Here’s a little recap of my time down in Florida, which was mostly spent on the Gulf coast.
- It seemed like a secret spot.
- The view to our left
- In front of us…
- Hey there!
- And to our right
- Our first morning there we had breakfast on the patio.
- We brought two huge (one was eight pounds!) ripe papayas from my parents’ garden.
No other papaya compares to their papaya tree.
- I haven’t introduced you guys to the newest addition to our family. Meet Jinx!
My parents were fostering him for one of their local shelters K94U, and they couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He’s made out of love, and has plenty to give!
- We enjoyed sunsets over the ocean.
Aren’t the colors from the sun’s glare neat?
- Making camp
- Once again, no one else was nearby
- The sun before I went for a run.
- This place is real.
- When I came back from my run.
- My dad was also able to enjoy himself.
- Many fruit bowls were had for breakfast.
Served with my personal favorite, Redwood Hill Farm goat’s milk yogurt, blueberries, papaya, strawberries, cherries, pecans, shredded coconut, and mint leaves.
- I’ve been experimenting with salads a lot lately.
This time I incorporated asparagus, and the other ingredients were: a mix of greens, tomato, avocado, bell pepper, pecorino, and properly dressed. I’m hoping to make a video soon, to share my salad making tips.
- Tried flounder for the first time.
I was inspired by a dish my parents had at my birthday dinner.
Island Flounder
Ingredients
4 flounder fillets
1 large ripe banana or 2 small ones, sliced
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 lime
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
sea salt, to taste
Coconut oil or olive oil for cooking
Directions
1. Heat the pan on the stove on med. heat, then once it’s warm add the oil. Let the oil warm up, and toss in the chopped garlic. I like to add some salt at this point.
2. Then add the flounder fillets and cook till it flakes. During this time add the banana slices and spices.
3. Once the fish is almost done cooking and the bananas have browned, add the shredded coconut and let it toast. Then remove from the burner, so the coconut doesn’t burn.
4. Squeeze on the lime juice, and serve!
Now what was this birthday dinner I mentioned?
- We decided to go to this restaurant that was right on the beach, and known for its view of the sunset.
- I think it’s impossible to capture faces with the sunset behind, but here’s me with my mom!
To start out we ordered some drinks (Riesling for me), and these bites:
- Mojito shrimp
Grilled shrimp tossed in our mojito sauce with dark rum, mint, cane sugar, and fresh lime
- Seared Ginger Infused Ahi Tuna
Served rare with a side of pickled ginger, wasabi, wakame, and a ponzu dipping sauce
- For the main meal I ordered the Boca Spring Salad
Pan seared jumbo sea scallops served over spring mix greens with goat cheese, tomato, strawberries, and avocado topped with a raspberry vinaigrette
- My dad ordered the South Beach Baked Seafood Strudel
Shrimp, scallops, and crab meat mixed with mushrooms, thyme, cream cheese, and a blend of cheeses wrapped in a phyllo dough baked and topped with a lobster sauce. Served with rice and fresh seasonal vegetables
My mom ordered the Coconut chicken: pan seared coconut encrusted boneless chicken breast with sautéed fresh banana in a banana rum sauce, also served with rice and fresh seasonal vegetables
That was the inspiration for the flounder dish I made the next day. The strudel was so delicious, and that night I tried lots of new-to-me seafood. I hadn’t tried shellfish at that point. The shrimp tasted good, but the texture did not sit well with me. Also, I ended up with an upset stomach the next morning. I’m not sure if it’s because of all the new variety or the shellfish in general.
- At the restaurant you can watch the sun set from your seat, but most people just take off their shoes and walk out on to the beach.
The trip was so relaxing overall, and the place was incredible. We were greeted by smiles, and lots of wild life. There was even a coyote over where we were staying! I got to go on some beautiful runs… passing by lighthouses, charming homes and greenery, and neat hidden spots…
The trip inspired each of us to relax in our day to day lives, and cherish what’s around us more. It also made us fall into a deeper love with Florida’s Gulf.
I hope you all have a marvelous weekend.
What was one of your favorite vacations?
The scenery just looks absolutely gorgeous…Great to hear that you enjoyed your vacation!
I definitely recommend it!
My favorite vacation was to Nikko, Japan with my family. The air, the food, and the ‘baths’ were just incredible.
Thank you
I want to go to Japan so badly!!! It’s so fascinating to me, and I really want to go somewhere where I’d experience culture shock and would have no idea what’s being said lol.
xo!
i am glad you are trying out new seafoods! i absolutely love pretty much anything from the sea except eel (i just can’t do it bc it reminds me of a snake gross!). my favorite vacation is a really tough one, i’ve been to some incredible places. one of my faves was hawaii many years ago. it was the first time i truly saw how beautiful the ocean could be and enjoyed many new to me fruits/fish!
Ooo I can’t imagine eating eel either… I think I would be irked by the texture. Hawaii sounds like such a magical place… just imagining it
It’s funny because it’s a part of the states, but it really seems to be so different.
I’m not sure what is more beautiful, the scenery or the food! Wow, I’m blown away by it all.
Thank you for your kind words! The scenery was truly breathtaking
wow, so gorgeous! all that fresh fruit looks amazing. also, adding shredded coconut to seafood is genius!! gotta try that!
Yes!!! You must try it
wow what a scenery and so much beautiful food! whenever i choose to eat seafood i try to eat local or organic, it just taste so so different and much better than anything that comes from far away. Unfortunately Austria does not have a sea so I usually stick to the local fish (from lakes). this place looks so gorgeous I am really hoping to travel to a lovely beachy place with my boyfriend this winter!
oh and a 6 pound papaya just tops it all! heaven for me
Same here in regards to the seafood. I go to this resource that tells me what the best selections are for each type of fish… some are better farmed actually, and I guess that’s where the organic aspect comes into play. You know, I’m actually hoping to go to Austria next year, maybe we will be able to meet each other!
xo!!!
p.s. hope your wishes for a beachy place come true
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