Have you ever felt that your body needed a short break but what your mind really needed was a change of environment? I was mentally drained, and I felt that I need a short break, so how about a mini vacation?
My first choice was jumping on a plane for a quick getaway to the sit under a coconut tree sipping cocktails, gazing at the Caribbean Sea, and enjoying the beautiful sunsets. However, with Covid still lingering, a trip to the Caribbean must be planned. You need to know the entry requirements, Covid protocols and I highly recommend using a travel advisor. So, a quick trip to the Caribbean was not happening this weekend. Plan B!
How about a weekend staycation but to the closest state? I always liked visiting Charlotte, so I decided to look for something right there in Charlotte North Carolina. If I could not get the Caribbean Sea, any body of water would have to do. Cabin by the Lake! That sounds like fun.
I knew exactly what I wanted so after a few hours of searching I settled on Long Cove Resort in Charlotte NC. A cabin by the lake. Serenity, serenity, quiet and tranquil. This was the type of a change I needed, mentally and physically. I had four days to prepare for the trip and I was getting excited.
I packed for my son and I and I got our clothes and toiletries in one small bag. I was impressed with my packing skills. Then I moved onto the food and drinks for the trip. I needed enough food for 3 nights, 4 days. Three meals a day plus snacks and not forgetting snacks for the 4-hour drive to get to Charlotte NC and back to Atlanta.
I was ready! Preparation was key to have the ultimate experience outdoors and not stuck in the cabin. I had to prep the food. All meats were seasoned and ready for the grill. Chicken, steaks and salmon with vegetables. Mac and cheese, ripe plantains, potatoes for a potato salad and all the trimmings. I had to also have a Saint Lucian breakfast by the lake, now I had to get all the ingredients for a St Lucian Sunday breakfast. If I could not be on a Caribbean Island, I would bring something to remind me, so bakes and salt-fish, cucumber salad, avocado and cocoa tea was on the menu. Food prep was complete, and I think I had everything we needed for weekend in a Cabin by the lake. Four bags of food and snack and not forgetting the wines. A 4-hour drive from Atlanta was all part of the adventure. I invited a friend with her son, and we were off.
Drive to Charlotte was as planned, one stop for lunch and bathroom break and we should make good time. All was going smoothly until we were 30 minutes to our destination, traffic became a crawl. This was due to an accident ahead of us. We spent 45 minutes waiting to move again and finally we were moving slowly but surely. Our 4-hour drive was now 5 and a half hours. I was finally off to this well-deserved change of environment. Once we got off the main road, it was about a mile down to the resort. Cabin 37 was home for the weekend.
The cabins at Long Cove resort were Very colorful and welcoming. They looked like a little subdivision in the suburbs, charming and cozy. Our unit was two bedrooms and one bathroom. With a loft and a tiny kitchen. The loft was a bonus room where the boys could hang out.
It was a beautiful day and we all wanted to go to the water, but we had to unpack first and prepare dinner. The kitchen had most of the utensils needed but only two pots and a two-burner stove top. Yes, two pots, one frying pan and a smaller pot for cooking. That may have posed a problem for anyone but this island girl was going to make it work.
The cabin also had an outdoor grill so that was going to make cooking a little easier. We decided to grill all the meats in order to have more free time the next two days. Once the grilling began, it felt like a real holiday. All the meats, fish and chicken were done in about an hour. There was now enough food for a week. The vegetables were done, rice and peas and Mac and cheese, roasted plantains, and potato salad. It’s a mazing what you can do when you decide to do it. The two pots were challenging but with precision and a well laid out plan, two pots had nothing on us to cook a lavish meal.
Food was ready, now time to chill and enjoy the sunset.
We had a great time by the water, kids played till they were tired, followed by a scrumptious dinner. First night was a success, room was cozy, comfortable beds and just waiting for the tired bodies. The second day was about the same, just really relaxing and watching the kids play by the lake. I was feeling recharged, relaxed, and rejuvenated.
Everything I needed. A wonderful change of environment. I was looking forward to Sunday breakfast as it would be a little bit of Caribbean cooking. Time for some cocoa (fresh homemade chocolate) tea with fried bakes, stewed sailfish, avocado and cucumber salad. Hmmmm, I was craving this so badly.
First thing to get done was the dough for the fried bakes, once that was done, let it sit for a few minutes.
While the dough was being made, the salt fish was boiling so that as much salt as possible is removed.
Changing the water about three times while boiling usually takes care of that. Saltfish is ready to be stewed.
Now the pot is free to make the cocoa tea. First, bring to boil bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon. I like to boil the spices first, so the cocoa is added to the spiced water. While the spices are boiling, the cocoa was grated then added to the spiced water.
The last step is to add milk and sugar to taste, and voila, fresh cocoa tea.
Before frying the bakes, the salt fish needs to be stewed. Chopped onion, lots and lots of onion, garlic, celery, and some seasoned salt. All that was added to the frying pan with olive oil. Can you smell the garlic, hmm, so good! As soon as the onion is tender, the shredded salt fish is added and stewed. Remember the salt fish is already cooked so just a few minutes in the frying pot and Voila, the stewed salt fish is ready.
The food was delicious, kids ate and then off to the lake till the beautiful sunset.
Sunsets are always so magical. We were having left over bar b que for dinner so there was no reason to rush to get back in, we stayed till it was dark.
Our last night in the cabin was another relaxing one. The entire weekend was a great one with lots of fun, food and a beautiful change of environment. It was so worth the drive. I needed that break and so did my son. He played till nightfall and then slept like a log. A lovely break from school for him.
When your body tells you to slow down, you need to listen and slow down. Sometimes we just need to change environment to relax, recharge and rejuvenate ourselves. For me it was the cabin by the lake.
