Ocean City Air Show – Something fun in June

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Administrator

The 4th annual Ocean City Maryland Air Show will be coming again to our Ocean City Maryland beach. It begins 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 9, 2011 and ends 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2011. The main events are held on the beach/boardwalk at 16th street, but I can tell you that from our vacation home, Seeley’s OC Sandcastle at Ocean City Maryland you can see the jet fly-bys as they are approaching the 16th street event area. Please check out the Ocean City Air Show web site February 1, 2011 for the announcement of the complete 2011 line up. Here is also a YouTube video taken of some of the show in 2010. USAF Thunderbirds at 2010 Ocean City Maryland Air Show on YouTube

Also with the past snowy week I have added some comfort food receipes to try, especially if you might be having cabin fever. They would also be good to try for a Super Bowl party too!

Donna

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com or www.lakeannavacationrental.com

My homemade mac and cheese receipe:

  • 1 pound bow of elbow noodles
  • 1 stick of butter and another 1/2 stick
  • 1 large box of Velveta cheese
  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 1 package of Ritz crakers (Usually 4 pks are in a box)
  • 1 pound American cheese slices
  • Sale and Pepper

Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large pot boil water and place noodles in and prepare until done (as noted on box). Drain and keep aside. While the noodles were cooking cube the Velveta cheese. In a medium pot place one stick of the butter and melt, drop in the cheese and the whipping cream. Keep on low/med heat stirring often as it melts and mixes together. Make sure to watch so it does not burn. One the sauce is melted you can add salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce into noodles. In a 13x9x2 glass casserole dish sprayed with Pam, pour in noodle mixture. Top with one layer of American cheese slices (You will have left overs). In another bowl, crush the Ritz  crackers. Take 1/2 stick of butter and melt it in the microwave. Put the crushed crackers on top of the American slices then drizzle the butter all over the crackers. Take a piece of foil to top casserole, but spray Pam on it prior to putting on top of it. Bake casserole for 1/2 hour. Check casserole to see if bubbling through and cheese is melted. If not yet at that point continue cooking and checking on casserole for up to one hour. I do this so the cheese does not burn. Very hardy and very cheese and not a low cal dish.

6 Hour Chili Receipe from Williams-Sonoma: This is a great crock pot receipe. My husband does not like beans, but loves his meat and this receipe covers that. It is nice to do on a weekend and while busy on chores still be able to end an evening with a nice filling dish.

Bone Suckin’ Sauce Party Dip: I make this dip often when at the lake house. It is easy and it usually doesn’t last long so make 2 batches if you have hungry people visiting. I can buy the sauce there at Lake Anna, but have seen it locally here as well. It can be directly ordered from this link as well. Note I have also used this sauce when crocking ribs. Very good.

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Seeley’s OC Sandcastle – The Holidays Are Over So Now What?

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Administrator

Sorry to be a little behind on what I hope to have as my weekly blog, but the last two weekends were busier than usual with outside of the home projects/obligations and I just didn’t have quiet time to complete a post so this blog is a compilation of the time of the last two weeks that I had been saving in draft form.

Well the weekend before the Christmas tree came down and so did the realization that the holidays have ended. To really feel like old man winter arrived we then received a little snow during the week. With everything glistening, that pure white of newness you certainly knew winter was now here and the blur and hurriedness of the holidays were now certainly at their end.

The White House

So now what? What is there to do? Certainly not clean the house instead I went hotel searching for a small winter get away. Well for us the last two years we have taken a small winter weekend break and stayed in Washington D.C. We have gone both years during the MLK holiday weekend to stretch out our visit and have enjoyed time together as a family to see the museums and sites that our Nation’s Capital offer. The trip from our home is about 1.5 hours and from Ocean City MD to Washington DC, I would estimate 2.5 hours. We could easily make it a day trip, but this time of year you can find nice rates on hotels close to it all in downtown Washington DC. We have stayed at the Grand Hyatt Washington. It is close to the museums, Chinatown, the White House and the Capitol. The metro access is right there as well. This year we decided to stay for 3 days and 2 nights so we can see even more of the city. So my fingers did their keyboard walking and again this year the best deal was the Grand Hyatt. Called in the last minute reservation and knew in a few days we would be on our way for a short winter break.

Last year’s visit took us to the National Museum of Natural History (Night of the Living Museum #2 made that a fun choice) as well as the National Air and Space Museum. This year’s visit we went to the National Museum of America History, the Spy Museum and the National Aquarium. (Yes there is an aquarium in DC) It was a very busy, but very fun weekend with lots of walking, site seeing and learning new things. The area we stay at is pretty nice and from our hotel we walked about 10 minutes to the White House (Which we then walked all the way around such so we could also see the Washington Monument at sunset). Later we took about a five minute walk to Chinatown for a nice meal. By walking there we got to see the lights and very colorful and beautiful arch over the street welcoming you into the area.

The boys voted this year for The Spy Museum and it was very interesting. Truly more than we expected and found that when we left we had stayed there for over 4 hours. It was neat seeing how it would be to be like an agent 007, James Bond, that is.

One of the days we went to the National Museum of American History. In the museum there was a “hands on area” which was a science lab for children. We found that towards the end of our visit, but what we did get to see and do was seeing how dry ice and water mixed to make smoke and how static electricity could offer a chain reaction shock through a bunch of children. Our son really enjoyed that as well as seeing Old Glory in all of her splendor.

On our last day we visited the National Aquarium which is located under the Commerce Department Building. It is connected with the aquarium in Baltimore. It is not very large, as the Baltimore location is, but again our son had a great time seeing the feeding of the sharks and all the animals they had. It was a nice place to visit as well. I would have to say we selected a lot of nice places to visit this year and know there is certainly lots more to explore.

Well I know this wasn’t anything on the Ocean City Maryland beach or our vacation rental home Seeley’s OC Sandcastle this time, but if you want to do a really nice short trip (if you live in MD or VA) that is not only educational and where you can just spend a nice time with family for a pretty reasonable in cost, I suggest a weekend visit to Washington D.C. in the winter time.

As always below will be some recipes that I like to make and my family likes to eat.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful 2011 and safe winter season.

Donna Smith-Seeley

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com and www.lakeannavacationrental.com

This is an easy recipe that is great to make on a Sunday morning for visiting friends/company or if you just happen to like your family that day and want to give them a special treat to start the day: Monkey Bread Recipe Link 

For another cake recipe that is great to make for a function without a lot of fuss try this recipe (Note I use cook whip instead of Whipped fluffy white frosting) : Premium Tres Leches Cake (3 Milk Cake)

And last, but not least, this is a nice breakfast casserole that I like to make when we have family or friends visting: Spicy Sausage Breakfast Squares Recipe Link

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Welcome in the 2011 New Year

Posted on January 1, 2011 by Administrator

Well it is offical. 2011 has begun. We arrived in Ocean City yesterday just in time to see a beautiful Ocean City sunset ending 2010 and first thing this morning a beautiful Ocean City sunrise to begin the 2011 New Year.

Last Ocean City Maryland Sunset for 2010

First Ocean City Maryland Sunrise for the 2011 New Year

 

As we arrived into town last night we stopped at Micky Fins Bar and Grill and had a wonderful meal. After filling our bellies we came home to our beach home , unpacked, relaxed and waited for the  New Year to arrive. Well I can say at least Randy and Colby saw the New Year arrive. I only saw my eye lids. Even my mother was up to see the New Year so I can’t blame it on age, I will just blame it on a very busy week.

Today I have been trying to get prepared for rental season. Yes this is when the busy time starts to begin. Contacting past guests began last month with a flurry of Christmas cards and our yearly flyer for the current rates for the upcoming season. Now it is time to begin preparing leases and updating the sites we list. This is when we start getting our marketing into full swing.

In doing so you always find new things in running a vacation rental home. There are some sites that offer great information for owners of vacation rental homes. One that I like to read is Cottage Blogger. It offers resources and information for those that have a vacation rental home.

Also this past year I began to utilize Facebook and started running two pages, one for each of our vacation rental homes. You can see our beach home on Facebook by searching Seeley’s OC Sandcastle and see our lake home on Facebook by searching Kindred Spirits at Childs Cove.

Also another great site with a blog to keep up to date on what is happening at Lake Anna is Lake Anna Life. I make mention of this because I have had guests that stayed at our beach home Seeley’s OC Sandcastle also visit for another summer vacation at our Lake Anna Virginia lake house Kindred Spirits at Childs Cove. Some have done it just to try something new, others have tried our lake home because the vacation time they selected for the beach was booked and our lake home was available at that time. We certainly love to have any of our guests visit both our homes. They are pretty much both run the same, provide the same and are both direct water front. So even though this is my Ocean City Maryland blog I will also keep currrent on things at Lake Anna (There is certainly also no way at this time I can keep up blogging for both locations so I am sorry if you find more than just Ocean City Maryland information on this site from time to time.)

Well also as I have been doing I will add a few more recipes that you might find enjoyable to make at the end of this blog. If you have tried any and enjoyed them, please feel free to send me a yeah (or neah) comment as well.

Well wishing all a terrific New Year for 2011 and hope that it is a great one for all.

Warmest wishes,

Donna

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com

www.lakeannavacationrental.com

How about steaming up some Maryland blue crabs

Here is a great link on how to Steam Maryland Blue Crabs as well as other seafood recipes.

Hash Brown Casserole: If you want a quick and easy breakfast side try this recipe. Here is the link that I use to make my Hash Brown Casserole.
 
Cucumber and Onion Salad: Okay, this is a recipe that I make often, but I also make it my usual way which is from my head with a pinch of this and that. That is my usual cooking method so bare with my notes/recipe on how I do it.
Ingredients/Recipe:
 
Thinly slice a few cucumbers and a vadalia onion (I typically do a 3 cucs to 1 onion mix), place it all in a bowl and set aside.
In a small saucepan/pot open a can of canned milk (Depending on amount of cucumbers/onions you slice you can use a small can (about 8oz) or for a larger batch (about 14oz), take a large heaping scoop of mayo (the real stuff), at least a 1/2 C of sugar, mix well all three ingredients well and warm low on your stove top. Once mixture warms through, dribble some apple cider vinegar until it curdels some (I use a whisk at this point to mix). Grind some sea salt and pepper. While still warm, pour dressing and mix into cucumber and onions sitting in bowl. You can serve then or if you’d like chill in the frige. 
Posted in Favorite Recipes of Seeley's OC Sandcastle, Links, Ocean City Maryland Restaurants we recommend | Leave a comment

Seeley’s OC Sandcastle – Countdown to Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by Administrator

Can you believe that in only 2 more nights Christmas will finally be here? I certainly am starting to feel the hussel and bussel of the holidays. It is getting close to that fevered pitch when we sometimes don’t truly get to asorb what is truly going on because of the pace we are going. I do hope during this crazy time we all get to take a breath to take in what this time truly means. A time to make memories and a time of sharing with loved ones, family, friends and man kind. We are still at home, but hope to visit Ocean City Maryland and our home Seeley’s OC Sandcastle between Christmas and the New Year. A yearly tradition in our home.

This past weekend I can say I have accomplished a few of those moments. Sunday evening we were blessed in being able to get an early Christmas gift in that my mom came home from the hospital and will be here to share another Christmas our family. (Keep on fighting mom!!!!) This weekend I was also trying to catch up on holiday cards and reflecting about those in our lives we may not see often, but are a big part of who we have become. I can say that my family is certainly lucky to have so many friends and caring neighbors. (Yes guys the cards only went out today and may also be considered New Years cards) And last in doing for man kind, this past Sunday afternoon the 4-H club my son belongs to (The Fine Feathered Friends 4-H Club) volunteered at Summerville at Westminster, Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care Community to share in some Christmas Caroling. There was song, food, drink, gifts and merriment, but most of all it was a time having our future youth being taught how to care for others they may not know, but who still need our time and love. The seniors there as well as the children did enjoy their time together and isn’t that what this holiday is all about? Taking care of those in need for nothing in return. I hope that you too get to find and share such this holiday season as well.

Now onto Ocean City Maryland. I wanted to get information to all about a fun New Years day event at Ocean City Maryland as well as a few recipes that our family enjoys. If at the Ocean City Maryland beach this New Years, the 17th annual Penguin Swim for Atlantic General Hospital will be held January 1, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. beach side in front of the Princess Royale, 91st Street and the Beach, Ocean City, MD.  You will see many people there, no matter the weather or temperature. Some come as a team, others dressed in costume, some young, others old. Many are there just to cheer these brave folks on. It certainly is a great way to ring in the first day of the year.

Regarding some of my recipes, one is a pretty simple meal if during this week or next you need to put something quickly together after getting home from the office. Another is an yummy easy dessert and the last is a rich seafood affair that might be fun to make to bring in the new year.

I want to wish all a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the 2011 New Year.

Donna 

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com

www.lakeannavacationrental.com

Buffalo Chicken Casserole: If you like chicken wings and blud cheese this is a quick casserole version. It is an easy meal without any bones and I find young people tend to like.

Here is the link I use for this recipe: www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/43703

Mohawk Milk Cake: I make a blueberry sour cream pound cake at times for guests and when I want a change up I have also made this dessert. It isn’t hard and if you like something moist this is a good bundt cake to do so.

Here is the link I use for this recipe: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/mohawk-milk-cake/Detail.aspx

Smithfield Crab Imperial: If you have a hankering for seafood and want to make something special, but easy for family, this recipe fits the bill. If I don’t have ham I will use bacon (I will have it cooked up prior or use the pre-cooked bacon as well). This recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Chesapeak Bay Cooking with John Shield www.johnshields.com/books/books42.html.  He lists in his cookbook that the recipe came from Sting-Ray’s Restaurant in Capeville, Virginia www.cape-center.com (I want to make sure credit is given when credit is due)

Here is the recipe:  http://www.bbq-4-u.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10279&start=0

1 Egg
2/3  C Mayo
½ C Sour Cream
2 T Dijon Mustard
1 tsp Old Bay Seasoning
1 T chopped Parsley
1 lb lump crabmeat-picked over
8 paper-thin sliced smithfield ham (Note I will use bacon as a replacement as well)
4 T (½ stick) butter, melted

Preheat Oven to 400.
Beat the egg in a mixing bowl until fluffy. Add the mayo, sour cream, mustard, old bay seasoning, parsley and mix well.
Gently fold in crabmeat. Butter 4-6 individual ramekins. Place 1-2 pieces ham in bottom of each. Top with crab mixture.
Drizzle with melted butter.

Bake 15-18 min or until golden brown. Serve at once.

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Favorite Recipes of Seeley’s OC Sandcastle

Posted on December 11, 2010 by Administrator

If you know me, you know I love to cook (Please note my cooking isn’t for those wanting to stay skinny and mini) so most of my recipes tend to use cream (A lot of heavy whipping cream that is) as well as butter (None of that fake stuff). If it is a sweet (Usually something deliously sinful that one piece isn’t enough) you will also find I probably won’t be using Splenda in it. When cooking up something for an evening meal (I favor seafood, but am married to a beef lover) it will be tasty and sure to make you want more as well for another day’s meal. Now I will also state I love my veggies and can go the healthy route when necessary (And again not so healthy with such), but with the holidays going on right now, what I will share is three (Not low cal) recipes to try out on family and friends.  Again note none of these are for the faint of heart with the hope of starting a diet January 1, 2011, but again as I said it is the holidays. Celebrate and enjoy.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and Bon Appetit,

Donna 

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com    

www.lakeannavacationrental.com

Gooey Butter Cakes -This is a very easy recipe. It is sinfully sweet and one requested by many I know for me to make. You can also change it up with the use of nuts, chocolate chips, pumpkins, bananas etc. Just do a search for Gooey Butter Cakes and you will find many different versions.

Here is the link for the recipe I like to use:

http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/recipe_view/gooey_butter_cake/

Cream of Crab Soup – This is one my family requests for the holidays and when it gets chilly out. No link for this recipe. It was given from a family friend and changed up some by me.

Ingredients:

½  C Butter (1 Stick)

½ C Flour

2 Tablespoons Old Bay (A Maryland Favorite)

1 Teaspoon of Salt (I use my grinder filled with Sea Salt)

3 C Heavy Whipping Cream (Here is that low diet part, if you can’t find use ½ and ½)

1C Milk

1 pound of crab meat (Lump is Best- pick through and check for shells)

2 Tablespoons of Parsley

Dash of Ground Pepper (Use to your liking as well)

Melt butter in a 5qt pot on med heat, stir in flour, old bay and salt. Stir and cook until bubbly. (It will be thick and reddish in color) Add the heavy whipping cream and milk. Cook until thick and bubbly. (You will be stirring on and off often until it thickens. You also don’t want to scorch so I use med heat and watch and stir often) Once thick fold in crab meat so it doesn’t break up much as well as then add the parsley and pepper.

Note: I usually make double the recipe, but I make each batch individually and then pour both batches into a crock pot and leave on warm for serving during a holiday meal.

Grilled Romaine Salad with Buttermilk-Chive Dressing - We use our grill all year long and this is a nice change for a salad. Note my husband had thought I had lost it one night when he came home from work and saw me grilling lettuce, but as usual he will taste what I cook and now this is one of his favorites. (This I am not able to make at the beach since we are not allowed to grill there, but I have done often at our vacation rental home at Lake Anna Virginia) We also have a local restaurant near us that does this with ceasar dressing and at times a blue cheese dressing. Mix it up. Give it your own flare. That is the fun of cooking.

Here is the link:

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001654716

 

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About

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Administrator

I am a full time working mom like most. Not only am I someone’s employee, mother and wife, but one who also likes to dabble (My husband would say it is a lot more than dabble) in running our own vacation rental home Seeley’s OC Sandcastle www.seeleysocsandcastle.com. It is something I love to do and part of a dream of one day owning a Bed and Breakfast. I have been doing this for many years and don’t do it in cookie cutter style fashion. I also enjoy cooking, gardening, decorating and if ever finding a free moment taking the time to read. Lately that only seems to be with a magazine or a cook book (Which my recent find to recommend is, ”The Pioneer Woman Cooks” www.ThePioneerWoman.Com)  My passion with my vacation rental home is to be a great host to guests and offer them a top notch place to rest and relax during their week’s vacation at Ocean City Maryland. I also dabble with our other vacation rental home that we also own with friends located at Lake Anna Virginia called Kindred Spirits at Childs Cove www.lakeannavacationrental.com and between the two homes and the normal running of a week taking care of work, home and family I can certainly say of our life it is quiet busy, but worth every crazy minute of it.

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Seeley’s OC Sandcastle, entering into the world of blogging on our Ocean City Maryland Vacation Rental Home!

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Administrator

I have been involved with having a vacation rental home in Ocean City Maryland since 1989. Ocean City has been a second home for me and my family. In 2000 we shared with our family and friends our marriage and for many years many wonderful memories. Feb 2002 we sold my small studio in North Ocean City and purchased a unit (and that was all it was at that time) at the Sandpiper Dunes Condominium. It was then that I begun to run the rental of my home on my own. I have always wanted to run a Bed and Breakfast and with a little one on the way, this was the closest to such for me. In the almost 9 years of personally doing this I have gotten to meet so many wonderful families and have really enjoyed the time and effort put into providing such a place for guests to stay.

Seeley’s OC Sandcastle is not the typical cookie cutter rental. It is closer to a B&B and we try to provide our guests a week’s visit to Ocean City Maryland at a fully stocked vacation home. Not the typical bare bones rental unit. There are many ways to offer a home for rent in Ocean City. It is just that I like to add the special personal touches and know that from the years doing such many of our guests agree. From the prepared beds with fresh linens upon a guest’s arrival, towels ranging from body, bath, face and beach, all the items you can think to need to relax on the beach and so much more that is listed on our web site our home truly tries to provide it all. I hope that after seeing our web site  Seeley’s OC Sandcastle you will agree. 

So why a blog? First, getting into the social networking is something new for me. This is my first blog and it is my hope from it I can offer future guests information on things currently going on with Seeley’s OC Sandcastle and Ocean City Maryland. I hope that I can provide another way to enhance for guests information they might find useful for their Ocean City Maryland visit as well as what is going on in our preparation for the summer rental season at Seeley’s OC Sandcastle. Second to maybe stir in others the want to do the same with their vacation home for guests as well as hear ideas from others that already do. I work full time, am a mother and wife and running our vacation rental home is another added feather in my hat. So blogging I thought would just extend into that effort of being a good host to guests. I know it is something new for me, but I always like new things so why not try a blog.

Well this was my first go and to start on thinking about something great to do in December at Ocean City Maryland, I would recommend visiting the Ocean City Maryland Winter Festival of Lights at 127th Bayside Coastal Highway. Just being there brings you to a time as a child with the season’s spirit in the air and the sparkling of lights all aglow.  Don’t worry about the cold. As you wait you do so in a large heated tent area. Now please do bring blankets to keep warm while on the boardwalk trams as they meander through the park’s trails in tune to the holiday music matching with the lighted sites as you coast through. It makes for a great cozy time to be with family if you happen to visit on a chilly Ocean City Maryland evening. After your ride you should find some hot beverages and gifts to purchase from the local elves and maybe even a visit with Santa on his lap and a photo.  This is a yearly tradition with our family and hope you make it one of yours too! Hope you can visit this holiday attraction. It is certainly a nice time to share with family and friends.

Warm and friendly wishes for a very happy holiday.

Donna 

www.seeleysocsandcastle.com

www.lakeannavacationrental.com

 

Posted in Welcome to Seeley's OC Sandcastle | Leave a comment