Attention Izod your mascot is missing...

Last night I was on the phone with Sue @ RueMouffetard and I glanced out of my front door and this is what caught my eye.

A baby alligator complete with razor sharp teeth.

 

I told Sue to hang on because I wanted to get my camera and take a photo. Don't all good bloggers stop and grab their camera in a mini crisis?    Then it occurred to me that perhaps the Mama or Papa alligator could be hanging around teaching their little offspring how to terrorize the neighborhood.  I quickly hot tailed it back into the house and locked the door. Like a gator can really open a door?

A few minutes later I see my neighbor just sashaying down the block ever so slowly.  I bravely opened my door and told her there was an alligator headed in her direction.  She took off like a streak of lightening screaming in a high pitched voice with her brand new Hover-Round.  I think she burned the motor out on that one as it was smoking and she left burnt tire tracks on the pavement.  That alligator achieved in a few seconds what her physical therapist was trying to achieve in years. She jumped out of her chair and was not only walking but she was running .  I witnessed a true miracle*( see note below)  Hallelujah! 

Needless to say I am kicking myself this morning for not capturing that alligator. I could have made a beautiful pair of shoes (think he was only big enough for one shoe).

  Or a purse.

I should  have soaked that alligator in some buttermilk and dipped him ever so lightly  in FLOUR and fried him for dinner. Rumor has it alligator tastes like chicken so who would be the wiser when I served him/her at a blog luncheon.  You are all invited.
 

I could have become a millionaire with an alligator food stand on every corner in every major city across gator territory.    I could have made fried gator, baked gator, marinara gator, gator casserole, gator creole, gator grits, gator pickled claws, gator tots and last but not least gator cupcakes.  I could have had my own Alligator segment on the Cooking Network and become fat and famous.   To quote from a famous movie, "I could have become a contender" competing with my hero Bobby Flay doing an allligator throw down.

Who needs an alligator cupcake mold when I have real alligators to pull apart here on Hilton Head Island.

If you would like to purchase an alligator pull apart baking pan go here.

Don't you just want to whip up a batch of alligator cupcakes to scare the heck out of the grands to get back at the parents by having the kids stay up all night saying there are gators in the closets and under the beds?

Do you have any tried and true ALLIGATOR cupcake recipes?

Inquiring minds want to know.


Lemon Raspberry Angel Food Cupcakes

cupcake ingredients

• 1  (16-oz.) package DUNCAN HINES Angel Food Cake Mix
• 24  paper baking cups
• 3/4  cup  seedless raspberry jam
•  
• CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
• 1 1/2  (8-oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/4  cup  butter, softened
• 1/4  cup  fresh lemon juice
• 1  (16-oz.) package powdered sugar, sifted
• 2  teaspoons  lemon zest
• GARNISH
• Fresh raspberries

Preparation

Prepare Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 325°. Prepare angel food cake batter according to package directions. Place paper baking cups into 2 (12-cup) muffin pans. Spoon batter into cups.
Bake at 325° for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
Make a small hole in tops of cupcakes with a knife or end of a wooden spoon. Pipe or spoon about 1 tsp. raspberry jam into centers of cupcakes.
Prepare Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add lemon juice, beating just until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until blended; stir in lemon zest.
Spread Cream Cheese Frosting on tops of cupcakes. Garnish, if desired.

Please visit our hostess Michele at Foodie Friday here for more recipes.

* Just kidding. My neighbor was actually walking but I thought we could all use a little humor today but she was running like her pants were on fire!
*green gator photo on public photo site.

Fresh local seafood on Hilton Head Island...

It sure does not get any fresher then shrimp boats pulling up to the docks here on Hilton Head to unload their catch of the day. This is the beginning of shrimp season here in South Carolina. Shrimp season runs here until the water turns cold in the winter.

If you are visiting Hilton Head make a stop at Benny Hudsons Seafood and speak with Tanya (above photo) who will give you the heads up on what fish are running at the present time.

Right now Grouper and Snapper and Cobia are running (outside) off shore toward the golf shore.

Cobia is served grilled or poached. Chefs Jaimie Oliver and Mario Batali once had the "Battle of the Cobia" on Iron Chef America in Januray 2008.

Local bass are running inside the perimeter but I really want to try the Cobia this week.

Anyone have a tired and true Cobia recipe to share with me?

Please remember to buy locally whenever you can to support your local fishermen.

I am linking to Watery Wednesday HERE
&
I am linking to Outdoor Wednesday HERE

Summer Stock Sunday...4th of July...

Thank you Robin for hosting this fun Summer Stock. Please head on over to see what other fun summer photos are posted this week.

Yesterday we had fun at the 4th of July celebration at the Spring Lake pavilion here on Hilton Head island. It is a fun way for the community to come together to celebrate every year. Fireworks start at dark and are a perfect way to end a fun filled day.

Spring Lake pavilion is all decorated for the 4th!

The parade begins for the children to show off the bike decorations. The children march around the circle wearing their 4th of July red white and blue colors.

Isn't this little one cute wearing a flag and some beads?

Young families come to the 233rd celebration of this great nation.

The community joins together to remember our service men and women who make this all possible by helping to keep us free.

Lot's of fun games for the children in and around the pavilion.
What little one can resist a game where the prize is a goldfish?

Duck Pond game is perfect for the toddler generation.

Hot dogs, pizza, watermelon, soda and baked goods were available for lunch.
Cotton candy was a big hit for young and old.
Provided by the local dentists.
Just joking about the dentists!

Let the Pie Eating contest begin between the boys and the girls.
These boys were having so much fun eating those delicious pies.

Remember sharing special summer time fun with your best friend?

Who can resist a pie throwing competition?
Of course all the boys wanted to volunteer and the girls could not wait to toss those whip cream pies!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Sandbox Playtime on Hilton Head...

A fun and unique place for families with children is the Sandbox on Hilton Head island, S.C. This is an interactive Museum for toddlers and young children. Admission is $6 pp and children 2 and under are free. Depending upon the time of day, there can be a waiting line. We went as soon as the doors opened and when we left after 1.5 hrs there was already a line out the door. The average time spent at play is about 1 -1.5 hours per child.

There is a full arts and craft room for little ones to create with paints and crayons and sparkles and lots of paste and brushes and crayons and markers.

"Can't seem to get enough of horses this week."

The Toddler area has a slide, and a wide assortment of age appropriate toys and books, in a gated area. There are rocking chairs and benches outside the area for parents to sit and watch.

"Not a fan of this Chef's hat but I do like to play in Flour like my Nanny Joyce!"

There is a full kitchen area for little ones to play store, shop and bake complete with a child size picnic table and umbrella.

"Roger that tower I am clear for take off on runway 27 L for Landon."

A wonderful interactive plane complete with uniforms and voice simulator.

Little Co-pilot checking out the landing gear.

"I am not sure I can land this plane in the Hudson River but I can sure land it in my bath tub!"

Do I spot a ship and a treasure map and a pirates chest full of dress up clothing?

"Let me take complete control of this sailing vessel!"

Ahoy! Searching for land or perhaps "Goldfish" to eat!

It's time for some "Nuggets" and I don't mean gold nuggets but chicken nuggets & a nap for this exhausted Pirate!

If you are visiting Hilton Head Island and have young children I would definitely make a stop into the Sandbox. It is small, well staffed and clean. You are not allowed to eat inside but there is a front porch if you would like to bring your little ones P&B Jelly sandwich with you. It may be a good idea to bring a cold drink for when your little one is finished playing. Taking photos was tricky due to the number of children and parents moving about and having fun. We will definitely return to find the Captains parrot!

I'm back in the saddle again...Lawton Stables...

I am back in the saddle blogging again after being on some R&R with family.

We had a great week and the time just flew past way to quickly.
I will share with you all this week some of our fun activities.

A trip to Lawton Stables at Sea Pines was on our agenda to see the beautiful horses, ride a pony named "Chicken Nugget", and pet the animals in the petting zoo. The history of Lawton Plantation is very interesting so click on the above link and read about the two wonderful NY gals who founded this site in 1867.

Finally my first pony ride on "Chicken Nugget".
Giddy up!

If you are visiting Hilton Head Island stop at Lawton Stables with your family for some fun!
Donations are accepted for the petting zoo.
Pony rides are $10 and are really priceless to see the smile on the babies faces!

Gator takes all on Hilton Head Island...

Please click on photo to view larger.

Now why do I feel the urge to go shoe shopping?

Down by the beautiful sea...

The sun finally came out here on Hilton Head, S.C. so we headed out to the beach for some beach fun.

 

 

 

 

To quench our thirst on the hot beach we drank a southern favorite "Sweet Tea" with lots of ice and a piece of mint. I hope you enjoy the recipe too.

Sweet Tea

Ingredients:

1 part water
1 part sugar
unsweetened tea
peaches, strawberries, or raspberries (to add flavor)

Directions:

Dissolve equal parts sugar with water by boiling the mixture, until it coats your spoon.

To make a flavored simple syrup, cook peaches, strawberries or raspberries with simple syrup. Strain into a pitcher, and add desired amount to your tea, or you can freeze flavored simple syrup in an ice cube tray. Add desired amount of ice cubes to your tea. (This prevents your ice tea from being watered down.)