Vanderbilt and FDR Estates

As we studied American History and the 1920s and 1930s, we took a September family trip to Hyde Park, New York on the Hudson River to a smallish Vanderbilt estate and the summer home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, arguably America's finest president. Much of the original furnishings remain inside. A highlight was seeing the His and Her master bedrooms, Hers designed after the Queen of France's boudoir.  Sadly, no photos of the interior were allowed to be taken.  Can you see me standing at the front entry above?!?

 A corner view showcases the porch that when in use, had numerous palm trees, plants and fresh flowers.   

To give you a sense of scale, we had Colton wrestle and pretend to beat up his little brother, Huck.

We are contemplating a blog where all photos involve a punching scene in front of National Monuments across the nation.  This is FDR's home.

  

 Here Cory strikes a "New Deal" (this is funny if you know our story)

 The kids get up close and personal with Franklin and Eleanor.  We read a bit about their childhood and lives in homeschool. 

 {sigh} I suppose I need to strike a New Deal, too.  

Extensive Grounds, under construction. Kids could not resist trying to pet the geese.

A portico of the FDR house.

Ciao!

Hot Cocoa and Cinnamon Toast

Because it is one of those dayz....  I woke up this morning and surprised my four children with hot cocoa (yes, in August) and cinnamon/sugar buttered English muffins!  My mother used to fix me this when I was under the weather.  Even though everyone has their health, we could feel a slight chill in the morning air that reminded us fall is on her way! 

Get out the WHOLE milk (yes, I said whole), the Hershey's baking cocoa and sugar.  1:1 ratio of cocoa to sugar and milk!  Butter the toasted English muffin very well then sprinkle on a mix of cinnamon and sugar.  Dip in cocoa!  mmmmm!!!

Ciao!

Cape Cod Beach Fire Cookout!

Fire Credit: Courtesy of  'Marlboro Man'

For total bliss and relaxation, I suggest a camp cookout over open fire on Race Point Beach while watching the sunset over Cape Cod Bay (Fire permits are difficult to score and are issued by the National Park Service).  Large grassy sand dunes filled our backdrop, and harbor seals seemed to play peek-a-boo with the children as they fed near the beach at dusk.  As the sun set and turned the sky and sand pink, we filled our bellies with local sea food roasted over our beach fire.   We gazed at the stars and dozed by the hot coals. 

Dinner was cooked over the open fire in tin foil and included: Bruschetta, Brie and Mozzarella, Shrimp loaded with butter and salt.  Cod with lemon dill sauce, tomatoes and onions.  Blueberry sparkling Lemonade was our beverage (Wowsa!).  Dessert was roasted bananas stuffed with marshmallows and chocolate chips.  It tasted almost like a banana bread pudding-thingy.  I'm posting how to prepare this here!

Roasted Banana-S'More-Thingy:
Bananas (one for each person). 
Mini Marshmallows
Chocolate Chips, semi-sweet
Tin Foil
Camp Fire (preferably on the sand.  with a sunset.   with seals in the water next to you.  Oh, and stars in the sky.)

Leave the peels on, cut the stem off and slice down the middle so that the banana can be pulled apart and stuffed.

Stuff them in good!  I would do MORE than this if you can get the stinkers in there.

I used the mini chocolate chips.  I advise using regular size.  Next time,  I would make marshmallows to chocolate chips 2:1.

Stuff the sliced bananas (in their peels)  with the marshmallows and  chocolate chips.  Even though I am a 'Choco-Holic' I recommend going heavy on the marshmallows and lighter on the chocolate chips in the stuffing operation.  The marshmallows really made this beach campfire desert wonderful.

There is that yummy blueberry sparkling lemonade...that was so tasty! We nibbled on Brie and Mozzarella while dinner in the foil was over the fire.

Tightly wrap the stuffed bananas in their peels in tinfoil and toss on the open fire or hot coals.  We did not bring a grate with us, but set the logs up in such a way that they would hold an iron skillet which we rested the bananas on.  Rotate once during roasting.  If you've followed my other posts, you know that I can't tell you how long - probably just a few minutes each side if you have a really nice fire going.

We had a most excellent fire going thanks to Cory - Mountain Man.  I'm grateful I'm married to Mountain Marlboro Man who knows how to build most excellent campfires and fix and build stuff. But I digress...

Back to the bananas...When done, they will be hot to the touch and soft and mushy inside - too hot to peel with bare fingers!  Use two forks to pull apart the banana and just eat right out of the peel!  Yum!

 One of the only places in the northeast where you can catch the sun set over the ocean. 

Ciao!

Destination: Race Point Beach, Cape Cod!

Ciao!