Preparations

Getting Ready

It's only a week until our big party to celebrate Independence Day. Next Wednesday on the 4th of July our yard will be full of people enjoying a real New England Lobster Bake. You want to know something? I can't wait.  Let me elaborate......I can't wait to sit down at the table with my bag of steamers and lobsters, my serving of drawn better, a nice frosty draft beer and have at it.

Yes. I have lobsters on the brain. I haven't had any yet this year so I am nearly salivating at the thought.

One thing you should know about lobster bakes, when the lobsters come off they have the smokey goodness imparted from the seaweed (which they're baked in). Oh my, it is Good with a capital G.

If a lobster bake sounds like too much work, how about lobster dip?  I posted my Smorgasbord Lobster Dip a while back, and thought some of you may have missed it. I made it up on the fly and it is a keeper.

It's downright decadent.

Keep in mind that my measurements are approximate (since I was 'winging it'), but you'll get the idea. Adjust as you see fit according to your own taste.

Smorgasbord Lobster Dip(so named because you'll want to put it on anything and everything)

1.5 - 2 cups of cooked lobster meat, chopped (not to small- you want some good sized chunks in there)
1 cup of low fat Hellman's mayonaise
1/2 low fat sour cream
1 8 oz block of low fat cream cheese- allow to soften at room temp for awhile
1/2 cup to 1 cup of crumbled feta
1/4- 1/2 cup of parmesan
sprinkle of red pepper flakes or cayenne
(no salt required, the cheese makes it salty enough)

Make some. Soon. You'll be the hit of the party.

Here's to summer and all that it brings, including our 4th of July Lobster Bake.

You'll be hearing and seeing more about it in the coming days.

What are your plans for the 4th? Are you having close to 100 people over to your house like us? Watching fireworks?  BBQing? Picnicing? Going to a parade? Do tell.

On another note, if you have an online shop, stop over to 'Trees. Hides.' for the link up that Shirley is hosting!

Ciao for now,

A Lobster Dip Saturday at The Bates Estate

The Best Kind of Leftovers

You gotta love it when you have a party, and the next day there is a bowl of lobster dip left. Hello heaven.

Now, let me first remind you that I made up this lobster dip on the fly and just threw it together so my measurements are kind of 'estimated'. However, if you use the basic ingredients and tweak and taste as you go, it will be wonderful regardless of my less than perfect measurements.

Smorgasbord Lobster Dip
(so named because you'll want to put it on anything and everything)


1.5 - 2 cups of cooked lobster meat, chopped
1 cup of low fat Hellman's mayonaise
1/2 low fat sour cream
1 8 oz block of low fat cream cheese- allow to soften at room temp for awhile
1/2 cup to 1 cup of crumbled feta
1/4- 1/2 cup of parmesan
sprinkle of red pepper flakes or cayenne
(no salt required, the cheese makes it salty enough)

Mix all ingredients together. I know, pretty tough, huh?

This made enough for two bowls of lobster dip.

Heat in oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

This will become a go to dip for sure. It's that good.  Easy too,as I mentioned,  which makes it that much better.

Enjoy.

Beyond The Dip

We not only enjoyed the lobster dip yesterday, but our Bruins played a day game and kicked butt. This made me especially happy. There were a couple good fights which made me even happier (what can I say, I love a good hockey fight). We won. Wahooli.

During the game we had some visitors. Our niece Cait and nephew Matt were taking Matt's son Cayden, our great nephew, to a birthday party at Screamers Cafe around the corner. It was going to be a 'make your own sundae' party. (Can I go? Please.)

When Cayd gets to Auntie Pam and Uncle Garrett's he knows where the 'toy' bag is.  Please note that the big dog in the background could care less about the toy bag. He has sleeping to do.

He was going straight for the tough puzzle games that Great Grammy sent over for the toy bag.

Then he found his favorite sunglasses in the bag and was sidetracked by his cool dude streak.

Not all of us can look this cool with a bedhead mohawk.

Cayd was also styling 'new' old school Pumas.  I guessed before I even saw the puma.

I said, "What are you doing getting new Puma's before Christmas?" You must have been a really good boy.  Apparently. Guess he got a video message from Santa yesterday and Santa's elves declared that yes, he'd been a good boy!

Now, if he can just keep it up for one more week.

The rest of the day included Gar eating the rest of Pearl's pistachio brittle.......

..........one piece at a time. Honestly. He really did.

So, what'd you do yesterday?

Hey, before you go here's a heads up on this great giveaway over on Maison Decor. It's seriously Shabby Chic.......

......yes, as in Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic.

Amy at Maison Decor is giving away some samples of fabric from the original Rachel Ashwell SOHO Shabby Chic store in NYC. Apparently these swatches were auctioned off years ago when the store closed, and eventually made their way to Amy via ebay. Get over there and enter for your chance to win a little Shabby Chic history.  I can think of SO many projects that I could do with these little samples.

I hope your Sunday is laid back and long. Enjoy it. We'll do the same. It's cold today. Actually feels like December. The fire is going and I plan on making some of my Christmas gifts today. I love this time of year.

Ta ta for now,