Cape Cod Rock Hopper

My grandfather and the Cape and a blizzard cocktail

      One of my most mixed memories of my Cape vacations was back in 1975. This was the year my grandfather came to live with us, and came on vacation with us. Grandpop was a crusty old coot, born outside of East Liverpool in 1898, his family moved to Canada where he grew up through his teens and tried to join the early days of the Royal Canadian Air Force before he was of age to do so. They figured it out and they did not let him. His family not long after moved to the United States to Philadelphia where he lived the majority of the rest of his life. He had lived through the depression, lost 2 homes due to economics, lost his only son at age 8 due to sickness, and worked for a tool and die company designing different machines. Although at the end of his life feeling cheated that the company took all the credit for the designs of the machines that he came up with and gave him no credit what soever on the paperwork. Although when you work for a larger company, it's has been and continues to be that way today, you owe your life to the company store. Anyway, after my Grandmother passed away in 1969 of cancer my GrandFather in 1970 sold all his stuff and home and announced he was moving to Florida to live with his sister. That's right, he announced, and moved, didn't ask, just expected to have room made for him. So why were we surprised in 1975 that he did the same thing to my Mother. Called us up one day in early '75 and announced, Im coming to live with you I will be there next month. WOW, ok, Mom was overwhelmed, but Dad figured it out and made it work. So when August came about what were we gonna do with Grandpop, we couldn't leave him at the house along, and we couldn't ask for him to stay with someone else so. Now one of the other things that was with my Grandfather, was coming through the depression he had a very strong work ethic. Now this is not a bad thing at all, however he had a very hard time with my Father and could not understand why he took off Mondays. Now remember my Dad is a pastor and he worked on Sundays, normally teaching Sunday School the first hour, preaching the second hour, than going back in the evening or Sunday evening church service and preaching again then followed up by youth groups. This did not account for all the hours during the week that Dad spent visiting those in the hospitals and nursing homes, countless hours of counseling the meetings with different boards throughout the month as well as leading Wednesday night Bible study. So Dad would take Mondays as his off days, and Grandpop could not understand this at all, Not working, not being in the office on a Monday, that was almost anit-American. Than can vacation and Dad was going to take a month off from work, now this blew his mind. He could not understand this at all. Here again, Dad was to provide for his family by working everyday, not taking long vacations to fancy pants places called Cape Cod even though he did himself go from Philadelphia to Cape May, New Jersey for a weekend, but then right back to work come Monday, cause Monday was the work week and a good working man was doing his job come Monday morning. 

Cottage Fever Yet ? & Rum Balls

      So we are almost through January, cabin fever is well entrenched and wants to be out on a warm sunny Cape Cod beach is driving harder then a NASCAR driver pushing for first place at Daytona with less then 5 laps to go. Some like my wife, would say that is what Florida is for, but while Florida is nice it is no substitution for Cape Cod and that New England charm. 

And the beach beat goes on & Pecan Crusted Schrod w/ Lime Butter

      Well January was always a hard month as Christmas and New Year's had come and gone and the next time off school was not till spring brake. As winter would tighten it's grip and the cold weather would hanker on down (yes I just used hanker in a sentence) I, as many of my friends would start to get cabin fever or in my case cottage fever. I would long for the days of being on a warm sunny beach on Cape Cod and wishing it was the beginning or middle of August and not a care in the world. We would go to one of the local sports clubs and get a good racquetball workout then go sit in the steam room for a while then finish up in the whirlpool. We would sit around and talk about what we would be doing if it was summer and the sand was under out feet. As good healthy mid- to latter teen boys of course the conversation would include those of the opposite sex in nicely clad bikinis. But also would include our favorite subject of music. In those days the hot new music was coming from groups like Boston, ELO, Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Styx, Fleetwood Mack, Supertramp, Sex Pistols, Adam and the Ants, Ozzie Ozborn, AeroSmith, and of course Queen and a host of others. There was the disco scene, Punk rock, some carry over of the acid rock from the late 60's and beginning of the Glam rock and Hair metal rock. 
      The crowd I hung out with were all music geeks, we sang in the choir, in the ensemble, show choral, we were in the musicals either on stage or playing in the pit. We were in marching band, and orchestra, we played in the pep band and any other groups we could get into. The school I went to was known as and A & M school, Athletics and Music. There were only 3 groups in our school, those that were athletes, those involved in the music department and than the "others". So when we thought of our summer's out of school it was centered mostly around music, all genres, except Mini Pearl, HeeHaw country and hard core fluffy folk music of the 60's. The country was for most of our grandparents speed and non of us wanted that. And the folk music was our older siblings music that was too related with the drug scene and my group did do the drugs (thank heavens for small miracles). As we would sit in the hot tubs we would talk about our summer's and the beach music that was hot last summer and what we thought was going to be the next hot group or style. The Cape and the east coast was a happening place with music and it seemed that I would always come home from vacation with some of the hot new songs and tips to the next cool groups to hit the mid-west airwaves. The Cape always seemed to have it going on musically during the summers. But here we were stuck in the dead of winter, in a whirlpool with only a dream of what was or was to come. We would eventually get out of our nice toasty warm tub and head to our cars and kick up the volume to a hot last summers group on a cassette that we had laying on the back seat. What kind of car, really? I thought this was a music memory. Ok, ok,, I drove my mother's 2 door blue '76 Ford LTD with the 400 V8, my of my good friends taught me to drive a stick shift on his modified stock 74 Ford Pinto (yes we loved it) and my other good friend had a 75 or 76 Ford Pinto with a tripped out home made sound system in the back that shook the back end when we got it cranking. 
      Anyway the Cape beach was where I got caught up on all the hot new music then took it home with me. Summer's on Cape Cod, Cool Music, Fun times, and good memories all helped to get us through the winter months of cold and snow in the wild mid-west. So what music so you remember listening to? Not sure if its good or not funny thing is a lot of these groups you can find on your Internet radio or you car radio still today, humm good music never goes away it just rocks on forever. Well, if someone would check the oil in the light house lamp and be sure it is full and burning bright, so that as soon as the time is to come that beacon is shinning strong to guide me home to old Cape Cod. 
      I have searched over my recipes and have come across some fun fish recipes that I have adapted from a host of different places. This has been altered from the original recipe just a bit so it moves past the total steal to just an interpretation of the original, without damaging the integrity of the original. The fish is well found around the Cape and thus is perfect for a nice Cape Cottage Kitchen. Hope you enjoy and try changing it up a little adding your own touches to make it again truly unique to your own family's likes and needs. Now enough of the gab and on with the show.

      This week's recipe: Pecan Crusted Scrod  w/ Lime Butter

•       4-6      4oz      scrod fillets (you can also use Haddock, or Flounder, Hake or Boston Bluefish)
•       6         Tbsp    melted butter
•       6         Tbsp    fresh lime juice
•       1/4       tsp      Kosher salt
•       1/4       tsp      ground pepper
•       1/4       tsp       Old Bay Seasoning
•       3/4       cup     chopped pecans (toasted)

      Mix 4 tablespoons of melted butter with 4 tablespoons of lime juice in a small pan and place on a low heat to keep warm. Sprinkle fillets with Kosher salt, pepper and Old Bay and drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and lime juice. Spray a large skillet (preferably non stick) with non stick spray place on a medium to high heat. Add fillets; saute for about 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Top fillets evenly with pecans. Service with warm lime-butter sauce. (Some have had you can switch out lemon juice for the lime juice both are evenly good)

Hippy Cape Flash Back & Pizza Pasta Salad

       Remember the days when bell bottom and elephant bottom pants where in style? Loud, bright colored shirts and blouses, beaded necklaces, chains and bracelets. What about the hand made yarn belts and waist ties with the frizzled ends. Sun glasses so big that they covered nearly half your face and outrageous hats and head pieces. Some remember the early to mid 60's other the late 60's to early 70's. The theme it seemed to many was sex, drugs and rock-n-roll, you were either totally into the scene or you thought the end of the world was coming and all associated with it was going to hell in a hand basket. The Cape has always been place of change, open minded thinking, a place for the far out/way out crowd, being a magnet to the artists community and to those that have always thought that thinking outside the box was the norm instead of the abnormal. Although I was still very young I remember my sisters who could come with us for a little bit before going back to school. And although neither one of them were into the rebellion movement, they did get into the clothing thing and they definitely had friends that were into the "in" crowds. I remember on several occasions as we were driving along 28 and the Lower Cape or out on 6 towards the Outer Cape seeing some of our friends kids looking to hitch a ride out to Truro, Welfleet the National Seashore or even all the way to Provinctown for some hot coffee house gathering or beach party going on. I really thought at that time that it would have been cool or should I say far out to be apart of that. Ok, I was born into a family where Dad was an Evangelical Baptist Preacher, like I had any chance of that happening. Although my Dad was more open to a lot of social changes than most evangelical pastors but there was a line and you always knew where he stood on issues and I had about as much chance of going anywhere like that at an early age as a fattened pig has of getting out of becoming bacon. Even my sisters knew that although Dad was open to change, there were some things you just did not push, and "swinging" with the crowd in a "detrimental" way, well lets just put it this was, hell had a better chance of seeing a snow blast. 

Another Year & Two SnowFlake Martinis

       Well 2012 is now upon us and the start of a new year is well at hand. I don't make resolutions, I find that I rare follow through with them and if I'm really serious about something I don't need to making un-necessary resolutions I just do it. However I am also quick to not that if a resolution is what helps you jump start your motor to getting things done, them more power to you. 

Kids - Piping Plovers & Chocolate-Coconut Dream Pie

Eat the pie, not the Plovers

Well it's the last of the year and not much has changed, except another year has passed, another year older. Memories and stories still run through my head like little kids running across a beach trying to get as close the water as they can without getting wet. You've seen them, anyone who has been to the beach has seen them.

I don't know which is funnier watching the Piping Plover or the little kids, as they run down to the waters edge as the water recedes than turns in retreat as the waves push back up onto the shore. Except with the little kids as they start to run back they get to giggling and laughing, the arms start to flail about and they look like Weebles, only difference is they do fall down. They get stunned, with that dazed looked on their face, like what just happened. Than a parent, is quickly to their aid, helps them up, brushes off the sand from the face. Gets them balanced, then before Mom or Dad has a chance to get back to their towel off goes the toddler, back chasing the water line, only distracted by his or her footprints disappearing as the water glides back in over their toes. 

Doesn't sound much like a memory until you look start to look around and notice that your own kids are now 21 and above, and the time is well before any thought of grandkids. You begin to wonder where all the time has gone and what lies before you. You hope and pray that someday those you raised will grow the love the same things you did. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, but one thing will be sure, no one will be able to take away the memories of what good times you had getting to where you are at. So next time you are at the beach, take the time to look around, listen the sounds that are going on, than remember all the good and fun times you have had with friends and family and look forward to who you can share that next memory with or who you can help make new memories with.

Well, have a great and grand New Year and may all your dreams and hope come true, and hope to see you soon on the sand side of the Cape. Until than if someone would keep on eye on the oil in the lighthouse lamp and keep it filled and the wick trimmed. And soon someday I will do the same for the next one that longs to call the Cape home and needs that encouraging beacon shinning their way.        

This weeks recipe is a change from what I originally had planned. There are times that you start to look at a recipe and there are so many name brands involved that I start to question who or where it came from. Then I found the recipe on the back of a brand package, and two pages over the same recipe on a different product's label but also used in the recipe. So who do I give credit to, or do I chance some other infringement. So with all that said, what a lot of hoop-de-do for the last recipe of the year. Oh well.

Chocolate Cocanut Dream Pie.This again comes out the wife's Mother's collection and I think was out of a news paper or copied from some small town food section. The name of the person at the bottom is half cut off so can not even give credit that way. This recipe is a little more involved than usual and more than I like to give. But after looking at it, the directions although wordy are step by step and fairly easy to follow, which does help a lot. So with all that hub-ba-ba-loo on with the show and I hope you at least give this recipe try. I don't think you will be disappointed. 

This week's recipe: Chocolate-Coconut Dream Pie

•       7      oz.      flaked coconut (2 each 3 1/2 oz cans)
•      3/4    cup      butter or margarine, softened
•       8      oz.      semi-sweet chocolate squares (1 pkg)
•       2      Tbls.    milk
•      1/2    cup      powdered sugar
•      1/4    cup      sugar
•       3                 eggs
•       1      tsp.      vanilla
•      1/4    tsp.      salt
•      1/2    cup      heavy cream, whipped
•       1      Tbls.    grated lemon peel

Toast coconut until golden (about 10 minutes) in 12 inch skillet over medium heat, shaking skillet frequently. Remove skillet from heat. In a heavy 2 quart saucepan heat 4 tablespoons butter or margarine and 4 squares of chocolate over low hear until melted and smooth. Remove from heat, stir in milk, toasted coconut and powdered sugar. Press coconut mixture on bottom and sides of greased 9 inch pie plate to make a crust. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.

Prepare chocolate filling: Melt remaining 4 square of chocolate over low heat in small heavy saucepan, remove from heat. In a small bowl, beat at medium speed sugar and remaining butter or margarine until light and fluffy Beat in melted chocolate, then eggs, vanilla and salt until blended. 9Do not change order of adding ingredients or mixture may curdle.) Beat 2 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened.

Spoon into crust and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. When ready to serve pie, top with dollops of whipped cream (or use a decorating bag with large rosette tip to decorate) and sprinkle with grated lemon pie.

A Cape Christmas Thought & Polynesian Ribs

      Its a wonderful wacky and wild way to a wintry wonder land. To think what would Hanukkah and Christmas be without that weird white stuff that comes from the sky. We can all hope, whether on the Cape or in the mid-west or anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line. But most of our chances have run thin for this year for having any measurable white stuff for the jolly old Elf himself is almost near nill. I'm starting to think that the best means for travel around the Cape is going to be by boat for the man in the red suit. So better reason to keep ye ole lighthouse lamps full and the beacon burning brightly. 
      Speaking of Light houses, I love seeing the pictures of the Cape lighthouses all decked out for the holidays. From Nobska with its all white tower and the large Christmas wreath suspended high above the ground and the sea. It's spotlighted from below to bring it a glow, for each passing observer to view from close and afar, even the ones on a ferry to the Islands they go. Now Chatham's Lighthouse is not to be out done as it sits on the elbow of the Capes south east shores. It too is all splendor and grand standing so tall with it's robe all white. And like that at Nobska it too sports a wreath up high in the air so people can see from land, air or sea. So if your in town and out on the point, don't forget to take a trip for this sight. 
      Now not may others may take up this fight to see who can out weather the other. But when it's all over these might  just shiver as the others just might be a postcard when winter's snow glistens. Please take a nice visit to all the lighthouses and see what spender the winter wonders bring to these sights. Whether snow on the grown with a moon lit night or a visit during the holiday days to see a wreath in a wonderful spot. You will not be disappointed with any of the views, as you will be surveying them all on wonderful old Cape Cod.
      Another fun thing that I have enjoyed looking at pictures of is some of the harbors and the boats that are all decked out with tinsel and bows. And I can only image what each little village display is like as you travel the road tween Sandwich and Provincetown. When you finally get to the end you will see such a sight with Pilgrim's Memorial all aglow with much lights and what can be said about the lobster pot tree. 
      If someone ever tells you that the Cape is dead and boring after Columbus day, tell them to go play humbug with someone else. Cause even thought many hours have changed, and yes some of the store are boarded and closed. There are many now open with sights to be seen. So take a chance and go visit the Cape, even though it's not sunny and 80. Well that's my little Christmas Cape whim-ze, a memory I look forward every year seeing the pictures and reading what fun is all going on all over the Cape. In the mean time, pour an extra ounce of oil in the pot so that when it's all over there is enough to continue to burn bright and hopefully lead me the way to my home on Cape Cod. But until then have a great and wonderful day, a happy Hanukkah and a very Merry Christmas. 
      Well this is one of those recipe's that is on a well worn 3 x 5 that is well stained and faded. It has a date of 1962 and a copy has 1963 so not sure which, but is oh so yummy. This is a great change from the normal holiday givings, and could be a nice change for New Year or even a great January winter party dinner. So on with the show and hope you find a liking to this change of pace. Now on with the show;
      This weeks recipe: Polynesian Ribs

•       3      lbs       ribs 2 - 2 1/2 inch strips
•      1/4    cup      sugar
•       1      tsp       smoked salt
•       1      recipe   Polynesian BBQ Sauce

      
      Rub spare ribs on both sides with sugar & salt. Let stand 2 hours. Brush with BBQ  Sauce, let stand 1 hour or longer preferably. Place ribs meat side up on rack in shallow pan. Back 450 degrees 15 minutes, spoon off fat. Reduce to 350 and bake 1 hour or till done, turning and brushing with sauce a few times. Cut in pieces. 

      Polynesian BBQ Sauce

•      1/2     cup      soy sauce
•       3      Tbls      brown sugar
•      1/2     cup      ketchup
•       1       tsp      ginger
•       1       tsp      accent

      Mix ingredients and let stand over night before using. 

      Chinese Mustard Sauce

•      1/4     cup      boiling water
•      1/4     cup      dry English mustard
•      1/2     tsp       salt
•       2       tsp       salad oil

      Stir water into mustard. Add salt and oil. Pour into serving bowl. makes about 1/3 cup.

Keeping Warm Memories & Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes

      Well it's December 14th, 10 days till Christmas eve, it's in 50s outside, rainy and the ground is rather muddy. Far cry from sunny, mid to upper 70's, clear blue skies, and warm Nantucket waters and hot sun baked sand. Now mind you I'm not missing the 20 degree or less temperatures and wind chill factors of near zero. And I do like my snow, when the calendar says it's winter. But as a popular sports program say's "Come on Man", if I had my choice I would be enjoying those summer sunny days, relaxing without a care or worry on a quiet strip of beach on beautiful Cape Cod. Remember last year, or maybe you have to reach back a couple years, how nice it was. NO, no, no not my first year when there was more water coming out of the sky than there was in the Cape Cod Bay, or so we thought. I'm talking about the next year when there was more sun than could be bottled in a hair bleaching factory in a lifetime. These are the memories that get us through the dim and dingy dreary days of winter. When looking outside is more dismal than running out of gravy during a holiday meal with dry turkey and lumpy mashed potatoes. Don't you just love the food analogies. Anyway, memories of luscious green fairways of a well kept Cape golf course or the fantastic vista from the Highland Links number 7 tee box overlooking the Highland cliffs out onto the Atlantic Ocean. Or what about enjoying the view while sitting on the banks just outside of Nobska Light watching the ferries shuttle passengers between Falmouth and the Vineyard, after taking a diversion from your bike ride on the Shining Sea Bikeway.
      Memories don't always need to be filled with side splitting stories of Dad's showing up on the beach wearing the most embarrassing garment that someone every imagined to sell as swimwear. Or stories that make some go,, hummm, when you have a very modest Mother not sure how she is going to handle only having a shower that is outdoors, or the just roll on the floor, tear spilling time when the too young to be an expectant mother gets herself locked in the bathroom and is too embarrassed to call for help, years later, naa, later that same day it has become one of the funniest things ever. But when all is said and done, memories can just be those relaxing times that when all around seems dreary and blah, that can spark a smile on your face and help lighten the day. 
      I love Cape Cod and everything it has given and everything it still has to offer, and just gets me excited to what else I have yet discover and what new memories I still have to encounter. So during these next several months when you think it will never end, just sit back, close your eyes, and remember what is to come when the sun reappears and weather warms, on wonderful old Cape Cod. Until the time comes, if someone would please keep an eye on the oil level in the light house lamp and be sure the wick is trimmed and burning bright for my travels to home sweet Cape Cod home. Have a great and wonderful day, always on Cape Cod.         
      Coming to the end of the year I think one needs to finish strong. Having been in sales, customer service, training and development and operations over the past near 30 years of my life I have heard all the sales tips, delivery and presentation gimmicks and customer service tactics that could chock a very large animal. But one thing that just about all have in comment is this, start strong, and finish strong, and you will hook them and reel em in. If you don't start strong you will rarely have them at the end but catch their attention just enough to get them to the end them close it strong. So what does that have to do with food. Well start your meal out with great cocktail, keep their interest with some good sides dishes and a tasty main entry then close it with a wonderful dessert. Give em enough cocktails they wont care about the sides and entry and kill em with dessert they will talk about nothing else but how great you are as a cook. Ok, so I like to stretch things a little but what can I say. The good thing for me is I want you to have a full grand experience throughout the meal. So I care about what is in the middle between the cocktail and the dessert. So as we finish the year and head to the last of the years holiday season I want that hot vegetable dish to complement just about anything you put on your holiday table. This weeks recipe is as time proven as can be and is expected on more tables then can agree on the main dish. This one comes again from the  wife's Mother's collection, Judy K. one of my Father in law's peers wife and a very good friend and colleague. So I hope after muddling through the middle of this paragraph you find a strong finish with the actual recipe. So without further dragging this on and on,, I hope you find this recipe more then just a holiday favorite. 

      This weeks recipe: Easy Candied Sweet Potatoes

•       6      medium   sweet potatoes
•      3/4    cup          brown sugar, firmly packed
•       1      tsp.          salt
•      1/3    cup          butter
•               dash        nutmeg

      Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Boil sweet potatoes, peel and slice. Arrange in layers in a greased casserole, sprinkling each layer witgh brown sugar, salt nutmeg and bits of butter. Bake in preheated oven about 30 minutes. (May also be cooked on top of stove in heavy skillet, basting frequently.)  serves about 6

A Seasonal Whim and a Lamasina Cocktail

      Well tis the season and all the ho ho hoing and fa la la la laing. But really what is Christmas all about when you think of Cape Cod. Is it the red red crane berry, or the jolly holly berry, or the sugared beach plum pudding, what about a nice Charlie Brown Christmas pine tree that looks like it just outlasted a hurricane. Ah what a wonderful time of the year, with much mistletoeing and everything glowing, glowing? Is that something that washed up on shore across from Pilgrim's Nuclear power plant or is just Sandwich all decked out it's ribbon and bowes and bright tinseled toes with light bulbs abounding on each and every roof of all the tiny shops lined up in a row, creating a landing strip effect for Santa and his 8 miniature reindeer? I can just imagine Santa taking off down the back side of the Cape off a short run down 6A between Brewster and Dennis or making a calculated landing somewhere between Cummaquid and Barnstable only to slide off the road and into a bog. Or getting clearance to pass over Otis Airforce base to on his way down to Falmouth following the beacon of Nobska to make his deliveries to all at both the southern tip and on to the Islands. 

Cape Generosity & Fruit Cake

      Is this the time of the season that we start to get cabin fever, dreaming of warmer sunny days, while strolling across a beach permeating with coconut butter and the sounds of children playing at the waters edge. Or am I too early to start wishing that, since we have not even had a decent first real snow fall. Oh well, I guess we need to let the seasons run their course and enjoy each transition as they come and go. This year I have had a hard time getting getting geared up for the Christmas season. In past years I have been so entwined in Christmas musicals and pagantries that by this time of the year I have been singing Christmas music for at least 60 to 90 day. So when one of the Cape stations went to all Christmas till Christmas, I had to find something to fill it. But what I ran across was a nice cross section of pop music and an occasional Christmas tune to heal ease my way into the Christmas spirit. This station is really helping to kick off the holiday season as they join forces with the Marines to stuff a bus with toys for Cape Cod Children of families in need. I look forward to listening to hear how this year turns out and how well the bus gets stuffed and just how the poor DJ weathers the weather while sleeping and doing the broadcast from the bus.