Welcome to Delaware

Today is National Delaware Day. We’ve talked about the great state of Delaware before – a sate of firsts. The first to build a log cabin, the first to fly the Stars and Stripes, and the first to declare independence. Delaware has much to be proud of, much to celebrate.

That said, there are some rather strange laws in Delaware, and in particular Rehoboth Beach. Rehoboth Beach bills itself as “the Nation’s Summer Capital” because it is a frequent summer vacation destination of those in Washington DC. No offence to Rehoboth Beach, but Washington DC isn’t the entire country. But don’t worry, the rest of us won’t hold it against you that Joe Biden’s Summer White House is a beach home in Delaware. Although I will admit; you folks do have some strange laws. Maybe it’s the massive crowds that make you just a little crazy.

Dance Clubs and Dance Halls in Rehoboth Beach are not allowed to sell, provide or dispense alcohol within their establishments. I’ve seen some sober folks dancing – maybe they should be allowed to take a drink. While that might not improve anyone’s ability to dance, no one will care. Least of all the dancers.

While in Rehoboth Beach, be sure to keep quiet in church. The good folks of Rehoboth Beach are very serious about church services. It’s against the law to disrupt or disturb any congregation of assembly gathered for religious worship by making noise. That’s a good thing. However; in Rehoboth Beach banned behavior includes talking, displays of rude or indecent behavior, impious language or even whispering within a place of worship or within 300 fee of a place of worship. Whispering? Yes, whispering in church is prohibited.

The biggest attraction to Rehoboth Beach is the beach. Makes sense. However; it is illegal for any person to change from a bathing suit to street cloths while in a public restroom maintained by the city of Rehoboth Beach. Does that mean you should change clothes on the beach instead?

Wonder if anyone would notice people changing their cloths. Maybe not, unless you are a girl over the age of five . . .

In Rehoboth Beach no female over the age of five years shall wear a topless bathing suit or otherwise fail to cover her breasts or expose any portion below the upper portion of the nipple for any reason. Really? Yes, really.

What can I say – welcome to the Summer Home of Washington’s movers and shakers. No offense to Delaware. After all, I hail from the state of fruits and nuts otherwise known as California. We all have a screw loose somewhere – it’s what makes life more interesting.

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Today is also National Beans and Franks Day. Yeah – that’s the ticket. Nothing says comfort to a kid like beans and franks. Except maybe Mac and Cheese . . .

Baked Beans and Hassleback Franks
2 cups dried Navy Beans
4 quarts (16 cups) Water
1 Bell Pepper, any color
1 small White Onion
2 slices Bacon
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Dry Mustard
1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
3/4 cup Molasses
Additional water as needed
8 foot-long All Beef Franks

Carefully pick over the beans. Rinse well. In a Dutch oven, combine beans with 2 quarts (8 cups) of water. Cover; soak at room temperature a minimum of 8 hours or overnight.

Drain beans, discarding liquid. In same Dutch oven, combine beans and remaining 2 quarts water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat; simmer 1 hour or until beans are tender.

While the beans cook, stem, seed and dice the bell pepper. Peel and dice the onion. Cut bacon into 1-inch pieces. Keep chopped bacon refrigerated until ready to cook.

Heat oven to 300-degrees. Spray 3-quart casserole dish with cooking spray. Drain beans, reserving 3 cups of the liquid. Place beans in the prepared casserole dish.

In large bowl, combine reserved cooling liquid, bell pepper, bacon, onion, salt, mustard, pepper and molasses; mix well. Pour mixture over the beans, mix well until beans and molasses mixture are one.

Cover, bake beans in the heated oven for 4 hours. Regularly check the beans as they bake, adding up to an additional 1 cup water as needed.

Cut franks almost all the way through to create Hassleback-cut dogs. Remove baked beans from oven. Uncover; arrange franks over beans.

Increase oven to 400-degrees. Return Beans and Franks to oven; bake, uncovered, 15 minutes or until franks are thoroughly heated.

Cornbread Muffins
4 tablespoons Butter
1-1/4 cup Flour
3/4 cup Yellow Cornmeal
1/4 cup Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Milk,
2 large Eggs
Butter for serving

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a standard 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Set muffin tin aside.

Melt butter, set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt.

In a small bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and cooled melted butter.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until the dry ingredients just until moistened.

Fill each muffin tin about 2/3 full. Place in the heated oven. Bake for about 15 minutes or until tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Place the pan on a wire rack and allow the muffins to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the pan.

Serve muffins warm with sweet butter.