November 6th, 2012
This Flag of Honor was created from the name of those who perished in the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Now and forever it represents their immortality.
Today we get to vote. Citizens over 18 years of age are able to cast a vote. We take this vote for granted. But, don’t do that so quickly. It took years to get to this point.
Our right to vote in this country defines our Nation as a Democracy.
I have been told…well, our vote does not make a difference. So many people in other countries are fighting and dying for the right to vote and to an election. Don’t underestimate the power of your vote.
Four years ago, I was not able to vote on that election. After telling everyone to vote, I was out of the state of Delaware, where I vote, when my family had an emergency. I called and tried every which way to see how we could cast our vote. It was not to be.
Today, I am so ready….I cannot wait to vote. No hell or high water would keep me away from this one!!
Have a good day!!
May 13th, 2012
I was leaving downtown Rehoboth Beach yesterday when passing through Silver Lake I noticed them, enjoying one gorgeous day.
Silver Lake is part of the Delaware Birding Trail. A variety of gulls and many waterbirds are found. It is a refuge for all of them.
At the Delaware Beaches, there are 3 lakes; 2 in Rehoboth Beach. Lake Gerar and Silver Lake are partly fresh water and partly salt water lakes. Lake Comegys is in Dewey Beach.
These 3 fresh water lakes are the closest to the ocean anywhere in the country.
Seeing this family….was just “picture” perfect. Happy Mother’s Day!!
March 10th, 2012
I don’t know what made me think of writing about El Yunque this a.m. I guess it was because I do have friends from the Delaware Beaches that are visiting the Isla del Encanto. Most of them are on the west coast of Puerto Rico; a little surfing, perhaps?
I think you take things for granted when you live in a certain city, town, etc. etc. That’s probably what I did when I lived there. The Island is beautiful and offers so much, but is in much need of tender loving care.
I kept thinking that no trip to Puerto Rico is complete without a visit to El Yunque National Forest. It is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest System.
From San Juan is only 25 miles…hmm traffic can be hectic. From the west corner of the Island, definitely a bit more. Highways in Puerto Rico have improved tremendously, though.
El Yunque is located on Puerto Rico Road 191, in Rio Grande. It is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The website is www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque.
El Yunque is a tropical paradise with plants and animals only indigenous to the Island. You might be lucky to find the elusive Puerto Rican Parrot, or the Puerto Rican Lizard called Cuckoo, which is identified by its long tail and reddish underbelly.
It is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. Hiking Trails like La Mina, which is one of six interconnecting trails totaling 24 miles.
El Yunque Hiking Trail is more challenging and can get muddy, it’s a rainforest, afterall. You will be hiking to its peak which is 3,496 feet high.
You can bird watch on the Caimitillo Trail. There are 50 different kinds of birds and 50 different native orchids. You can detour from El Yunque Hiking Trail into this trail.
If you want to have more outdoor excitement then try the Yunque Zipline Adventure. It is 70 feet above the ground at about 40 miles per hour. You can call 787-242-3368 or visit www.yunkezipline.wordpress.com.
And if you want to push yourself even more then rappelling with Aventuras Tierra Adentro might be the thing for you. You start with a hike across a monkey bridge, followed by a crash course in rappelling. It is a challenging course that involves vigorous hiking and climbing. Look at it this way, you will be flinging yourself between trees, swinging from 30 feet in the air, dropping into icy water, and finish it off by throwing yourself off 30 foot high cliffs. Okay? You want more info.? Call 787-766-0470 or, visit www.aventuraspr.com.
Rappelling is a technique that allows you to do a controlled descent down a rope from a cliff.
If you are one of those that do not need all that excitement above described, then check out the Yokahu Tower Observation Point , which rises at 1,600 feet. 98 steps to the top; you will be rewarded with a 360 degree panoramic view of the forest and the northeastern coast.
Take a break at La Coca Falls. An opportunity for a Kodak moment. The water crashes 85 feet down a sheer rock face. You can climb those rocks too for your perfect picture.
 La Coca I know my Puerto Rican friends will probably not pay attention to this post; being there and done that “kinda” thing…but, for those visiting, it is worth it.
Then, before you leave hit the Kiosks in Luquillo…frituras, pastelillos, alcapurrias, tacos de jueves…yumm, is all I can say. Wash it down with coconut water…
Have a good one!!
Note: Information for my post was taken from Go Magazine.
December 17th, 2011
Tiramisu is an Italian dessert that uses Ladyfingers dipped in coffee. The layers in between are filled with a mixture of whipped eggs, mascarpone cheese, a little liquor and a sprinkle of cocoa on top.
My goodness, there are so many varieties!! I like the traditional one the best. Some still follow the classics; others have evolved from those methods and have different additions.
For the person that has to eat gluten free, then there is the question of the ladyfingers. No way.
Gluten intolerance or sensitivity is one of the most common conditions at present. Celiac disease is an allergy. Both have to approach food in a very different way. No wheat or its derivatives.
Adhering to a gluten free diet is the only way to go and the only remedy. Once the diet is started the results are amazing; you start feeling so much better; tests results will show that, as well.
The most important thing to know is that it is not a fad diet. People with no gluten issues that follow the gluten free diet do feel better; I do.
Some time ago I found a company called Schar. It is from Europe. Their gluten free products are fantastic. You can find these products at Giant in Rehoboth Beach. I am sure you can also find them in nature stores, as well.
They do make ladyfingers that are gluten free. In the back of the box there was a recipe for Tiramisu. Ha…finally!!
This recipe is so easy. No cooking is necessary. At this time of the year, it can be made ahead of time. Everyone will love it.
Sweet endings; dessert. It is the final chapter of a meal…I love a good ending.
I always change a recipe, making it my own. In the ingredients on the box it said 3 egg yolks. But, in the preparation it said 4 eggs. I figured it was a typo and just used the 3 egg yolks.
Another ingredient I changed a bit was the sugar. Instead of 4 tablespoons, I only used 3.
It said to use rum but I used white wine. There are gluten free rums; I just did not have any in the house.
The glass container could have been a bit larger. I had some of the mascarpone mixture overflowing,
Other than that, it was really good.
Tiramisu
3 egg yolks
3 egg whites
3 tablespoons of sugar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese
2 tablespoons white wine
A whole package of Schar Ladyfingers
1 cup of brewed espresso or coffee
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
Beat the egg yolks with sugar; then add the mascarpone cheese and the wine.
Beat the egg whites until stiff and carefully fold into the mixture.
Dip ladyfingers in the coffee. Arrange them closely together in a flat glass or ceramic dish.
Cover them with half of the mascarpone mixture, then add another layer of ladyfingers and top with another layer of the mascarpone mixture.
Sprinkle with cocoa powder and refrigerate for at least 4 – 6 hours.
It makes about 6 servings.
A little tricky cutting it but it is very delicious and light…..well it does have plenty of calories.
Note: Schar’s Ladyfingers are not quite as big as regular ones. If you want to buy 2 packages, do so and add a few more. I just used one package, though.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later. You can find Schar and AboutMyBeaches on Facebook.
December 8th, 2011
Every time I make this recipe I get those “ooohs and aaahs” you want to hear. It is, actually, pretty good. For lunch? For dinner? You decide.
It is really a healthy recipe; light and ready in no time. Great for a crowd; you can double it, or for just a few.
Hope you like it. Here it goes:
Asian Chicken Slaw
1 cup low calorie sesame-ginger salad dressing (I used Wish-Bone’s Light Asian with Sesame & Ginger Vinaigrette)
1 lb. chicken tenderloins or boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1 can (14.5 ounces) Mandarin oranges
1/2 lb. sugar snap peas, sliced
1 cup fresh basil, cut into thin strips
2 bunches scallions, trimmed and chopped
1 bag (16 ounces) cole slaw mix
1/8 tsp. salt (optional)
1/8 tsp. black pepper
Combine 1/2 cup of the dressing with the chicken in a large resealable plastic bag. Let it stand for about 20 minutes.
Toast almonds in a non-stick skillet, over medium-high heat for a few minutes. Watch them so they don’t burn. You want to obtain a light brown color.
Remove chicken from marinade and add to that same skillet or use another one. Cook over medium-high heat until the chicken is nicely done, turning a few times. It might take about 7 minutes or so. You want it cooked through. Then, cut into bite-size pieces.
Drain Mandarin oranges, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Whisk juice into remaining 1/2 cup salad dressing.
In a large salad bowl, toss cabbage, sugar snap peas, basil, scallions, cole slaw mix, salt, pepper and chicken with dressing.
Add Mandarin oranges and almonds; gently stir to distribute well. Serve and enjoy.
If you would like more dressing…then you know what to do….yes, make it your own…..talk to you later….
July 9th, 2011
It is a typical summer day in Florida; rain and more rain. But guess what? I went to Publix, the local supermarket. Strolling around the different isles, thinking how nice the snow birds are gone. I don’t consider myself a snowbird. I come to Delray a few days here or there, at the most 10 days at a time.
Something caught my attention at the produce stand; green bunches. I wondered if they were quenepas. I have not had that fruit in probably 30 plus years. It said they were mamoncillos from the Dominican Republic. I had forgotten that was one of the other names given to this tropical fruit. I took some and had to open one right then and there. I was not mistaken; the taste of this fruit brought me back to my years growing up in the Island of Puerto Rico. The street vendors used to sell them in paper bags. Fear had been instilled in all of us children because the fruit is, actually, very slippery. Definitely not for unsupervised kids.
Quenepas are also called Spanish limes. They might look like a small lime but that’s where the similarities stop. It is a tropical fruit of South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and some parts of Africa and the Pacific.
Quenepas grow in bunches. Summer is their season. In Puerto Rico, the quenepas are from the town of Ponce. I think my cousins, who lived in Ponce had a tree in their backyard. Maybe if they read this post they will confirm it.
In describing the fruit, I think the best I can come up with is, that it is a cross between a lychee and a lime; maybe. It has a good layer of skin. The way to eat it? Just crack it with your teeth then put it in your mouth and suck around the large seed. Sorry, but that’s how you do it.
The pulp can be tart, tangy and usually, so deliciously sweet.
Quenepas stain. It is a brown, ugly stain, so watch it.
Another interesting fact about quenepas is that they are used to make Bili, which is a drink that ferments rum, preferably pitorro (Puerto Rican moonshine). Bili is indigenous to the islands of Vieques and Culebra. Both of these islands are located between Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Back on April 13, 2010 I wrote a post about this drink and a few others. If you would like to see it, just click on the month of April, 2010 and scroll down to the 13th.
Still enjoying the quenepas as I write this post….waiting from my brother, Miguel….we will see if he is surprised, or not….or does not care at all….talk to you later….have a good one!!
Update: Miguel just arrived bearing from his yard the most amazing mangoes, which are the next best thing to quenepas. He screamed when he saw the quenepas; many years have passed since he had seen them, as well.
May 7th, 2011
We really had a gorgeous day here in the Delmarva Peninsula. When Spring shows its colors, it is truly beautiful. Definitely, my favorite times of the year are Spring and Fall. A day like today, I could take it every day.
I got an e-mail from the Delray GreenMarket and it was so cute. It was about the reasons why Moms deserve their own Holiday.
She brought you into this world — through her own body.
For at least 2 years, she changed your dirty diapers.
Her first instinct was and is always to stick up for you.
Her lullabies, and later her lectures, could put you to sleep. Isn’t that the truth!!
“When you’re a mother, you’ll understand” turned out to be true.
Her chauffeur services and there were many, were first-rate.
She cooked your favorite meal when you came hom from college. Cooked for your friends too.
She did your laundry when you came home from college.
 The golf course looked fantastic!! Two words; homemade pie.
Mom does the worrying for everyone in the family!!
She taught you to play fair and watch your mouth.
She is there 24/7!! That’s my own comment.
So, to all of you who are Mothers in many ways; an aunt, a mentor, a grandmother, a stepmother, a teacher, I wish you a great day.
March 2nd, 2011
Risotto is usually served as a primo, or first course. I like it as a main course; yes, it is pretty filling. Usually, I like to cook it when I have had enough chicken, beef or seafood. Served with a green salad, it does make a nice meal. Add your favorite wine; and then it is not just a nice meal, but the perfect meal.
This Italian dish of rice cook in broth in a creamy consistency is also perfect on chilly nights. That is has a lot of carbs? Well, that’s true; still good, though.
Arborio is the rice used for risottos. It is a short gran rice, named after the town of Arborio. The round grains are firm, creamy, and chewy. Also, this rice is used in rice pudding.
The other night I fixed a very simple risotto with a little Asiago cheese, green onions and peas. I know, it is sort of a pain to stir the rice until the broth evaporates, but it is worth it.
A Simple Risotto
1 cup uncooked Arborio rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup green onions
3 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
1 cup small peas
1 cup Asiago cheese, grated very thin
Saute onion and butter on medium heat for a few minutes; I did 5 minutes.
Add rice and also stir for a minutes, as well.
Stir in 1 cup of broth and keep on stirring until the broth is absorbed. If the medium heat is too high then lower it a bit. You want the rice to keep absorbing the broth; be patience. Cooking cannot be rushed.
Gradually, keep adding the rest of the broth, 1/2 cup to 1 cup at a time. I did it 1/2 cup at a time. You want the broth completely absorbed before adding the next 1/2 cup.
Taste it and if you feel it needs more broth, well you know what to do. Then add 1/2 cup of the Asiago cheese and stir. You can add more, if you want to.
Then the peas should be added. Stir it all together.
Serve and garnish with more Asiago cheese. Add a salad and you will, definitely, have a meal.
Note: Serves 4. By the way, this recipe is gluten free.
Enjoy and make it your own….talk to you later….
 
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