Jersey Shore Journal

Jersey Shore Journal - Life and Times at the Jersey Shore

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

4th of July Recipes, Red White and Blueberry French toast & BBQ with Cornbread Salad


Getting excited about the 4th of July? We will probably spend the day at the pool? Maybe go to the beach, have a BBQ and then go on the boardwalk to watch the fireworks out over the ocean..
Recipes below:
Hope you and yours have a great weekend as we remember and celebrate our freedom.
We all must do our part to let freedom ring before it is taken away.



When my grandkids were here we rented a surrey for a ride on the boardwalk. We had a blast seeing the ocean and the beach and enjoying the cool breezes. One restaurant advertised Red White and Blueberry Pancakes. We stopped for donuts instead and then went to the food store and got strawberries, blueberries, white bread and whipped cream in the can.
We all enjoyed the best breakfast. Lovely n'est ce pas? and a lot cheaper too!




Cornbread Salad

I got this great recipe from my friend Kellie from This Blessed Nest
We loved it. Great recipe for the 4th of July.
check out her blog! This Blessed Nest

3 Cheers for the red,white & blue!

Jennifer aka Gigi

Friday, June 25, 2010

Summer Reading: "Oprah A Biography" by Kitty Kelley


Can We Talk? I just finished a great summer read "Oprah A Biography" by Kitty Kelley.

The book may be controversial but it was really eye opening! Everything Kelley reports is either in Oprah's own words or 'on the record' sources.

Fascinating...A Must Read...Takes Off the Mask!

Her childhood...her child...her affair with a married man...sex...drugs...the truth about Stedman...and Gayle... You must read it!

Why does she make her employees sign a confidentiality agreement? Why does she have to silence her employees? All her maids are white...I was really disappointed with Oprah when she endorsed Barack Obama and would not have McCain on. She also has left her Christian roots.

Also Kitty must do a story on Dick Clarke....another person no one will touch. Last year we saw a documentary on Dick Clarke when Gidget was in LBI...for her film...tells how he made money off of all the new artists and took a cut of their records...many are now poor and we know where Dick lives...Malibu!

"Oprah A Biography" by Kitty Kelley


Have a blast this 4th of July...recipes in my next blog!
Cheers! Jennifer aka Gigi

Strawberry Bruschetta



A great recipe! Strawberry Bruschetta

Strawberry Bruschetta

2 t. lemon juice

1 t. zest

8 oz cream cheese spread

Chop 2 ½ c. strawberries

Bake French bread slices

Spread Melted butter 3 T sugar, ½ t. cinnamon

Bake 12 min. 375 degrees

Scoop cream cheese on bread

Top w strawberries

Sprinkle w sliced almonds & powdered sugar


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Cheers! Gidget and the Ronettes!


This is my dear friend, Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, the "Real" Gidget! her dad wrote the story of her life as one of the first female Malibu Surfers. The story was turned into the Film w Sandra Dee and the TV show Gidget w Sally Field.
We have fun when she comes to Ocean City, NJ for the Surf Festival. Last time I took her around and showed her the Jersey Shore!
She got back on a surf board at 60! Way to go Kathy!
You are an inspiration. Never let the dream die!
Love, Jennifer aka Gigi





Here are some pics when she talked about the Documentary "The Accidental Icon: Gidget"











Gidget & my hubby!

Here I am below @ some of my favorite Happy Hours!




Our Italian Teacher. Caio!


Below are pics of my dear friends Nedra Tally Ross and Scott Ross with their daughter Heather.Nedra was in the 60s group The Ronettes. A few yrs ago they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
They used to live at the Jersey Shore back in the 80s. they now live in VA & Scott works at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Miss you guys!


Nedra recently performed in Wildwood with a Ronettes retrosepective!

"Be My Baby"

Chef Luke Palladino- Anyone hungry?


Do you know the name Luke Palladino? He was the Chef at the Borgata in Atlantic City and was also the face of their advertising. He has just opened his own restaurant at the Jersey Shore in Northfield, NJ. If you are in the area check it out!

Luke Palladino is back! The chef from Boragta's Ombra & Speccio has just opened his signature restaurant on Rt. 9 in Northfield. The intimate dining room offers an open kitchen and a fresh décor and seats about 30. Reservations are recommended.

Palladino was voted "most likely to succeed" from his class at the Culinary Institute of America and his resume shows an ambitious adventurer who is glad to be back in the Atlantic City area after helping to open restaurants around the country.

After graduating from CIA, he spent 3 years in Italy learning traditional regional cooking. He was successful in Aspen, Las Vegas, Biloxi and Pompano. Now it is his time to showcase is skills, friendly personality and fabulous menu in Northfield.

Recently we had a superb meal that started with Antipasti. We chose a selection of cheese to go with homemade bread, olive oil and BYOB wine. Other options include salami, breadsticks wrapped in prosciutto and more.

We shared the asparagus appetizer special which was a delicious pureed asparagus mousse topped with spears. One of a kind creation!

Bean soup with pancetta, Caesar salad and Caprese salad were some choices for the next course, followed by Pasta.

We enjoyed the linguine and clams, fresh with homemade pasta. Incredible!

The Lamb with balsamic honey glaze with asparagus may be the best meal I have ever had! The sweet and tangy sauce with 2 tender lamb chops was exquisite.

The Braciole, a stuffed ribeye with fingerling potatoes & Swiss chard was enjoyable but not like the braciole my husband grew up with.

The Veal Saltimbocca with white wine glaze & polenta was savory and sensational.

Standing rib roast looked amazing!

The heavenly Chocolate Rum Cake was unbelievable. Worth going back just for that.

The Panna Cotta with Strawberries was a refreshing tasty flan. Our friends enjoyed the Ricotta Zeppole, powdered sugar cream puffs.

The atmosphere is friendly and professional and busy. Mid week may not be as busy as the weekend. Worth the high end price - you get what you pay for. Takeout available. No kids menu or highchairs. Reservations suggested.

Luke Palladino 1333 New Rd (Plaza 9 corner of Rt. 9 & Tilton Rd) Northfield 646-8189

View the menu online @ http://www.lukepalladino.com/

I have been to Ombra twice- once for our 35th Wedding Anniversary where we enjoyed a fabulous family dinner in the Wine Cellar room and the other time in the bar area where Palladino came out to slice the truffles for the people next to us. Priceless! Palladino's friendly smile and charming persona along with excellent food is a great combination for Old World Dining! Don't miss it!

PS. I am going to hear Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly tomorrow night....OML!
Hope you are surviving the heat spell...Jennifer aka Gigi

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Just me and my Dad






Thanks Dad for all you have done for me
And all the strength and wisdom
You have given me.
Your daughter, Jennifer

Fathers Day Poems


Daddy, Take my hand in yours and you will plainly see,
How very much I need you now to love and care for me.
As my little hand grows, I will need you even more,
Everything I do in life, I have never done before.
Teach me to be kind and loving, sharing and forgiving,
Show me through your acts of love the pure joy of living.
The years will pass by quickly and one day I will be grown,
I will pass what you have taught me onto children of my own.
Hold me always in your thoughts and remember when we are apart,
The special love between a child and a daddy's heart.

What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The warmth of a summer sun,

The calm of a quiet sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The comforting arm of night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a morning spring,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

Then God combined these qualities,

When there was nothing more to add,

He knew his masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called it Dad.

Authors Unknown

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Summer Fun Spiderman Birthday


We had fun celebrating our grandson's 4th Birthday! We had a houseful for a week while their Dad was away at a conference. Amusement rides on the boardwalk, a surrey ride, ice cream, a Spiderman birthday, fun at the playground, Toy Story 3, playing on the beach...

We are exhausted....today was a day of catching up on housework....here are some pics from our great week! Time for a day of rest! Jennifer aka Gigi






Spiderman!



Turning 4!


His wish was that every day could be his birthday! : )



The Merry Go round