Durango is a tiny town in the south west corner of Colorado. Nestled into the mountains, this town embraces its western heritage complete with an old steam engine line, wooden facades, and friendly folk. At the Durango airport, parallel parking is allowed right next to the door and the ticket agent is also the security agent and in charge of fueling the planes. When we left the other day, a guy was leaning against his old pick up with his black lab sitting next to him on the sidewalk right outside the front door. I am actually surprised that there aren’t any posts to hitch up your horse to. It’s quaint, refreshing, and unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, especially in our high security world. We love visiting Andrew’s family there!
We took a steam engine train up into the mountains. Icy cold rivers, rickety wooden train cars, hot chocolate, and a big bonfire waiting for us when we got to the top, were all part of the day-long excursion. We ate our leftover-turkey sandwiches by the fire then went exploring down by the snowy water.
Our thanksgiving meal this year was amazing. I made three pies (Pumpkin Chiffon, Apple, and Blueberry) and some of the best cranberry sauce I’ve ever had. This recipe is worth making even when it is NOT thanksgiving, and that is saying something if you ask me. We also had some great Swiss Chard rolls filled with a variety of winter root veggies (fantastic!), sweet potatoes, turkey, and stuffing. It was a good eatin’ year.
The amount of gratitude and thankfulness I felt over the holiday was overwhelming to say the least, and will definitely carry through to the new year. Feeling thankful is energizing and empowering. Who knew that a positive mindset ultimately makes or breaks how you view and live your life (slight hint of sarcasm towards myself here–and a big, no duh, moment! ha). I’ve been consciously trying to keep my eyes and ears open even to the smallest of things and feel joy or happiness over them. And you know what? It has been an amazing journey of seeing what was always there but in a different, beautiful, and compassionate light.
I am so thankful for each of you, dear readers! I hope your holiday was wonderful!
Vancouver B.C. is the mecca of food. There, I said it. I even was surprised by this. Why? I had heard over and over that it was a foodie-paradise, that there were so many good restaurants you could literally spin with your eyes closed, land anywhere and get a great meal. And while I didn’t test this particular theory out, I was, however, seriously impressed with all that we ate. We drove up last weekend for a quick weekend trip (it’s only 5 hours from Portland!). If you live in the Pacific Northwest, it is definitely worth a visit. If you live anywhere else in the world, it is still definitely worth a visit!
Walk down any busy street and every two out of three business you see is a restaurant. We went to two fantastic places, The Banana Leaf (mind-blowing Malaysian) and Stepho’s Greek cuisine. We even found The Heaven of Desserts! Davie street had a lot of nice little bistros and shops, including the heaven of desserts and Stepho’s.
We took a tiny ferry boat to Granville Island and were greeted by one of the greatest indoor markets I’ve ever been to. You name it, it was there: fruits stacked in pyramids, chocolates, cheeses, fresh breads, home made candy, fresh fish, meats, and spices. It was endless. And amazing.
We worked up a good appetite by biking around Stanley Island. In the parks surrounding neighborhood, there are quite a few places to rent bikes–it was so easy and so fun! Beautiful does not begin to describe biking through this lush, emerald urban gem. Through out the park are Native American totem poles, quiet beaches, beautiful overlooks, and great paths.
An Inuit, or rock sculpture the Native tribes used to build to let passersby or travelers know that they were not alone and near civilization.
Visit this city and get into it’s little neighborhoods. Eat the food. Walk the parks. Listen to the stories (go to a pub and chat with the Australian, Irish, or British bartenders–they love a good story). Enjoy!
Photo via Denver Urban Farm Truck
Last week, we took a little trip out to Denver, Colorado. Nestled right between the mighty Great Plains and the looming Rocky Mountains, this city is a convergence of food, sites, and culture. The entire city, or so it seems, was built using brick. Besides being absolutely charming, fusing old world sophistication with present day style, those homes are super sturdy and there to stay! It reminds me quite a bit of the Washington D.C. neighborhood, Capital Hill–but with a bit bigger lots and a little more yard (only a little though). However, interestingly enough, there is a reason behind the mostly brick architecture in Denver. In 1863, Denver had a huge fire, akin to the Chicago fire of 1871. The mayor of Denver at the time was also the owner of the city’s only brick manufacturing company. So, he deemed it “illegal” to build with anything other than brick–for the safety of the city’s citizens of course–oh, and his bank account. However, even though the ethics of what he did were highly questionable (both then and now!), the city’s history and character have been preserved beyond most cities I’ve seen and it is truly beautiful.
Denver also has something else really amazing going for it: an urban Truck Farm!
Photo via Denver Urban Farm Truck
Two University of Colorado master’s in landscape architecture students, Ashleigh Quillen and Ryan Sotirakis, decided they wanted to give Denver a new idea about what urban agriculture means and where it can reside. They are demonstrating for the city that “growing your own food can happen in even the most unlikely of places. Remnants of the past can literally become new vehicles for growing food”. Just because they didn’t have access to a backyard or garden plot to grow fresh food didn’t stop them–and they don’t want it to stop others either. Check out how they turned an old Ford 250 from Craigslist into their garden here! Personally, I think it’s a fantastic idea and am a little bit jealous that Portland doesn’t have something like this too. Seeing what they were up to was so inspiring, it made my mind explode with ideas–teaching gardening demonstrations for inner-city neighborhoods, school or corporate teaching/lunch programs… Just the sheer accessibility of the garden in a vehicle is a tremendous asset, and it really puts them way above and beyond the average “community garden”. Keep your eye out for them, they are going places! (pun totally intended).
Versatile, seasonal, and low-cost. Those words are music to my ears! Especially when it comes to fantastic tasting summer salads for the many BBQ’s, get togethers, and parties the warmer months spur on. I’ve been really enjoying two salads in particular: a pesto pasta heirloom tomato salad and a wheat-berry spinach salad. Pesto is super versatile and is the perfect playground for imaginative flavor combination. You simply start with a green base: basil, mint, Italian parsley, or spinach to name a few. Then you add in a little zest: fresh garlic, scallions, red onion, green onion, etc. Next, you might want to bulk it up a little, try: pine nuts, fresh crumbly parmesan (Trader Joe’s sells some of my favorite Parmigiano-Reggiano), sun-dried tomatoes, etc. Of course, don’t forget the olive oil, nothing less than 1/4 cup will do–it needs to be nice and juicy. And there you go! This particular pesto salad I used Italian Parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh garlic cloves, salt, pepper, and olive oil. It was fresh, summery, and delicious! Next time, I think I may try adding some Parmesan too, just to mix it up a little.
Parsley Pesto 1 bunch fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley 4 cloves fresh garlic 4 sun dried tomato halves, soaked in hot water for 15 mins 1/4 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste optional 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Pulse in your food processor until a past, fold into pasta (I used Oreccheti pasta, one of my favorite shapes). Add sliced heirloom tomatoes and stir. Serve and enjoy!
Wheat berries are one of my favorite grains. I love their chewy texture and how satiating they are! I also love them because their flavor expands and develops the better you chew them. As someone who tends to eat on the fast side (or more like wolfing down food! I just get excited I guess), this has been a great food to eat for me to meditate a little more on the amazing range of flavors and textures a food can provide. Wheat berries tend to be more of a winter food, however, I’ve found that using them in cool summer salads have been great. I like the tangy flavor of the feta mixed with the subtle sweetness of the wheat berry and the green crunch of the fresh spinach. A dollop of olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon, a little pepper and wha-la, summer wheat berry salad!
Wheat Berry Salad 1 cup wheat berries, boiled in 4 cups water for 70 mins on low 1 package of feta cheese (I say the more the better, but this is total personal preference) 1 clove fresh garlic or 1 scallion, minced 1 bag or package of fresh baby spinach 1/2 small lemon juice 1/8 cup olive oil salt and pepper to taste
Wash wheat berries in a strainer until the water runs clear. Boil 4 cups water and add the washed berries, cook on low heat for 70 minutes. Strain berries from cooking water and transfer to a bowl. Add feta, garlic or scallion, spinach, lemon juice, and olive oil and stir. Let sit for a few minutes to let the spinach soften just a bit. Serve at room temperature and enjoy!
I made the avocado cake again and decorated the top with fresh raspberries (from my Aunt’s garden) and fresh strawberries (from Mt. Hood). I like cake.
Andrew and I went on a trip through Central Oregon for the holiday weekend. Oregon never ceases to amaze me–the coast is so beautiful but central Oregon has sun (and more sun!), desert, fantastic hikes, views of the Cascade’s that will blow your mind, and cute towns with good brew pubs. We first went to Crater Lake. We tried to go last year but the lake was hidden beneath a thick blanket of smoke from smoldering forest fires (they happen naturally from lightning). So we went again to get the full majestic and breathtaking views it has to offer.
Looks a lot like the Caribbean! Crater Lake’s water is clear and amazing.
We also went to Bend and Smith Rocks. The desert was beautiful–hot sun, but the air was cool. The temperature did not rise above 78 degrees F. We camped there then drove home the following day on some scenic back roads.
From left: Mt. Bachelor, The Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson.
Andrew took this photo!
We stumbled upon these beautiful falls and a lake most appropriately called Clear Lake. Row boats beckoned us, so we went out on the lake for a break from our drive. This alpine lake was a gem to stumble upon!
Cheers for summer!
Thank you all for playing along with Where in the World! I was, in fact, on a cruise hopping along the south east coast of Alaska–so kudos to those of you who threw that one out there! Norway, Patagonia, and Sweden were all fantastic (and places I plan to visit sometime) guesses. I chose the winners based on if they knew the exact location of the picture which makes Mary, Rebecca, Rainbow, and Grace the winners! Congratulations!
Day One: Glacier Bay
Day Two: Juneau
Day Three: Sitka
I didn’t post pictures of these places (only so many hours in the day!) but we also went to Ketchikan…
…and Victoria, B.C.
The trip exceeded our expectations with the beauty, lush sea life, forests, and diverse landscapes. From the baby hump back who wanted to play with us to the still waters and quiet forest we kayaked in, the people, rich history, and stunning vistas in south east Alaska absolutely blew us out of the water–pun intended 
.
Winners: please email me your address and which picture (choose any of the ones posted from the trip) you’d like. Congrats again!
And now I leave you with a picture of our first garden harvest: heirloom French (also known as breakfast) radishes! We ate them sliced with a fresh avocado, a squeeze of lemon, and some sea salt.
We witnessed a full spectrum of spectacular things today from the historic relic to the campy cut-out. Not to mention the fresh air! And Grace, I totally agree–google is a great resource–what the heck would we do with out it? Great guesses everyone! Only a few more days to go, cheers!
(This baby hump back whale came right up to Andrew and I in our little skiffer! The driver said she had never seen anything like it before… whale whisperers…it was incredible)
Great guesses! Keep ‘em coming–if you think you know, the more specific you are, the better! I didn’t catch this on camera, but as the sun was setting, we saw a whale breech the water (jump out of it, full body) three times in a row. It was a good day!
Hello there! These are the first clues of the Where in the World…? series happening here this week. Just leave a comment and try to guess where I am! The first four correct will win a print that I’ll mail to you upon my return home. Don’t worry if you think the comments already there are correct–give it a shot, you might be surprised where I actually am. Good luck!
Over the course of the next seven days, I will be embarking on an exciting adventure and traveling far from home. Each post I do next week will be of a new picture from one of the places I will be visiting. Here’s the exciting part, if you guess correctly where the picture is by leaving a comment, I will send you a print of it when I get back! Did you ever play the game “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” I think there may have even been a TV show at one point. However, the board game was one of my absolute favorites as a kid–and the memory of it plus this trip has inspired my very first blog game + giveaway! If you are one of the few who know where I am, please don’t tell the others or leave a comment! Thank you!
Bon Voyage and good luck!
We decided to get out of town for a little bit last weekend and drove out to the Oregon coast. By absolute luck of the draw, it was sunny out there! And gorgeous. Just what we needed to re-energize and feed the soul.
We started in a town called Florence, where there are sand dunes a mile wide and 40 miles long. It was pretty spectacular. Staying over night there, we had a chance to hang out in the little downtown–basically eating our way through it. We stopped at the Waterfront Depot, once an old train station depot converted into a cozy little bar and ristaurante that sits right on the water. We had two different types of cheese plates and some drinks. We then sauntered down to Kelly’s Cantina, had some tapas that were excellent, and then finished the night off with dessert at a very cute spot called Feast.
When it comes to night time food photography, I find myself in quite the conundrum. Seriously. It can look really bad! Natural lighting is so key for good photos! This is why I don’t have pictures of my eating excursions through Florence. I also rarely take photos of food that I have not made–not because it isn’t good, but because making the food is part of the whole process of blogging for me. Actually, it’s not only the making, but the doing that is important because doing something good for me is just as energizing and wonderful as making or eating something I love. That’s why I’m showing you a feast for your eyes by way of coastal treasures. Sometimes we just have to eat for our souls, and getting to visit gorgeous spots like this is an excellent way to do it.
(Over 400 sea lions in the Sea Lion Cave!)
(Real starfish in a tidal pool)
I did, however, take a photo of a ginger cookie I got at a Cheese Shop and Bakery in Yachats (pronounced YA-HAW-TS). What a perfect combination, at least in my book! Specialty cheese and baked things? In one place? Yes, please! I held that cookie in my hand for a good 30 minutes before we found a nice beach spot to eat our snacks. Why did I do this? To take a photo of it. And it was torture! I had a nibble of one at the shop. The cookie I bought was beckoning me with it’s gingery goodness, to bite into it’s soft little body the whole way. Not to mention the ginger taste still lingering in my mouth, calling out for more. Sometimes photoing your food can just not be worth the trouble. Like when it’s getting cold, stale, or hard (but alas, even under those circumstances it still happens quite a bit. It just comes with the territory of food blogging!) But sometimes, it can be worth it. Like when you know the sugar crystals from a cookie will shimmer like the sand and it’s spicy orangeness will be a perfect compliment to the azure sky background. It tasted like a ginger cookie I make. The ginger heat was heightened the salty air that clings to and covers your hair, skin, and lips. It was like a mirror to the suns energy, sending it directly into my body via this little sweet morsel. It was a great beach snack for a blustery, sunny day.
Cheers!
