JERRY GARCIA went SCUBA diving with my sister in Bonaire, NA...WOW !!!

I recently remembered that my sister had to ld me hat she went SCUBA diving with Jerry garcia of the Grateful Dead.

My sister, Susan "Suzy" Swygert lives in Bonaire, N.A.. She is an accomplished and published writer, professional photographer, and diving instructor. She formerly owned a diving shop as well and that is when she met Jerry and his wife and friends.

I recently emailed her through facebook and inquired about this experience and here is what she kindly posted back to me. Here is a copy of our emails / correspondence from this occasion.

" Steve Swygert September 20 at 1:01pm

Can you please send me a nice short story (or longer and detailed is great) about your diving with Jerry Garcia...who was there...how long did you hang out...what did you all do and talk about...I went to a beautful hippy fest in West Virginia and camped all weekend and listened to some great tunes and it was a blast...this place kind of lives the Jerry way of life and it was a great time...good folks, cool vibes, great music, etc...I so much hope you can share all about that with me so that I may post it on my blog with your permission...and if that is not ok...will Rhonda and I will love reading all about it...love and miss you all...Stephen

Suzi Swygert September 27 at 9:51pm Report

In brief, he was here because he loved diving and he got involved with the Henderson wetsuit company - they designed some wetsuits per his ideas/designs and marketed them with his name. He visited Bonaire during some events, with Henderson, so doing promotion for the wetsuit business, but enjoyed hanging out diving in Bonaire. I think this was all in the early '90s, but I can't remember exactly - maybe you can Google and find some info! He was here with his wife, Debbie,and she was lots of fun, too. There was something wrong with him, diabetes - and he seemed healthy and strong and drug-free when he was here. We were all so sad when he passed away, it was just a few months after their visit - he was very young, and it was a great loss to his family and friends, as well as the public.

I hope to learn more about the details of the trip and conversation and will post up more if I have further email discussion with my sister. What a great time that would have been...and I am sure was.

My sister has written many books and articles and she is easily found on Google. I hope you will read about her as well as some of her literature and feel free to contact me to get in touch with her. She still avidly dives and works as a photographer.

Nehi Lemon Driver Recipe

Ingredients:

2 1/2 oz (Add To Taste) Vodka
5 cubes (crushed) Ice
2 oz (Add To Taste) Maraschino Cherry Juice
1 piece (Cold) Maraschino Cherry
12 oz (chilled) Lemonade

Best served in a Mason Jar.

Directions:

Mix liquid ingredients in a tumbler (in ratio for smaller and larger amounts)using Nehi Brand Lemonade and Absolute Vodka or Grey Goose...Shake well...30 seconds...pour over 5 crushed ice cubes...garnish with a Maraschino Cherry or an Oarnge Wedge...you may also add Grenadine or Tequila to taste for an added kick as well...and most importantly ENJOY!

Irish Whiskey Frappuccino Recipe

Irish Whiskey Frappuccino Recipe
Irish Whiskey Frappuccino Recipe

Ingredients:

4 oz Irish Cream
4 oz Whiskey
24 oz Coffee
Best served in a Mason Jar.


Directions:

Mix 24oz. of Starbucks Brand Frappucino Bottled Coffe with ice in a blender until you have the consistency of a smoothie...add Jack Daniels Brand Whiskey or Maker's Mark and Baileys Irish Cream, top with whipped Cream and Chocolate Flakes...also add Chocolate Syrup to taste if desired or Caramel...Excellent cold drink for a HOT day...and most importantly ENJOY!

Steve's Famous Cornbread and Fire Cornbread

Makes: 8 servings

Total Time: 1 hr

what you need:

2 pkg. (8-1/2 oz.) corn muffin mix (and ingredients on box directions per box, milk and eggs)
1 pint sour cream
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can creamed corn
Jalapenos as desired for "Fire Bread"

make it:

Mix boxes as described in directions with all the ingredients. Add sour cream, whole kernel corn, creamed kernel corn, jalapenos as desired for "Fire Bread".

Mix until ingredients are well blended and smooth. Bake at temperature as directions on boxes indicate. Watch carefully and cook until light to medium brown on top, approximately 30 minutes. Times vary per oven, and your desires.Notes It has always been told to me by Cornbread Lover's that this is the best cornbread they have ever had, and by folks who do not like Cornbread as the first Cornbread they ever liked, because it was not dry.

Great served with chili, and guaranteed to win any Cornbread Contest.

Always easy to check for doneness with a knife. Knife shall be entered in center of pan, and if clean when removed, all done.

Enjoy and please rate how you liked my original recipe. I have never shared this with anyone other then family, but I cannot keep it a secret anymore. Everyone should enjoy what they have been missing.

Broccoli Mac and Cheese Soup

Makes: 4-6 servings

Total Time: 25 min

what you need:

1 box Kraft Mac and Cheese
2 Tbsp. butter/margarine
2 cups milk
2 cups water
1 package powdered broccoli soup flavoring mix
2 cups broccoli
1 can carrots
1 can peas

Prepare Mac and Cheese as stated on box along with extra milk or water from broccoli soup directions. Boil until noodles are tender, do not drain water.

Add flavoring from both packages, add broccoli (I prefer frozen), add carrots, and peas at the very end (as to not let disintegrate), stir often.

Let cool and thicken, serve warm...Yummy !

Notes: Have fun, and be creative, adding ingredients and spices to make it unique to your tastes...experimenting is part of the Joy of Cooking !!!

Best Dandy Lion Romaine Salad

Makes: 8 servings Total Time: 25 min

what you need:

4 cups fresh tender/young dandelion greens
1 head romaine lettuce
6 quartered tomatoes
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/4 cup raspberry vinegar
1/4 cup virgin olive oil
A dash of salt and pepper
3/4 cup Kraft Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Cut all vegetable ingredients to desired size and mix in salad bowl.

Add raspberry vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and cheese; toss well.

Serve slightly chilled. Notes Obviously, decrease ingredients for fewer servings.

It is important to pick fresh young dandelion greens (right out of your own yard if you have them, and use no fertilizers, weed killers, or insecticides, etc. And make sure you do not have storm drainage in the growing area, as this can pollute the yard with oils from the road, etc.)

You must taste the greens. What most people desire is young tender NON bitter greens, and sometimes older greens are not bitter and can be used as well. You may use the flowers too in the salad as a garnishing, or decoratively and of course they can be eaten as well. Rinse all well. Even the root can be boiled and made into dandelion tea, very lemony tasting and nutritious.

Dandelion has more minerals and vitamins then most all store bought vegetables, even spinach. Enjoy, and use your own ideas to make to you liking and tastes.

Cajun Shrimp Omelette

Wwhat you need:

3 large eggs
Butter
1 medium onion, diced
8-12 shrimp
1 package Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Cajun spices to your liking or Old Bay
1 jar spaghetti sauce
Paprika

Whip eggs together in bowl and pour into large generously buttered pre-heated pan. Let cook until eggs begin to solidify, usually between med-med/hi heat.

Add diced onions, as many shrimp as you can (cut in half length wise if desired), Philadelphia Cream Cheese as desired, Cajun spices as desired, and spaghetti sauce if desired.

Once warm, flip lonely half of omelette over to cover ingredients. Sprinkle with paprika for looks.

A real special omelette that can be served as an entire meal, even at dinner time. This is a big omelette.....that's how I love them. So if you like smaller just cut back on the ingredients and let your eyes and taste judge the ingredients and their respective quantities.

The Cream Cheese is a must with the shrimp, the rest is to your liking. Experiment, have fun, and most of all enjoy.

If high cholesterol is a problem for you, use no cholesterol butter or margarine as well as no or less saturated fat butter or margarine....E.B. (Eggland's Best Eggs, or Egg Beaters), low fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese.

Just a helpful note...low cholesterol margarine with high saturated fats naturally creates the "BAD CHOLESTEROL" we do not desire in our diet as a natural process of the body. Stay away from the saturated fats, that is if you have too!!! Enjoy and Good health !!!

Rum Frosty Recipe

Here is a fun one...before drinking...Drive to Wendy's and buy a large Frosty per drink to be made...once home, add 4 oz. of Bacardi Brand Dark Rum per Frosty (or to taste)...add Caramel and swirl entire drink with a teaspoon...garnish with drizzled Caramel and top with whipped cream and Chocolate Flakes...Chill non-served portion in fridge or freezer...and as always ENJOY!

Bacon et Poulet with Poivron Vert et Crevettes (Bacon and Chicken with Green Pepper stuffed with shrimp)

NEW RECIPE:

Bacon et Poulet with Poivron Vert et Crevettes (Bacon and Chicken with Green Pepper stuffed with shrimp)

Baked chicken breast (not covered, let's bacon crisp well) wrapped in bacon after coating with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Topped with bananna pepper slice (from our garden), use whatever is on hand (bell pepper, jalapeno to spice it up, tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, etc.)

serve with:

Shrimp Stuffed Peppers

remove top of Green peppers and remove contents, cook on stove top Uncle bens wild rice (10 minutes), place 2 tsps of tomatoe soup in each pepper, the 3-4 shrimp, cover with rice mixture, then add more shrimp into rice, then cover all with more tomatoe soup, can cover with cheese of choice for last 3 minutes of baking

I baked all on the same pan at 350 for about an hour...quick and easy to prepare and absolutely delightful !!!

ENJOY ! :)