No More Flip Flops!

 I have been off for some time, things ever-evolving. Trying to stay safe and alive during Covid19. A brief scare at the end of 2019...new "something" on a PET Scan which we got onto quickly. Out of remission for just about 6 months before tamping it back down with higher doses of cancer fighting drugs. In the middle of it all, we moved to Indiana! I have never lived outside of Texas beyond following my  travel nurse husband, but those were brief stints all over the country. My husband wanted to be closer to his aging parents so we have resettled. I do miss the Texas Gulf Coast! This Winter snow has been quite the adjustment!

Thought I would check in and then post a quick recipe our family loves. I am unable to decorate cookies. Piping with shaky hands still does not work. I feel bereft about that. I, like most everyone, have had to prepare meals at home and I have fallen in love with my Instant Pot. Also, as so many have done. Being immune supressed I have had to have groceries delivered or I pick up. I love to grocery shop but I am patiently waiting for a higher degree of safety. I get my first vaccine injection today, exactly one year after the U.S. finally accepted this was a pandemic. I feel so happy to begin the process so I can visit vaccinated family members! My husband is an R.N. so he has had his for a while. Our disabled adult son does not have secondary issues that warrant his moving up in line so we wait for him because he lives with us. When the 3 of us are safer, I will breathe easier!

Looking forward to "thinking about" how I might restart/rename my blog. I always enjoyed doing it.

Check out my recipe.. coming soon. 

Life - A New Normal

I haven't baked cookies in over a month!  Whoa...hard to imagine.  I've fixed a few meals where I thought, yum, I should have blogged and photographed this.  I just ate it instead.  I go through slumps of time where I am so busy with every day life that I forget about the blog !!!  Yes, it's true. Despite empty nesting, I find myself quite busy.

My original intention for this blog was to fill my time and to fill a need I saw where I lived;  restaurant reviews, local activities, dishes I cooked in my past or discovered and wanted to share, creating recipes and meals and desserts. .My husband was traveling, my youngest was in high school, I worked from home, and I felt the need to write.  I wasn't in to intricate cookie decorating at the time... but that was the next evolution of "me", and by extension, my blog.

My husband now works locally, works day shift for the first time in our entire married life, my youngest is off living in a dorm in another town, and I'm finding myself living a more "normal" life than I have for the past 6 years (maybe in the last 37 years of child rearing).  Less crisis going on, more free time is available, I'm enjoying going for walks again...more of my version of a comforting normal. (jinx - I probably just cursed that and something crazy will show up on my radar)

I won't stop blogging, but like the past 18 months of my blog where my life was strongly evolving, my blog will evolve as well.  I'm trying to learn new things in the cookie decorating world - so spending time at YouTube University as well as sketching designs I might want to incorporate.  Every wall, every door, every card, every piece of fabric, and every flower I look at, I often wonder "how would I cookie that"?

Eventually, I'd like to just have a cookie blog...but I really like the eclecticism of being The South Padre Island Flip Flop Foodie.  When the mood takes me, I can still share about what's going on in my little corner of South Texas.  People ask why I don't have more current restaurant reviews and I have to say I tend, when I go out, to go to places I know I like and that I've already blogged about (sometimes many times).  There are a few new places I need to cover, so I'll be making an effort to fit some of them in.  I may also invite a few guest bloggers to write about places they go.  We'll see how all of that shakes out.

For now, I'll just continue riding the softer, more gentle waves, of life as an "empty nester" and think about where the next wave will take me (and please, Life, no rip currents.... I've been through enough!).

I've got a new technique I'm dying to try, so I bet the next post you see is that new way of decorating a cookie (new for me anyway).  We'll see how it goes.  Until then...

Bon Appetit, Y'all!

I Have Found My People...and They Are Cookiers!!!

There is nothing so delightful as being surrounded by about 500 other people who like the very same thing you like.  That they are warm, caring, welcoming, and incredibly talented and creative...well, that's just icing on ...the cookie.

Yes, I'm back from CookieCon and I have no words.  The adjectives and the superlatives have all been used.  Wonderful classes, break-out sessions, speakers, the sugar art show...jam-packed into 3 exciting days of cookie joy.  My friend, Diana, and I had the time of our lives.

Diana and I enjoyed taking in the Salt Lake City and surrounding area sites.  We played tourist on Sunday before heading home on Monday.  We went to The Great Salt Lake, to Park City Ski Resort, Temple Square in downtown SLC...and my bucket list item, hearing the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

 

 

I felt my Mom's presence with me - we both loved this choir.

I found I didn't take all that many photos in the classes.  I spent time making pages of notes (which I will need to go over repeatedly) where I documented all but the last class of the day...by that time I had a hand cramp!  I learned many new things and a different way to do old things.  It was really beyond wonderful.

The spotlight of the event, however, was definitely seeing the incredible work of so many cookie artists in one place, in real life!  Since I can't really post hundreds of photos, I decided to put together a little slide show.  I know there are some cookies I may have missed, but I think I got the vast majority of them.  I bow to the advanced cookiers...their work is incredible.  I bow to the beginners who had the guts to put their work on display.  I bow to the intermediate talents who can see how far they've come and how far they want to go.  There was a place for every level of artist in the Sugar Art Show.

Enjoy the video and I'd love any comments you might care to make.  I am avidly waiting to learn when the NEXT CookieCon will be!

Bon Appetit, my cookie friends!

CookieCon 2014 Sugar Art Show Entries

I don't have time to write all about CookieCon (but I will do that later).  I am just home yesterday afternoon and have much catching up to do and about 400 photos to look at.

However, I did want to go ahead and post photos of the two cookies I entered in the Sugar Art Show.  I worked hard on them and I'm kind of proud of how far I've come in the last couple of years.  Sadly, after sitting in the extremely dry air for 3 days in Salt Lake City, my first cookie cracked and crumbled when I picked it up to bring it home.  They both ended up in the trash because I knew they couldn't be eaten and so pffft...off they went into the garbage.

Glad I photographed them.  Not a winner - but that is absolutely okay.  You should see the cookies that won!  I'll try to get together some of the photos I took of cookies before long.  However, I must get back to real life and that means I have to step away from the blog while I do that!

Here are the two entries!

Entry for "Home Sweet Home" Category
Stylistic representation of the beautiful beach and ocean,
sand castles, and our beloved Sea Turtle, Inc. hatchling releases.

Entry in the "Anything Goes" Category
I had never tried an ombre anything, so I tried the
technique with a flower.  I added two separate
leaf cookies as accents, and embellished them
with piped veins, edible marker veins and dry-brushed
lustre dust.  I painted the accent dots on the flower
with lustre dust dissolved in vodka. The hundreds of
individually piped beads on the flowers was very labor
intensive.  I may never do that again, but I can now say
"I did it"!
 

All cookies were made with my favorite Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookie dough, rolled 3/8" thick, and decorated with vanilla royal icing.  If they hadn't sat around un-covered for 10 days, they would likely have tasted quite yummy!

Thanks for joining me today...more on CookieCon coming up as soon as my life settles down.

Bon Appetit, Y'all!

Where Has the Time Gone???

A celtic knot work in progress

I just realized I had not posted anything on my blog for an entire MONTH.  I don't know where the time has gone.  A lot has been going on in my life...and I've only baked things that I've already posted about or that didn't turn out well and weren't deserving of a post.  (hanging head after a big sigh)

I am in the process of baking and decorating some pieces for the CookieCon 2014 Sugar Art Show.  Since I'm a hobby decorator, I'm shaking in my flip flops.  All those professionals and artists...oh, the anxiety! 

I am also finishing up a sparse few cookies for St. Patrick's Day because my son is looking at me with sad puppy dog eyes, asking "can I eat any of these" when I had a couple of art show cookies drying.  I snapped NO and then realized how snappish I sounded.  I told him I'd make some St. Paddy's Day cookies and he could eat all of them...as soon as I photographed them.  Then, I caved and gave him two, my husband one, and I ate one to ensure quality control (yeah, I'll keep telling myself that).

My house looks like something blew up in it.  My youngest son is finally going to take a leap from the nest and will be moving into a dorm...we are taking that opportunity to repaint and declutter his room...so he is packing stuff for storage and stuff to take with him.  It is all scattered over the entire house.  I'd take a picture, but I'm afraid it would look like an unpleasant Hoarder's episode.  I've done 15 loads of laundry in the past week.  Washing new clothes, washing clothes that haven't seen the light of day in a while (you'd be surprised how many lost socks turned up)  It looks all blowed up, but it's actually been quite organized.  We broke it down into daily tasks...we're only 3 days behind on the list.  It's been a 3-week long endeavor and he moves on Monday.  Oh double yikes...that's just 2 1/2 days away....breathe, breathe.  We can do this!

On Wednesday I fly off to CookieCon with my friend, Diana.  We are both so excited we can hardly stand it.  450 cookie artists, with associated vendors, speakers, and instructors will descend upon Salt Lake City for the 2014 Cookie Art Convention and Show.  I'm truly giddy with excitement.

I'll be gone for a week, so if I get the St. Patrick's Day cookies finished and photographed, I'll try to do another post.  In the meantime, all I have for you is a peek of some things I'm working on.  The one at the top and the one at the bottom (nothing is finished yet, did I mention anxiety?).

Ta ta for now!

I piped hundreds of dots on a cookie and then I dropped
the lid off a piping tip right in the middle.  I nearly cried!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

Island Happenings...

I love when the bay is calm and the birds' reflections are
so clearly visible!

The next couple of weeks are going to be busy on the island.  I'll be baking and reading and dancing...I expect, when I head to Austin for doctor appointments at the end of January, I will be ready for a break from so much fun!    Well, maybe not...I'm just trying to put a positive spin on annual exams and follow-ups.  Not my favorite things to do.

One of my regular Laguna Madre visitors

For now, however, we have lots of stuff on the agenda.  Plus, I'm trying out my new pocket-sized camera and my big camera, too.  There are glorious sunny days, plants blooming, birds hanging out on the bay outside my front door, and much beauty to be found on the beach.  It's really a photographer's paradise!

Winter visitors flock to the island!

I'll intersperse this post with my photos...hope you enjoy them.

My Christmas Cactus is in full bloom on my deck.
Living in the sub tropics makes for year-round blooming
plants and flowers!

Kalanchoe blooming on deck

Ice Plant blooming on the deck

This week I will be preparing some baked goods for the KOA Care Camps event at South Padre Island KOA.  They have a big week-end planned! 

Saturday, Jan 18th, there is a Zumbathon at the Olympian Fitness Gym of Port Isabel.  It gets started at 10:00 a.m. and entry is a $5 donation for the KOA Care Camps, to help send kids with cancer to camp.  I hope to be dancing my heart out with all the ladies and gents attending!  Join us, please!
Sunday, Jan 19th, there is an auction and raffle at the KOA Campground, primarily for KOA guests - and the donations are really mounting!  I'll be adding a basket of cookies to the auction and there may be a bake sale involved...I'll need to check more into that.  If there is, you know I'll have cookies there too!  This is such a great cause, everyone needs to participate and get those bids HIGH for the kids.  Remember, though, very minimal parking and seating...so take that into consideration.  It starts up at 6:00 p.m.

Birds fishing on South Padre Island

Activities from Paragraphs: Mysteries of the Golden Booby are ramping up this week, with the grand finale event on Saturday, January 25th.

Authors and Characters from the book will be hanging out at the following locations:

Monday Jan 13 Chefs House,   Noon, Griff and David Harry
Thursday Jan 16 Ted's 8:30am Griff and David Harry
Thursday Jan 23 Manuel's 9:00am Pat Avery and Joyce Faulkner
Thursday Jan 23 Sea Ranch Bar 6:00pm Pat Avery and Joyce Faulkner
Friday Jan 24 Padrerita Grill 6:30 all 4 authors, Griff, Sally
Saturday Jan 25 Paragraphs on Padre 2:00 Everyone they can fit into the bookstore!  The Cookie Lady (page 168 in the book) might be bringing some nibbles, all 4 authors will, of course, be there.

The Blue-footed Golden Booby
as depicted by local artist, Marne Law

Keep up with all of the activities and clues by liking their Facebook page!  If you don't know what the heck this is all about - check out my previous blog post on this exciting mystery event!

While I won't be in town for this one, I want to encourage support of one of my favorite charities, The Special Olympics.  On Saturday, February 1st, Clayton's Beach Bar, the 2014 Polar Plunge will be happening to benefit Special Olympics.  Here's a link to find out more...registration at 11:00, plunge at noon.  Show your support!


I know there are more things going on...but that's about all I can squeeze into my life! Here's a link to more local events and other great South Padre Island information. 

Hope you enjoyed the intermittent photos - if you aren't down here at the island or nearby - you are missing some gorgeous weather and beautiful birding!  Come on down!  As my Grandmother used to say, "ándale, ándale, daylight's a wastin'"

See you soon!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

"Paragraphs Mysteries of the Golden Booby"

What's more fun that curling up with a good "who done it" written by four outstanding, award-winning authors?  Well, if you are in the South Padre Island area, reading the book, finding the clues, and trying to solve the mystery yourself... that's what!  

Last year's treasure hunt of clues was fun, but this year's version of the event has been kicked wayyyy up!  A published book has been added to the arsenal!  Worth the read even if you live in freezing cold Minnesota and are unable to participate in "the hunt" - at least you can dream of warmer climes.  Griff Mangan and Joni Montover, owners of Paragraphs on Padre Blvd on South Padre Island, are always looking for ways to give island visitors, and locals alike, that extra special entertaining literary experience...and this time, they, along with authors Bob Doerr, David Harry, Pat McGrath-Avery, and Joyce Faulkner have come up with an exciting game plan.  It's a race to solve The Mysteries of the Golden Booby (and yes, there is a tee shirt!).  The excitement on Facebook and all around the island and Port Isabel is palpable.  I'm madly reading the book (I'm in the third section - Pat's story - and bet I finish the entire thing by tomorrow).  I'll take a moment to modestly mention my appearance on page 168 as "Debbi, the Cookie Lady".

Anyway, I asked a couple of the individuals involved in this extravaganza of seek-and-find to tell us a little about this book and the fun to be had.


I started with Griff Mangan and asked him to tell me about the idea behind the book and how it came to fruition.  I also checked in with my friend, and author, Pat McGrath-Avery.  Pat replied that Griff had done a good job of covering it...and she was hopeful for the opportunity to eat her fair share of cookies at the end of the game.  I think I could facilitate that happening!

GM:  OK, let me get started.  Last year was the first time we tried having a mystery scavenger hunt.  There was no book.   Well when we had the end game I had the 4 authors attend.  They had so much fun that that they agreed to write their own book and create an adventure for this year.  It was their idea for the title and having each write their own section of the book creating the Legends and history of the Golden Booby. Bob and David dutifully wrote their parts but Pat and Joyce were the movers and shakers behind getting it into publication.

That doesn't surprise me, Griff, those ladies are dynamos!  So, I understand there are local clues to find.  How do we play the game?

Art clipped from book cover by Marne Law

GM:  Here's how to play the Golden Blue-footed Booby Game:

1. Buy the book at Paragraphs
2. Read the book to learn about the characters involved with the story
3. Good idea would be to chart out the different characters as to their relationship with the Booby, the crime and themselves
4. Check out the Golden Blue-footed Booby picture, by Marne Law at Paragraphs for more possible clues
5. Begin searching for clues around the Island and Port Isabel (Hint: first clue is at Paragraphs) record the location of the clue by taking a picture or picking up a business card, napkin etc to show you were there
6. Check the Facebook page (Paragraphs: Mysteries of the Golden Booby) for extras and hints
7. Repeat visits to the clue sites as more information may be left
8. Join us for Mystery Week, January 19 – 24, at Paragraphs when each of the authors will have a book signing. This is just for fun but you can certainly grill them on their part of the book
9. The final event is at 2PM Saturday January 25 when all the authors and many of the characters will be at Paragraphs to piece together the mystery.

Oh my gosh, Griff, that sounds like so much fun!  Would you tell us a bit about the treasure map on the cover of the book, if you can?  If we follow the map, do we have a good chance of finding all the clues?  How can those not familiar with South Padre Island and Port Isabel search for clues?  Where can we find a copy of the "treasure map"?  Inquiring minds want to know!

GM:  The picture Marne Law painted that is on the book cover holds some clues. Now if I told you what they were it would give away some secrets.  However for those players not familiar with the Island or Port Isabel, it is a map and does show the approximate location of many of the businesses in the story.  The original is at Paragraphs and is easier to read!  There are no separate maps other than what is on the cover and in Paragraphs. Hint: camera phone.

I saw in the Port Isabel Press that “the big reveal” is scheduled, with all four authors, at Paragraphs on Padre Blvd, January 25^th, at 2:00 p.m.  Can you tell us about this event and what we can expect?


GM:  Most of “the big reveal” will be an active and interactive event with the authors and selecting winners of the participants. They need not find every clue to still be eligible to win a prize.  There will be multiple ways to win a prize so everyone has a chance.


Well, I gotta say - I am so excited.  The book is wonderful and the idea is just downright fun!  I've seen some of the clues around town...guess I better start collecting evidence!  You know, also, that The Cookie Lady will likely show up with some goodies for the Grand Finale.  Hope to see all of my local readers there.  It's going to be great!

Thank you Griff for the complete info on how to join in.  Let's roll y'all !!!

Sitting on the dock of the bay, reading on a sunny
Saturday afternoon!

SPI Sandcastle Days 2013

I don't always talk about food.  While it is a favorite topic, I also like to share the great activities that go on in my little part of the world.

This week-end was the 26th anniversary of the South Padre Island Sandcastle Days.  I was feeling icky for the first few days of the event, but Sunday turned out to be a cool (and somewhat blustery) day and I felt up to an excursion.  Mr. Flip Flop and I headed over to the island before noon and spent a couple of hours enjoying the cool weather, some frothy wave action, and some gorgeous sand sculptures.

Professionals, like our own Sandy Feet and Amazin' Walter, joined with amazing sculptors from around the world to create both fantastical and gorgeous works of art.  I am a huge fan of both purist sand castles like you will see from Amazin' Walter...as well as the more abstract works.  My hubby always has to drag me away.  I circle each one repeatedly seeking and finding new details at every angle.  I may have to go back tomorrow (if the tide doesn't wipe them out...it's been a bit higher than normal)... I love to go back when the beach is emptier of crowds and just sit and stare at the truly awesome feats of sand sculpture.

I put together a little YouTube slide show of my pics from today.  Just click on the link below to view.  Hope you enjoy!

South Padre Island Sand Castle Days 2013

See ya soon with more fun and good food!

Debbi

How to Survive When You've Had Enough Sun!!!

As I've mentioned before, we used to vacation on South Padre Island for at least 15 years before we moved to the area nearly 5 years ago.  One of the problems I always encountered (being the freckled, white skinned girl that I am) was what to do when I couldn't take any more sun and everyone else was still going and going like the Energizer Bunny!

Over the years I have found a few activities that those "less than sporty" and "shade loving" individuals can use to occupy time in the area!  This is not the place to look for all those fun-in-the-sun activities.  Check out the links on South Padre Live for loads of THAT kind of information.

1.  Visit Paragraphs on Padre Blvd.  - Our wonderful independent book store is at 5505 Padre Blvd. in a lovely turreted building on the West side of the main street.  Booksellers Joni and Griff will welcome you warmly and offer you a comfy chair and cool a/c to while away some time browsing books, playing a game of chess, checkers, or scrabble... or just having a nice chat.  They often host book signings, poetry readings, book discussions, and writer's workshops.  See what's on their schedule while you are in town!  One of my favorites.

2.  Get up early or go at sunset to the bird walk, butterfly garden, and water feature by the convention center.  We were so delighted the first time we went to stand and watch the birds at sunset as they flew in by the droves to bathe and forage and prepare for night.  The sunset is glorious out over the bay.  Take a camera...you won't be sorry.  It's free! (Don't forget to check out Wyland's Whaling Wall #53 on the convention center)

3.  Sea Turtle, Inc. - I can listen to their informative lectures time and again.  Hearing the history of the facility, visiting all of the turtles living there or in rehabilitation, actually going to a hatchling release during the summer...the possibilities are endless...and shady for the most part!  Please make a donation so their excellent work may continue.  Buy an eco-friendly turtle souvenir in their shop!

4.  The Dolphin Research and Sea Life Center in Port Isabel (next to Pirates Landing) is an educational opportunity for the whole family and always worth a walk-through visit for a nominal donation.  Touch Tank, aquariums, rescued animals...you never know what you might encounter.  Take time to view the video and the posters about "Dolphin Whisper" Scarlet Colley's work identifying and loving the local tribe of bottlenose dolphins.  I've taken an excursion with Scarlet and the joy of a dolphin sighting is up there in my "best life experiences".  She always seems to know where to go to make sure there's some dolphin love to be had.  Schedule an excursion by contacting Scarlet at the number listed on their website.

5.  The South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center provides an additional opportunity for viewing flora and fauna of the area.  I've enjoyed cool morning walks (and hot afternoon walks) and had the opportunity to experience a wonderful variety of birds.  Small fee for this one - not too much shade either - so pick your time wisely.  We've gone at different times of day, different times of year...always walk away amazed and happy.

6.  Sabal Palm Sanctuary is an exceptional place to visit - no place else quite like it in the United States!  It's located in Brownsville, right on the Rio Grande.  I can't say I've ever visited in the summer, but Winter visitors will find this a cool and refreshing nature walk easy for all, even those not so fit :-)  Wear sturdy shoes.  I accidentally wore Crocs...it limited my exploration!  Take a camera.  There is a donation fee - well worth it!

7.  Rent an umbrella and lounge chairs!  It was a necessity, not a luxury, when we used to vacation...it allows those prone to sunburn to enjoy the coastal breezes in the shade.  Cool off in the waves then scurry back to your lounge chair and let the breezes blow across your moist skin.  Heavenly!  Check with your rental company or condo to find out who the authorized vendor is for your area of the beach. 

8.  If you are used to going to waterparks and having to stand in long, sun-searing lines on asphalt paths....visit Schlitterbahn at the Beach.  The lines are primarily in the water.  With a hat, a long sleeved shirt, and lots of sunscreen, I could usually make it through the day.  My kids always wanted to be there when the gates opened and not leave until they closed.  I could handle that by finding and staking claim to a table and chairs under a shady palapa seating area.  You can take your own food and drinks (no glass containers - your ice chest will be checked!) into the waterpark but be careful not to leave food out (even chips in packages).  The gulls and grackles WILL peck open a bag of chips and eat them in your absence.  I've seen it every time I've been to Schlitterbahn!  People are always so shocked when they return to see their big bag of Lays ripped to shreds.  Secure your belongings, and that includes food!  I'm no longer enthusiastic about riding the inner tubes and sliding...but I enjoy getting wet swimming in portions of the lazy river or the wave pool, then returning to whichever side of the big Sand Castle is shady and sitting with my feet in the water...then I return to the palapa and read a book.  It manages to be a fairly enjoyable visit, every time I go to Schlitterbahn.  It doesn't hurt that they have cocktails and beer available too!

9.  Schedule a morning or late afternoon Sand Castle Building Lesson with Sandy Feet.  She is the best and has the patience of Job.  Check out her website... we've taken her classes over and over.  We own the book, the tools, the DVD...Incomparable!

10.  Check out classes at South Padre Island ArtSpace...or just stop in and shop!  Located at 1817 Padre Blvd., a unique and lovely group of local artisans sharing their skills and selling their creations.  It's wonderful!

11.  SHOP - there are a plethora of souvenir shops if that is your thing...but if you'd like a slightly different shopping experience, head to places like Ship Shape, Desert Cactus, or Isla.  You'll see the difference when you walk in the door.  The staff are all friendly and courteous...the inventories are very nice.

12.  Schedule some personal spa services at my favorite, Venus Nails & Spa.  The team is friendly and attentive.  Appointments or walk-in.  Located at the intersection of Padre Blvd and East Amberjack.  Excellent service in a relaxing atmosphere.

13.  Do the Lighthouse Square shopping round while in Port Isabel.  ArtSea, The Rusty Pelican, and Coastal Winds are some of my favorite shops in PI...but there are many more around the square well worth investigating.  If you have the energy to climb to the top of the lighthouse (not cool, but it is shady!) you will find the view beyond compare.

14.  Head off the island and enjoy the wonderful zoo in Brownsville.  Gladys Porter Zoo is an outstanding zoo full of a surprising wealth of information and exhibits.  It was more than I had expected and a jewel in our little area of the country.

15.  If you are in town on a Friday or Saturday evening during the Summer - find yourself a spot to watch Friday Night Fireworks on the bay or ocean or Saturday Night Fireworks on the ocean.  Our preferred place for Friday night on the bay is a table at Louie's Backyard, stuffed full of their buffet meal and margaritas OR Laguna BOB's with a bowl of ceviche and a beer.  Grab a place early and eat slow...slightly after 9:00 p.m., you'll see a wonderful fireworks display from a barge in the bay. For ocean fireworks viewing Friday and Saturday nights, find a spot on the enormous deck at Clayton's.  Either bay or ocean...both provide a perfect beginning or end to a wonderful summer vacation!

Timing is everything.  Hit the beach early, come in for lunch and a nap, do an activity from the list above, head back to the beach in the late afternoon... I like to time afternoon on the beach when the condos throw shade onto the beach (OK - let's say early evening).  Then, when the sun is dropping low, shower off and head out to eat, then back "home" to sleep like a baby...get up and do it all over again the next day!

Have fun and Bon Appetit Y'all!!!

What's Up Pup?

It's been a busy few weeks here at the coast.  Balancing regular work, working out, working on cookies, husband's new work schedule, and working on household chores ...results in lots of work going on!  The good news is that my husband is working a regular day shift for the first time in 20 years (woo hoo!).  He's been traveling a LOT for the past 5 years and he was soooo ready to get a job close to home with no 350 mile journeys to get home for a week-end.  That DID happen in March...but he wasn't all that happy...and he still had drive 130 miles every day.  He was very fortunate to get a job even closer to home within the same company and started two weeks ago.  It's been quite an adjustment...a good adjustment, but it is a change!  I'm back to cooking regular dinners, having more laundry, and needing to be "with the family" in the evenings instead of working on my many projects.  When you then add Zumba back into my life with an additional topping of working out in the gym 5 days per week... my free time has gotten more challenging to find! 

Blogging seems to be slipping between the cracks.  My family doesn't like to wait for photos and stuff before eating...that wore thin fairly quickly the first year or so of blogging!  Now, however, I'm starting to gently push the issue again! 

On the 4th of July we stayed at home and avoided the high volume tourist traffic heading to the island.  We love the island in the Fall and the Spring...we do NOT frequent the island much during the Summer!  Holidays and week-ends are particularly unappealing now that we live here and can enjoy a traffic-and-crowd-free season by waiting for September.

Our grill died a rusty death (a side effect of living on the Laguna Madre) and Mr. Flip Flop had bought some beautiful Choice boneless Rib-eyes at Sam's Club.  I picked up some fresh jumbo Gulf Shrimp at Quik Stop in Port Isabel and thus we had the makings for Surf and Turf...even if I had to do them in a stove-top grill pan.  They were outstanding!  We are particularly fond of baked yams so I picked up a few at the grocery store as well as some really nice fresh green beans.  I had intended to make some of Ann Smith's Sour Cream Crescent Rolls but time got away from me and we ended up with Pillsbury's Crescent Rolls instead.  We were so full from all of the good food, we could have done without the bread completely!  Everyone else had already done a nose dive into their steaks and shrimps when I realized I had only eaten one shrimp and still had a "photo op" with my plate...so here it is.  My steak was half the size of the boys' but their plates were no longer "attractive", so the smallest shows here!  It was really quite an easy dinner to throw together.  I seasoned the steaks with Weber Chicago Style Seasoning (one of our favorites after dining at the Weber Restaurant in Chicago) and while the steaks were resting, I quickly pan-grilled the peeled and de-veined shrimp.  I snapped the beans while watching one of my DVR'd shows and boiled them in simple salt, pepper, and onion powder.  Delish.  Yams went in the microwave and were perfectly tender and moist.  Yummy to the X-treme!  I only ate 3 shrimps and half of my steak...but I ate two servings of green beans and all of my yam.  We all sat around in a food-induced daze after dinner!!!

Dessert was quickly-decorated miniature star sugar cookies (eaten later that evening).  I started them late Wednesday night and finished them off on Thursday morning.  They were all gone by Friday.  Not my best work, but I was at a tired spot in the day and my hands were not cooperating with piping straight lines and my red icing was not "just right" in the consistency department.  Still, they were very patriotic looking and the family was appreciative.  They are liking the slightly revised recipe I've been using (Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies) and that I'm rolling at 3/8" thickness instead of 1/4".  It makes for a slightly softer, more buttery textured cookie.  Mr. Flip Flop and I went to Lowe's last week-end and bought me some 3/8" untreated trim board to use as rolling guides.  They are fabulous!  Easy to roll out consistent thickness cookies.  Plus, they are much sturdier and less inclined to break when I shake them or bang them on the table to get a smooth surface.  Thicker is better I think!

On Friday I started a big 150-cookie project and spent the past afternoon, evening, and this morning busily base-coating 13 dozen cookies.  The decorating of those cookies will take several days and involve a new technique (or two) for me...so keep your eyes out for a blog post on that before long!

Hope everyone had a great 4th...we sure enjoyed relaxing at home.  Sometimes that is just the best thing in the world!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!

Protein Soothes My Savage Beasts

Alert!  This is a commentary about my morning, and there are no pictures or recipes.  Just a simple sharing of my morning.

We are not morning people in our household.  I used to be, but I have "devolved".  I am a mid-morning person now :-)

My husband works evenings and my teen-ager has a strange sleeping pattern (just one more strange thing in his life) - both of them sleep as late as possible.  Since I work from home, I tend to wake up a bit earlier than either of them and I enjoy my "alone time" with a cup of coffee, a look at the bay, and maybe a little Good Morning America.

Today, as the result of a very wakeful night with the few sleeping hours filled with strange dreams, I slept mostly from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. - very odd for me!  I was really tired from a day of doing my paid job, deep cleaning my kitchen counters and appliances, shopping, baking cookies and making royal icing in preparation for two projects I have coming up that I was really surprised I didn't fall into a hard and long sleep.   My husband rolled out this morning about 10 minutes after me, just as the coffee was ready.  I'd checked my email and Facebook and was just going for the first cup.  In the very nice rhythm of two people who have lived together a long time, he got down two cups, grabbed the Half & Half and poured some in both cups, I grabbed my sweetener while he put the cream away, and I poured the coffee...we weren't making much conversation but he was wondering why I hadn't had my first cup of coffee yet.

I explained my up and down activity last night (while he gently snored, soundly sleeping) and the memories and thoughts that were eating at my brain.  He, in his wonderfully therapeutic manner, started prompting me to figure out the problem and to tell him my dreams.  I did all of that and drank my coffee, talking, while he checked email and surfed the internet for the weirdness that he enjoys reading.  I have to say, he doesn't really LIKE to talk first thing in the morning and he'd really PREFER not to hear ME talking.  He could tell, however, that I was not "right with the world" today and let me rattle on, processing, to get to the right place. 

At some point in my soliloquy, I realized he was not really paying any attention whatsoever and was beginning to struggle with something computer-based and his face began to look quite irritated.  I asked what he was trying to do and he explained his irritation over things not being the way he thought they should be (a frequent occurrence).  I made some mild suggestions but didn't offer to "do it for him" because he likes to just vent...and since I had spent nearly 45 minutes of his slow-wake-up time yammering, I figured he had the right to vent.  He doesn't want me to fix things...he just wants to be able to bitch about it.  I understand.

He finally got on the phone, as I had mildly suggested, and called an 800 number to ask a simple question.  In the meantime, now that I had discerned from his grumpy self-talk what the problem was, I found the solution fairly quickly.  I tried to talk him through where I found it, he couldn't see it (which made him more irritable) and "loudly" requested I slow down.  So I suggested I come look over his shoulder to help him see what he was missing.  He's a very, very smart man...but he and technology frequently do battle.

I finally realized that his irritability was likely enhanced by his lack of food....probably needed some protein in his system.  He is a carb addict and tends to fill up on carbs...but he needs protein to be centered.  I see it time and time again.  So, I told him I thought maybe he needed some protein and could I make him an omelet or some other protein-based item?  He said an omelet would be great.  Then I kissed him on the forehead.  Bless his heart, while fiercely independent, he sometimes just needs someone to take care of him...that's where I try to step in.

Then, in walks the teen (it's like he knows when he smells butter hitting a pan to hurry into the kitchen).  I ask if he would like some breakfast, and if so, what?  He answers with a desire for breakfast tacos. 

A quick sausage and provolone omelet, and, a sausage and egg breakfast taco later...both of the males in the house are smiling and relaxed.  It's the protein breakfast miracle!

No pictures for the blog (which is a bummer because that was a pretty omelet!), nothing fancy on the plate, but two quite appreciative men in the house. 

I am now centered and ready to start on my projects.  Memorial Day Cookies will be the first project.  I'll see you on the other side!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!!



 

Cookie Memories

My regular readers may have noticed I have been very "off" lately.  I have experienced some losses that nearly wiped me out and baking and blogging on a regular basis have been more than I could handle.  I just worked on putting one foot in front of the other to make it through the last 7 months or so.  As Dory the fish so eloquently said it, I just had to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming".

For the past 3 days I have been baking cookies and decorating them for a Memorial Service for my big sister.  She loved the beach.  Everyone is encouraged to wear coastal attire to the service.  I have my new tropical shirt, my best flip flops, my dolphin necklace, and my mermaid earrings.  I'm almost ready.

In her honor I made cookies for after the service fellowship.  The entire endeavor was a cathartic walk down Memory Lane.  I began with sand dollar cookies - which brought back memories of our regular childhood camping trips to Mustang Island and Port Aransas.  We'd search for shells for hours and, in those days, the sand dollars were the primo find.  Now-a-days we rarely find more than the occasional broken sand dollar.  It's a sad commentary on the state of our oceans!

Sand Dollar cookies with a pearl sheen

I also made "my version" of conch shells.  Big sister loved The Keys.  She had one last chance to try to make it to her beloved Keys in December when I called her back home because our Mom died. She never was well enough again to make the journey...so, conch shell cookies are my offering.  I'm sure she is smiling.



My version of conch shell cookies - a little dry brushed pink
lustre dust gives the edge a little shimmer

She loved bright colors - yellows and oranges and aqua - the colors of the tropics.  So, my version of scallop shells with orange and yellow feathering.

Scallop Shell cookies with orange and yellow feathering.
After drying, embellished with some dots and lines.  I liked this set.

Palm tree cookies - she loved laying on a hammock hanging between two palms.  Reading a book or napping or just swaying to the gentle breeze off the Atlantic Ocean.  My first piping icing wasn't thick enough, so I had to get creative.  I think they turned out okay...but they sure do have a lot of royal icing on those palms!



The rustling sound of palms is one of my favorite sounds
These cookies have coconuts - our palms do not.
I liked the look though, so coconuts they are!

Dolphins - ahhhh, the dolphins.  We used to ride the ferry to Mustang Island and the dolphins danced around the ferry, smiling their happy smiles, delighting the souls of children and adults alike.  When I moved to the South Padre Island area I told her about our tribe.  She told me in January "I want to go see the dolphins with Scarlet...it's on my bucket list".  I knew that wouldn't happen because she would never have been able to make the 7 hour journey.  She entered at-home hospice care in January.  We met in Port Aransas instead, as one of her final wishes, and the dolphins were at the ferry waiting for her.  So, dolphin cookies were a must.  Dolphin Love - it's the best.

A happy pod of dolphin cookies

Flip Flops - we were two true flip flop devotees!  I know I have a LOT of flip flops - but she may have had more.  Flip flop cookies were mandatory!



Flip Flops - piled up like mine are.  I had fun making these.

The last batch of cookies are more about her beautiful grandchildren.  She had a lot of grand kids for a 62 year young woman!  She loved to tickle their tummies when they were little and say the belly button bug was getting them (a ladybug of course).  So, the final batch was my first attempt at lady bug cookies.  I hope they love them.  Unfortunately, I know they will turn their mouths black and red.  I did try the trick of adding cocoa powder to the icing to darken it before adding the black food coloring.  I definitely used less black gel color, but still...I'm anticipating some colorful mouths!  I used a tutorial from O So Sweet Cookies - and it was perfect.  I have had the lady bug cookie cutter for a while and never got to making them.  This was the perfect opportunity.

Lady Bugs - my first attempt...cute!

My cookie dough was in the freezer waiting for me (thank goodness) and I used both my long-time favorite Mather World's Best Sugar Cookie Dough and Lila Loa's Vanilla Variation.  I used Ali's Sweet Tooth's method of making royal icing and not a single bag separated!  Yay!!!

Now, after this I hope life will return to the more gentle pace I grew accustomed to when we moved to the coast.  I need the peace and tranquility of the waves lapping, the gulls calling, the pelicans soaring, and the sand between my toes.  I know, then, I will be able to feel the previous joy I felt for baking and blogging and sharing my meandering thoughts with my blog readers.  Thanks for hanging with me during this really icky time of my life.  I'm hoping this will be the final melancholy post you will have to endure from me!

Bon Appetit, Y'all!!! 

UPDATE: 4/29/2013:  At the reception in Fellowship Hall,
the tables were decorated with leis, coastal ornaments, and
my cookies!  Everyone seemed very appreciative.
It was a lovely ceremony, filled with spirituality and
love and caring.  Happy Trails my dear sister!

Shrimp Boil

I've had a lot of shrimp boils in my day...but this may have been one of the best ones and easy to throw together!

Twelve people, a six-month old who had had enough fun for the day, an ocean-front condo with seating for 5...hmmmm.  No biggie - we could make it work!  We dragged in the balcony table and chairs, covered both tables with wax-backed butcher paper (double layer) and threw all of the food on the table.  Literally!

We used a big "turkey fryer" pot filled 2/3 with water and two packages of Zatarain's Crab and Shrimp Boil.  Started it to boil and first put in a bag of clean new potatoes and let it go for 15 minutes or so...next went the frozen corn (24 pieces) and then, 5 minutes later, three pounds of sausage chunks.  I prepped the 4 pounds of fresh shrimp purchased near the docks at Port Aransas by peeling, butterflying, and deveining (because my sister doesn't like to peel them and see the vein...so, like a good sister, I cleaned them for her).  Once the shrimp were added, they were finished cooking in 3 minutes or less and everything smelled so incredibly delicious!

We melted 3 sticks of butter and placed in little ramekins around the table; my sister-in-law, Lana, mixed up 2 bowls of cocktail sauce and toasted two loaves of French bread.  We put out a container of my homemade pasta salad and dinner was ready!

We carefully transported the extremely heavy boiling pot to the floor on top of towels, lifted the strainer basket up over the sink and let it drain.  With a towel underneath, my oldest son transported it to the table and we tossed it down the middle of the two tables.  One table got more potatoes and corn and the other table got the majority of shrimp (which, of course, we re-distributed!)...and everyone dug in. 

People took turns holding the baby and eating and laughing...what a great time was had....the laughter, the jokes, the sounds of happy eating!  Friends, family, and lots of joy all around the table. Anyone having room for dessert could nibble one of the "Beach Cookies" I made for the trip.

We finished the evening with the poker people (most of the people) playing a fun, albeit quite competitive, game of Texas Hold'em...which was, of course, a win for my sister-in-law Lana.  She's just a little competitive!

A fun time was had by all - good times, good times.

Sister-in-law Lana, big sister Cynthia, and their beautiful
granddaughter Sarah Jewel.

Bon Appetit, Y'all!