A Perfect Day on Lake George and an EASY Cookie Recipe!

For a few weeks, I've been looking forward to a beach day at Ushers Park on Lake George with my friend Cassie, her Mom Linda, and Cassie's twins, Penelope and Carter. The twins are 15 months old. As the day approached, I thought it would be nice to take Pete (2 1/2) along, since his brother Henry has swimming lessons every afternoon this week. Besides, Pete and I haven't had any real 1:1 excursions, so today was the day. Katie packed up a beautiful lunch for Pete with all his favorites -- PB&J, strawberries, blueberries, and yogurt, and I stopped for a sandwich-to-go and drink on our way to meet up with them.

Earlier this morning, Pete came upstairs to say "Good morning, Meena!" (Meena is his made-up word for "Grandma" and it has stuck!) He asked to make cookies, and I knew it was going to be a 90-plus-degree day today, so I said OK, but we had to do it quickly and get it over with. What's quicker than a pouch of cookie mix? Yes, I do resort to one now and then, especially the oatmeal variety. So, we took the pouch of cookie mix and doctored-it-up with the rest of that toasted coconut and chunks of dark chocolate. Oh man, are these cookies GREAT! You would never, ever, know that I didn't labor away at a from-scratch recipe to produce such a terrific cookie! I always keep a pouch on reserve in case there's an immediate cookie emergency, as we had this morning!

So, one nice addition to our picnic lunch (in the shade of a big old tree) were some of these cookies for dessert. Pete said he helped me, but actually, I helped him. He dumped the contents of the pouch, the toasted coconut, and the chopped dark chocolate into the bowl. He cracked the egg and stirred it in along with the softened butter. He dipped the cookie scoop and squeezed the handles to deposit the generous portions of dough onto the cookie sheet. (Is Pete our version of the Little Red Hen?!) He really did make these cookies (with a bit of help) AND he helped load the dishwasher. I'd say I assisted Pete rather than the other way around, and he was very proud of himself, and rightfully so!

Here are some photos of a lovely day at the beach, and the easy recipe for Oatmeal Cookies with Toasted Coconut and Dark Chocolate Chunks:

Pete looking out over beautiful Lake George!

A momma duck and her babies!

Carter and Peter

Carter and Penelope!

Million Dollar Beach at the south end of Lake George in the distance.

OATMEAL COOKIES WITH TOASTED COCONUT AND DARK CHOCOLATE CHUNKS
Oven - 375 degrees F.  Line cookie sheet with parchment paper
Makes 30-36 large cookies

Ingredients:
1 standard-sized pouch Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookie Mix
1 cup toasted coconut - (350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Don't let it get too dark!)
6 oz. dark chocolate, cut up in chunks

4 oz. softened butter
1 egg


Directions: 
In large bowl, combine cookie mix with toasted coconut and chopped chocolate.  Add egg and soft butter.  Mix with a large wooden spoon until it all comes together and is completely combined.

Drop by tablespoon-fulls onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheet, about a dozen (evenly spaced) to a sheet. Squish down with 2 fingers to flatten cookies a bit, so they'll bake more evenly.  Bake 11-12 minutes or until bottoms JUST begin to brown.  Ovens vary so check at 10 minutes.

Cool for a minute or two and then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Hope you enjoyed this post.  I sure enjoyed the day!

Easy and Delicious - can't be that!

Lake Dippin' in the Adirondacks!

If I was forced to choose, I'd have to say that my favorite summer place to be is by the Atlantic seashore, anywhere from Maine to Florida, though I have really only experienced a handful of beaches along the coast.   As children, we spent summer weekends on Long Island (Fire Island, Robert Moses State Park), and the Jersey shore (Stone Harbor, Avalon, Spring Lake).  My favorite memories are of family vacations to Stone Harbor in NJ and also to Robert Moses State Park in Long Island (with our Cella/McGeehan cousins). Our parents and all seven kids would load into the station wagon and join the hoards of people heading south and east to do the same thing -- enjoy the sun, sea, and surf that only a beach vacation can provide, whether it's for a Sunday afternoon or an entire week.  There's nothing quite so revitalizing. There are still many east coast beaches on my list, and hopefully I'll be visiting them in the not-too-distant future!

Because we are inlanders now and live hours from the nearest low- or high-tide, the very next best thing to the waves and dunes is a trip to Lake George, or any Adirondack Lake, where I can travel to in an hour or less and feel as though I'm far away from home.  I especially love Lake George.  It pulls me with such magnetic force on any summer day with warm temperatures and bright skies.  Within the past week, I spent time in Fourth Lake in Luzurne with my daughter Katie and her husband Bill, and grandsons Hank and Pete, and the next day took off for a solo and beautifully peaceful morning on the beach of Rogers Memorial Park in Bolton Landing (Lake George).  Then Tuesday I spent the afternoon with friends on the dock of Wiawaka's boat house (also Lake George).

I so love the Adirondacks and its lakes, but especially Lake George, a true gift to those of us who live close enough to enjoy visiting often.  Tomorrow I'm back to writing about muffins (orange cranberry to be specific) but in the meantime,  here are some photos of this week's lake visits...  Can't wait to dip my toes into the lake again, as soon as possible!!!

Fourth Lake in Luzurne, New York

Wiawaka, on the south east shore of Lake George

Bolton Landing, New York (Lake George!)

A Boy and a Cupcake

It's another beautiful summer day off for me!  No sleeping in, though -- it was early-to-rise this morning to make cupcakes for my friend Sarah.  It's her son-in-law's birthday.  She only wanted a dozen, and I don't know how to make only a dozen, so I made 21 cupcakes.  Just as I was finishing them up, I heard a little voice and footsteps coming up the stairs to my apartment.  "Gwa!" (that's Henry-speak for Grandma) and there was Henry at my door.  He saw the cupcakes and for the first few minutes just looked at them with awe and curiosity.  Then he asked me for one.  It's 9 a.m.  He's still in his pajamas.  I thought about it.  I said, "No, these are for later."  Definitely not.  No way.  Then he looked at me with those eyes.  I caved.  I'm such a lightweight.  There are photos as evidence, but his mother doesn't need to know about this.  After all, the sign on my kitchen wall releases me from all liability (doesn't it? - his lawyer-mother may argue that point!):

We're off to a day at the beach (Bolton Landing on Lake George, of course!)...Hope you have a great day as well!

Wiawaka Holiday House, Lake George, New York

I took a day off today.  Early this morning I delivered 2 dozen scones to Saratoga Physical Therapy Associates to thank them for restoring my back to a healthier state.  If you saw me six weeks ago, you wouldn't think I was the same woman.  My lower back was a mess and I was in extreme pain and barely functioning, though I continued to go to work every day. The staff at SPTA were so good to me, generous in their time, guidance, and encouragement.  My last treatment was today, and scones were not enough but the ony thing I could think of to convey my gratitude.  Such good people work there.  Some even read my blog now - many thanks especially to Kristin, Mike,  Matt, Tony, Jesse and Kim!

After that good start, the rest of my day off was terrific, too.  I joined my friend Catherine Golden and we spent an absolutely luxurious afternoon at Wiawaka in Lake George.  We packed lunches and met on the dock of the beautiful boat house.  It's $15 for a day visit, money very well spent.  We had a lot of catching up to do so we spent most of the time talking -- talking on the dock, and talking while were floating on our "noodles" on the lake.  I never even cracked open my copy of The Help that I've been meaning to read for months now.  Anyway...the water was cool, clear, and so refreshing.  It felt like we were so far away from reality, as if we were at a destination many miles away (though it is just a  half-hour north of Saratoga Springs).  Loved it. 

Lake George H20

I've written about this beautiful retreat a few times before, so this time I am offering you our afternoon in a collage of photos (click once or twice to enlarge), and a link here, and here, to previous posts.

Enjoy our day - we did!




Click to enlarge for a better view of a beautiful day!



Sutton's Marketplace and Layered Mexican Dip

Sutton’s Marketplace on Route 9 in Queensbury (just south of Lake George, between I-87’s exits 19 & 20) is home to a beautiful gift shop and restaurant with a full bakery and confectionery. You can go for a delicious breakfast or lunch (the food is really good) and at the same time find a special gift for any occasion, even if it’s a gift to yourself! The marketplace also offers an exclusive furniture store (pricey, but a visual treat and well worth a walk-through) and a women’s clothing store. In the gift shop building, there’s a charming section with old-fashioned toys you won’t find in any department store. I like to make an afternoon of it with lunch, browsing, and finally, a little treat to take home. They are famous for their cider donuts, and that season is upon us now.

Sutton’s carries the Stonewall Kitchen line of specialty foods including jams, salsas, dressings, and mixes. There are always samples available and recipe cards for inspiration. The recipes are good and, of course, feature SK products, though you can certainly create these dishes with your own substitutions.

Today I’m highlighting Stonewall Kitchen’s recipe for layered Mexican dip, from one of the free recipe cards in Sutton’s gourmet section. With Labor Day right around the corner, this is a dish that family and friends will dive right in to.

Layered Mexican Dip

• 1 15 oz. can refried beans
• 1 4.5 oz. can green chilies, chopped
• ½ c. sour cream
• ½ c. mayonnaise
• 2 avocados, peeled and diced
• 1 cup STONEWALL KITCHEN Black Bean or Mango Lime Salsa (or your own salsa)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 4 green onions, chopped

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350˚ F.
2. In a greased deep pie dish, spread the refried beans and then layer the chopped green chilies on top.
3. For the next layer, combine the sour cream and mayonnaise. Continue layering the avocados, lemon juice, salsa, and top with the two cheeses and green onions.
4. Bake for 20-30 minutes until heated through and bubbly.
5. Serve with tortilla chips.

Photo credit: suttonsmarketplace.com

Finally, summer: Wiawaka

Anyone who lives in the Northeastern U.S. can tell you that we've been waiting for summer to start. The Fourth of July came and went, the corn has grown from knee-high to over your head, and it's rained incessantly. Yesterday, I took the afternoon off to go to Wiawaka on Lake George, and I am SO glad I did.

Wiawaka was founded in 1903 by philanthropists Katrina Trask and Mary Fuller as a place of refuge and retreat for the women who worked in the collar factories in Troy. Just minutes away from Million dollar beach and the bustle of downtown, Wiawaka's cluster of Victorian cottages and lodges sits upon a hill overlooking the southeastern curve of Lake George. Little has changed to the property since that time, and for a modest fee anyone can go there today for an afternoon or a week, or longer, as a modern-day escape from everyday life. There are cultural programs and creative seminars, but I go, mainly, to spend some time in the sun with friends, have a picnic lunch on the dock, and swim. On this afternoon, I participated in an inspirational sculpting session with Catherine's sister Pam, and Pam's best friend Liz. We were handed lumps of clay and each of us fashioned a unique mini-sculpture all our own. After that, we headed for the dock to enjoy the late-afternoon sun. One afternoon at Wiawaka soothes the soul and suddenly it feels so much like summer! Big boats like the Horicon and Minnehaha pass by in very close proximity as their passengers wave to those of us on the dock.

My friend Catherine treated me to dinner, all offerings home made. Last nights choices were meatloaf (or quiche), mashed potatoes, mushrooms sauteed in white wine, peas and herbs from their garden, and a salad, and three pies--blueberry, banana cream, or chocolate cream. Catherine, Pam, Liz, and Alice joined me on the porch of the main house for dinner, all of us in our own wicker rocking chairs sharing a meal and enjoying our summer evening together.

It was a lovely day.

Bolton Landing

This is a photo of my great-neice Lili having fun in Lake George last summer. We were at a beach in Bolton Landing on the west shore of Lake George, about 10 miles north of the village. It was a picture-perfect summer day. Bolton Landing is one of my favorite places on earth, and it is less than an hour away. Part of the reason I love it is because that’s where I visit my daughter Katie’s family. Katie, her husband Bill, and little Henry live in a cute bungalow on the road that leads up to the Sagamore Golf Course. They have a one-bedroom home on a couple of acres with a pond and an impressive waterfall. Needing more elbow room, they’re building the new home in Middle Grove. There they’ll have much more living space and many more acres of land, not to mention a Grandma right over the garage!

Even though they won’t be living in Bolton Landing for much longer, we’ll still continue to be regulars there. Katie and Bill are boating enthusiasts and can’t stay away from Lake George for long. Reasons for loving Bolton Landing are many. First of all, it’s on Lake George. There’s pretty much nothing better than that. It’s a small town with everything anyone should need. There’s an ATM, a Ben and Jerry’s, a post office, a Grand Union, a Stewart’s Shop, a good deli, a Laundromat, a liquor store, and very good restaurants (I love Cate’s for Italian food). There’s a boutique, a new pizza shop, a few bars, gift shops, soft ice cream, an antique dealer, an internet café, a cute produce stand with seasonal offerings, a library, a museum, churches, free parking, two great beaches, and more. And of course, there’s the Sagamore Hotel. All this is found within about four walking blocks. On the Fourth of July, you’ll see one of the best fireworks displays in the area, originating from a barge out on the lake, just south of the Sagamore. Boaters drop anchor to watch the fireworks from the water. Others gather at Rogers Park and along Route 9N for their view.

Katie says they roll up the sidewalks between Labor Day and Memorial Day, but that’s a bit of an exaggeration. You will find people milling about through the holidays. Between January and March, there’s too much snow and it’s too cold to notice what is or isn’t going on!

In the summer time, I love the beach at Roger’s Memorial Park. Nestled in a cove with expansive views of the Sagamore and pretty boat houses along the the lake, this beach is Bolton Landing’s best kept secret. Locals know it’s there, but more people go to the larger Veterans' Beach just north of the last traffic light. I often take Friday afternoons in the summer and spend them at the beach at Roger’s Park. Pleasure boats use the long wooden dock for easy access to town and swimming. The large Mohican and Minnehaha boats steam by. Parasailors ascend and land out on the water. Teenagers jump off a nearby pier. The sandy beach is perfect for little nieces and nephews who come with sand toys and kites. Sisters and friends join me for sun-filled afternoons talking about everything and nothing. We pack a picnic lunch or pick something up at the deli across the street, and hang out until it seems the right time to leave. Somehow, though, that time always comes too soon.

Driving home after a day like that is a pleasure. I turn the radio on to the oldies station, open the sun roof and let the wind dry my hair. The slow, winding drive down Route 9N to exit 22 of the Northway is a beautiful experience. There are gorgeous vistas of the lake, and lots of one-of-a-kind motels and stopping points. It seems as though time has stood still in this small little portion of the world. Looking forward to the next time, I never feel as though I’m leaving this favorite place for long.

Lake George Wedding!

This weekend I attended a wedding on a magnificent old boat, The Horicon, on my beloved Lake George. This wedding is a second chance at happiness for both the bride and groom, whose calm certainty fills me with confidence that they will live out their lives in happy couple-hood. There were six little children, all nieces and nephews of the bride, celebrating the day: four girls, two baby boys, all decked out, appropriately, in nautical navy-blue and white.

My gift to the couple was their wedding cake, featuring three tiers of cupcakes and an 8-inch cake on top. All this confection was displayed on a custom-made stand. I’d looked and looked and couldn’t find a decent cupcake stand for wedding cakes, so I hired a friend to make one for me. It cost me $35.00 and two cases of Corona and is one of the best investments I’ve ever made! French vanilla along with pineapple-coconut were the flavors of the day. Since not everyone loves coconut, there had to be an alternative, so classic vanilla it was. I adorned the cake with white flowers and baby’s breath, and it was really beautiful in its simplicity (she says humbly).

I love weddings. They remind me that there’s optimism in this world. They prompt us to appreciate our own relationships, past and present, which have formed us. In celebrating a new marriage, weddings also provide opportunity to pause for a moment to acknowledge all forms of love in our lives.

Baking a couple’s wedding cake is certainly a lot of work, and in this case it was particularly a “labor of love.” It is an honor that very few people realize, and I am very grateful.

Photo credit: Jeannie Eddy

Next blog: Summer Confetti Salad (hint: brown rice, black beans, chopped veggies, feta cheese, italian dressing - SO good!)