Monica and Michael

NFL Salsa

2009-08-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

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.

OC 2009 Part 4

2009-08-07T16:48:00.001-07:00

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

OC 2009 Part 3

2009-08-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

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

OC 2009 Part 2

2009-08-03T05:26:00.000-07:00

Well I (Michael) was up early as I had promised the kids we could ride bikes on the board walk.....you are allowed to ride bikes on the boards until 10am on weekends and 11am on weekdays......I had no problem waking up as the sun came into our room very bright this morning.....I looked at the little travel alarm clock Monica brings on all of our trips and it was 10 after 7 so I laid there for a bit figured I would get the kids up at 8.......both kids jumped up and were ready to goingno time.....got the bikes loaded on the rack....and we drive over to the boardwalk.....the kids nor I are ready for riding on Ocean hwy just yet. I started the car and noticed it was 10 after 7 not 10 after 8, seems Monica had not fixed the time on the clock since our last trip to Playa. Mack Marissa and I road the whole length of the boardwalk and back a total of 5 miles .

Today was going to be a beach day.....so after we got back Monica and I took her Mom's car whose trunk was full of all the beach supplies over to find a good parking spot.......We found one in the first spot next to the beach and that is where her car stayed all week sort of a supply shed for the chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards and such.......while we where there Monica and I set up the chairs on umbrellas on the beach to make sure we had a good spot for later.......at this point the beach was still pretty empty......I should have gotten a pic of Monica helping me setup in her PJs.
Got back to the house and had some egg sandwiches for breakfast.....then we all got latherd up in lotion, loaded the cooler with soft drinks and were ready to hit the beach
The day started a little overcast....so we did not need the umbrellas right away ....it was nice day in the low 80's it was the coolest summer I remember......but I was not complaining
In Ocean City you are not allowed alcohol on the beach.....but if anyone was wondering this mug holds 4 beers.
The search for lost treasure

Floating Billboard

Marissa has become quite the camera ham

watching the searocket pass by as we size up the waves

the rip tides were pretty strong ......several times each day the lifeguards would bring all the swimmers in for extra safety instructions on what to do if you get caught in a rip current

Marissa and Mom Mom

I swear Monica was with us at the beach......but she does tend to....take most of the pics and not be in them

Tonite we were going to have Steamed crabs for dinner......and grill MD Silver Queen Sweet Corn

While the corn was on the grill Mack did some fishing and caught a cute little starfish.....after we took some pics of ,we returned her to the bay......over Marissa's shoulder you can see Mack fishing and the corn piled high on the grill

Monica and her Mom (Marge) went to pick up the crabs at PGN Crabhouse at 29th St.

nothing beats eating crabs while sitting right on the bay.

In part three we do some Putt Putt, more fishing and hit the lottery

Part 1Family Vaction to Ocean City Maryland July 2009

2009-08-02T09:28:00.000-07:00

This years trip "Down dee Ocean" was going to be a little different, the house we were renting was Monica's Dad's choice because he preferred staying on the bayside so he could get some fishing in with the kids.....not having him with us for this trip was a little difficult for us all but we really needed to get away and have some fun......and I think the kids have been counting down the days to this trip like it was Christmas.

Me checking to make sure the bikes are secure for the trip we were on the road about 7:10 am to beat the beach traffic. OC is a quick 3 hour drive from our house. Monica's Mom went with us and this works really well because we are able to break the kids up…Mack drives with Mom Mom and Marissa with us! No kids fighting makes for a much more pleasant drive.

Marissa all set and ready to go.....we just had enough room for her

Crossing the Susquehanna River

passing Dover raceway

We made very few stops.......but did hit a roadside stand for some fresh Maryland sweet corn and a big ole watermelon

Soon we saw the sign we had been waiting to see

Our home for the week

The view from out back porch looking over the bay towards Ocean City

The back porch truly the best room of the house.
Marissa walking the deck.....the view looking out across the bay. We had a beautiful view from the huge bayfront windows and bayfront decks…always jet skis or boats going by…a million dollar view!

Neighbor on his jet ski

You tell by the look on Mack's face the the he is ready to start fishing.....but he is going to have to wait till we pick up some bait

Before head out to check out the surroundings Marissa decides to a quick beer and cereal

Our first stop at the boardwalk.....not to crowded for a Sunday afternoon
Mack and Marissa inside the tire at the "Ripleys Believe It Or Not"museum

its amazing how much they have grown looking back at the same pose back in 2005

Some sites from along the boardwalk

Monica and I found a Palm tree to pose under

Mack and I enjoying the famous Thrashers Fries.....the peanut oil and vinegar is where the flavor comes from and the line usually wraps around the building with people patiently waiting for their Thrashers fix!

There is always fun to be had at the kite loft

Mack the pimp

Marissa trying to decide on some new shades

We stopped at our favorite sub shop Tommy's to get some grub to take back to the house as the kids were very anxious to start fishing

First we got all of our gear together and got the rods rigged up

Then I got Marissa's rod cast out so she could get started..... Marissa would be using Pop Pop's fishing rod

Then I worked on getting Mack's hooks baited and in the water
When Marissa yelled got one

later Marissa caught two... one on each hook she did not want to hold that one for the picture
and soon Mack caught his first and the biggest catch of day one ... by the end of the day I think Marissa caught 5 crokers very quickly and was done. Mack spent the rest of the night catching up to her and finished with catching 4.
The best part of staying on the bayside is the painting God paints every night with some of the most incredible sunsets

We spent the rest of night 1 sipping wine on the porch and watching some lightening in the distance. We also had a free fireworks show tonight, and almost every night, from one of the larger hotels in North OC that we could see from the porch. And occasionally we could hear music drifing across the bay from Seacrets.

Thanks for reading........ I will try to get to part 2 later....