepared was a Spinach Pie. Not only was it good, but it was so easy with 5 ingredients. The chopped frozen spinach I was buying for this recipe had a lot of water but I found a few months ago a spinach that is steamable and to tell you the truth it is so much better. You can get it in all supermarkets.
I have shared this recipe on my website before so I decided to do it again as I remembered that this summer, here in Rehoboth Beach, Sharon, Amantha, Debbie and I would have impromptu dinners on the beach. This is one of the recipes I took. You can eat it hot, warm, room temperature or even cold.
Recipe – Spinach Pie
1 package or bag of spinach – 10 ounces
1 block cream cheese. You can use the less fat one or regular one.
1 onion (Cut in chunks.)
4 eggs
1 cup Parmesan cheese
Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease lightly a pie dish. I use a glass one. Let spinach defrost and squeeze it to get all the water out. Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator and let it soften a bit.
In a blender put eggs, spinach, onion, and cream cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste. I usually add just pepper since the cheese has plenty of salt. Blend. Pour into a pie dish.
Place in the oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top to cover. The cheese will make a crust and will add taste to the pie. Don’t be shy and sprinkle on.
It will take another half hour or so to be ready. Test it with a knife and if comes out clean then it is ready. It should have a nice rich crust.
You can really use this spinach pie for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And even for an appetizer. I would cut in squares instead of wedges if that is the case.
When I joined my friends this summer for our Rehoboth Beach dinners, I think they loved it. Don’t you think? They are smiling!
Remember that these recipes are begged, borrowed, and stolen…..please make them your own.
Until next time!
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In June of 2013 I got curious about the 2 lighthouses located between Lewes, Delaware and Cape May, New Jersey. Writing a blog about the Delaware Beaches and beyond gives me so much information. Information that I can pass on to you. The Delaware Beaches are year round resorts and there is plenty to do if you choose to do so, or nothing at all if you just want to relax. I went on a tour this summer with the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation. This organization is dedicated to the preservation of the Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse. When I first visited you could not step out off the boat and go inside the lighthouse. We actually then went inside the East End Lightouse. More about that one in another post. Since then there has been a lot of restoration to the Harbor of Refuge, and this summer they opened it for tours.
The Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation can be contacted by calling 302-644-7046. The website is http://www.delawarebaylights.org/
My friend, Sharon, who is a true local, and very proud of it, had never visited the lighthouses but always wanted to. We arrived at the Cape-May Lewes Ferry Terminal in Lewes. That’s is where we would be picked up. Arriving a little early we decided to have something to eat at the outdoor bar/restaurant called On the Rocks. Best view and great burgers, as well.
Finally, the boat arrived and Sharon and I were ready.
The Cape-May Lewes Ferry was just coming in but our main goal was to get to the historic and iconic Harbor of Refuge.
It was one of those beautiful days in Delmarva and Cape Henlopen looked awesome.
The keeper of this lonely offshore lighthouse. It was hard work. Storms were relentless and waves would reach all the way up the lighthouse. We first passed the East End Lighthouse. But, we had to continue to our destination.
The Delaware Breakwater along with the lighthouses are engineer marvels of the 19th century. They were the first strucures of the kind built in the Western Hemisphere. In 1976, the Delaware Breakwater, the East End Lighthouse and the Harbor of Refuge Light Station were inducted into the National Register of Historic Places as the Nation’s first offshore Historic District.
The imposing Harbor of Refuge was in front of us. We got off the boat and climbed the stairs to the different levels where the Keeper lived. Docents are able to give you all the information you need. The most important thing is the feeling you get of what would be like to “walk in the steps of the Lightkeeper”.
The Harbor of Refuge’s dock has been restored. So much work in raising funds to maintain this historic lighthouse. The dock has been dedicated to Red Moulinier, President of the Delaware River & Bay Lighthouse Foundation for his time and efforts. The lighthouse still has more renovations on the way along with maintenance. It has been painted and it looks beautiful.
From the top of the lighthouse the views are unbelievable as you can imagine. At times, dolphins and mantas pass by.
By visiting the website above mentioned you will be able to see what tours they will have next year. Also check the sunset tours. You will not go inside the lighthouses but will circle around them for those Kodak moments. Tours book quickly and, of course, it also depends on the weather. This weekend they have tours on Saturday, but they are already sold out. For more info. you may call Red at 302-226-3866. There is also a button on the website for donations. Every little bit helps.
If you would like to see my other posts on these lighthouses, with photos, please visit my website at http://www.aboutmybeaches.com.
Have a great time this weekend. The beginning of Fall!!
By the way, lots of locals on this tour. We had fun!!
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When we share a meal with friends, it is so much more than food (really?)…and, when we share it with girlfriends, and for purposes of this post, like the Swirl Girls, then it is really priceless. Some of us have known each other for years while others, are getting to know each other very fast. Here we were trying to figure out which table would be the best one. Right after Memorial week-end we had the place to ourselves since we arrived early. We did not want a big table. We like to be cozy in order to get that conversation going. The group had just gone to watch the Book Club, if you get my drift.
The majority of us had not yet dined at Our Harvest. This restaurant located at 1106 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE 19944, opened last year. Every day, at 5:00 p.m., you can come in and experience a way of eating that has become so popular in the U. S. Telephone is 302-581-0377. No reservations are accepted. The website is http://www.ourharvestde.com.
As the season progresses please have in mind when you would like to eat. You have to have a plan because it gets crowded at the Delaware Beaches. If you arrive and there is a wait, you could have cocktails, relaxing in their bar or in any of the very comfortable leather sofas.
There is an open concept kitchen. You really can see how the kitchen is running. I have to tell you that I probably should have come to try Our Harvest last year. I love their sister restaurant, Liquid Assets, in Ocean City, MD, and I did not want to like this one more. Guess what? They are completely different.
The menu was presented and our server knew the menu well. She explained the concept of eating small plates and shareables. At that moment all we wanted was some wine. Having watched the Book Club, wine was very much consumed by the characters. It was time to relax. The wine that you see at the table was from South Africa. A full bodied Merlot called Immortal Hero.
At first you are a bit overwhelmed because you, actually, do not know how much to order for the table. And, we all have our likes and dislikes. We managed to do a good job and we were all very pleased with how the evening was progressing. Could not believe Jane Fonda looks that good at 81… I know, I know.
We all decided to have a small plate to start our dining experience. Every time I see the offering of a Grilled Caesar Salad, I order it. Years ago I had it at a restaurant in Hagerstown, Maryland. Since then, a few have gotten close at how good that one tasted so I wanted to see how this one would be, more so because it had Boquerones which are white anchovies. They are very mild and usually they are marinated in vinegar. It gives the salad a kick. I will have to say that this Caesar was excellent.
Others ordered the Salt Roasted Beets & Two Cheeses. Served on a wooden plank it had whipped ricotta, Stracciatella, local greens, black pepper and beet vinaigrette. Stracciatella cheese is produced from Italian buffalo milk in the southern Italian region of Apulia. They use a stretching and shredding technique. This particular small plate could have been shared by two people.
We ordered the Spring Harvest Flatbread. A crispy crust filled with local peas, ramps, morel mushrooms, local asparagus, ricotta, gruyere mornay, green garlic pesto and crispy capers. Ramps are a special type of wild onion, found in eastern Canada and U.S. And a Gruyere mornay is a bechamel sauce that has Gruyere cheese added to it. It was delicious but to tell you the truth we probably ordered too much. Not that we did not eat it, by the way.
“Friendship is a delicious meal to be shared off one large plate.” So, we decided to order our large plates. This particular dish I truly loved. It was called the Vegan Feast. It was a whole wood fire roasted head of cauliflower, benne cashew crumb, and a lemon garlic vegan aioli. At first we thought it was cheese but it was the benne cashew crumb. Cashews are lower in fat than other nuts. You can find online a lot of recipes for this vegan seed.
A very popular dish at Our Harvest is a whole Amish air chilled chicken…Arnold Palmer brine, (sweet tea and lemonade brine chicken, I believe), wood fired with lemon and rosemary. Liquid Assets has an amazing chicken, as well. Both chickens are completely different and delicious in more ways than one. We ordered TWO.
Needless to say, no need for dessert. We decided that definitely we would be back. Thanks to our server and also to the hostess that so graciously explained to me how the restaurant worked.
And so I end my post with this quote from John Lanchester….”Hospitality is central to the restaurant business, yet it’s a hard idea to define precisely. Most, it involves being nice to people and making them feel welcome. You notice it when it’s there, and you particularly notice it when it isn’t. A single significant lapse in this area can be your dominant impression of an entire meal.”
Until next time….
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