Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Hot Artichoke Dip

Hot Artichoke Dip
Last evening we attended a cookout with friends. I offered to bring an appetizer. I remembered an appetizer that our daughter served recently when we were invited for dinner. I emailed Anne for the recipe. Running late last evening I did not remember to take a photo. I will offer the recipe and guarantee that your friends or family to whom you serve it will all rave about its flavor.
***
Ingredients:
1 can artichoke hearts
1 can diced green chilies
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 cup mayonnaise
***
Directions:
Chop the artichoke hearts into smaller pieces. (I cut the quartered hearts into another quarter). Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix until well mixed. Place in a pie plate or a bread bowl. If you are using a bread bowl, use the bread removed from the loaf to form the bowl cut into small chunks and serve with the dip. If placing the dip in a pie plate serve with crackers. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes until just golden brown.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Hangtown Fry

Hangtown Fry History
Hangtown fry could possibly be the first California cuisine. It consists of fried breaded oysters, eggs, and fried bacon, cooked together like an omelet. In the gold-mining camps of the late 1800s, Hangtown Fry was a one-skillet meal for hungry miners who struck it rich and had plenty of gold to spend. Live oysters would be brought to the gold fields in barrels of sea water after being gathered in and around San Francisco Bay. Such a meal cost approximately $6.00, a fortune in those days. However it came to be, ordering a Hangtown Fry became a mark of prosperity for gold-rich miners, the status symbol of the day. The recipe swept the entire Northwest Territory, from California to Seattle, in the mid-1800s. A few drinks and a Hangtown Fry were considered a gentleman's evening.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Apple Poppy Seed Salad

My classmate Lee is visiting following a family reunion. Her niece brought this dish to the reunion and Lee was eager to share the recipe as she said it was delicious and so worth sharing.
Tomorrow we are attending a reunion with our high school classmates back in the city where we graduated.
Apple Poppy Seed Salad
Salad:
1 head lettuce
1 bag spinach
4-5 apples, chopped
3/4 lb. swiss cheese, cubed
1/2 can cashews
***
Dressing:
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 Tablespoon poppy seed
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 cup canola or vegetable oil
***
Mix dry ingredients in a jar. Add vinegar and oil and shake until sugar is dissolved.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Iconic Nurse and Sailor

The Iconic Tribute At Seaport Village in San Diego
Cousin Larry and his wife Carol doing the live version of the iconic sailor and a lady. The Original Photo
Tue Jun 22, 10:30 pm ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters Life!) – A nurse famously photographed being kissed by an American sailor in New York's Times Square in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War Two has died at the age of 91, her family said on Tuesday. Getty Images The V-J Day picture of the white-clad Edith Shain by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured an epic moment in U.S. history and became an iconic image marking the end of the war after being published in Life magazine. The identity of the nurse in the photograph was not known until the late 1970s when Shain wrote to the photographer saying that she was the woman in the picture taken on August 14, 1946 at a time when she had been working at Doctor's Hospital in New York City. The identity of the sailor remains disputed and unresolved. From then on the photograph also made its mark on Shain's life as the fame she garnered led to invites to war related events such a wreath layings, parades and other memorial events.
Edith was present when this sculpture was dedicated in 2006 in San Diego Harbor and actually danced that evening at the gala party given in her honor.
"My mom was always willing take on new challenges and caring for the World War II veterans energized her to take another chance to make a difference," her son Justin Decker said in a statement. Shain, who died at her home in Los Angeles on Sunday, leaves behind three sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Harvard Club of Italy Makes Donations

Left to right: Getchew Kebede of Ethiopia, Shama Ramos, Phillipines, Siavash Naderi of Iran, Laura Mesadieu of Hati, our daughter Mary, Salamu Noh Nafe Ali of Western Sahara, Prashant Bharam of India.
HCI donated new netbooks to UWC Adriatic Students
Six United World College Adriatic students, can now study using their own netbooks donated by Harvard Club of Italy (HCI). In keeping with their mission to promote and recognize academic excellence at the secondary school level in Italy, Harvard Club of Italy has developed a fundraising project with UWC Adriatic to provide netbooks for a number of deserving students. Access to computers has become an essential requirement for the International Baccalaureate program and the flexibility of use provided by the new generation of small laptops is of enormous benefit in the intense daily commitments of students studying at a UWC. During the UWC Adriatic Closing Ceremony on May 25th, HCI members, represented by Mary Myers, donated new netbooks to six UWC Adriatic students from Ethiopia, Philippines, Iran, Haiti, Western Sahara and India. UWC Adriatic and the students wish to thank HCI for their generous support and for sharing a dedication to the value of education. “I'm totally blessed right now since I have received this netbook, because I am able to work on small projects/researches in a more mobile way. With its light weight I can carry it anywhere. And not just that, when I learned that the netbook was designed to be an environmentally friendly device I could manage working long hours without using AC power; it can be charged to a full battery in a short period of time.” (Shama Ramos - Philippines, UWC AD 2009-2011) “Since I received this gift from Mrs Myers, many things have become easier. I used to spend the most part of my time in the internet room doing my homework and studying but now with the netbook I waste less time, make less photocopies. I just save the researches on the netbook and I can study and do my work from them. I really like this gift, it is one of the best I have ever received.”(Laura Martine Francisca Mesadieu - Haiti, UWC AD 2009-2011)

Monday, June 7, 2010

Taste Of Avalon And The Winner Is......

Click On Phots To Enlarge
The Street Scene Of Participants The "M" Restaurant Serving Chicken Curry Spring Rolls With A Sweet Sour Sauce. The Offering Of The Lobster Trap My Luncheon Serving Of 
Curry Chicken Spring Rolls
***
I telephoned Catalina Island today to learn the winner of the Taste Of Avalon as curiosity loomed all weekend. The contest winner was announced yesterday, Sunday at 1 p.m. My favorite restaurant was in the running and I thought sure they would be the winner in the food category and possibly also the drink category. The food is artistically prepared from the freshest ingredients and seasoned with the right amount of herbs and spices. As I understood each restaurant was to serve a food which best represented their fare.
***
The Lobster Trap which is frequented by "the locals" did one better! They covered the top of the pool table making it a buffet. A complete seafood spread was put out for the taking. Some food was deep fried, some was baked but much mass-produced. Large draft beer was sold for $1.00 each. The votes put them in first place being the winner again for the second year in a row.
***
Being a foodie who goes the extra for quality in choices, it was a great surprise to learn The "M" Restaurant came in second place for the food category to The Lobster Trap. I enjoyed the Curry Chicken Spring Roll at lunch the day of the Taste Of Avalon. Enjoying it for the quality ingredients I thought sure it would be the first place winner. Honestly put, the food of the two offerings were of two opposite types and preparations. Congratulations to The Lobster Trap!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Santa Catalina Island Flying Fish Festival

Wayne and Donna, The Chamber 
of Commerce promoters. Gill The Festival Mascot. The Bow Of The Bertha W Built 1924
The Festival Open Air Boat.
Flying Fish Festival
The Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce under the direction of Wayne Griffin, President and Donna Harris, Public Relations and Promotions Director has coupled a long time traditional festival with The Taste of Avalon to kick off the summer series of events held on the island. The Flying Fish Festival has become a widely known event. Flying fish occur naturally in the waters of the island from June thru September. The fish actually fly with their pectoral fins and can fly the distance of 25 to 30 feet propelled in the air.
***
The boat "Bertha W" built in 1924 and named after the granddaughter of William Wrigley is equipped with high powdered beam lights equivalent to several thousand watts. Guests are boarded onto the open air boat for a ride along the shoreline at dusk. The light "tricks" the fish believing there is food on the surface and it brings the flying fish out of the water. The fish glisten in the light and draws the oooohs and aaahs from the spectators. It is one of the fun things to do and certainly worth being a spectator if you have never seen this phenomenon. Save Jiune 3, 2011 for the next Flying Fish Festival on Catalina Island.
***
So many traditions of this beautiful island can be traced to the many Americans who made the choice of Wrigley Chewing Gum. I found these vending machine on a wall with antiques and nostalgia. I hope this brings back some memories of bygone days.


Friday, June 4, 2010

Taste Of Avalon

Click on photos to enlarge
The Street Scene of Participants As Far As One Could See Steve's Steak House Offering Pork Tenderloin Dijonaise and Rigatoni El Galleon Offering Bar-B-Que Ribs With Luau Plum Sauce And Onion Rings
The Lobster Trap's Seafood Buffet
The Catalina Country Club Offering Ahi Tune With Wasabi Mashed Potatoes and Wasabi Aioli and Espresso Chocolate Mousse With French Lace Cookie
People Lined Up To Be Served
Taste Of Avalon
The name Santa Catalina Island conjures an image to all age groups. If you are of the Big Band era You remember, "I Met My Love In Avalon" while the Rock n Roll group remembers "Twenty-six Miles Across The Sea". The mystical island has remained a destination of celebration for the many who come for a variety of reasons and images. Recently that image has gone through a great transformation and brought up to the 21st Century. This year the Catalina Company has invested $12,000,000.00 with additions to make the island a family destination.
***
Six years ago, island promoters chose the Thursday following Memorial Day to celebrate "The Taste Of Avalon". The festival has grown doubling in size annually. The streets turn into an atmosphere where guest and locals share a camaraderie unlike any other time of the year. Reserve June 2, 2011 for the next celebration you won't forget!
***
To participate in The Taste Of Avalon, anyone purchases a ballot for a fee of $2.00. The twenty establishments participating are listed. A symbol indicates if food, drink, or dessert is available with each vendor. Participants pay $1.00 for a very generous sample. Following ten vendor samplings you vote for your favorite drink, food, or dessert and your vote then can be submitted. The offerings were amazing!!!
***
We carefully chose ten vendors. Following those samplings I had to agree it was a difficult choice but my choice was made. It will be interesting to learn who receives the top vote. One vendor who prepared for his crowd said his number of participants was 250% of what he had expected. It was such an enthusiastic crowd!
***
Food service on the island has had a recent reformation. It is can longer be deemed "eating" on the island, one can choose fine dining. When the New York Times send reporters from their Food Dept. staff to write an article for their newspaper, Catalina Island restaurateurs have sent shock waves all the way to New York City!
***
Tonight we are attending the third annual Flying Fish Festival. I will blog that festival as my following posting.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Yosemite National Park

Awahnee Lodge The Blogger Aside A Sequoia Pine
Dogwood Blossom
***
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a Park for all seasons. Mother Nature dresses each season with spectacular sights with each day a new view. April and May are the months of snow melt which afford visitors sights and sounds absent other months of the year. We were told during July and August there are no visible signs of water in any of the Falls.
Awahnee Lodge is usually booked one year in advance and a booking can only be made for 365 days in advance.
The dogwood was in blossom everywhere throughout the Forrest adding a beautiful splash of color. The typical Dogwood of the Midwest has four petals where this dogwood had six.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Yosemite National Park-

Yosemite National Park
A Park Placard read, in 2008 a rock slide occured sending boulders from the granite cliffs to the Park floor creating the same effect felt of a 2.3 earthquake. It went on to read that rock scattered on the Park floor were the remenants of previous rock slides.