Winter on the Water

I hate cold weather. I can't afford to buy a winter home in Florida, so I just struggle through the winter here in North Carolina the best I can. Every now and then we get a day here when you can actually get out on the water on a boat. Saturday was such a day. It was in the 50's with light winds.

I'm fortunate to have a friend who has a boat with curtains on it that fully enclose the cockpit. When you are inside, it is really quite comfortable. He loves the water just like me. A typical weekend at the beach includes a trip by boat to Beaufort for breakfast and a trip around Morehead City waterfront. 

During the winter months, the Beaufort waterfront is nearly deserted.  There were a few very nice live aboard yatchs there.  I often wonder what it would be like to own one of these, to have the the freedom to follow the sun.  So why are they here in NC in January?

I will never own one of these, but it cost very little to dream. 

A nice trawler and a motor yatch tied up at the Beaufort dock. 

A picture of Jarrett Bay Marina on the intracoastal waterway where you can purchase one of the mega yatchs. 

What a difference a day makes. 24 hours later rain and wind. Not a day to be on the water.  Oh well, we had one nice January day this weekend. 

Sweet Potato Chili

T

Well it is January, cold, 34 degrees and drizzling.  I'm certainly not going out today. Just trying to stay warm and getting ready for the State vs UNC game tonight.

I gave Becky a new crock pot for Christmas. It the large one with all the bells and whistles. Just chop it up, throw it in the pot and you are done. No need to stir. 

One of our favorite slow cook recipes is sweet potato chili. It taste better than it sounds and is ideal for this kind of weather. I found this recipe on the Internet last year and featured it on an earlier posting.  Some of my friends have tried it and they all say that it is good. Maybe just so they done hurt my feelings--I don't really thank so because most of my friends don't care if they hurt my feelings.  Anyway, here is the recipe. 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sweet-potato-chili/detail.aspx

Give it a try. 

Sweet potato chili doesn't last long in this house, so we are doubling the recipe. Four Johnston county sweet potatoes diced. 

Really easy to make if you know how to use a can opener. After 69 years, I've got that covered. 

The finished product with shredded cheese and a dollop of yogurt. Enjoy. 

Welcome 2015

2014 was a good year, but unfortunately I have put on a FEW pounds over the holidays. We have had a number of events that we have attended and it seems like they all revolve around food. Not just plain food, but some of the best food I have ever tasted. 

There has been ham, turkey, mexican, seafood, beef, chicken and that just a start. Desserts include sweet potato pie, coconut cake, church window cookies, and nearly every candy that you can name. 

On New Year's Eve we went with some friends to a Morehead City restaurant named Calypso North. It is off the beaten path and patronized mostly by locals. Although we have passed the restaurant many times, I had never eaten there. Since they were the only place that we could find that would take our last minute reservation, we gave them a shot. GOOD CHOICE! 

I had the shrimp and andouille pasta which was very good. Becky had a fish dish with a side of collards. I had a taste of her collards and I am here to tell you that they were the best that I have ever eaten and I am not a big collard fan. 

Well, the last meal of 2014 was a real treat. Good food and good friends. Starting today, I am going on a diet. Losing the extra pounds that I put on over the holidays is my New Year's Resolution.