Shrimp and Clam Boil

Nothing better on a summer day then a fresh catch meal.  I looked through a few recipes for a few different boils and decided to use bits from a few and this is what came about.  Using some fresh jumbo shrimp and littleneck clams, kielbasa, fresh picked corn, potatoes, and a beer.

Recipe: (served 3)

About 15 jumbo shrimp

About 15 littleneck clams

Two ears of corn (or frozen)

On bottle/can of a lager beer

handful of colorful little potatoes (cut in half or quarters according to size)

1lb of smoked kielbasa (cut in one inch or so pieces)

1 tablesppon of old bay seasoning (more or less to taste)

pinch of cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)

salt and pepper to taste

Bring a large pot of water to boil with the bottle of beer, old bay seasoning, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Put the potatoes and corn in the pot and boil about 10 minutes.  Next place the kielbasa in the pot and boil another 7-8 minutes.  Place the clams in and boil another 5 minutes, finally place the shrimp in the pot and boil until the shrimp is pink and potatoes and corn should be tender.  When serving add more seasoing (old bay, salt/pepper to taste) serve with toasted garlic bread.

1st Anniversary Gift

As my first wedding anniversary approached I was racking my brain for a gift idea that would stick to the paper theme. I had seen suggestions for photo albums, concert tickets, etc... However we just returned from a Caribbean cruise and we have concert tickets for the end if the summer. So I came up with the idea of a "date night idea book". I put together a binder with lots of different ideas for possible date nights. There are enough ideas to last for date once a week for a year. Ranging from silly nights at home to nights out on the town or full day trips. I found tons of ideas from the website http://www.thedatingdivas.com a wonderful resource for couples!

Very simply I found a nice binder to hold everything in...

Part of the collection included quiz books on how well you know your spouse good for a night in.  Also good for a nice in is the Lovers' Massage Book!  All found on Amazon.

 I added dividers so that I could group the ideas my sections were: A night out on the town, A night at home, I challenge you, Coupons, Advertisements (for me to place clippings from the paper etc..)

I am such the coupon clipper so this will help keep them organized when needed for a night out.

I hope this is helpful for a unique first anniversary "paper" gift.

For our anniversary we spent the day out east on Long Island, NY.  We drove out to Montauk Point, walked around the village, then made our way home stopping at a farmer's market in Amagansett, and stopping for a picnic at a winery or two in the Hamptons.  All in all is was a wonderful day with just the two of us!