Oh my Flip Flops and Suncreen!

July is here and we are now over half way through 2009! Scary huh?

The visiting fishing boats are arriving for the big money Fishing Tournaments, the visiting sail boats have arrived from the Marion to Bermuda Race, cruise ship passengers are walking up and down Front Street with their feet covered in sand from one our most famous beaches with the slight aroma of coconut sunscreen lotion surrounding them. Yep, summer is most defiantly here and there is so much to do in Bermuda during the summer, so get out there and get to know your country again and if you are visiting...Enjoy it and may your visit be a Bermudaful one.

Speaking of Summer...There are two elements that spell summer for a Bermudian...Camping and Cup Match, they go hand and hand.

Starting as early as June you can start to see the campers along South Shore Road, the hillsides are scattered with camping tents. Here in Bermuda people go as far as taking small refrigerators and generators with them camping. Go For It! Be Gourmet! I grew up camping in the states and some of my fondest memories are packing up for a weekend or a week, including the horses and dogs and toughing it, in a camper or the “cabin” Poppa Steve had that slept 18, had a wonderful outdoor kitchen even before they became popular, the only thing that was roughing it for us was walking to outhouse in the middle of the night, so you made sure you used the bathroom before going to bed!

I miss July 4th in the states, either at a pool party or at a park with family and friends, but no matter where in every neighborhood you could smell the charring of burgers and hot dogs on the grill and you pretty much knew there would also be some potato salad, maybe a pasta salad, or cole slaw, ice cold watermelon and don’t forget the ice cold beer, all while waiting for the killer fireworks display. Bermuda does not celebrate July 4th, but I have learned to celebrate the 4th differently, no day off with fireworks and a hot dog cookout...We celebrate by FISHING, that’s right fishing. July 4th is one of the most Celebrated Fishing Tournaments in the World...So called the… Blue Marlin World Cup. For more info check out the website. www.BlueMarlinWorldCup.com This year I am super excited, July 4th is on a Saturday and I have the day off, I can fish damn it!

Oh, we still host a July 4th BBQ to indulge in tasty beverages and gourmet goodies with our friends, we just do the Bermuda Gourmet Goddess way, no regular hot dogs and hamburgers here. Yep, It’s official...Summer is here, so get out and be GOURMET in Every Way!

Smokin’ BBQ Bluesy Burger
2 lb ground beef
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp liquid smoke
1/4 C of your Favorite BBQ sauce
1 large shallot, chopped finely
Salt / pepper to taste
8 oz crumble blue cheese
Trust me with all that Blue Cheese there is no need to top the burger with more, it will over power it!
1 large red onion, sliced and grilled for 5 minutes each side
Good Quality rolls, toasted

Mix the first 5 ingredients together, once mixed, fold in the blue cheese and make into patties. I allow mine to sit in the refrigerator for at least 2-4 hours to let the flavors blend and become yummy. However, before grilling allow let them sit out for about 12 – 15 minutes to get the chill off.

Heat grill to med/med high and grill until desired doneness, 4-5 minutes per side for rare, 5-7 per side for med-rare, 7-10 minutes per side for medium, 10-12 for well. Times may vary because of the grill. While the burgers are grilling, place sliced red onion on the grill for 2 to 3 minutes each side and don’t forget to toast your rolls, Once Burgers are done place burger on toasted roll and top with grilled red onion. Drizzle with some more BBQ sauce (if you want) and enjoy!

Lemon Herb Warm Potato Salad
2 lb new potatoes
1/4 C chopped parsley
1/4 C chopped Basil
1 tbsp chopped chives
Zest on one lemon
Juice of one lemon
1/4 C Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Wash the potatoes and cut the larger ones so that they all cook evenly. Fill sauce pan with water and place potatoes in cover until it comes to a boil. Once potatoes are fork tender (17-20 minutes) drain. While potatoes are cooking chop the herbs, zest and juice the lemon. Once the potatoes have cooled to room temperature add the zest and lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper, toss well, now add the herbs and toss again. Garnish with a couple of wedges of lemon.

Serve room temperature and this is also great for picnics because there is NO MAYO!
Here are some camping safety tips I do hope comes in handy for you sometime in the future.

CAMPING TIPS
One common danger is not being prepared for extreme heat, as we all know the summer can be very hot and for young children this can be a problem, so it is best to keep them (and you) very well hydrated. Always wear some sort of skin protection; this includes sunscreen, hats and cotton clothing. Or try the new swim suit that has a SPF right in it.

Teach your children how to recognize landmarks at the campsite and on hikes encourage them to look back at the trail and familiarize themselves with the surroundings. WHISTLE. Teach your kids to whistle or have them wear a whistle. A whistle can be heard further than the human voice.

Setting Up a Campsite…Danger can lurk at some campsites, such as broken glass, yucky needles and other trash. Scout for a clean area before setting up a tent. Once you have found a clean area or have cleaned an area, you are now ready to set up your camp site the way you like, with all the comforts from home.

I know you are not far from home or from a store, but please ensure you have enough drinking water on hand and plan your food according to the days you plan to be out camping. Also, some portable foods, granola bars, trail mix, breads, peanut butter, fruit, etc... All mentioned are great to keep on hand for a healthy snack. Just remember that if you do have perishable foods to store them properly and throw any foods that may have been left out in the heat for more than 1 hr.

Things not to forget!
Essentials for every camping trip include:
Flashlight with extra batteries, extra food, extra clothing, including rain gear, sunglasses and sunscreen pocketknife, matches in waterproof container, candles or fire starter, adequate supply of clean drinking water bug spray...Other necessary items include: Tent (of course) sleeping bags, blankets, whistle (s), mirror, cell phone; duct tape; and 50 to 100 feet of nylon rope…You just never know…be prepared.

FIRST AID Kit…the most forgotten thing when camping.
Band-Aids (all types), self-adhesive roller bandages, sterile gauze pads, large wound dressings, blister dressings, non adhesive dressings, cloth-based adhesive tape, , thermometer, latex gloves, large plastic bag, safety pins, scissors, tweezers and needles (to remove splinters or ticks), antibiotic cream, Antihistamine, Tylenol or whatever you prefer, hydrocortisone cream (1%) and alcohol pads


July 4th … DID YOU KNOW?

"The Fourth of July" is a federal holiday celebrating in the US celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from Great Britain. However, the US became independent officially only after the war of independence, on September 3, 1783.

Independence Day is commonly associated with BBQ’s, parades, beer, picnics, and fireworks and of course all American baseball and those fireworks have been connected with the Fourth of July since 1777. In 1777, thirteen guns were fired, once at morning and again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white and blue bunting.

Such songs as “The Star Spangled Banner”, “God Bless America”, “America the Beautiful”, “Stars and Stripes Forever” just may be some song you may hear though out the day.

Piece of History
"The Star-Spangled Banner", commemorates the United States Flag that was visible by the light of the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air. This view of the flag through a night of bomb bursts inspired the captive Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812 and provided hope for the United States as it defended Fort McHenry.

June 21st, The Official First Day of SUMMER

Yep, that right it’s officially summer! (And Father's Day)

The good ole’ Dog Days of Summer….

But just what are the “Dog Days” of Summer? This occurs during the hottest and muggiest part of the season. What does it mean? Well…It’s the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere and it is also a period of stagnation or inactivity.

But where does the term come from? Why do we call the hot, sultry days of summer “dog days?” In ancient times, when the night sky was un-obscured by artificial lights and smog, different groups of peoples in different parts of the world drew images in the sky by “connecting the dots” of stars. The images drawn were dependent upon the culture: The Chinese saw different images than the Native Americans, who saw different pictures than the Europeans. These star pictures are now called constellations, and the constellations that are now mapped out in the sky come from our European ancestors.

In the summer, however, Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the Dog Star.

The conjunction of Sirius with the sun varies somewhat with latitude. And the “precession of the equinoxes” (a gradual drifting of the constellations over time) means that the constellations today are not in exactly the same place in the sky as they were in ancient Rome. Today, dog days occur during the period between July 3 and August 11. Although it is certainly the warmest period of the summer, the heat is not due to the added radiation from a far-away star, regardless of its brightness. No, the heat of summer is a direct result of the earth's tilt.

I know a lot of technical mambo jumbo, but now you know what that damn saying means, becasue I never did!

Stay Cool for the Dog Days of Summer
The Bermuda Gourmet Goddess


“A perfect Summer Day is when sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” James Dent

So what do have planned this summer? Anything fun? Well the Goddess will be doing a lot of fishing, snorkeling, hanging with good friends and family and of course grilling some great food!

The ultimate steak for me to grill are a good old NY Strip Steak, must get it at least 1’ thick and just add some olive oil, salt and pepper…get your grill smoking hot (about 450) and throw it on, leave it, don’t mess with it, you will know when it is time to turn when it pulls away from the grill gently, turn, wait, don’t mess with it…once done, remove and devour.

Rare: 3 to 6 minutes
Medium: 6 to 9 minutes
Well Done (WHY??) 9 to 12 minutes

Another favorite is flank steak, I know it is one of the cheapest cuts of meat, but done right it is awesome. My go-to much loved recipe is my Italian Flank Steak, the balsamic vinegar really helps tenderize the meat.

Italian Flank Steak

1lb Flank steak
3 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp thyme
2 tsp oregano
3 tsp rosemary
Salt / pepper to taste
1/4 c red wine

Place steak in marinate for 1-4 hours, again the longer the better. Allow steak to set out for at least 30 minutes before placing on the hot grill. Grilled to desire doneness, you will know when meat is ready to be turned over; it will pull away from the grill easily. (3-7 minutes each side for med-rare to med)

Allow steak to sit at least 10 minutes before slicing, this will allow the juices to redistribute to make for a juicer steak. Slice thinly against the grain. Serve with a nice Arugula Salad

Get some steaks and get grilling for Father's Day...Gie Dad the day off ...wish I could grill some up for you Dad! Happy Father's Day ... Love you lots and Miss you more.

Mercury: Facts you should know

There has been a lot of debate regarding mercury in fish. I have done an extensive amount of research on this subject and here are some important facts I would like to share with you, so you don’t have to afraid to eat fish!

First when you hear the word mercury and fish in the same sentence, remember it’s Methyl mercury, not the shiny stuff in thermometers (what scientists call "elemental" mercury). When mercury is deposited into water (usually by natural sources like underwater volcanoes), certain bacteria convert it into methyl mercury. Then it enters the food chain in fish. Larger fish usually contain more methyl mercury than smaller fish, because the substance "accumulates" as big fish eat their smaller prey.

Myth: The health risk from mercury outweighs the health benefits of eating fish.

The TRUTH: The opposite is true. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can decrease the risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney disorders, Alzheimer's disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer, uterine cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, type-2 diabetes, low birth-weight, post-partum depression, and pre-term delivery. The bad news? Partially because of the health scares surrounding mercury, Americans' intake of Omega-3 acids is 3 to 6 times lower than the levels recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.

Myth: You can get mercury poisoning from the amount of fish you might consume in a given week or month.

The TRUTH: Even if it were possible for Americans to eat enough fish to jeopardize their health from mercury intake, it would take decades for these speculative health effects to accumulate. In an official 2004 joint advisory, the EPA and Food and Drug Administration concede: "One week's consumption of fish does not change the level of methyl mercury in the body much at all."

Myth: The amount of mercury in our environment (and in the fish we eat) is dangerously increasing.

The TRUTH: There's considerable evidence that the amount of mercury in fish has remained the same (or even decreased) during the past 100 years. One team of researchers from Duke University and the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum compared 21 specimens of Atlantic Ocean blue hake preserved during the 1880s with 66 similar fish caught in the 1970s. They found no change at all in the concentration of mercury. In another study, Princeton scientists compared samples of yellowfin tuna from 1971 with samples caught in 1998. They expected to find a mercury increase of between 9 and 26 percent, but they found a small decline instead.

Myth: Mercury in fish presents a serious health risk to Americans.

The TRUTH: The best science suggests that the tiny amounts of mercury in fish aren't harmful at all. A recent twelve-year study conducted in the Seychelles Islands (in the Indian Ocean) found no negative health effects from dietary exposure to mercury through heavy fish consumption. On average, people in the Seychelles Islands eat between 12 and 14 fish meals every week, and the mercury levels measured from the island natives are approximately ten times higher than those measured in the United States.

Yet none of the studied Seychelles natives suffered any ill effects from mercury in fish, and they received the significant health benefits of fish consumption. In November 2005, The American Journal of Preventive Medicine published new research from Harvard University that put the risk from fish-borne mercury in its proper context. Dr. Joshua Cohen, the study's lead author, summed up the issue for MedScape Medical News: "We're talking about a very subtle effect of mercury … changes that would be too small to measure in individuals."

So now you know, don't be afriad to eat FISH! Support a local fisherman -Let the Cows Live ...EAT MORE FISH...

The Bermuda Gourmet Goddess

p.s I do eat meat

HURRICANE SEASON IS HERE!

Hurricane season is here are you ready if we are hit?

FAMILY DISASTER PLAN
Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. How vulnerable is your home to storm surge, flooding and wind.Designate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community. Learn the location of the closest official shelters, establish escape routes from your home and places to meet. Have a single point of contact for all your family members. Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate. Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911. Check your insurance policies for wind, flood and rain coverages. Stock non-perishable foods and an emergency kit. Have an FM radio tuned to 100.1 mHz. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors. Make sure everyone knows the location of electrical, water and gas shut-offs as well as how and when to shut them off. Take First Aid and CPR classes.

DISTASTER SUPPLY KIT
Flashlights, extra bulbs & batteries battery-operated FM radio & batteries

Battery-operated lanterns extra bulbs & batteries or propane lantern

First Aid Kit Candles & matches

Ice Chest

Sternos

Propane or similar cooking unit

Clock (wind-up or battery-operated)

Plastic garbage bags

Working fire extinguishers or bucket of sand

Scissors

Manual can opener

Waterproof containers for important paperwork

Cash

Toilet paper

List of emergency phone numbers

Diapers, baby wipes

Pet supplies, food, water, kitty litter,

Medications

Bottled water (one gallon per day per person)

Ice Shelf-package

Juice and milk boxes (can also freeze them)

Canned and powdered milk (you'll need extra water)

Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)

Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, fruit cocktail, packaged pudding) Canned vegetables and fruits Dried fruits Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, nuts) Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly) Cereals Sugar, salt, pepper Bread Extra formula, baby food

Public Shelters in BermudaCedarbridge Academy Gymnasium, 1 Cedarbridge Lane, Prospect, DevonshireBerkeley Institute Gymnasium, Berkeley

Now don't forget your Pets...

PET PLAN
BEFORE THE DISASTER
Make sure that your pets are current on their vaccinations. Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines.
Have a current photograph
Keep a collar with identification on your pet and have a leash on hand to control your pet.
Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal - carriers should be large enough for the animal to stand and turn around.
If you have to evacuate, plan your strategy and don't forget your pet!

DURING THE DISASTER
Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have: Proper identification collar, proper identification on all belongings, a carrier or cage, a leash, an ample supply of food, water and food bowls, any necessary medications, specific care instructions and news papers or trash bags for clean-up.

Bring pets indoor well in advance of a storm - reassure them and remain calm.

AFTER THE DISASTER
Walk pets on a leash until they become re-oriented to their home - often familiar scents and landmarks may be altered and pets could easily be confused and become lost. Also, downed power lines, reptiles brought in with high water and debris can all pose a threat for animals after a disaster.

If pets cannot be found after a disaster, contact the local animal control office to find out where lost animals can be recovered. Bring along a picture of your pet if possible.
After a disaster animals can become aggressive or defensive - monitor their behavior.

PET DISASTER SUPPLY KIT
Proper identification including immunization recordsAmple supply of food and waterA carrier or cageMedicationsMuzzle, collar and leash

Don't forget their favorite TOY! They will thank you for it.