Category: Dear Dad

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olde port fish and seafood

Karen and me at the Olde Port Fish Market at the Avila Beach Pier
Karen and me at the Olde Port Fish Market at the Avila Beach Pier... CLICK on the picture to visit them!

My daughters have really spoiled me this holiday season… we have baked and cooked our way through the holidays! Fortunately, seafood is dietetic? Sure it is!!!! It’s funny how you can live some place for so long and miss some of the more fun — culinarily speaking — places to dine or shop. One of my favorite seafood places in the world is the Olde Port inn and we would often go there to celebrate a special occasion… but never did I realize there was their market right next door!

Oh yeah... OYSTERS... that's what I am talking about!

Some of my favorite seafood places are “Jimmy’s” in Boston (unfortunately closed) and the San Jacinto Inn at the battlegrounds in Houston ( original burned down)… but there is still the  Ole Port Inn of Avila Beach, California and the  wholesale market next door!

Guess what I am doing tonight?

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Merry Christmas and the joys of the season

Karla's Christmas good wishes and thoughts
Karla's drawings for this year's Christmas

Much happens around our house during the holidays… especially a lot of culinary magic! However, with all of our blessings we want to thank all of our men and women in service to our country… and those not able to leave the hospitals at this time. Our thoughts are with you all!

Tiramisu
Kristin and Karen made individual Tiramisu for Christmas Day! Is this a new family tradition?? CLICK the picture above for Tiramisu.

Lots of baking today…a time to spend with family and give thanks.

Enjoy the day!

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revolutionary eggnog

eggnog
Nothing says Christmas or this time of the season as Eggnog and nobody made it better than George Washington! CLICK on the picture for the recipe

When my daughters returned home for the holidays, they had many things that they wanted to make… one of these was the Eggnog recipe handed to us from the days of George Washington.

Although this recipe is generally made with alcoholic beverages, one can simply leave them out for a less challenging version.

Although I leave the spices up to you here is the super secret spice blend I use for our eggnog that we made yesterday…  now, as for flavorings,  I added about a teaspoon and a half of the following mixture to the egg yolks during preparation: nutmeg (4 parts), cloves (1 part), ginger (2 parts), allspice (1 part), mace ( 1 part), cinnamon ( 1 part) and (1 part) cardamon.

The eggnog traditionally has to sit in the refrigerator for a few days to allow for the spices to fully integrate with the other ingredients... however, a short cut would be to allow the spices to soak in some of your alcoholic ingredients for a day or so to help extract the flavorings!

enjoy the season!

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enjoy the season

Every year for some time now, Karla has designed a wonderful little card for us incorporating a few real pictures and her drawings of  ‘us.’ Enjoy this wonderful time of the year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.