October 31st, 2012
Leave it to the young ones to put smiles on our faces and make merry on this last day of October. We all needed that. Sadly, others in the U.S. could not celebrate Halloween. The kids in Rehoboth Beach were so happy….I am so glad I got candy at the last minute.
I was not sure if the kids were going to be trick or treating. There I was checking Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Still amazed that we made out so well. How lucky!!
It was 5:55 p.m. when I found out trick or treating would be starting at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Like a mad woman I took off for CVS. I thought no trick or treaters were going to come. Last year just a few came.
6:05 p.m. the first door bell. Addy was barking away. She did that for the duration of every ring. This year, there were plenty of kids in our neighborhood going from door to door.
Witches, ghosts, policemen, bears, you name it. From less than 2 years of age to a couple that probably were too old to trick or treat.
I hoped I had enough candy. I did. I even bought candy I did not like, just in case I got stuck with it. I did not want to eat any.
For the most part, every time they got candy I asked to take their picture. So….meet my trick or treaters.
And let me tell you…those little ones were pros, already.
   
All the next kid wanted to do was ring the doorbell…he loved it. Finally, he looked up.
The Bear wanted to see Addy, my dog. Finally, he gave up.
 
And this little bear’s sister thought I needed more decorations. What did she mean by that? I thought my entry way looked the part. All kinds of leaves and sad looking ferns after Sandy. I don’t know what she was even talking about.
This group sang a whole song.
And when my last trick or treaters arrived, I burst out laughing. Look at this little boy’s face!! It was priceless!!!!!
But, what else is there to say but,….I hope you had a…
October 31st, 2012
Rehoboth Beach, Delaware is a strong little coastal town. To take a storm they way it did, took guts. With the help of the town and the community, it almost looks like it just went through a bad rainy day, for the most part.
Addy, my dog, kept looking out. Not sure if for squirrels; she hates them. Or, she was wondering if the nightmare of an evening was over yet.
Walking through my neighborhood with Addy, I found plenty of leaves; the ground was soaked. There are neighborhoods in Rehoboth Beach where only residents can go in. Clean up is going fast.
Last Friday I bought some pumpkins for the front of the house. I stacked a smaller pumpkin on top of a larger one. Then arranged the others the best way I could. Once the storm hit I thought they would be taking off like projectiles. Guess what? All that wind and rain, and they did not move. Here is the picture. They are exactly the way I had arranged them.
I have a guest staying overnight. He is my cousin. He is on his way to Southern New Jersey to work for FEMA. Months of cases to be processed. So, not having had the pleasure of stonegrilling, Dos Locos was our choice for the evening.
Dos Locos is a very casual and fun restaurant located at 208 Rehoboth Avenue. Tel. 302-227-3353. Website? http://www.doslocos.com. It is also a locals favorite in downtown Rehoboth Beach. A festive atmosphere, for sure. The restaurant has a gluten free menu, as well.
But, tonight, Rehoboth Beach, was quiet. You could not tell that a hurricane had just passed us by. Last Sunday, Dos Locos made the news when it caught the attention of a few, with its “No Candy 4 Sandy”.
A few drinks were ordered.
The warm chips and salsa arrived at our table.
And then, the stonegrilling began. The stone are heated to over 750 degrees. They are, definitely, hot and will stay hot.
Scallops
Blanco & Negro Sesame Encrusted Ahi Tuna
My choice was the Sauteed Pulled Duck Fajitas….I really do like them. Full of flavor. Actually, a pretty large portion.
And, I forgot to take a picture of the pumpkin flan….it was gone in not time.
Note: Dos Locos offers daily features, like a $5 weekday Mexican lunch. Every day there is a special going on. Tomorrow, Wednesday, is $5 off any Fajita and $5 House Lime Margaritas. Thursday, which is a favorite in my household, is the $10 Stonegrill Seafood plus side, half-priced bottles of White Wine, and $2 off any glass of White Wine….check the website to find what else is going on.
And to you, Dos Locos….thanks so much for such an attentive service. Great talking to you.
October 29th, 2012
Cooking is therapy. “Making meals can soothe jangle nerves, heal broken hearts, and cure boredom, insomnia, and anxiety. Fattening or not, it’s effective.” rosemary black
Emotionally and physically tired after preparing for Sandy. So many pictures and posts. Sharing, commenting….could not get off the computer. Well, maybe a little. Then, right back on it. I did not want to miss a thing.
Since the whole state was housebound, I decided to start cooking, in the event the electricity would go out. Even though we have had our share of flickers, nothing has happened yet. But, the night is young and stormy.
For Sandy I made a Cheddar, Potato & Corn Chowder, Egg Salad, Potato Salad, Roasted Peppers, Roasted Asparagus and a final dish of black beans and rice.
But, guess what? I really cheated. In a perfect world I should have bought dried black beans. I should have soaked them overnight and then proceeded to cook them. But, in a perfect world, we would not have been hit by the perfect storm, either.
So these beans are A Little Bit of this & A Little Bit of that! For many Latins, beans; red or black are comfort food. Just like potatoes.
2 cans Progreso Black Beans….cheating!!
1 slice bacon, chopped (make sure it is gluten free if you are following this recipe as a gluten free recipe.)
1 medium onion, chopped
half of a green pepper, chopped
1 clove of garlic, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil, or even a bit more
a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
a dash or two of Tabasco
In a large frying pan, put 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Add, bacon, onion, green pepper, garlic. Cook until done for a few minutes, while stirring.
Add black beans, and bay leaf. Continue cooking and stirring for about 6 minutes. Add the rest of the olive oil, the apple cider vinegar, the sugar and the Tabasco.
Adjust seasonings. And, I mean you can add more olive oil, vinegar, Tabasco. Just let them cook for another 10 minutes on low.
Serve over rice, Puerto Rican style, or mix them with rice, Cuban style.
This is one of those recipes that calls for “making it your own”. Add your style to it, and enjoy.
October 28th, 2012
What happened? Not enough treats; we had to pick a trick? What a way to finish what started a beautiful week-end in Rehoboth Beach.
By now the whole nation and beyond know that Rehoboth Beach is located in the state of Delaware and not in North Carolina. Our residents, using social media did not keep quiet.
I don’t know if we have been too complacent, but I decided to go and visit downtown Rehoboth Beach this morning. I wanted to see how this town was reacting to such an impending weather system.
I decided to go to Cullen Street. This street is in Dewey Beach, right before entering Rehoboth Beach. What a surprised I got! The water, the waves, and the foam took me by surprise. Did not expect this scene at all. Scary, really.
 Looking north towards Rehoboth Beach My next stop was going to be Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach. This is a waterfowl sanctuary. Silver Lake, along with Lake Comegys and Lake Gerar, is one of the 3 fresh water lakes closest to the ocean than anywhere in the country. During the bird migration this is a place of rest for these birds on their long journey. The homes you see on this picture has the best advantage; ocean front and the lake, as well.
Rehoboth Avenue was crowded. I guess our visitors had decided to spend the day afterall. Sea Witch festivities were cancelled for today. Practically everyone had a camera on hand. People were walking on the Boardwalk and yes, Dolles was opened, among other restaurants.
Again, I was amazed to see the water so close to the edge of the Boardwalk. The storm was not even here. What would happen then? Those waves were gigantic; the sea foam was everywhere.
The Waves!!
You could tell merchants were now on high gear. The City of Rehoboth Beach was picking up all the white benches.
If you cannot fight them, you join them. That’s exactly what I did as I went into Crystal for brunch. Crystal Restaurant is a local’s hangout; visitors love it just as much. It was full. Never in a hundred years you would have thought that a storm was coming our way.
Check my Spanish Omelet. Their portions are so big.
And, of course, I had to have scrapple. Crispy and well done it was. Believe me I did not ask for the home fries; they just brought them to me.
I was going to go back home immediately, but I had one more stop. I drove towards the north side of town, just north of the Boardwalk. There they were!! At a distance the WWII Towers stood tall and taking it all in. They have watched these beaches for so many years, checking for submarines out at sea and now I hope they protect us from Sandy, the perfect storm.
On a good day, and closer to them, this summer, this is what they looked like.
I guess I’ll be talking to you later…be safe.
October 27th, 2012
An impending hurricane upon us and we were playing games. Did you know that Southern Delaware is referred to as “slower lower”? We take our time when doing things. We will get to them; not in a rush, though.
With that thought in mind, I think the Weather Channel was so surprised we were not moving faster. Well, we had things to attend; Sea Witch and a fundraising event for the Rehoboth Beach Fire Department were on the top of the list. And, even though Sunday is not going to be a good day for Sea Witch, they at least got 2 days of it.
I had to stop to see what they were doing at Tomato Sunshine. Remember them? I have been putting tons of pumpkin and mum pictures. Tomato Sunshine is located at 19791 Coastal Highway (Rt. 1) in Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 302-226-9533. Website? http://www.tomatosunshine.com.
Once again, they brought a smile to my face.
Carve a pumpkin for $10. Proceeds going to the Rehoboth Beach Fire Department.
Then, they were getting them up on the tower for a lighting in the evening.
It was family time and the guys were loving the bowling with pumpkins. Two bowling lanes.
 
The little ones were having fun too.
And these two? They were so funny and silly!!
Enjoying one beautiful day in Rehoboth Beach, regardless of what is waiting for us in the next few days. Talk to you later.
October 27th, 2012
The weather is, definitely, calling for some soup. This Cream of Zucchini is easy and it does keep well. Guess what? It is gluten free!!
It does not call for cream. Once the soup is blended, it thickens. You’ll see.
Cream of Zucchini
2 lbs. zucchini (about 4 medium size)
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon olive oil or a bit more, if you like
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups chicken broth (I used Pacific Foods gluten free, but there are many on the market; check your local grocery store.)
1/2 cup packed basil leaves
Scrub the zucchini and then chop. Do not peel.
Cook onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes in a soup pot.
Add cut zucchini and salt and cook 5 minutes. Add broth and simmer 15 minutes.
Stir in basil. Puree in a blender.
Adjust seasonings and consistency. If it is too thick for your liking, just add more broth.
Serve plain, or add your preferred garnishes.
I sprinkled some Tabasco for color and added kick.
Just enjoy it and make it your own!! Talk to you later.
October 27th, 2012
I got a little concerned when I woke up early this morning and upon turning on the weather channel…they were broadcasting from Rehoboth Beach, North Carolina. Hmm…how could that be? I went to bed thinking I lived in Delaware.
I guess we are so small on the map that they forget….
Needed to find out. Off to the beach. I found the Stephanie Abrams and Al Roker on Baltimore Avenue and the Beach. They were not here for the Sea Witch Festival, that I knew.
  
The Boardwalk was waking up. Walkers were starting their morning routines.
The sun was just rising. The beach looked beautiful.
Cake Break brought cupcakes.
There was a crowd.
Still the beach caught my attention. A little rough with the surf breaking right by the shore.
Guess what? The weather had an update with Rehoboth Beach located in the state of Delaware.
Talk to you later…I am going home to have coffee!!
October 26th, 2012
What a difference!! The weather today in Rehoboth Beach is like night and day. Gorgeous to say the least. It was also the perfect day to kick off the Sea Witch festivities. I was going to do so with a “Magical History Tour” of downtown Rehoboth Beach.
First things first. A stop at The Bake Shoppe, located on Rehoboth Ave. A little coffee and a most delicious pumpkin muffin. If you are in Rehoboth, please stop by. This particular one was crunchy on top and so warm, moist and full of flavor. Coffee was great too.
I was waiting outside with the others, when the Jolly Trolley Bus arrived. The Jolly Trolley originated in 1970. It celebrates and shares the sights, smells, colors and characteristics of the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach resort area. The Jolly Trolley is also a year round charter service. Please call 302-227-1197, and 302-249-1605 for information. You can also visit http://www.jollytrolley.com.
Christine Hastings, Jolly Trolley, Vice President, and I believe part owner, was going to be our Driver. George Palmer was going to be our Tour Guide.
I went into the bus last and, of course, a picture was taken of my fellow Jolly Riders!! Guess what? I did not know one single person.
Since I started my blog over 3 years ago, I have learned so much about our area. Believe me, Rehoboth Beach and the Delaware Beaches, in general, are a great place to live. That’s why they are so easy to promote. I don’t take them for granted.
In order to know how far Rehoboth Beach has come, you need to unlock that past. The Rehoboth Beach Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated “to encouraging and promoting public knowledge of and participation in the preservation of the history, culture, architecture and special character of Rehoboth Beach”. It is not a big museum but the information will show you the progression of a town that is also known as the Nation’s Summer Capital.
The Rehoboth Beach Museum is located by the roundabout, adjacent to the Visitors Center and the Chamber of Commerce, at 511 Rehoboth Avenue. Website? http://www.rehobothbeachmuseum.org. Exhibits, programs and entertainment are part of the Museum, as well. Check the website for upcoming events.
George Palmer was the perfect Tour Guide. His information was full of history given in a simple way and adding local color.
We stopped at the Anna Hazzard Museum. This is one of the original “tent” buildings dating to the 1870s. It reflects the early history of Rehoboth Beach.
Mr. Palmer told us that we used to grow a lot of peaches in Delaware. Delaware, afterall, is an agricultural state. Chickens? Well, he told us that Delaware sells more chickens than anyone in the world.
The magnolia trees are beautiful in this area. This is the farthest north they grow.
And, we started laughing when he asked if anyone had worn wool bathing suits? Well, he had. They were itchy too. There was a time that men had to wear tops too at the beach.
Also, funny was when he mentioned that residents in Lewes consider Lewes with history, but Rehoboth Beach? Oh well, they just have a past.
A drive by parallel to the beach. I took this picture from the inside of the bus. The ocean looked so pretty with the sun’s reflection.
We went by the Village Improvement Association of Rehoboth Beach. At present, it is being rebuilt. This association, also known as the VIA is a”charitable, non-profit organization, founded in 1909. It promotes the interests, improvements and progress of the Rehoboth Beach community. They perform charitable and civic work in and around the Rehoboth Beach area. Its member are women of diverse interests, talents and backgrounds. And, Mr. Palmer said that if you want to have something done in Rehoboth Beach, these are the women that can make it happen. Hmmm…by the way, his wife belongs to it. For more information, please visit http://www.rehobothbeachvia.org.
I recommend this tour to anyone visiting or to some of our locals and natives that might need a refresher course on Downtown Rehoboth Beach. It is only 40 minutes long; you’ll still have time for the beach, shopping and eating.
After the tour I continued walking around Downtown Rehoboth Beach. The shops were getting ready for a busy week-end….I hope Sandy lets visitors enjoy Sea Witch.
A stop at the Rehoboth Beach Post Office…the postal workers were ready!!
The beach looked gorgeous. A sunny and clear day.
The Boardwalk was again, filling up with people soaking up the sun.
And, then my last stop was Lake Gerar. Autumn at its best!! Lake Gerar, along with Silver Lake and Lake Comegys, is one of the 3 fresh water lakes closest to the ocean than anywhere in the country. These lakes are the jewels of Rehoboth Beach!!
I almost forgot…thanks for the water, Jolly Trolley!! Have a great week-end!!
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