My rental car rattled over the old cobble stone road as I made my way into the historic town of Nantucket. Tourists were strolling the sidewalks dripping with flowers in window boxes. I was fresh off the red eye from San Jose to JFK and then JFK to Nantucket so I was feeling a little tired. The smell in the air was a mixture of fresh roasted coffee and the ocean. I was in love. I found my way to Union Street and into a tight parking place and sighed, it finally felt like I was on vacation. The hotel I had selected was a mid 18th century B&B and it was lovely. The cobblestone roads and brick laid cross walks made me feel like I was stepping back in time. Below are a few photos from my visit on the island… I wish I could send you the smell of fresh cut grass and sea roses. Enjoy! Shelley D
The car rattled over the old cobble stone road and I made my way into the historic town of Nantucket. Tourists stroll along the sidewalks dripping with dense flowers in window boxes. I’m fresh off the red eye from San Jose to JFK and then JFK to Nantucket so feeling a little tired. The smell in the air is a mixture of fresh roasted coffee and the ocean. I’m in love. I find my way to Union Street and into a tight parking place on the Union Street Inn property and sigh, I finally feel like I’m on vacation. The hotel is a mid 18th century B&B and it’s lovely. One of my favorite parts of the town are the cobblestone roads and the brick laid cross walks. It’s like stepping back in time. Here are a few photos from my first day on the island…
I’ll write more on the hotel in a separate post. But now I want to take you through the town with my photos. I wish I could send you the smell of fresh cut grass and sea roses. Here are some photos from my first day 💗💗💗
For those of you who know me – you know I LOVE bacon. I’ve been in this relationship since I was a child. It wasn’t one I had to constantly work on. No, no, no… It seems to always just be there. In my drawer, at the store, on a plate on my desk….So it just made sense one day, bacon would be the perfect 5th food group – in lasagna! And hence it was born… My special Vegetarian Bacon Lasagna.
I hope I’m not posting this too late for those of you trying to decide what to cook for Super Bowl Sunday. As I sit at my desk it’s early morning on that exact day. I’m sure men and women had sleepless nights, tossing and turning, and dreaming the color of the team they are hoping to win. But as you check your email, Facebook, Linked In pages – wrapped under your covers, I hope this will give you the perfect recipe. Imagine sitting in front of the TV with a huge plate of steaming Bacon Lasagna, ice cold beer in your hand, watching your favorite team play. This recipe is packed with fresh vegetables, multiple cheeses and a few surprises, capers being one.
My Vegetarian Bacon Lasagna Recipe
Your shopping list:
Package of bacon – cooked so it’s crispy (pre-cooked, microwave ready, or standard is fine)
Lasagna noodles – 1 box – I like the kind you don’t have to boil but if you like to boil then go for it
Ricotta cheese – larger sized container
2 eggs
Parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Sour cream
Jar of capers
Vegetables: Whatever you like but here are some ideas: These are ones you’ll want to sauté first: Eggplant, mushrooms, zucchini, onion, garlic. I also love spinach but don’t cook it first. You’re just going to layer it raw.
Pasta sauce: Either make it yourself or get a jar. I like Newman’s tomato basil
Can of chicken broth to sauté things in
I think that’s it
How To:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
First I prep everything, sauté onions, add sliced zucchini, mushrooms and whatever else you think you’d like
I slice the eggplant into thin discs and sauté them with a little chicken broth
Cook the bacon (I guess you could cook it first and then use the oil to sauté the veggies but that just doesn’t seem quite right)
Prepare the Ricotta cheese by adding 2 eggs and mixing it up
Once everything is ready, you just layer. I put the pasta sauce on first, then the noodles, then the ricotta cheese, veggies, bacon, other cheeses, a few capers, spinach, a dollop of sour cream.
If you use the no boil noodles you need to make sure they are by something moist (pasta sauce or ricotta cheese)
The last layer should have pasta sauce and cheese on top.
Save out a few pieces of bacon to put on top
Cook!
Cover with a sheet of non-stick foil and place the dish on a cookie sheet. I do that so that if it bubbles over, your oven still stays clean
Bake at 375 degrees for around 30-45 minutes. It’s hard to say because it depends on how large your baking dish is. It should be bubbling. I also take the foil off when it’s ready and let it cook just a bit longer to brown the top.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes to let everything absorb together
Put your bacon garnish on
Voila! You’re done!
Serve with a fabulous red wine or super cold beer!!! And of course, GO NINERS!!!
It’s a few days before New Year’s Eve and I’m heading to Scottsdale Arizona where I’ll bring in the New Year with my younger sisterk and her family. Being Papa Stan’s daughter, I am here 2 hours early. I can see eyes rolling. That’s right, I’m an Early…
One of my favorite places to relax on a Sunday is Cocola which is located at the Stanford Mall in Palo Alto. The pastries are like works of art, and their lattes are rich and creamy.
The aroma of fresh brewed coffee and pastries reminds me of sitting in a cafe in Tuscany, or Paris. You pick from an assortment of exotic salads, or throw caution to the wind and treat yourself to a pastry.
It’s located in a piazza of sorts. As you relax outside you’ll find yourself next to a gourmet market called Sigona’s.
This is a must see market where you’ll find exotic foods including local eggs which have shells that are green, red and blue.
Time seems to move slower here…if you’re in the area I hope you’ll take a moment to relax, and sip your own latte.
Jekyll Island Hotel as seen from under my umbrella
Recently I attended a conference in Atlanta, GA and decided I’d explore a bit before I went home. I’m actually not sure how I originally heard about Jekyll Island Club which is located off the Georgia coast, midway between Savannah and Jacksonville, FL), but either way I found myself there. In the photo above, you have a view of the resort from under my umbrella. It was overcast when I arrived and although the sun never really came out, it was gorgeous. Pure romance… from the architecture to the moss dripping from the trees…to the food and wine. Even if you’re alone it will be a magical experience.
The club thrived through the early 20th century with an exclusive limited membership consisting of many of the world’s wealthiest families at the time, most notably the Morgans, Rockefellers, and Vanderbilts. When the club first opened, hunting was a major recreational activity for both men and women. A gamekeeper was hired to keep the island well stocked with pheasants, turkeys, quail and deer. If you actually “got” something, you had to turn it over to the resort where I guess they would cook it, or send it over to the taxidermist. As the club grew golf became an the Club’s dominant sport.
As for me? I fell in love with this place! They filmed the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance – directed by Robert Redford and starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron. I stayed in the same room Matt Damon which was room 222, I believe. If you go, double check. Or request Robert’s, Will’s of Charlize’s room.
Here are some photos from the grounds. The willow trees are dripping with moss and it’s spectacular.
Grounds at Jekyll Island Club
And some more over by the marina…
Marina at the Jekyll Island Club
There’s a great walk from the hotel over to the water. To take this photo I had to remove my shoes off and wade through some huge grass puddles. I can still remember that morning. My feet smelled of marsh and I had to take another shower when I got back!
The hotel had fabulous food. I had room service, I was sleeping in the same bed Matt Damon slept in so I did not stray too far from that room. Here are some photos of my dinner:
A little wine to start – as you can see they have their own label which was very nice. My salad…
And entrée…crab cakes which were excellent. Sorry, this photo is a bit blurry but you get the jest.
And what would my blog be without a “foot” shot – my friends tease me shamelessly about this – but if you’re alone, then sometimes that’s all you can get if no one is around. And selfies are difficult to get right. Here I am sitting outside at the Café Solterra, the most casual restaurant at the Club. It was pouring down rain and I flipped the wet cushions over and sipped a glass of wine.
I hope you’ll put this beautiful hotel on your bucket list! For more information – here is the website: http://www.jekyllclub.com/
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