Antipasti Tortellini Salad

Here is great summer salad recipe, perfect for dinner, a BBQ or to pack for a picnic or the beach! It is called Antipasti Tortellini Salad. It is full of ingredients that I love and I found it in a free magazine that I picked up at Stop & Shop called Savory.

Happy Summer and Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp chopped red onion (I omitted the onions)
• 1 (19 oz) pkg frozen cheese tortellini
• 4 oz piece salami (I used soppressata )
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella
• 1 (12 oz) jar marinated artichoke quarters, drained (I used canned non-marinated quarter artichokes, but drained them from the can)
• 1 pint grape tomatoes
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley, to garnish (optional)

Directions

1. To a small bowl, add the red onion. Cover with cold water and let stand. Prepare the tortellini according to package directions. Drain in a colander and run cold water over tortellini to cool. Drain well.
2. Meanwhile, dice the salami/soppressata) and mozzarella. Drain the quarter artichokes and halve the tomatoes.
3. Drain the red onion well and pat dry with paper towels. In a large serving bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, and oregano. Add cooked tortellini, tossing with dressing. To bowl, add salami, mozzarella, artichokes, tomatoes, and red onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

Tip: To make the day before, leave out the onions and stir in just before serving, if you chose to add the onions. 

Today’s New to Me 2021 Recipe: Warm Lobster Rolls

If you have ever visited Rhode Island, or maybe even anywhere in New England, and you ordered a lobster roll, the next question would definitely be…”warm or cold”? My vote is always warm!

Feeling a little nostalgic on New Year’s Eve and missing our RI summers, my family and I decided to make Warm Lobster Rolls for dinner. After a simple Google search, we landed on Ina Garten’s Warm Lobster Roll Recipe. Ina did not disappoint on Christmas Day with the Today’s New to Me 2021 Recipe: Filet of Beef recipe, so we decided to follow her lead on this holiday meal again.

It was a holiday week and later in the day, the local fisherman had already closed down their carts, so we visited the dock fish market and purchased fresh boiled lobster meat already removed from the lobster. This step saved us a lot of work, time and I will definitely chose this quicker option next time! The lobster rolls were perfect, they tasted just like some of our favorite summertime go-to restaurants! Enjoy a little bit of summer on this chilly winter day. It will warm you up for sure!

Warm Lobster Rolls 

Recipe is compliments of Ina Garten on www.foodnetwork.com. Thank you for always sharing and inspiring me! 

Ingredients: 1 lb of pre-boiled and cut fresh lobster meat (makes about 5-6 rolls), 5 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/2 cup chopped celery, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, parsley (and/or dill) to taste, 1 lemon, split-top hot dog rolls (Ina recommends Pepperidge Farms, so that is what we used)

Directions:

1. Heat 3 Tbsp butter in pan.

2. Add lobster, celery, salt, and pepper, stir and let cook for 2-3 minutes. 

3. Remove lobster from heat and sprinkle with 1/2 of the lemon juice and parsley (and/or dill). 

4. Melt 2 Tbsp of butter in a large pan. Place the rolls in the pan on their sides  and brown for 2 minutes on each side. 

5. Add lobster mixture to butter toasted rolls. Serve warm. 

Looking forward to spending summer days enjoying lobster rolls and clam cakes with friends and family!

Vacation Ideas: Top Things to do on a Weekend Trip to Nashville

1. Take a stroll on The Honky Tonk Highway. An amazing sight to see and experience while in Nashville! Live music, food, drinks, music history, souvenirs, roof top bars and lots of crowds. Ole Red, owned by one of my favorites, Blake Shelton, was my favorite roof top view and live band music. Visit https://www.visitmusiccity.com/things-to-do/attractions/honky-tonk-highway for more information.

2. When in the Hometown of Country Music, you have to see a live recording at The Grand Ole Opry. It was an entertaining lineup and we also took a backstage tour, which including a lot of history and fun facts. Visit https://www.opry.com/home

3. Take a Mural Scavenger Hunt! Many famous murals that you have seen on social media are located in Nashville. We incorporated them while eating and drinking our way through Nashville.

4. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. We opted for the self-guided audio tour, which highlighted 41 exhibits in the museum. It brought you from the start of country music to present day. This was a great way for my husband, who does not listen to country music, become more familiar with its history and development in the music world. Visit https://countrymusichalloffame.org/

5. Booking a trolley tour was an easy way to see the whole city in a quick amount of time! While on the Old Town Trolley Tour, you can hop on and off at the 15 different stops. You can also stay on the trolley for the whole tour, which lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. Visit https://www.trolleytours.com/nashville

6. Visit the Farmers’ Market, located in Bicentennial Park. A unique venue for all things local! Food, drinks and artisans. Saturdays are best with many local vendors who come to visit and sell fresh produce and crafts.

7. Walk through the campus of Vanderbilt University and check out the souvenirs at the campus bookstore, located in Barnes and Noble.

8. If you are brave enough, like my husband, try Hot Chicken (which is fried chicken with different levels of a hot rub, not sauce)! Let’s just say he bit off more than he could chew! It was so hot! We ate at Party Foul, but other popular options include Hattie B’s and Prince’s.

9. Treat yourself! As usual, I ate my way through Nashville! Five Daughters Donuts (Salted Caramel Chocolate) , Goo Goo Chews (Original and Peanut Butter), and GiGi’s Cupcakes (Vanilla Salted Caramel) were my favorites! Visit https://fivedaughtersbakery.com/ , https://gigiscupcakesusa.com/ , and https://googoo.com/

10. Eat local dinner fare favorites. Urban Grub on 12 South was a family recommendation and it did not disappoint! Our waiter created our Grub Experience, which included some Southern Delights, Pork Chops, Collard Greens, Four Cheese Mac ‘n Cheese, Po’ Boys, Biscuits, Letters to Juliet for a drink and an All American Dessert Sampler, which included Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Apple Pie Ala Mode, Churros, Sugar Cookies, and Funnel Cake.

11. Eat, indulge, drink and dine in local and unique shops in various areas, including The Gulch and 12 South. One famous spot is Draper James, owned by one of my favorite actresses, Reese Witherspoon, which is located on 12 South (located near Urban Grub, the “I Believe in Nashville” mural, and Five Daughters Donuts).

12. A movie tip…you hear a lot about Johnny Cash and June Carter and his presence in Nashville, I recommend downloading “Walk the Line” with Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix for your plane ride.

13. Looking for a little R and R while in Nashville, book a room at the J W Marriott. Offers a convenient location near the Country Hall of Fame and a less than 10 minute walk to Honky Tonk Highway. The rooftop pool and spa was an added bonus to our weekend getaway! Visit website at https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bnajw-jw-marriott-nashville/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2

Have a great vacation y’all!

Summer Vacation Ideas: An Educational (and Fun!) Visit to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

If you ever find yourself in New York City or New Jersey,  plan a fun, family-oriented visit to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

Last summer,  my children and I were visiting New Jersey  and decided to spend the day exploring some history with Lady Liberty. After some  online research, I discovered a cruise line tour called Statue Cruises that offered departures from Jersey City, NJ and also Battery Park in NYC.  We were staying on the NJ side of the Hudson River, so we headed down to Liberty Park in Jersey City, NJ to catch our ferry ride over. With a little bit of planning, you can spend a day exploring US history with amazing views!

Book tickets online to avoid long lines. Visit https://www.statuecruises.com/ for cruise information and also to book tickets for the ferry ride to both Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (a combo ticket). The time you purchase your ticket for is the time you will depart for your first stop. They recommend for you arrive 30 minutes prior.

Parking is available on-site  in NJ. Reminder that there are heavy security points before loading onto the ferries. Visit the website for items that are forbidden. Reminder to take a jacket or sweatshirt (the ferry ride can get chilly and windy), hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, cameras, and wear comfortable shoes.

Take a self-guided family tour. I went back and forth with which type of tour to book for both Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. In the end, I decided to take the free self-guided tour, while using the free headsets that offer a family-friendly recording of the history of both The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a great way for everyone to listen at their own pace all while following along together. We chose not to reserve a tour of the pedestal and crown, due to extra time and money that was needed. Not having gone to the crown or pedestal before, I think the time and money saved doing the self-guided tour was very informational, fun and easy-going for our family, and we made a good choice!

Don’t forget to stop for snacks and souvenirs. All along the walking path around The Statue of Liberty, you will find food and drink carts, along with many souvenir shops.

Photo opportunities galore! Riding over the ferry along with walking around base of The Statue, you will have plenty of opportunities to take photos of the historical landmarks, in addition to the amazing skyline of NYC across the Hudson River.

Plan time for your visit. Depending on which tour you decide to take, plan time to spend on each “island”. Different aged children may spend more or less time reading signs and listening to the self-guided recorded tours. You will also need to get on a 2nd Ferry to visit Ellis Island. (Note: If leaving from NJ, the cruise will go from Liberty Park, NJ to The Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island to Liberty Party. If leaving from NYC, the cruise will go from Battery Park, NYC to Ellis Island to The Statue of Liberty to Battery Park. Make sure you get on the correct ferry to either NYC or NJ.) I would recommend setting aside approximately 4-5 hours for this tourist attraction from parking  your car to standing in security lines to ferry rides to both attractions and the time to explore and relax.

Explore your heritage! While on Ellis Island, you can pay a small fee to search the immigrant databases and find the paperwork and certificate of your ancestors. You will need the first and last name and year of immigration.

Visit the 9/11 Memorials in both NJ and NYC. At Liberty Park, near where you will board the ferry, take a moment to visit the 9/11 New Jersey Memorial.If you take the ferry from Battery Park in NYC, the main 9/11 Memorial and Museum (for a fee) are located a couple of blocks away from the ferry landing. (Note: you can only access the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in NYC if you take the Statue Cruises from Battery Park in NYC. The NJ ferry does not go to NY.)

Southwestern Tossed Salad Recipe

Creating salads is one of my favorite and easiest meals (or sides) to create. Here is a salad I recently recreated from a meal that I enjoyed at a restaurant in Colorado…I am calling it a Southwestern Tossed Salad! Enjoy!

Southwestern Tossed Salad Recipe

Ingredients & Directions: 2 Romaine lettuce heads  (chopped), 2 plum tomatoes (seeded and chopped), 1 can sliced black olives, 2 avocados (diced), 1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained), 1 package of pre-cooked bacon (chopped),    shredded Mexican blend cheese, 1can/small bag frozen corn (canned or frozen, defrost/drain, drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, add to grill pan, toss until grilled/blackened, refrigerate until ready to add to salad). Optional : add sliced grilled chicken and/or crumbled tortilla chips.

Vacation Ideas… Cape Cod (Take 2!)

A few years ago, I planned a summer family vacation to beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We enjoyed our week long stay so much, that we decided to return back to the small town of New Seabury (Mashpee, MA) this summer for a second go round…with new and exciting places to explore throughout Cape Cod! You can view our last Cape Cod adventure in my blog post, click here Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Explore Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard With Your Family

Cape Cod is a perfect location for a fall, spring or summer getaway! Continue reading for more fun and exciting tips in planning your next weekend getaway or vacation to Cape Cod. Here in New England, we have been experiencing summer weather even in mid-September!

Cape Cod … Take 2!

• Explore the quaint town of Provincetown. Take a drive up the National Seashore to Provincetown. Take your time strolling through the town and visit local shops, the public library, art galleries, and The Pilgrim Monument (Did you know that the pilgrims first landed in Provincetown before settling in Plymouth?). Enjoy excellent crab cakes, lobster rolls and harbor views at Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant. Visit The Donut Experiment for a unique way to order a donut…fill out your order form and watch your donuts being made right in front of you! Provincetown is very pet friendly – dogs are welcomed in many of the shops, restaurants, and beaches. Make sure to visit the Pilgrim Bark Park before you head home !
• Enjoy a wine tasting at Truro Vineyards… kids and dogs are welcome! On our way to Provincetown, we took a pit stop at Truro Vineyards and made time for a wine tasting and tour of the facility. They allowed both our dog and children to hang out with us while we sampled their unique local vineyard. (Please drink responsibly.)
• Try something new… Paddleboarding Lessons in Mashpee. The last time we vacationed on the Cape, my son and I kayaked in Ockway Bay, while my daughter and husband paddle boarded. This vacation, we all signed up for paddle boarding lessons and took a guided 1 -hour tour of Ockway Bay in Mashpee! Rentals and lessons available at Mocean Cape Cod located in Mashpee Commons.
• Take on the beautiful views while playing 9 holes of golf in East Falmouth. Cape Cod offers many  beautiful public golf courses. Cape Cod Country Club offers free golf for children after 3 pm and discounted rates for adults after 2pm.
• Tennis anyone? Pack your tennis rackets for a family-friendly tennis match. Check out the local high school courts in Falmouth or any local town for availability.
• Family Bike rides (with dog in tow) to Popponessett Marketplace. We chose to stay in New Seabury again, which was a perfect location for our family. It was near shopping, restaurants, beaches, bike paths, tennis, golfing, and entertainment. It was located near a small town of Popponessett. Riding bikes through the town and on the bike paths would lead us to cafes, shops, entertainment and mini golf. To learn more about vacation rentals in New Seabury, visit http://www.newseaburyrentals.com.
• Visit lighthouses on the National Seashore. Check out the lighthouse photo below, look familiar? It is the Nauset Lighthouse, which is pictured on all bags of Cape Cod Chips! Cape Cod has many historical lighthouses, we visited a few while driving up to Provincetown. (Tip: We took a tour of Cape Cod Chips Factory on our last visit, visit http://www.capecodchips.com for hours and directions for this free tour in Hyannis.)
• You’ll never run out of Ice Cream and Food options. Using the Yelp App, we discovered many ice cream shops and restaurants while visiting Cape Cod. We were never disappointed on this vacation and on our last trip to Cape Cod. Here are a few suggestions from our most recent trip. For breakfast or coffee: Cape Cod Coffee (Mashpee), Moonakis Cafe (East Falmouth), Coffee Table (Popponesset). For lunch or dinner:  Siena (Mashpee), Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant (Provincetown), Wicked Restaurant and Wine Bar (Mashpee), Sesuit Harbour Cafe (Dennis), The Black Cat (Hyannis), Burger Shack at Corporation Beach (Dennis), Bobby Byrnes (Mashpee), Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar (Mashpee).  For ice cream: Polar Cave (Mashpee), Emack & Bolio (Popponesset), Ice Cream Smuggler (Dennis) , Cape Cod Creamery (East Yarmouth).
• Beach hopping, and seal searching!  Cape Cod has many great kid-friendly beaches to offer. Each one was unique in what it offered, from finding starfish and sand dollars, to seeing seals swim so close to shore, lighthouses to tour, to great waves for boogie boarding… Here are a few beaches that we visited and enjoyed: Corporation Beach (Dennis), Mayflower Beach (Dennis), South Cape Beach (Mashpee), Nauset Lighthouse Beach (Eastham).

 

Summer Vacation is Officially Here!

Last Day of School. First Day of Summer Vacation.

Hello family, friends and followers… I decided to take some time this summer to reduce my technology and social media time to focus more on life’s moments, than trying to capture them on my phone. I will continue to experience fun and new recipes, family activities and vacations and share them all with you this coming Fall. So … stayed tuned and have a fun, adventurous and love-filled summer vacation! In the meantime…many summer activity and vacation ideas, along with my favorite recipes and organization tips can always be found on http://www.homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com! Enjoy!

 

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Fun and Sun in Newport and Narragansett, Rhode Island

Living in Rhode Island all of my life… I tend to, at times, take for granted the beautiful miles of coastline just a short drive from my house! Last year, my family and I were very fortunate to be able to stay at our friends’ beach house in Narragansett, RI. It was a wonderful location and allowed us to become tourists in what is truly “The Ocean State”. Check out some of our suggested activities if you find yourself vacationing in Narragansett or Newport, RI this summer!

Thank you to our friends for offering their beautiful home to us! 

Click here for fun and sun activities in Narragansett, RI Summer Vacation Ideas: Relax on the Beach in Narragansett, RI

AND

Summer Vacation Ideas : Newport, RI …fun and historical!

 

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Explore Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard With Your Family

One of the best summer destinations in New England is Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. It is a vacation destination for many, and we are very fortunate to live only a short drive away! We have visited both destinations with our children and enjoyed every day we were able to visit! Check out our suggestions for a visit to Cape Code and Martha’s Vineyard in the coastal state of Massachusetts! Click links below.

Cape Cod Summer Vacation Ideas : Explore Cape Cod

Martha’s Vineyard What a Day on Martha’s Vineyard!

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Adventure in NH

Looking for an adventure this summer? Our family enjoys vacationing in New Hampshire in the winter months, both skiing and sipping hot cocoa often… but, we also find exciting adventure in NH in the summer months as well! Check out some tips and suggestions I shared with followers last year … Summer Vacation Ideas : Adventure in New Hampshire

Every year that my children grow older, our activities and adventures progress. Last year, my 12-year-old daughter hiked to the top of Mount Washington with my husband… what an accomplishment! Returning to the same vacation destinations always has new adventures awaiting you! What vacation adventure will you introduce your children to this year?

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Road Trip to Hilton Head, SC

Hilton Head, South Carolina was a family road trip idea we had one summer! We all enjoyed it so much, we went back again two summers later! Check out our road trip to the sun and sand of Hilton Head Island!

Visit  Summer Vacation Ideas : Sun and Sand on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : A Family Experience in Washington, D.C.

Now is the the time to begin planning your family’s summer vacations! Whether it is a road trip, visiting family or booking flights, I always like to research others tips and tricks before making our vacation reservations. Planning vacations (and taking vacations!) is one of my favorite activities. Last summer, I shared tips on vacations that I had enjoyed with my family. I recently resposted my suggestions for Hershey Park in Pennsylvania. Visit https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/start-planning-your-summer-vacation-hersheypark/ for more information.

Today, I will review our trips to Washington, D.C. and over the next few weeks, I will continue to review family vacation suggestions for your summer fun!

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Experience Washington, D.C. 

Visit my tips and suggestions : Summer Vacation Ideas : Experience Washington, D.C.

Something New To Try This Spring… An All-Natural Weed Killer

Having kids who play on our lawn and a small dog that runs around our yard, I am very conscious of the products and chemicals we use in our landscapes.  We were cautious when researching which fertilizer to use on our lawn, but we could not find a weed killer that I felt safe using in our  brick walkway or crushed stones beds. Last year, my husband just happen to see a friend’s post on Facebook for an “all natural” weed killer. It consisted of 3 simple products, all which seemed harmless. We gave it a try and were amazed how quickly it dried out the ever-growing weeds, which made it easier to pull out. It actually worked!

This year when it was our  yard’s spring clean-up time, I made sure I added the 3 ingredients to our market list again! Give it a try in your yard this spring!

Thank you to our friends who shared the recipe on Facebook last year and to http://nodontpinthat.blogspot.com/2014/06/all-natural-weed-killer.html?m=1 for sharing a large quantity recipe on their website (and there are many other bloggers out there sharing this recipe too!)

All-Natural Weed Killer Recipe 

Ingredients: 1 gallon organic white vinegar, 2 cups of all-purpose epsom salt, 1/4 cup “Dawn” blue dish detergent, spray bottle or large yard sprayer, measuring cup

Directions: Combine ingredients. Add to sprayer. Spray weeds. Repeat, if necessary.

Note: This recipe should only be used on brick, pavement and stone walkways, not in flower beds and lawns. 

Carnival Themed Cupcakes: HOT DOGS

Day 5 of 5: Carnival Themed Cupcakes

My 12-year-old daughter is at it again… exploring the world of decorating CUPCAKES! This time she had a friend help her out, which always makes it more exciting! Both girls have decided to enter a Cupcake War Fundraising Contest … pick a theme, flavors, and display, get creative… and bake and decorate 100 cupcakes! They had a trial run this past weekend and the results were a huge success! They came out and tasted so good (Ok, I am slightly biased!), I thought I would share them on my blog. So, over the next 5 days, 1 new Carnival Themed Cupcake Design will be shared to inspire our followers for their next themed party or event! Designs include POPCORN, SNOW CONES, HOT DOGS, COTTON CANDY, and ICE CREAM MILK SHAKES!

We would like to give a HUGE shoutout to Pinterest for inspiring these girls with creative cupcake designs. The girls used some ideas from Pinterest, while adding their own creative flavors and supplies (all while sticking to a budget). Looking forward to the main event, but until then… enjoy these nostalgic cupcake designs!

Day 5 – Carnival Themed Cupcakes: HOT DOGS

A chocolate cupcake topped with vanilla buttercream frosting and a caramel and fudge “hot dog”.

What you will need: chocolate or vanilla cupcakes, buttercream frosting, Kraft Caramels,  mini Tootsie Rolls, red and yellow gel writer, decorative cupcake liners

Directions:

1. Bake cupcakes according to package. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare buttercream frosting. (Recipe used : http://www.wilton.com/buttercream-frosting/WLRECIP-41.html )
3. Decorate cupcake with simple swirl design.
4. Soften caramel square in microwave. Shape into hot dog roll.
5. Soften Tootsie Roll in microwave. Add to “hot dog roll”.
6. Add gel writer for “ketchup” and “mustard”.

Carnival Themed Cupcakes: SNOW CONES

Day 2 of 5 –  Carnival Themed Cupcakes 

My 12-year-old daughter is at it again… exploring the world of decorating CUPCAKES! This time she had a friend help her out, which always makes it more exciting! Both girls have decided to enter a Cupcake War Fundraising Contest … pick a theme, flavors, and display, get creative… and bake and decorate 100 cupcakes! They had a trial run this past weekend and the results were a huge success! They looked and tasted so good (Ok, I am slightly biased!), I thought I would share them on my blog. So, over the next 5 days, 1 new Carnival Themed Cupcake Design will be shared to inspire our followers for their next themed party or event! Designs include POPCORN, SNOW CONES, HOT DOGS, COTTON CANDY, and ICE CREAM MILK SHAKES!

We would like to give a HUGE shoutout to Pinterest for inspiring these girls with creative cupcake designs. The girls used some ideas from Pinterest, while adding their own creative flavors and supplies (all while sticking to a budget). Looking forward to the main event, but until then… enjoy these nostalgic cupcake designs!

Day 2 –  Carnival Themed Cupcakes: SNOW CONES

A chocolate cupcake with raspberry flavored buttercream frosting sprinkled with red, white and blue sugar crystals..

What you will need: chocolate cupcakes, buttercream frosting, raspberry flavoring ( Loanne’s Oils Raspberry Flavoring), red, blue and white decorating sugar crystals, mini wooden or plastic spoons, white candy/nut snack bowl (see example in photo, available at Hobby Lobby)

Directions:

1. Bake chocolate cupcakes according to package in the white candy/nut snack bowls. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare buttercream frosting (Recipe used: http://www.wilton.com/buttercream-frosting/WLRECIP-41.html).
3. Add 2-3 drops of raspberry flavoring to the frosting and mix thoroughly.
4. Spread frosting onto cupcake evenly. Dividing the cupcake in thirds, add red sugar crystals to one side and blue sugar crystals to the other side, leaving the middle third plain. Then, pour the white sugar crystals into a plate and dip the whole cupcake into the white sugar crystals to cover the whole cupcakes. This will give the snow cone an “icy” look.
5. Add a mini wooden or plastic spoon to the top of the cupcake.

Tomatoes…tomatoes…tomatoes…What do you do with all of those garden tomatoes?

As the summer comes to an end, so do the fresh vegetables from my father’s garden! I recently received a basket of tomatoes and made a few great recipes. I wanted to share them on my blog in case you find yourself digging for recipes to use up all of those ripe garden tomatoes! Three recipes were previously posted on my blog, and I am sharing two new recipes today (compliments of growing up with my Mom’s Italian cooking!)

Tomato Eggplant Ravioli (or with pasta of your choice):

https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2015/05/14/eggplant-tomato-ravioli/

Tomato Cucumber Salad: 

https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2015/07/13/summer-salads-tomato-cucumber-salad/

Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Tomato and Arugula Panini:

https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/proscuitto-mozzarella-tomato-and-arugula-panini/

And my favorite, two simplest tomato recipes of all…

Caprese Salad 

Ingredients : fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls, fresh basil, salt and pepper (to taste), olive oil, balsamic glaze (optional)

Directions: Cut tomato and mozzarella into thick round slices. On a long platter, arrange the Caprese Salad as follows : tomato slice, then mozzarella slice, then whole basil leaf. Repeat into rows. Sprinkle completed platter with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil (and balsamic glaze, optional). Serve cold along side crunchy Italian bread.

Pasta al Marinara (Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce)

Ingredients: tomatoes, olive oil, minced garlic, fresh basil, salt snd pepper(to taste), pasta (of choice)

Directions: In a small pot, boil pasta (of choice) per box instructions. In a sauté pan, heat olive oil and add minced garlic. After about 1 minute, add fresh tomato chunks. Sauté for about 3-5 minutes. Add fresh basil (chopped or sliced). Set aside. Once pasta is done, drain and add pasta to fresh tomato sauce. Serve immediately with Italian Bread.

What a Day on Martha’s Vineyard!

Have you ever thought about visiting Martha’a Vineyard, MA for a family getaway, for a day? I wanted to share my family’s recent last-minute day trip to Martha’s Vineyard! My husband and I have been on the Vineyard before without kids, so I wanted to make sure I planned a kid-friendly adventure for a memorable day. Using tips from Yelp, recommendations from friends and other Mom blogs , here is our day trip schedule:

Our Visit to Martha’s Vineyard:

• Take a fast ferry to Oak Bluffs. Save travel time and spend more time on the island by choosing the fast ferry versus the standard ferry service and book tickets online. Kids ride FREE with a paying adult! Check out schedule, rates and locations at https://seastreak.com/ferry-routes-and-schedules/between-new-bedford-marthas-vineyard-ma/
• Rent a Jeep! Consider adding another fun family adventure and rent a Jeep … Driving top down… to explore the whole island in one day.   Visit http://www.mvautorental.com . Other transportation options include a shuttle service that is offered on the island or a sightseeing tour bus.

• Donuts for breakfast…You’re on vacation (Oak Bluffs) Visit Back Door Donuts for a special breakfast treat (recommendation by a friend.) If you prefer an egg sandwich, visit Skinny’s Fat Sandwiches for delicious bagel sandwiches!
• Tour The Gingerbread House Village (Oak Bluffs) – A unique village made of tiny houses painted and decorated each more colorful than the next. Visit https://newengland.com/today/travel/massachusetts/gingerbread-cottages-at-oak-bluffs-campground/

• Island Geocaching (Entire Island) ! Download the Geocaching App for cool locations for geocaching on the island.  Check out my blog post Geocaching : A fun, family scavenger hunt!
• Grab a slice of pizza and lemonade at Chilmark General Store (Chilmark)– A great spot for a quick lunch/snack while relaxing on their front porch. Don’t forget to stop at Chilmark Chocolates for a special treat (It was closed for vacation when we visited, so that will be on our to-do list on our next trip to the island!) … A great recommendation by a friend! Also caught a celebrity sighting!
• Climb a lighthouse for beautiful views. There are many lighthouses on Martha’s Vineyard. By renting the Jeep, we were able to tour the whole island and see many of the lighthouses.
• Visit Edgartown and Vineyard Haven for shopping, ice cream and lunch or dinner on the go (our family decided to eat on the go to be able to explore the island  quicker !)
• Sandy toes and beach combing on any beach you chose! We were excited to add great shells to our growing vacation shell collection! Sit down and relax on the beach while the kids splash around in the water … We packed suits and towels for the day.
• Spin around on the Flying Horse Carousel (Oak Bluffs)! Before heading back to the ferry, drop the Jeep off, grab dinner to-go at Skinny’s Fat Sandwiches (I recommend  the  Gobbler!), and ride the carousel.

A few hours on Martha’s Vineyard felt like a weekend away! Enjoy!!

Geocaching : A fun, family scavenger hunt!

What is Geocaching? Well, that was the same question I asked my daughter a few weeks ago. I quickly found out that it is a fun and exciting scavenger hunt the whole family can enjoy! It takes your family on hunts throughout your location, with fun (and silly) prizes to take home and leave behind, all the while, logging your stops. I wish we started it when our summer adventures began… But, we have the rest of their childhood to continue this fun activity! Thanks to some friends, Pinterest and fellow bloggers for helping us get started!
How can your family go Geocaching?

1. Download the App for FREE on your device (cellular service required).
2. Register your family (confidential, you do not need to share personal information).
3. Create (or buy) your SWAG (Stuff We All Get, or prize) that you will leave on your scavenger hunt. Tips: Be creative and think small. It has to fit inside many small (and sometimes tiny) containers. My daughter made our families… An Anywhere Tic-Toe- on-the-Go-Game. She was inspired by an idea on Pinterest : she purchased mini ziploc bags (found them at A.C. Moore and used for jewelry), 9 mini buttons (2 colors), and printed a tic-tac-toe game on paper, then cut them small to fit inside the bag. (See photo).
4. When you are out, running errands, en route to an activity or on vacation… Check the App to see if there are any Geocaches in your area (Mom Tip: makes for excited kids to tag along on errands!) .
5. Once you find the geocache, log the date and your family name (or user name) into the log book, take a prize and leave a prize. My kids have received dice, parachute guys, pencil toppers, finger puppets, necklaces and other fun prizes. It is not so much the prizes, but the exciting hunt it bring them on.
6. More information available on their website : https://www.geocaching.com/play

Happy Geocaching! 

For other fun scavenger hunt ideas, visit a previous post on a scavenger hunt I created, visit Plan a Scavenger Hunt with Family and Friends  . A great party, team building or reunion idea! Have fun!

Day Trips with Kids in Massachusetts

Fun and adventure is a must on our day to day summer adventures with my kids. I keep everyday a “secret” until the day of the event. This year we were able to take a few local day trips to nearby Massachusetts. Here is a list I put together for the other adventurous parents out there (or families visiting the New England area this summer or fall!) Have fun!

10 Family Fun Day Trips in Massachusetts

1. Purgatory Chasm Sutton, MA – Take a hike on rocks, boulders and trails in this natural challenge! Pack a picnic lunch, visit the playground and stop for an ice cream treat at West End Creamery (before getting back on the highway).
2. Plimouth Plantations, Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock Plymouth, MA – Visit a replica of where the first colonists and Native Americans lived. A great educational experience! Tips : 1. Make sure to stop by the bakery to pick up a loaf of fresh baked bread! 2. Visit Plantations first, then drive over to the Grist Mill (free parking) and walk along the river to experience the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. Ice cream and cupcake treats available along a serene town. (And yes, Plimouth Plantations is spelled differently than Plymouth, MA – even Moms learn something new everyday!) Visit http://www.plimoth.org
3. Fenway Park (Stadium Tour and Red Sox Game) Boston, MA – A fun experience to watch the Boston Red Sox play ball and a memorable tour of this historical landmark. Visit http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp
4. Boston Museum of Science Boston, MA – A great science museum for all ages. Be sure to check out the lightening show, planetarium and a cool roller coaster simulation ride (additional fees required).
5. Great Wolf Lodge Fitchburg, MA  -Ok, so this is not a day trip… But…  A perfect “vacation” any time of the year. Unfortunately, GWL requires an overnight stay in order to use their water park, but the kids (and parents) won’t be disappointed. There are many activities in addition to the water play, my kids enjoyed the ropes course the most! If you are looking for a day trip option, consider CoCoKey Indoor Water Park in Danvers, MA. Visit https://www.greatwolf.com/new-england or http://www.cocokeyboston.com
6. An Unlikely Story Plainville, MA  Visit this quaint book store located inside a refurbished general store in a quaint little town. Owned and operated by my son’s favorite author, Jeff Kinney from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. Autographed books available for sale. There is also a cafe located inside the book store for a quick lunch or treat! If you are lucky, maybe you will bump into Mr. Kinney himself! Located down the street from Wrentham Village Outlets. Visit http://www.anunlikelystory.com
7. Boston Duck Tours Boston, MA – A fun and unique way to tour this harbor city. The tour guides are hilarious and guide you through many parts of Boston, both on land and in water!  Tours can be picked up at the Boston Museum of Science. Visit http://www.bostonducktours.com/mobile-home/
8. Gilette Stadium (New England Patriots Training Camp and Fan Zone) Foxboro, MA – Come and cheer on the New England Patriots in an exclusive opportunity to watch them practice before the football season starts! Arrive early for front row seats to experience all of the action! A Fan Zone is also set up for more excitement, meet the cheerleaders and mascot, inflatables, food, treats, games and many prize opportunities. Take a walk over to Patriots Place for more food, shopping and events. Visit http://www.patriots.com/trainingcamp
9. Corporation Beach Dennis, Cape Cod, MA – This is my family’s family beach in Cape Cod. It is family-friendly with a food shack and facilities, a great place to swim and explore in the sand bars during low tide for hermit crabs. Visit http://www.town.dennis.ma.us/Pages/index
10. Southwick Zoo Mendon, MA – A great day out with the family to visit a wide variety of animal species. Our favorite is the rhino! Visit http://southwickszoo.com

Summertime Cupcakes (Repost)

A Throwback Thursday post from last summer… two summertime cupcake designs that my daughter made: Watermelons and Twin Pop Cupcakes. A sweet addition to any event!

Click here for design instructions: https://homesweetmamamia.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/sweet-watermelons-and-twin-ice-pops-summertime-cupcakes/

Summer Road Trip Tips

Are you ready for your next summer vacation road trip? Before you head out, check out Home Sweet Mama Mia’s previous vacation blog posts for tips!

Prep your car for your road trip… visit post here Get Ready For Your Summer Road Trip!

Stay organized with these vacation packing tips…visit post here Staying Organized in 2016: Vacation Packing Lists

Want to take a family road trip, but don’t know where to go? Check out  various “Summer Vacation Ideas” posted on this blog  for suggestions.

Safe Travels!

100 Things To Do (Again) With Your Kids This Summer

Here is one of my most viewed blog posts last summer… I thought I would repost it to inspire parents again for this summer! Visit blog post here:

100 Fun Things to do this SUMMER with your kids!

Have a great summer!

Summer Vacation Ideas : Hersheypark

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What is better than taking a family vacation that has both chocolate treats and roller coasters? If you ask my kids, nothing! I vacationed to Hersheypark as a child. Now, as a Mom, I have planned 3 road trip vacations to include Hershey Park, and have planned another one for this summer!

Hersheypark  is located right near Harrisburg, PA, the capital of Pennsylvania. We have included Hershey Park on road trips from New Jersey, New York City, Rhode Island and Hilton Head, SC! It is a fun and nostalgic amusement park, for both young and older children, with characters, tours, shows,  a variety of amusement rides, and, of course, lots of Hershey chocolate!

Here are some tips for families considering  a road trip to Hershey Park:

Book “Sweet” Accommodations. Being located so close to Harrisburg (approx. 15 minutes), we were able to find many chain hotels for our vacation stay there very easily online. We usually vacation with our small dog, so needed to find a hotel that allowed dogs. We have stayed at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel and Marriot Residence Inn Harrisburg Hershey. Both were good family accommodations with pools and kitchenette, and allowed our dog to stay for a fee. This summer, we will be leaving our dog at home and trying out one of Hershey Park’s own resorts (which does not allow pets)- The Hershey Lodge . (There are also two other Hershey Properties – Hotel Hershey and Hershey’s Campground.)

Learn a Little Bit of History.  Hershey Park Is not only fun and games, add a little history lesson on your vacation! Take a trolley ride through the town of “Hershey” to learn how is all began by a man name Milton Hershey! The trolley tour provides a fun way to teach the history, sample the Hershey brand chocolates and sing a little tune, all while riding in a comfortable trolley! (The trolley tours are available at Chocolate World). I would recommend this activity for your first visit to Hershey. (Tip: for children that enjoy to read, pick up Who was Milton Hershey by James Buckley for a book to read on the drive up!) 

Visit Chocolate World. Chocolate World is located right near the entrance of Hershey Park. It offers a variety of programs and events, including a 4D movie, a behind the scenes look at the history of chocolate making, a fabulous souvenir and chocolate shop, trolley tour through the town of Hershey, chocolate tasting, and a variety of other activities (all activities, except the behind the scenes history tour, require a fee.) Visit http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/explore for more information!

Be Amused by the Rides! One of the characteristics I like about the rides at Hershey Park is that the kiddie rides are mixed in with the larger amusement rides. So, if you are traveling with another family who has smaller children, or your own children have an age gap, you can stay together in the park and ride the rides. At the entrance of the park, you can have your child officially measured by park staff to receive a bracelet to confirm their height. Each ride is categorized by a candy for its height regulations. A “Jolly Rancher” is the highest level and a “Hershey’s Miniature” is the smallest.  Visit http://www.hersheypark.com/things-to-do/just-for-you/index.php to find out which candy your kids are!

More to see than Roller Coasters. Hersheypark also offers ZooAmerica and The Boardwalk at Hersheypark (a water amusement park). Both attractions are included in your Hersheypark entrance ticket. Since we have always included Hersheypark within a road trip, we have never been to ZooAmerica or The Boardwalk but have added it to our next visit to Hersheypark!  Visit http://www.hersheypark.com/things-to-do/zooamerica.php or http://www.hersheypark.com/rides/search.php?ride_type[]=2 for more information.

Plan a preview night. Hersheypark offers ticket holder a preview to the park 2.5 hours prior to close the day before you plan to visit. This is a great chance to ride the larger rides that usually have long lines!

Look for Discounts!  We have received ticket discounts from local Giant Foodchains and also picked up coupons at local Dunkin’ Donuts. AAA and hotels also offer discounted park tickets. Every saved dollar counts!

Suggested trip schedule: 

Day 1: Travel to Harrisburg or hotel location. Visit Chocolate World for trolley tour, 4D Movie, history of chocolate making and shopping. Grab lunch at Chocolate World. Check into hotel, swim in pool, dinner and “preview” Hersheypark 2.5 hours prior to close.

Day 2: Spend the whole day at Hersheypark.

Day 3: Visit The Boardwalk and/or ZooAmerica for the 1st half of the day and then Hersheypark after dinner.

Day 4: Travel Day

Visit HersheyPark.com for more information regarding tickets, events, hours and accommodations! 

Please note these opinions and suggestions are my own and I was not reimbursed by Hersheypark to write this blog post. I will update my blog once we vacation there again this summer! Have a “sweet” vacation!