Everyone needs more cowbell

This past weekend, my dad, my sister, and I took a road trip to Vermont for our family reunion. Every year, my dad's side of the family rents a camp (or cottage or lake house for those of you non-New Englanders). As many family members as possible come to the camp for the weekend to eat too much and laugh and catch up.

Here's a glimpse into the ride up to Vermont. My sister and my dad think this song needs more cowbell. I think I agree.

(If you don't get the reference I'm making, watch this video.)

Most of our traditions involve food. Every year, my parents bring about 30 pounds of clams from Maine to the camp. This year was the first year they weren't all eaten (but several of the regulars weren't there to help). My tiny great-Aunt Theresa definitely did her part! After this picture was taken, she made a ridiculous clam shell mountain. You'll probably have to check out my sister's blog for that picture though.

Oh and did I mention that the 30 pounds of clams are the appetizer? After that, my uncles grill up some burgers and hot dogs, we have green salad, potato salad, fruit salad, and quinoa salad. My aunt Janine also makes an increddddddible stromboli that is always a part of the Saturday evening meal. Thinking about this meal makes me full.

Our other food traditions include eating many, many cannoli and Italian cookies. Since my aunt and uncle bring the cannoli from Connecticut, they usually freeze them so that they stay fresh on the ride up to Vermont. Most of us can't wait for them to unfreeze so ever since I remember, I've eaten frozen cannoli. It wasn't until I moved to New York that I realized that cannoli aren't usually frozen! (If you haven't tried frozen cannoli, it's soooo good!)

Sunday morning, my uncle Mark and aunt Vickie make "Egg McMarks". I'm sure you can guess what that means. If you guessed yummy breakfast sandwich goodness, you would be right.

The backdrop to all of this eating is also pretty incredible.

Not bad, huh?

Before we headed back to Maine, we stopped at one of my favorite places from when I went to school at the University of Vermont. Al's French Frys. Yes, that's spelled correctly.

Yummmmm. Apparently we didn't eat enough at the reunion. We may or may not have stopped for ice cream later in the trip too. Oops.

But do you know the best part of going on a road trip??

Coming home.