Sunday, August 9, 2009

NFL Salsa

We call it NFL Salsa.....because we usually end up opening a jar while watching the games.....making the salsa is an activity the the whole family likes to get involved with...There is nothing that compares with the taste of salsa that is made from tomatoes and peppers from your own garden. Ahhh, the flavors of summer in the middle of the winter...We grow Big Boy and Better Boy tomatoes as far the peppers we have Cheyenne, Chili and Jalapeno


Also picked up a couple Spanish onions.......only need one for this batch


The canning jars go into the dishwasher to be sanitized

Cut out the stems......and then quarter the tomatoes

Then with a small knife I cut off the skins

Then the meat of the tomatoes goes in the pot

The red Cheyenne peepers are the hottest.....I made the mistake once of rubbing my eye while chopping them

We add some sweet corn to balance the heat

The jalapeno and chili peppers get deseeded

Then into the chopper

chopped fine and then in the pot

Spanish onion chopped and added to the mix

to help thicken things up I add some tomato paste

Two cups of lemon juice......for canning this important to help preserve the salsa

because the salsa is hot enough with the peppers I use the mild mix


some minced garlic

oregano spice

Then on the stove top to simmer for 30 minutes

fill the jars

be sure to wipe the rim for a good seal

time for the bath water needs to be about an inch above the jars

Bring to a boil for 20 minutes

then remove jars from the bath

let cool then check tops to make sure seal is good

Nine jars from the first batch......we should get one more batch out of the garden before the summer is over.

Friday, August 7, 2009

OC 2009 Part 4

To days morning bike ride was just Marissa and Daddy not very crowded on the boardwalk this morning Marissa likes to play chicken with the on coming bikers........after the ride Monica and I went over and set up our spot on the beach then we picked up some Egg McMuffins for everyone......we took our time getting ready, lotion suits and all that stuff.....the cooler was packed with tuna sandwiches, watermelon and various refreshments......then we started to get in the car Monica was the last one out and from the porch she said to me "You have the key right?" to which I replied "no you do right?"

Yep we were locked out.........there is no front desk or real estate office......the keys got mailed to us......Monica goes into panic mode while I slowly walk around the house......I realize if I jump on the roof of the utility shed I could leap from there maybe to the deck of our bedroom (SpiderDad, SpiderDad) "Hey Monica did you lock the door of our bedroom" "Yes" she replied with her voice starting to crack....okay so I thought this can't be the first time this has happen there has got to be a "hide a key" around here some where.......so I calmly check the places I would hide one and within five minutes hidden key found Dad was the hero

It was a nice sunny day at the beach today......needed the umbrellas



The Girl just loves to pose





Then we went home got cleaned up.......

Then it was off to Fish Tales .....this is was one of our favorite places its very family oriented .....always a long wait but they have a big pen for the kids to play in .......and because it is on the bay side you get the best sunsets



Crab Quesadilla.......is there enough meat or what

Thai Shrimp

Fresh catch of the day (Mahi Mahi) Fish Tacos

and the Sun Set with a Pirate ship full of kiddos coming in

Back at the house Mack had time for one more catch

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

OC 2009 Part 3

Woke up to a cloudy overcast day.....we decided to make today our shopping and mini-golf day



We decided to let the kids sleep in.......so there would be no early morning bike rides today.





This is the balcony off our bedroom......and also proof that Monica did go on this vacation



We take our putt putt pretty serious......no do overs, 6 stroke limit per hole, and 1 stroke penalty if your ball leaves the Green.......Monica won I came in 2nd just three strokes back, Monica's Mom 3rd, Mack and Marissa 4th and 5th






Golf made us a little hungry so we went off toDuffy's Tavern for lunch it was next to a cute Mexican place called Tequila Mockingbird, but Monica's Mom does not care much for Mexican food so Duffys it was.....its a nice Irish pub style place with good burgers.........I don't gamble much at all, but some times on vacation I like to play a game of Keno......I asked Monica for $4 so I could play two games......the numbers I played were 11 and 22 for both games with the bonus.....well I hit on both games with the bonus and won $120......So lunch tasted a little better and I did not feel so bad about losing to Monica at Putt Putt



For dessert we headed over to Ice Cream castle for some treats......Monica got a chocolate dipped cone




We did a little souvenir shopping and the back to the house for some more fishing



This was one ugly fish


Mike Fiore whom I work for has a home near where we are staying .....he stopped by for a visit and to invite us to go fishing on his boat later in the week......the best thing about a visit from Mike is he always brings some fantastic wine.


Monica's Aunt Deb stopped by to visit also........then Aunt Deb, Monica's Mom and the kids went out for dinner.....while Monica and I shared some wine on the porch instead of dinner.



tomorrow its back to the beach......and the "ut oh, we are locked out of our house" panic