2018 Memorial Day Camp Out

Planning is underway up for the 2018 48th annual Phillips Family Memorial Day Camping Trip at World’s End State Park.  We are rapidly evolving with another generation of campers.  We’ll be looking for some help to make sure we pass along some of the old traditions and create some new ones for the next generation.  What are some of the traditions that you remember, and what traditions need more attention or need to emerge?

Camp out dates are Thursday, May 24th through Monday, May 28th, 2018. However, Mark and Brian are probably going up on Wednesday and would welcome anyone who’d like to stay an additional night.  Actually, we had so much fun last year that we might go up on Tuesday. Continue reading 2018 Memorial Day Camp Out

2018 Virginia Beach Planning

2018 Majestic
2018 “Majestic” by Seibert Realty

We’ve reserved a beautiful house for the 2018 Virginia Beach trip.

See Majestic

This gorgeous semi-oceanfront beach home offers over 4000 square feet of space with room for the entire family.  Beach access is just across the street. The huge 3rd floor Great Room offers plenty of leather seating as well as a 52″ Flat Panel TV and open access to the dining area with multiple tables to seat our whole family. The Kitchen is a chef’s dream with Granite Countertops, 2 Ovens, 2 Dishwashers and plenty of space to create those gourmet delights! There’s a total of 13 Bedrooms and 13 full baths (2 with Jetted Tubs) and two half baths including 10 King Master Suites and One Queen Suite.

The first floor Recreation Room features a Theater area with a 72″ Flat Panel TV, Blu-ray Disc player and Surround Sound – plus a Pool Table, Air Hockey Table and Foosball Table. There’s also a Wetbar with a full size refrigerator that’s conveniently located by the pool for easy access to snacks and beverages. Multi – level decking on both East and West sides of the house offer you many options for soaking up the sun or just relaxing in the shade plus views of both the beach and the bay. After a day on the beach or sight-seeing, you can even enjoy the luxury of riding the elevator to your room – great for carrying in groceries and luggage too! Best of all, you even have your own Private Outdoor Swimming Pool to cool off after a day of fun in the summer sun.

Final Payments are Due by May 1st

The following table shows the amount you have paid to date and the remaining amount due.

Payment Options

These computer/smartphone applications work great when connected to your debit or credit card.  This is the easiest way to send money, and it is actually safer since you don’t have to worry about checks getting lost.

  • Click here to pay via PayPal -> PayPal.me/MDavisUS
  • Pay via the Cash App to $mdavis17d or 570-815-6960 or mdavisus@comcast.net
  • Pay via Google Wallet to 570-815-6960 or mdavis17d@gmail.com
  • Pay via Apple Pay to 570-815-6960
  • Pay via Facebook private message. There is a dollar sign in the message window that can be connected to your debit card and the payment is applied to my debit card.

We had some confusion last year on alcohol purchases.  The rule was that people are responsible for their own alcohol and occasionally the cost got mixed in with family food expense.  We will keep these expenses completely separated for 2018.

 

 

Recipe Index

You will find 29 posts in the category Recipes on this blog.

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Hot Cross Buns

This is Grandma Davis’ famous Hot Cross bun recipe.  I remember her making these by the dozen every year around Easter.  She’d often get together with Great-grandma Heiser and Aunt Hyet Swartz and bake all day long.  One year, probably in the late 1960’s, they made over 120 dozen.  I found a card in Grandma’s recipe file that did all the ingredient extensions for multiplying the volume.

Hot Cross Buns
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Hot Cross Buns
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
  2. Add shortening, sugar, salt to milk. When milk has cooled to lukewarm, add yeast that has been dissolved in water. Add beaten eggs
  3. Add flour and cinnamon and beat well.
  4. Add currants (floured with a portion of the flour)
  5. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
  6. Shape in the form of biscuits and place in a greased pan. Cover and let rise for another hour.
  7. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
  8. Let cool. Make an icing cross on the tops and coat lightly with powdered sugar (optional).
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Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple Casserole
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Pineapple Casserole
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Cream and beat together the butter, sugar and eggs
  3. Fold in the pineapple.
  4. Fold in the cubed bread
  5. Use a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. No lid is needed
  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 60 mins
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Spotty Dog

This is Grandma Davis’ recipe for Spotty Dog, an old English/Welsh dessert.  This is massive in calories, so tread lightly.  I used to love this as a youth, but haven’t had it in decades.  I’m not sure I’d still like it.

I believe that the actual name for this dish is Spotted Dick, but knowing my mom (Betty Heiser Davis) and her mom (Harriett French Heiser) they changed the name to Spotty Dog to avoid any joking around.

By the way – you can buy canned Spotted Dick if you want to try this before making it.  I’m sure a sauce recipe can also be found online.

Spotty Dog
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Spotty Dog
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Mix all ingredients together and form into a loaf shape. Roll (wrap) tightly in a clean white cloth. (Grandma sometimes would use a clean old man's hanky). Fasten in with large safety pins (including the ends).
  2. Place on rack in large dutch oven (or large oven roasting pan). Cover with boiling water and cook for 3 hours. (Try to turn it over after 2 hours).
  3. Let cool a while before removing the pins and wrapping.
  4. Serve topped lightly with sugar. Grandma sometimes made a lemon sauce to go on top but I don't have this recipe.
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Custard

This is the custard recipe Grandma Davis used.  It is awesome!  She used it for cream puff and eclair filling.

Custard
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Servings
2 cups
Servings
2 cups
Custard
Print Recipe
Servings
2 cups
Servings
2 cups
Ingredients
Servings: cups
Instructions
  1. Melt butter
  2. Blend in Cream Corn Starch, sugar and salt.
  3. Gradually add milk.
  4. Heat to boiling over direct heat stirring constantly.
  5. Stir into slightly beaten egg yolks. Return to heat and cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  6. Add vanilla.
  7. Cool thoroughly.
  8. Serve plain or with cream or as a filling for cream puffs or Boston creme pie.
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Disney Trip Summary

We have quite a bit of experience going to Disney World and Universal Studies in Orlando, Florida.  We’ve also branched out to do a Disney Cruise and Disneyland in California.  This section is intended to provide some historical perspective on our experiences. We’ve experienced Disney with our kids, with our extended family of 24 people, and as a romantic getaway with just Mark and Jeanne.

AnimMonorail

DisneyWorld Disneyland Disney Cruise
Mark 19 2 1
Jeanne 17 2 1
Ty 11 1 1

Continue reading Disney Trip Summary