Our Islamorada vacation- Day one Underwater

I have a video to share with you of our first day underwater in Islamorada.  In this video you will see Spencer practicing his skills, Randy getting used to diving again after twenty some years and Lili and Ryan getting comfortable under the water after a 2 year hiatus.  The instructor is in the lead watching his group.  I am in the yellow fins often swimming backwards so I can keep an eye on the kids. Frank is manning the camera from behind us all.  I hope you enjoy it.

It has been a good weekend.  Friday night, we had a gathering of friends over.  The women and some of the men got facials and waxing while the others ate, drank and visited.  Last night we met friends at a bar in which his band was playing, had dinner and watched the first set.  Today we are heading to Amy's for dinner.  Life is good....Happy Sunday all. 

Wine Pairing Weekend Celebrates Spring--WinePW

We are celebrating Spring here at Wine PW.  Unfortunately, here in Michigan it is below freezing temperatures with flurries of snow.  At least it is on the day I am writing this.  Tomorrow or the day after when I post this it is liable to be 70 and sunshine.  Welcome to Michigan folks.

However, life is not bad...We just got home from a week in sunny Florida and next week we will be in beautiful Bonaire for another week of diving.  Life is very good.  So when I saw this bottle of Les Dauphin Cote du Rhone at the market how could I not buy it?

Perhaps the French word for these mammals is why we mistakenly call them Dolphins instead of Porpoises.  We have not been lucky enough to dive with these guys but we have had them travel along with our boats to dive sites and it is always thrilling.

This is a dolphin fish.  We call it Mahi Mahi and it is delicious to eat.  One of my favorites in fact and what I originally thought to serve with this crisp, unoaked, white wine from the Rhone Valley. But I didn't.

The reason I didn't is because our theme for this months Fish Friday Foodies is whole fish.  A whole dolphin fish is huge and I am not going to be here next week....remember I will be in sunny Bonaire, perhaps diving with dolphins, the mammal not the fish.  Well, maybe the fish too.  You know what I mean.

So because I wanted to take care of my Fish Friday Foodies post before we left I decided to serve this wine with a Whole Roasted Branzini.  I will be sharing that recipe with you next week.

I was very pleased with the pairing.  The Les Dauphins is a relatively new label being produced by Union des Vignerons Cotes du Rhone.  According to the article that I read by Christopher of Drink Hacker, it is a bistro inspired brand that is priced to sell.  I read this article, after I found my wine that, as stated earlier, I only bought because it was from Rhone Valley which we are featuring today at WinePW and because I liked the name.  I paid $12 for my bottle that is a mixture of several grapes, 65% of which is Grenache.  It poured clean and crisp.  The nose is bright and grassy.  

Reading Christopher's article, after having paired and tasted this wine, I was surprised at the B- rating that he gave.  I would give it a B+ or at the least a solid B.  I enjoyed the wine.  I thought it paired well with the roasted fish that I served and thought is was a great value.  It is a nice dry wine without being as acidic as some Sauvignon Blanc's that I have tried.  I think I would still go with a glass of oaked Chardonnay if I just want a glass of wine to sip on the patio in hot weather, but for pairing with food I thought the Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone was perfect.

This month's Wine PW is being hosted by Jill and Jason of L'Occasion.  I think the choice of Rhone Wines with Spring Flavors is perfect.  Let's see what other Spring Flavors are being shared today.

• Jeff from Food Wine Click: Rabbit and Rhône
•  Michelle from Rockin Red Blog: Springtime in the Southern Rhône with #winePW 
• Nancy from Pull That Cork: Scallops, Spring Veggies + a White CDP for #winePW
• Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla: Braised Boar Shanks With Bitter Herb Salad + Vacqueyras Beaumirail
•  David from Cooking Chat: Kale Pesto Tilapia with Wine from Southern Rhône
• Martin from Enofylz Wine Blog: A Tavel Paired with Spring BBQ #WinePW 
•  Meaghan from Un Assaggio: Grilled Rack of Lamb + Arnoux & Fils Vieux Clocher #winePW 
•  Cindy from Grape Experiences : Wine and Dine: Rosé from Costières de Nîmes and Rack of Lamb with Rosemary 
•  Sarah and Tim from Curious Cuisiniere: Escalivada (Spanish Roasted Vegetables) paired with South Rhône Rosé 
•  Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm: Wine Pairing Weekend Celebrates Spring 
• Kristen from The Armchair Sommelier: The High Crime of Mushroom Substitution
•  Jill from L'occasion (me, with my husband Jason as the chef): Welcome Spring with Fresh Food & Le Ferme Du Mont Côtes du Rhône

David of Cooking Chat started this event in June of 2014, and every month since then this group of wine and food lovers have had a great time! For more background, check out the original post announcing Wine Pairing Weekend. On the second Saturday of each month, a group of bloggers who are passionate about the way good wine enhances a meal come together to blog about a wine pairing they have done. Each month has a different Wine Pairing Weekend theme to focus the pairings. I'm the host of this month's #winePW, a celebration of the theme: Spring Meal Pairings for Southern Rhône Wines.

Join us as we share blog posts and experience live Twitter chat at 11 a.m. Eastern Time (10 a.m. Central) on Saturday, April 9, 2016.

Anyone interested is encouraged to join in the chat: food-lovers, travel-nuts, winemakers, Rhône residents, wine-lovers...please join us with the hashtag #winePW.

For a list of past and upcoming #winePW event, visit the Wine Pairing Weekend calendar here. We'd love to have you online with us!

The Weekly Menu posted early.....

Being on vacation last week and not coming home until Monday evening played havoc with my menu planning.  So when we got up Tuesday morning (late, around 9 am) I looked around at my bare cupboards and found everything I needed to make a quick and delicious coffee cake for breakfast. Then I dug in the freezer and found some Italian Sausage to serve for dinner so we made pasta and I decided to make this easy peasy Italian Bread to serve along side.

Yesterday we went and had our taxes done and then stopped by the fish market on the way home.  I made a delicious whole roasted fish that I will be sharing with you next week on Fish Friday Foodies.

This morning I pulled a bag that appears to be BBQ Pulled Pork from the freezer but it's not marked so until it defrosts I am not sure what we are having for dinner tonight.

Tomorrow I am having a fun get together at the house.  My friend, Marilyn, is a skin care expert and we are having a Peel Party.  Six of my friends are coming over and the seven of us will get facials. Each peel takes about half an hour so the rest of us will enjoy cocktails and munchies throughout the evening.

Saturday we may meet our friends, Rob and Linda, for dinner at the Dorsey House where Rob's band is playing.  Sunday the whole family is meeting at Amy and Doug's for dinner.  We are bringing drinks and dessert.  Monday, I have a meeting at church.  Tuesday we are meeting our friends, Mark and Helen, for dinner.  Wednesday I am working the food pantry. Thursday is choir and Friday we are staying out at the airport because our flight leaves at 6 am on Saturday.  Bonaire here we come!!

So here is my menu for this busy week.  Please stop by each day for photos, updates and recipes.

Thursday
Chef's Surprise

Friday
Cheese and Beer Fondue with Russian Reuben Brats, Cauliflower and Bread Cubes
Crostini with Goat Cheese,Olives, Lemon and Thyme
Chips with Salsa and Guacamole
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
BBQ Pork Sliders
Crudites with Dill Dip
Shrimp Cocktail
Cheese, Fruit and Nut Platter
Assorted Cocktails

Saturday
Out for dinner

Sunday-Dinner at Amy's
Brownies


Meatless Monday
Pasta Primavera

Tuesday 
Out for dinner

Wednesday
Split Pea Soup

Thursday
Slow Cooker Beef Tostadas

Friday
Vacation Bound!!

Homemade Italian Bread in less than 2 hours.

We arrived home from vacation late at night, slept in the next day and then were blessed with Little Miss Melody who came to spend the day while Mama worked.

Having cleaned out the refrigerator prior to leaving it was slim pickings in the house.  There are always eggs though.  Dozens of them since we hadn't been here to eat them, and that was after telling Karen to take some home for her and her daughter.  I had picked up some citrus in Florida and some pecans in Georgia so I made a delicious Orange Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel for breakfast.

I also had an unopened package of hot dogs and found a can of beans in the cupboard so it was Beanie Weenies for lunch.  Little Miss was one happy camper as was her Grampy.  They love Beanie Weenies, Grammy?  Not so much.  I went for a walk with my friend, Kim, during which we stopped and had lunch at our local diner.

Before I left for my walk I decided I better think about dinner as there was no Weekly Menu written for this week.  That is always a recipe for disaster in this household.  I looked in the freezer and pulled out some Italian Sausage.  Pasta is always an easy solution for what to serve for dinner when you have no plan.  I always have the makings for a pasta dish in the pantry.

A couple of hours before dinner I thought that I really should have something on the table to go along with the pasta.  I considered a Citrus Salad without the greens.  I was roaming around the kitchen to see what I could make out of the meager rations.  Frank asked what I was doing and when I told him he asked for bread.  Perfect!!!  Except I had told Tingting to be home for dinner at 6 and it was after 4 pm.  Hmmmmmm....no problem at all....thanks to this great recipe from Southern Living.

I used Red Star Platinum Yeast that I had recently received as a sponsor gift for the upcoming #Brunchweek.  This is the second recipe, using the Platinum and I am LOVING it!!  The only other adaptation I made was using my pizza stone instead of greasing and using a baking sheet.  This bread was light, airy and delicious.  We used a Tuscan Herb olive oil from Fustini's for dipping.  Delicious!

Quick Italian Loaf

Source: MyRecipes.com

1 envelope active dry yeast

1 t. sugar

1 c. warm water (100-110*)

2-3 c. bread flour

2 T. olive oil

1 t. salt

Combine the yeast, sugar and water in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.  Let stand for 5 minutes until foamy.  Add 2 c. flour, olive oil and salt to the yeast mixture and combine, using dough hook at low speed for one minute.  Gradually add additional flour until the dough is soft and smooth.  Increase speed to medium and knead for 5 minutes.  Cover the bowl with a warm, damp towel and let rise in a warm, draft free area for one hour or until doubled in size.

Once the dough has risen, punch down and shape into a loaf.  Cover with the redampened, warm towel and let rise for 10 minutes.  Place pizza stone in oven and preheat to 400*.  Cut slices in the top of your loaf with a sharp knife. (This prevents the bread from bursting on the sides) Place onto the hot stone (alternately you can use a greased baking pan) and bake for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack until ready to serve.  Print Recipe

Made it home just in time for #FoodieExtravaganza

Here's the thing.....I may....not saying I do but I may have a little OCD in my personality.  I love my blog and I love the blogging groups to which I belong but I can become a little bit obsessive about them.  Like, perhaps I will push to drive home from a vacation in Florida in two days instead of three so that I have time to make a recipe that is coming due....Would you consider that obsessive?  No? Phew, thank God....I was getting a little concerned about myself.

Obsessive or not, I was happy that I got home in time from my trip to make this delicious Coffee Cake for Foodie Extravaganza.  This is a great theme that was chosen by Caroline of Caroline's Cooking who is hosting for us this month.  I really didn't want to miss this month because:

1. I LOVE coffee cake
2. I LOVE Foodie Extravaganza
3. I picked up fresh Valencia Oranges while in Florida and then stopped in Georgia and got some pecans so I knew these would be perfect for this theme.
4. I have been on vacation for 8 days so I was anxious to get back in the kitchen.

I forgot to put my recipe name on the list by the deadline but Caroline was generous enough to allow me to sign up late.  Thank you so much Caroline, I owe you one.  If you are not familiar with our wonderful group just take a look under my recipe to get a full description and link to other great Coffee Cake creations!!

So without further ado I share with you now this wonderful Orange Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel. Enjoy!!

Orange Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel

Streusel:

1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. shelled pecans
2 T. flour
1 1/2 T. butter, softened
1 t. freshly grated orange zest

Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until combined and crumbly.  Set aside.

Cake:

1/4 c. butter, softened
1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 t. freshly grated orange zest
1/4 t. vanilla
1 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
juice of one orange

Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.  Stir in zest and vanilla.  Add remaining ingredients and beat on low speed until combined.  Increase speed to medium and beat until well blended.

Treat an 8" square baking pan with baking spray.  Add half the batter to the prepared pan.  Sprinkle with half the streusel.  Cover with remaining batter and sprinkle with remaining struesel.  Bake in a preheated 350* oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown and a skewer inserted in the center removes cleanly.  Print Recipe

It's Foodie Extravaganza Day and this month's theme is Coffee Cake with Caroline from Caroline's Cooking is hosting What is Foodie Extravaganza? It's when a group of bloggers get together and make a recipe using one main ingredient. Where do we get the ingredient? We look at The Nibble and pick something off of their list. You can check out our group Pinterest board for past recipes. If you're a blogger, you can join along with us by requesting to join on our Facebook page. Now, on to the goodness being shared this month:

• Almond Raspberry Cake by Food Lust People Love
• Blueberry vanilla coffee cake by Fearlessly Creative Mammas
• Cappuccino Cake by G'Gina's Kitchenette
• Caramel Coconut Coffee Cake by cookinandcraftin
• Classic Coffee Cake by Basic N Delicious
• Coffee Cake Cookies by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Coffee Cake in a Jiffy by Our Good Life
• Coffee Cake Muffins by I'm Hungry
• German Beer Coffee Cake by Wholistic Woman
• Gluten free hazelnut pear cake by Caroline's Cooking
• Kärleksmums (Swedish Coffee Cake) by Tara's Multicultural Table
• Lemon Thyme n Mint Loaf by Baking in Pyjamas
• Orange Coffee Cake with Pecan Streuse by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Polish Placek by Cooking With Carlee
• Simple Coffee Cake by Sneha's Recipe
• Strawberry Coffee Cake Muffins by Making Miracles

Our Trip by Land.....

Normally when we go on vacation, especially as far as the Keys in Florida, we fly. This trip we decided to drive down.  

The drive down there was not bad at all. We had made arrangements to make 2 stops and arrive at our resort the evening of the 3rd day.  

Our first stop was in Nashville where we were met by our friends, Kelly and Lou, who have lived in Tennessee for the past 23 years.We walked around and saw some of the sites and had dinner in town before heading to their lovely home situated on a golf course.  In the morning, Kelly made us some delicious ham and cheese crepes served with a lovely fruit salad before we headed south again.

Our second stop was at our friends, Heidi and Mike in The Villages, Florida.  Heidi and Mike both worked with us as police officers in the City of Warren.  Mike was the first to retire and Heidi the last having retired a mere 3 years ago.  It was Mike and Heidi that introduced Frank and I to scuba diving. They spend their winters in Florida and their summers in Northern Michigan.  The best of both worlds.  We had a great visit but didn't take any pics.  We enjoyed an early breakfast at one of the Country Clubs within The Villages and headed towards our resort in Islamorada.

We stayed at a little family run resort called The Ragged Edge.  It is small, quaint and clean.  It has a terrific setting and our rooms each had a full kitchen.  There are grills available and we shared a balcony where we could sit with cocktails and look out at this beautiful view.  The pool was a decent size and WARM...even perhaps a little too warm.  The only complaint that we had with this resort was that the beds were very uncomfortable.  

We were able to eat many of our meals right at the resort.  This not only saved us some money but it was also a good break from restaurant meals.  

We had a fishing excursion planned for Saturday but canceled due to rough seas. We decided to take a drive down the keys to the furthest point south in the USA.  We had lunch and strolled around Key West before returning to the resort for grilled burgers and our last night together before heading back north.

The drive home was a long one.  We drove to Macon, Georgia the first day where we grabbed some shut eye and headed out in the wee morning hours for the remainder of the trek home.  The dogs were very happy to see us.  We were very happy to see our bed and today we have our Little Miss!!   Life is good.

Frank is working on the diving photos.  I will be sharing our Trip by Sea shortly.

Lord John and the private matter....a book review

Today we completed our second day of diving and Spencer is now certifiable a fully certified diver. The dives have been wonderful and I will be sharing them with you shortly.  We saw lots of cool things.  The kids and Randy all got 4 dives in and Frank and I have an additional 2 to tell you about because we went this morning on some deeper dives.

Yesterday, after diving, Lili, Jen and I went and got our toes done.  The guys stayed home and made us dinner.  T-bone steaks on the grill along with grilled red potatoes and salad.  We were starving and it was delicious.  It was early to bed last night.  I think I was conked out by 11 pm but I did finish the book I was reading, Lord John and the private matter.  Those of you who have read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon ( a great series!!) will be familiar with Lord John.  The author delves deeper into his personality and his personal life in this series featuring him.  Lord John and the private matter is the first of the series.

I had been wanting this book for a while, having heard good things about the series. Then in January the Chaotic Goddesses hosted a wonderful Book and Cuppa Swap. I was assigned Ali of Home Crafts by Ali and she sent me a wonderful package that included this book.

I was a little disappointed after the first couple of chapters but my friend, Linda, told me to stick with it and I am glad that I did.  I ended up liking the book very much. Not as much as the Outlander series but very much just the same.  The book follows Lord John who is in the service of His Majesty's army during the 17th century in England.  He is assigned an investigation into the theft of some important papers that they fear will be given to the French.  During this investigation, Lord John finds it becoming personal as his cousin's fiance appears to be involved somehow.  It was a decent mystery and I will be reading the remaining books of the series.

We are off to dinner now and then early to bed again as tomorrow we are up bright and early for a day of charter fishing.