Let’s Open The Dock For 2010

One of the excuses we use each year for a social event is the official opening of our boat dock. We try to have a varied type of food each time – country breakfast, BBQ, Tex Mex, etc., and this year we decided on something simple - everyone bring a salad, appetizer or dessert. I wanted to make an antipasto pasta salad, and Bev wanted to make Mexican cornbread.

For the cornbread, she used her usual recipe, but made it as small muffins.

MEXICAN CORNBREAD
Makes 12” skillet full

2 cup Self rising corn meal
3 lg Eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup Vegetable oil
1 sml Onion, finely chopped
1 sml Green pepper, finely chopped
1 cup Cheese, shredded
1 cup Buttermilk
½ tsp Baking soda
1 ea Jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely diced
1 cup Whole kernel corn, drained

1. Preheat oven to 400F and warm greased cast iron skillet.
2. Mix together meal, eggs, oil, soda, and buttermilk.
3. Stir in other ingredients.
4. Bake until top is browned and toothpick pulls out cleanly.

You can of course make it hotter by how you prep the jalapeno and by adding more. I failed to get a pic, but at least one person who normally only eats plain cornbread ate at least a couple of them. I liked them even though she had them pretty spicy. These are the three that were left.


For the pasta salad, I used 2 pounds multi colored pasta, pepperoni, salami, ham, provolone, asiago, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, grape tomatoes, pepperocini, green, ripe, and kalamata olives, shaved parmigano reggiano on top. Dressed with a bottle of Kens Steakhouse Caesar dressing with ¼ cup of additional olive oil and one tsp each of dried basil, oregano, leaf thyme. I left the items bigger than normal for a pasta salad so it would be more antipasto like. It filled our largest bowl.



Once the party got going, I forgot to take anymore food pictures, but we had more than enough as most folks bring what they said they would, plus another item or two.

I did manage a couple before things got going then some as we were finishing eating. This is the dock from the ramp leading to it.


Alex and her friend Jordyn are injoying their first swim of the year.


Relaxing and socializing after some good eats.


As you can see, this was a pet friendly event. I think there were about 8 dogs roaming around and keeping the dock floor cleaned up for us.







Most folks headed out before the rain came, but a few stayed until dark, which is my favorite time to enjoy the dock.


We managed to inspire a little rain as is often the case with dock parties, but we only collected a tenth of and inch - better than nothing.


We are really blessed to have a small group of friends we really enjoy spending time with. It seemed a good time was had by all, and I hope you'll come see for yourself at our blogger party on June 5.

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Larry