Their Sacrifice Keeps us Free

Freedom is not free.

Day is done...

Thank you for your service and thank you to the families of our soldiers.

Capt John Leak, served in American Revolution, buried Bridgeport Cemetery, Wading River, NJ.
This is my ancestor who served in New Jersey during the Revolution.

Soldiers reenlist. Thank you for your service.

Soldiers pray. Let us remember to pray for them.

The Blue Angels.
We will never forget.

Memorial Day Weekend @ the Jersey Shore!

Memorial Day Weekend is upon us! Life has been busy at the Jersey Shore. We have opened our pool and we are preparing for a great Memorial Day Pool Party. Menu below!

Temps are supposed to be in the 80s & that’s the temp of the pool too!

We had fun strawberry picking @ Linvilla in Media, PA. Now it's time to try some new

recipes! Any suggestions??

The beaches at the Jersey Shore are beautiful and family friendly! Get your beach tags @ preseason prices!

We remember those who gave all for our country. Thank you to all who have served and are serving! Let Freedom Ring!

The garden is blooming! We solved our carpenter bee problem by painting the bare wood outside shower enclosure.

This weekend should be really crowded at the Jersey Shore with the unofficial kickoff of summer! Have a safe weekend! Don’t forget the sunscreen! Don’t drink and drive! Next weekend is the Ocean City Flower Show at the Music Pier on the Boardwalk and it’s free!

Enjoy!Jennifer aka Gigi

http://tastefullyentertaining.blogspot.com/

Here is our Memorial Day BBQ Menu

Pulled pork on Kaiser rolls

Hot Dogs and Hamburgers – Tomato slices and red onion

Cole Slaw, Baked Beans, Corn bread

Tomato Salad

Corn on the cob, Sweet Tea

Butter Cake Strawberry Shortcake

Blueberry Buckle with vanilla ice cream

PULLED PORK:

Combine in Crock Pot

3 T. Brown Sugar

1 c. Chopped Onion

1.5 T. Mexican seasonings (chili powder, cumin, cayenne pepper,, garlic powder)

3 T. Worcestershire sauce

3 T. Cider Vinegar

3 T. Molasses

1 t. Dry mustard

1 can tomato paste

s & p

1 - Boneless Pork Loin

1. Salt and pepper pork.

2. Rub with extra brown sugar.

3. Place in crock pot in sauce.

4. Cook on high 1 hour.

5. 7 hours on low.

6. Remove, shred with forks.

Serve with buns

BAKED BEANS:

4 Lg. Cans Baked Beans

1 can French fried onion rings

1 c. BBQ Sauce

2 T. Mustard

20 oz. Crushed Pineapple (drained)

1 Onion, 8 slices bacon

1. Sautee chopped onion and 8 slices of bacon

2. Combine the rest of the ingredients.

3. Pour the mixture in casserole dish. Top with onion and bacon.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Mmmm!

TOMATO SALAD:

6 Large Jersey Tomatoes, chopped

1/4 c. parsley

2 cloves garlic

1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil

2 T. cider vinegar

½ t. salt

1 T. chopped fresh basil

1. Chop Tomatoes

2. Combine rest of ingredients.

3. Pour over tomatoes.

4. Chill before serving.

BLUEBERRY BUCKLE:

1. Cream ¾ c. sugar and ½ c. butter

2. Add 1 egg and ½ milk

3. Add 2 c. flour, ½ tsp. salt, 2 t. baking powder.

4. Fold in 2 c. Jersey blueberries

5. Pour into greased tube pan.

6. Topping: Melt ¼ c. butter. Add ½ c. flour, 1 t. cinnamon.

7. Mix w fork. Cover topping on batter.

8. Bake 350 degrees for 40 min.

9. Serve with vanilla ice cream. Mmmm!

How about red, white and blueberry pancakes? The flag cake looks ez!

poems

Poems by Jennifer Mott Palermo


In the Beginning…Mother

You have always been there

From the day I was born

You were there the first day I saw sunshine

You taught me to look at the world as a safe place

You held me when I cried

Cared for me when I was sick

Loved me when I was a rebel

You taught me a kind word turns away wrath

You taught me to love what I do and work hard

You taught me faith in God

And the importance of family and not things.

In a day when people don’t have faith

And don’t love

And don’t feel safe

I do

Thanks to you. (1997)



Days of Higher Learning

Sweeping out the sand from the wood floors

In her quiet, empty bedroom

I realize that summer is over once again.

She packs up her life and her smile

And leaves to explore a world not yet known

Autumn will come with its cool nights

And her memories will fill the air

With sad tears of yesteryear.

Her long hairs lying on the bathroom floor will soon be gone.

Her quiet, empty bedroom remains

To remind us that something is calling her onward

To greater heights

And we cannot go with her

And sadly we remain. (1995)


My Son

You are so much like me.

Your ability to lead

Your need to be liked

Your stubbornness

Your drive to fight hypocrisy

You are so much like me.

Your strong will

Your need to be different

Your handsome smile

Your desire to help people

Your drive to live by principles

Even though our wills often clash

And I struggle to let you go.

I am so proud of you. (1996)

Strawberries!

Strawberry Picking

Have you ever been strawberry picking? It is a fun thing to do with your kids!

Do a search to find 'pick your own' farms near you. Below are links for the Philly and South Jersey area. Strawberries are just starting to come in season but call ahead to make sure they are ready.

http://www.pickyourown.org/

Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA is a neat place to go. They also have a market that sells plants, produce, food and they have a great bakery too! Below is a pic of all the strawberries we picked last year!They also offer apple picking in the fall and blueberries, peaches, tomatoes and more in the summer!…they also have a petting zoo. Below are some great strawberry recipes and an easy no cook strawberry jam.

Happy Picking! Jennifer aka Gigi

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Butter Cake with Strawberries

Strawberry Cheese Cake

Strawberry Pie

http://www.linvilla.com/ in Media, PA 9 am to 6 pm. Strawberry Festival Sat. June 5

http://www.pickyourown.org/NJ.htm

Atlantic County NJ Butterhof's Shady Brook Farm

Cape May County NJ Allen Family Farm

Also Sat. May 22 – Strawberry Festival- Upper Township Historical Society Tyler Rd. Cape May County, NJ

Strawberry Recipes

Homemade No-Cook Strawberry Jam

1 Certo 3 c. Sugar 4 c. Crushed Strawberries

Strawberry Pie

Mix 1 c. Water - 2 T. Cornstarch – 1 c. Sugar – Heat to boiling and clear.

Dissolve 2 T. Strawberry Jello in 1 tsp. hot water. Add 1 t. Vanilla. Add to sugar mixture. Cool.

Arrange 1 ½ Qt Sliced Strawberries in Cooked Pie Crust or Premade Graham Cracker Crust.

Pour mixture over top. Refrig. Serve with Whipped Cream.

Butter Cake with Strawberries

Prepare Betty Crocker Yellow Butter Cake Mix as directed.

Ice with Cool Whip and tip with Strawberries!

Strawberry Shortcake

Prepare Bisquick Shortcake Recipe - either individual or one large.

Slice Strawberries add sugar. Slice shortcake. Pour strawberries on, place with Bisquick top, more strawberries and whipped cream or Cool Whip.

Linvilla Market and Bakery