I’m back from a great camping trip at Anastasia State Park. We went into old town St. Augustine twice. Being a history buff, old town is one of my favorite places to visit since the city is the oldest city in the U.S..
I will be showing photos from the trip over the next week or so. For now, enjoy this shot from the San Marcos Fort in St. Augustine. The fort overlooks Mantazas Bay and is a stones throw from where Ponce de Leon first landed in search of the Fountain of Youth.
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I’ll be out of town for the next three days as I’m going camping at the beautiful Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, FL. Unfortunately, I don’t have a laptop so I won’t be online for those days. However, I should have some great photos and hopefully a new feature that I’m hoping to implement on this blog. For now, I hope one and all had a joyous holiday and enjoy another sunset on the Banana River.
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Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas (or whatever holiday you choose to celebrate) and the happiest of New Year’s!
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For more great photos, visit Wordless Wednesday.
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After enjoying the yummy food at Coconuts a few weeks ago, my friend and I decided to try to replicate the Crab Melt from there. I have to say, ours exceeded expectations (and theirs.) So I thought I’d share the recipe with you and we’ve decided to call them Cape Crab Melts. Also, each muffin can be quartered to make a great appetizer.
Now I’m a by-taste cook. I don’t pay too much attention to quantities, so I’ll try to estimate it as best I can. To me, that’s the fun part of cooking, kind of trial and error, make it up as you go along.
Cape Crab Melts
1 package crab meat, flaked (fresh crab would be even better)
2 Tablespoons each muffin of cheese (half colby/monterray jack, half sharp cheddar)
two thick slices (chopped) onion
1 clove garlic (chopped)
1 package Hollandaise sauce
salt, fresh ground black pepper, red pepper, garlic powder, cajun seasoning to taste
key lime mustard
4 English muffins, halved
Toast English muffin halves lightly as oven preheats to 350 degree, for about 5 minutes.
Flake crab meat.
Saute onion and garlic in 1 Tablespoon butter. Begin Hollandaise sauce, cook on low heat, slowly.
Make key lime mustard (recipe to follow)
Spread key lime mustard on English muffin halves.
Toss flaked crab meat with onion/garlic to heat through. Add a few shakes each of salt, garlic powder, red pepper, cajun seasoning and fresh ground black pepper (if using fresh crab, like blue crab, forgo the salt.)
Top English muffins with crab meat and then two Tablespoons each cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 minutes. After removing from oven, drizzle Hollandaise over the top, add a few grinds each muffin of fresh ground black pepper and garnish with fresh parsley.
Hollandaise Sauce
1 package Hollandaise Sauce
1 cup of milk
1/4 cup of butter
While the package says you can cook this in a minute, we placed the ingredients in a pot and cooked on low for the whole duration of the crab melt prep and cooking. Stir often, letting the butter melt and the sauce thicken. Once it starts to thicken, turn the heat off and it will thicken even more.
Key Lime Mustard
1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
2 Tablespoons horseradish mayonaise
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons key lime juice
a couple of grinds of fresh ground black pepper
Add ingredients together and mix with a spoon.
Enjoy! We did!
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For more great photos visit Wordless Wednesday
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I few weeks ago a friend and I had lunch at Coconuts on Cocoa Beach. It’s both a tourist and local hang out because it’s one of the few places in the area that is actually on the beach.
The view is gorgeous and the food delicious. It’s the perfect spot to speed a few hours on a weekday having an afternoon cocktail and meal.
The back patio/deck.
The outdoor bar.
The view from our table.
I had a crab burger with Key Lime Mustard and fresh fruit.
My friend had a crab melt with cheese and holandaise sauce with fresh fruit.
Another view from our table.
The food was excellent and the service good. At night during the week and on weekends, they usually have live music.
You can find Coconuts on Cocoa Beach at:
25 S Atlantic Ave
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
(321) 784-1488
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I’ve been so busy lately, and I (of course and to be expected and frowned on) apologize for my lack of dropping cards. As a gift, here is another beautiful Banana River sunset, Florida style. Enjoy!
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The other day my photographer friend, Mark, asked me if I’d like to go with him to pick up a few of his photos from a frame shop in Cocoa Beach. Of course, I was happy to go along.
The Art Shop is located in a quaint little shopping center along with a consignment shop, a stained glass studio and a small little bar. When done getting his photos, Mark asked if I’d like to go down a few doors and meet local artist, Rick Piper, who also has a gallery in the center. As a lover of art, I wasn’t about to say no.
Rick is a tall and very pleasant man. He gladly showed us around his gallery, including a large piece he’s working on.
When Mark asked him how he characterized his art, Rick says he doesn’t. He’s not into labeling and believes that either something in a work speaks to you on some level or it doesn’t. Plain and simple.
While I wouldn’t dare to characterize it either, suffice to say that his work is vivid and colorful. It has a tropical feel regardless of subject matter, and this is a painter who is greatly inspired by nature. Seldom, if ever, do any of his paintings contain straight lines. He likes motion and it shows in his works.
Admittedly, one of his influences is Salvador Dali, and the surreal influence can be felt in many of his paintings.
While he admits to always drawing as a child, he worked for the space agency for years creating 3-D computer models of astronauts and the space station. Ten years ago, he gave up that job and began painting full time. Now his works sell for upwards of $4000.
To check out Rick Piper’s work, visit A Gallery of Rick Piper or visit his Art from the Mind’s Eye Etsy store.
His Big Art Studio is located at 18 N. Brevard Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Turn west off of A1A onto Minuteman Causeway, then take the first right onto Brevard street. The Gallery sits on the west side of Brevard. His studio hours are 11-5.
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