Sunday, July 27, 2008

Biking Along The Boise River

Here is a short video - 2:47 - of us riding along the Boise River on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Coopersburg

I have been watching Robin's video off and on, I keep getting interupted. Anyway, during one of the times that I had to stop, I googled Allentown Hosiery Company and found this link that gives the history of Coopersburg!

http://www.livingplaces.com/PA/Lehigh_County/Coopersburg_Borough.html

Now, back to the video!

Robin's Retirement Tribute

I know, this may look long, but it is worth the time to watch this. Really fun to do - it took close to 60 years to gather the information for the video - and it is dedicated to Robin, who deserves every bit of recognition and this tribute.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Cream Cheese and Blueberry Brioche

I have had some email on how to make this Brioche. Actually, it's not difficult.

Start with a fresh batch of Brioche dough. After the final rise -

Using a rolling pin, flatten some of the dough out to about 1/4 inch. Cut a 4"x4" square. (I use a Tupperware container as a guide.) Spread a little cream cheese on the dough ...


and then sprinkle some sweetened fresh blueberries on the cream cheese.

Start to fold the corners of the dough over the blueberry/cream cheese.

Continue to fold each corner in to form a sealed packet....

The packet should look something like this.

Bake in a 350 degree F pre-heated oven for about 15 - 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let these puppies cool! Then enjoy!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Camera on Bike

Robin asked a while back if we can video while on a bike ride. Well, yes you can. All I had to do is figure a way to mount the camera on the bike. And with a #16 stainless steel screw clamp, a 1"x1/4" #20 bolt, two 1/4" nuts (all though, two wing nuts may work better), some 1/2" strip insulation and we have the camera mounted. Place the clamp on the handle bar. Mark where the top center is. Remove the clamp and drill a 1/4" hole. Place the bolt through the hole and secure with one nut. Wrap the handle bar with the insulation - only one layer. Attach the screw clamp with the bolt facing up. Place the other nut on the bolt. Attach the camera and secure in place with the 2nd nut and you're done. Yup! It works. Here's the proof.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Our Silver Anniversary in Silver City, Idaho

Our Silver Anniversary in Silver City, Idaho! What an adventure and what fun! The photos of Silver City are historic, in that the buildings and furnishing are as they were in the mid 1860's. The items in the rooms, lamps, beds, drug store items, etc., are all the actual furnishings as they were in the time - they are the actual furnishings. Silver City is on BLM land, but the buildings are all privately owned. Electricity is at a premium, but there is running water. The temperature at night was in the 40's with warm days. There was still snow on the higher peaks. Robin and I thank Jerri and Roger Nelson, owners of the Idaho Hotel, for their hospitality and Geno, Marnie, Kim and Michelle for helping in the kitchen for the Saturday night dinner. It was an extremely successful and enjoyable weekend. Robin and I hope to see you next year on the weekend of 10 - 13 July 2009. If you want copies of the photos, let me know the name of the photo and I will send it to you.

Friday, July 11, 2008

We Did It Again!

I received an email this morning with this link in it Click Here. What a great way to start off the day! This is an online blog/magazine from CharBroil, the ones who make the grill we have. Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Silver City Pate's

Here are two more recipes for our Silver City sojourn this week. A Red Lentil, Onion and Carrot Pate and a Robin's Silver Anniversary Cabernet Mushroom Pate. Both of these are wonderful! Try them, you'll like them.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Idaho Hotel, Silver City Menu

Well, you'd think I didn't have anything else to do. But Jerri Nelson, owner of the Idaho Hotel, was here tonight and we finalized the menu. For $25.00 per person, you get This Menu, choice of one of the entres. This is going to be so much fun! As it is every year, but this year is very special. And it is so much fun preparing these menus. See you there?

Backyard Additions

Robin did the taping for her radio spot today and on her way home she found these. They are carved wood.

"Hear No Evil, See No Evil and Speak No Evil"


And then there's always "Frog Went A'Courtin', he did go ...." Thank-You Burl Ives.


An Heirloom Tomato that looks like we might eat it in a couple of weeks. Yes, off our patio.


And then there's always Buddy. But this was taken this past weekend after he sprained his right front ankle chasing a squirrel. He's better now. He just does not look happy here. He's hurting. So we wrapped his ankle in an ace bandage and gave him 1/2 an aspirin a day for two days. He is much better today, chasing the neighborhood "Parrots" - goofy looking teens with red, yellow, orange, green and purple hair.

Hello.....

Hey guys! I have been watching this blog things for a few weeks now but have yet to post, so here it goes....

The last few months for me have been very busy and very eventful. In May, I graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Civil Engineering (as you can see by my mom's pictures.) After graduation, I traveled to several places around the country. First stop was North Carolinia to visit Grandma and Jim in their new house. After a few days of visiting we left for New Oreleans on the train. We spent 4 days in New Orleans taking in the sites and eating a lot of really good food. it was a great trip! After New Orleans I spent a few days at home before heading to New York. I rode the bus from Washington DC to NYC to meet my little sister in my sorority who lives about 45 minutes outside the city. We had a good visit and I returned to Manassas. A few days later I was on a plane to visit my dad's brother (Uncle John and Aunt Laura) in Eugene Oregon. This was my first time to the west coast. We took several day trips to the mountains, the coast and Portland. I saw a lot in a week. I returned to Manassas with less than a week to go before I started work.

On June 23rd, I began my first permanent full time job at Rinker Design Associates located in Old Town Manassas. I had worked there for the past two summers and over winter breaks so I was not too nervous about what to expect. After the first week of work flew by I met up with two friends on mine who had all decided we were going to live together this year. They are both graduate students at George Washington University in Washington DC so we decided to look in the Arlington area close to the metro and 66 so I can commute to work. After looking at a few houses we found a cute little house on the border of Arlington and Falls Church right at the East Falls Church metro stop. The house is three bedroom, two bathroom with a decent sized yard for the city. We are still in the process of working out all the details but we are moving into the house on August 1st. I am very excited to get out on my own with my own space and responsibilites. Well thats is all that is going on here for now. I better get back to work but just thought I would contribute something to let everyone know what is going on in my life.

Love,
Maggie

Monday, July 7, 2008

Silver City, Idaho

It won't be long now before we are at the Idaho Hotel in Silver City. About 2 hours south of here in the Oyhee Mountains. So here are some of the recipes we will be using to make dinner for 29 people at the hotel on Saturday night. I will post some photos when we get back. We will be making a Cold Fermented Italian Bread, a Bastille Bread Fougasse (July 14th is Bastille Day and our actual anniversary), our infamous Pulled Pork and a Poached Salmon. Along with all of that, we will have a cold Carrot Soup, Sauteed Fresh Vegetables, Saffron Rice, Baked Beans, Parsley Red Potatoes, Fresh Garden Salad and dessert. I don't know what the dessert will be, Jerri Nelson - the owner of the hotel - is keeping that a surprise. Plus, we will have a variety of wines.

The bread is now fermenting, the pork is marinating and tomorrow I will probably put some salmon on to brine and smoke for a Friday night party. For Friday night, Robin is making a Wild Mushroom Pate and a Lentil Pate. I am making a Browned Potato Slices and the above mentioned Cold Fermented Italian Bread that I will make into baguettes. Sounds good already - just lots of prep work.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Grilled Vegetable Marinade

So the question is: How do you grill those vegetables. Not hard at all. Here is the recipe for the Grilled Vegetable Marinade. Actually the hardest part is not to burn the vegies. Low and slow are the key words. Just carmelize them - they will turn a light to medium brown. You can even carefully do these on top of a stove, but I really prefer the grill. Enjoy.

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Pulled Pork and Smoked Chicken Recipes

When I use this recipe, I use it mainly for Pulled Pork and marinade it for 24 - 48 hours refrigerated. I also use this for Brisket, Beef Ribs and Pork ribs. This recipe is not for the faint hearted. I use a smoker (Bradley), but if you are inventive (See photos below) you can use a gas or charcoal or gas/charcoal combination grill. Indirect heat and temperature control are essential. Here is the recipe for Pulled Pork or other meats as listed above. Depending on the size of the beef or pork you are using, it will take from 2 1/2 to 12 hours to smoke. Enjoy, and let us know how you enjoy it.

On the other hand, when I do chicken, either whole or parts, leg/thigh, breasts, etc., I use this marinade: Smoked Chicken. Again, I marinade it for 24 - 48 hours refrigerated. The chicken takes about 2 1/2 hours to smoke. Enjoy!

Marionberry, Peach and Blueberry Cobbler


Hi Gang!
Here is a link to the Marionberry, Peach and Blueberry Cobbler that Robin and Marnie made for our 4th of July. I don't particularly like cobblers, but this one is awesome and I really think you will enjoy it! Try it and let us know.

Manassas Fourth and house

Friday, July 4, 2008

4th of July Fireworks Over Boise

OK. So I had to try out the telephoto. I had to prop the lens against a stop sign. The display was about 2 miles away from the house and I had to shoot through the trees on the other side of the street.

July 4th Grilling!


The grilling party we had. Chicken, ribs, grilled vegies, baked beans and lots of fun. The key to the grilling is to keep the grill at a constant temperature, about 275-325 degrees and over indirect heat. Lots of mesquite smoke, or hickory or apple if you prefer. Marinate the ribs for 24 hours and the chicken, too. The beer for the chicken, actually an ale, was a Gouden Carolus Noel from Anker Brewery, Mechelen, Belgium. It is best aged for 2-3 years in your "Beer Cooler". This one was aged for 2 years in ours. Grill for 2 1/2 hours and then Dig In! Dinner was then topped off with a Blueberry, Peach and Marionberry Cobbler that Robin made. Awesome!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Hello all!!!

Hello family,

I have finally figured out how to use this blog-thing. Even being 25 years young, I an not this technologically advanced...so bear with me. Hope everyone is doing well. Life for me is grand. I miss everyone dearly.
I just graduated with a degree in history, and am now job hunting. This seems to be the year for graduates; congrats Louis and Maggie.
Just wanted to say hello for now. I will post some pictures as soon as I figure out how. I love everyone to see my beautiful family photos.


Love to all, Jessica

Check out my Slide Show!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Our garden in late June

The garden seems to be doing fine. We had an early morning rain on Tuesday, that really made the garden "Happy". The tomatoes had to be staked up; the lettuce is doing fine; the corn is growing - I just hope that it makes the 180 day growing time. The herbs are growing nicely as are the pole beans. I don't know what will happen with the artichokes, I've never grown them before.

Things got a very slow and late start as we had a very cold and wet Spring. Really late putting in the corn, tomatoes and melons. But the herbs, except for the basil, nor the lettuce, spinach, onions and beans minded the cold weather. Here's hoping for a productive late summer.