Happy Birthday National Parks!

Half Dome from the Yosemite Valley

21 years ago this summer I experienced my first National Park. After my high school graduation we packed up the mini van, filled the ice chest with carrot sticks and Cokes and headed up north. That summer, with the three of us kids piled into the van, plugged into our Walkmans, we headed thru Kansas and Nebraska into the Badlands of South Dakota (where we nearly ran out of gas) to Mount Rushmore…the first stop on our way to Yellowstone.

Mt. Rushmore was certainly a sight to behold. They had just started the plans for the large sculpture of Crazy Horse (which is still under construction). I was thrilled to finally see the ginormous head of my favorite president, Teddy Roosevelt.  As a kid I always loved the stories of his Rough Rider days and his adventurous spirit. It was that spirit, and a keen respect for nature, that led him to set up the National Parks service and establish the first National Parks during his presidency. Here we are, 100 years later, still enjoying the fruits of his foresight.

Yosemite Falls

I’ll never forget the thrill I had driving under the giant sign announcing our entrance into Yellowstone National Park. It’s the same thrill I still get every time I drive thru another national park gateway. This summer I had the opportunity to check off a box on my bucket list. For the longest time I’ve loved….more like drooled over…Ansel Adams wondrous photographs of Yosemite. From the photos of snowcapped Half Dome and El Capitan to his ethereal pictures of Vernal Falls… you simply cannot find more iconic views of our national parks. From the moment I found the Adams photos Yosemite has had a place of honor on my bucket list.

The drive from Fresno (apprx 3 hours) winds you through small towns and groves upon groves of almond and fruit trees. (FYI – From my experience, Fresno is a great place to get a cheap hotel while visiting Either Yosemite or Sequoia…but not a place known for its fine dining or tourism industry.) Be sure to bring cash as you’ll most likely want to stop at some of the local fruit stands along the way. You begin to piece together the history of the area through the names of the small towns you pass: Chinese Camp, Fish Camp, etc. harken back to the age of the great race to finish the Pan American railway.

Coming thru the southern gate of Yosemite you have about a 30 minute drive amongst the redwoods before you pass through the tunnel blasted though the granite mountains. Just about the time your eyes have adjusted to the dark you come out the other side. As you hit the light you can’t help but gasp. There laid out in full glory is the Yosemite Valley and straight ahead Half Dome. The park service has done a marvelous job expecting visitors will want to stop and take in this promontory point. So they’ve made it easy with a couple of parking lots. IF you miss it coming into the park, don’t fret, you’ll have another chance as you leave. And depending what time of day you come into the park, the light might be better for your photos as you leave. We got there EARLY in the morning and the position of the sun gave me way too much of a glare because you’re looking directly east.

Proceeding through the valley all the trailheads are marked well and Curry Village is a great place to stop for bathrooms, camping grounds, general store, and advice on what to see and do based on the time you have in the park. I met up with an old sorority sister of mine who drove up for the weekend from LA. We wound up only having a full day on Sunday to really enjoy the park. The park ranger I visited with was a wonderful wealth of knowledge and had great suggestions for us based on what we wanted to see, our time, and let’s be honest….our fitness level. Becky is a runner, I am not. And the workout I thought I was getting for my legs during rowing proved to be incompatible with the workout ahead of me.

Curry Village, named after one of the founding families of Yosemite, has one of the largest parking lots for those visiting outside of the park. Yosemite also had a wonderful tram service that runs to 20+ stops throughout the park on about a 15 minute schedule. It’s a great way to see a lot of the park without moving your car and wasting your legs walking from one trailhead to another.

We decided to start our day with the Mist Hike up Vernal Falls. It came highly recommended from an old Eagle Scout friend of mine. Perhaps the fact that he was an Eagle Scout, and an overall outdoorsman, was what led him to downplay the difficulty of the hike but I was expecting something slightly less death defying. Mist Trail is about 3 miles round trip. Not bad sounding if it was all flat. However, within those 3 miles you also ascend approximately 1000 feet…most of which is done clinging precariously to an iron railing while clawing your way up “stairs” that I swear were chiseled into the side of the mountain by the first indigenous people living there.

All of this would be hard enough if it was all dry…but there is a reason why they call it the Mist Trail. This mist from Vernal Falls envelopes you and clings to you as you make your way towards the top. The whole experience is otherworldly. As you pause to catch your breath, snap some pics, or simply regain your equilibrium you glance around and have the distinct feeling that you’ve stumbled onto the set of “Game of Thrones” or a Hobbit movie. And as tempting as it was to spare my nearly-40-yr-old knees and turn around and go back…it’s worth every Aleve you need to take to get to the top of the falls. Not only is the sense of accomplishment overwhelming for a weekend-semi-athlete like me…but THE VIEWS. Oh my GAWD!

After the hike up you get thaw/dry out a bit and mentally prepare for the hike down. I highly suggest getting there early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The number of people making their way towards the falls on our way back down was shocking. Truly it had doubled at least. AND the later you wait…the more idiot teenagers you’ll have to deal with on the way down.

Take your water and take a snack for the top. You’ll want to spend some time relishing the views.

The rest of the day we spent hiking minor trails through the valley, eating lunch (well-deserved greasy burgers) at the Village Grill, and looking through the Ansel Adams gallery. Overall, the park was gorgeous. Well taken care of and easy to navigate. The signage was dispersed well and I cannot say enough nice things about the little shuttle. Beware, however, by mid-afternoon…the shuttles are standing room only.

Yosemite Valley

As with most of the larger national parks…this one had a lot of diversity…something for everyone. I encourage everyone, especially this summer, to get OUT and visit one of our beautiful parks. In this election year where all the politicians want to make our nation look like it’s a 3^rd world country to win votes…getting out and breathing the fresh air of one of our parks will reassure you…it ain’t that bad yet.

P.S. – You can purchase an annual National Parks Pass for $80 at any of the national parks. The pass is good for an entire car full of people and gets you in free at any of the 58 US National Parks. From what I’m sure is our coldest park entirely located north of the Arctic Circle, Gates of the Arctic National Park, to our most tropical (and the only one located south of the equator) National Park of the American Samoa…this pass is good. Do yourself, and our national parks, some good and invest in one of these little guys. If you’re anything like me, it will inspire you to get out and “stamp it”.

PEEPS Show 2016...Presidential PEEPS

I travel a lot. I travel for work. I travel for fun. If you need a good hotel in Portland…I’m your gal. If you need a restaurant suggestion for LA…ask True. Got questions about packing for a 2 week vacation to Europe…I can give you a checklist.

But with all my traveling to and fro, sometimes it’s just good to get back to my roots. No I’m not talking about my natural hair color (whatever that actually is). I’m talking about “the Farm”.  We, my brothers and I, have gotten into the habit of going home for Easter. They bring their families and we all descend on my parent’s home where we shoot guns, build bon fires, blow up fireworks, ride tractors, take hikes and generally goof off…country style.

One of our favorite traditions, however, is our family PEEPS Show. Now the older kids are finally old enough to participate…so after taking a year off…we give you the Wallace Family PEEPS Show 2016: Presidential PEEPS!!!

 

What Presidential Pageant would be complete without….

 

PEEP-raham Lincoln

 President Lincoln. Sadly we meet Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln in their presidential box at Ford’s Theater on a very infamous night. In fact…John Wilkes Booth still holds the smoking gun.

Also, do note the historically accurate draping and wallpaper in the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 PEEP-sident Kennedy

 Riding the wave of “Presidential Assassinations”….next up is poor President Kennedy.

 

Alas, his secret service men were unprepared for the well-hidden sniper’s rifle in the 4^th story window of the Texas Book depository….and possible Gun Man #2 on the grassy knoll?







Working forward in time…we give you one of the less “presidential uses” of the Oval Office. Good ol’ Bill…a man of the people, former Gov of Arkansas, jazz saxophonist, cigar connoisseur, and lover of the ladies…

President PEEP Clinton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course…no pageant would be complete without an Election Year candidate! Live from “Tusla” and “Oaklahoma” we give you…

 The Donald and his sparkly side kick…Sarah Palin!!!

 

And finally…because one of us couldn’t choose just one president…behold…

 Mt. PEEPSMORE!!!

 

 

As per our usual rules...please use the comments (or my facebook comments) to VOTE for your favorite PEEPS Show as well as Best Interpretation of the Theme and Most Artistic.

Why I get fat in the fall.

This is why I get fat in the fall. I would rather come home and make acorn squash soup from scratch than go work out. I love fall. I love the golden glow my backyard gets from all the yellow leaves. I love the nip in the air. I love the smell of fires. And I love a nice, cozy evening in with a healthy soup, a glass (or two) of a nice stout Syrah, watching my favorite shows under a fluffy blanket.

Case in point: Roasted Acorn Squash-ginger-curry-soup

What you'll need:
2 acorn squashes
1 box of chicken stock (or vegetable if you are vegan)
1 ginger root
1/2 onion
1 tbsp of yellow curry
salt
pepper
olive oil

Cut the squash in 1/2 and remove all seeds. Drizzle them with olive oil, salt and pepper. Pop them on a cookie sheet in a 425 degree oven for 30 minutes to roast. After 30 min check to make sure they are mostly soft. Cut 1/2 an onion in 1/2 drizzle with olive oil and add to the cookie sheet of squash for 10 more minutes.


Roasting in the oven.

Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.

Scrape the insides out with a spoon and put into a good sized pot along with the roasted onion, chicken stock, curry powder, and two slices of the ginger root (you'll want to peel the skin off first).

Salt and pepper to taste.

Allow to simmer on stove for 10-20 minutes. Pull out the pieces of ginger. With an immersion hand blender blend everything together into a smooth soup.

When serving I like to add a tiny bit of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream...but you don't have to because this soup is certainly creamy enough.

It's flavorful, low cal (one cup equals about 75 calories), chock-a-block full of fiber, and is high in antioxidants, vitamins A & C, and is a great anti-inflammatory food.


Final, delicious, product.

"God vacations here."

  What happens when your old college roomie calls you in the middle of the day on a random Wednesday and invites you to go on an all-expense paid trip to St. Thomas with her???

If you’re me…you nearly break your neck falling off the treadmill. Then quickly look around the gym to see if anyone else working out on their lunch break noticed you falling off the treadmill. Shake it off and reply to her…when you can regain your breath…with a GIANT “YES!!!”



view from our room at the Ritz Carlton-St. Thomas

I will try to keep this post short as the pictures will speak for themselves. Here’s the break down…one week at the Ritz Carlton in St. Thomas. One full day of sailing and snorkeling in St. John. One full day crisping our skin on the beach. One full day shopping and beaching in St. John. And then one glorious morning on the beach prior to departure.

So here’s what I learned…most flights to the Virgin Islands route you through Atlanta, Miami, or Houston. It is a 3+ hour flight from Atlanta to St. Thomas.  If you are a US citizen you do not need a passport to enter…however, here’s the sticky wicket, you’ll need one to leave. That said, if your dream is to be detained in the Virgin Islands…I suggest ‘accidentally’ leaving your passy at home.

The US Virgin Islands were originally the “Danish West Indies” but due to a downward spiraling economy, the onset of WWI, and US fears that the islands would be exposed to German U-boats, were eventually sold to the US in 1916 for the bargain price of $25M US gold. The islands are about 50 miles east of Puerto Rico…and MUCH closer to the Equator than you might imagine.



Trunk Bay beach, St. John

Each of the three islands, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John has its own personality. St. Croix is the largest of the islands but since I didn’t go there…I can’t say much about it. St. Thomas is the capital and clearly the biggest tourism island. Charlotte Amalie is the VI capital and the spot where most flights (STT) and cruises to the VI arrive.  The island of St. John is 2/3 National Park thus making it the least populated of the three islands.

Getting around the VI is very simple…with the exception that you drive American cars on the left side of the road…i.e. left-side driver drives on left side of the road. It’s a little off putting. There are ferries that leave on the hour from Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook (which is the one closest to the resort areas) to the other islands ($14/round trip). We even noticed that they offer a weekend excursion to Puerto Rico that leaves on Friday afternoon and comes back to Red Hook on Sunday.  Nice if you need a little change of scenery I guess. There are also plenty of “taxis” on the island to get you where you need to go. However, be prepared for a wait and to share your “taxi” with about 8-10 other people. From my experience, I did not see a single “single” taxi. All “taxis” were 12 passenger vans…and the cabbies will wait FOREVER to try to fill those seats.



After a day on this beauty out snorkeling...you most likely
wont care what your hair looks like, but if you do...

The average temp year round is 87 degrees Fahrenheit. And it was pretty close to that the entire time we were there. A very balmy 87 degrees.  The “balmy” part is what initially worried me about my tresses. IF this had just been a vacation…I wouldn’t have really cared and just sported the “ocean look” the entire time. But because this was a quasi-business trip for my BFF we were both a little concerned about the state of affairs for our hair. She has gorgeous dark brown hair that in the humidity turns into Shirley Temple-ish ringlets. I have baby fine, blonde hair that when subjected to massive amounts of humidity plasters itself to my scull. Not at all sexy in this world of high volume, perfectly sculpted, Bardot-like waves. Luckily my friends at Wella Professionals hooked me up with their OilReflections and Sebastian Stylbrid9. I’m not even kidding when I say my hair looked, and felt, delightful the whole time. I was concerned that the large amount of saltwater that I subjected my hair to on a daily basis would really dry it out. But I truly think it was the Wella Professionals Oil Reflections that saved my hair. On the flip side…the Sebastian Stylbrid9 was just what I needed to actually tame my hair. It was great when I wanted the flat-ironed sleek look and even better when I wanted to go for the tousled waves. Hold, texture, and heat protection. Can’t beat that! Oh wait…yeah you can…because you can find both at your local Ulta store! See…the four of you reading this blog will now rush out to get these products and have A-mazing hair!

Fresh fish night at the RC. Literally off the boat.

And while I’m doing a little “product placement” I might as well give a shout out to the folks at the St. Thomas Ritz Carlton. I think we’ve all heard the high praise that most Ritz Carltons receive and if you’re like me you probably think it’s a little exaggerated. Readers…I can truthfully tell you it is NOT. The quality is everything you’ve heard of and more. The grounds were SMOKE FREE and spotless. The rooms were squeaky clean and the housecleaning service had a magical way of cleaning your room without EVER being in your way. And when you travel as much as I do…inevitably you find yourself under foot with housekeeping. Not here!

The resort had 3 restaurants and a FroYo café. The food at all restaurants was amazing…and I had THE BEST smoothie I’ve ever had at the FroYo café.  If you’re a rum fan…this is your place. EVERY drink is a fruity-rummy drink. By Wednesday I purposefully switched to Vodka tonics simply because my body had started rejecting ALL the fruit I was ingesting from the fruity-rummy drinks. By Thursday I’d down-graded to beer.

St. John Brewers in St. John. They had cider on tap! 

 

But beyond the fruity drinks, the great food, the comfy beds, the squeaky clean-ness, and the Corona commercial setting…what stood out to me the most was the friendly staff. EVERY person I passed…from housekeeping, to gardeners, to bartenders, to sailing crew…everyone I passed looked me in the eye and said “hello”. Can you imagine how many times a day those folks have to greet all the people staying there??? It must be exhausting. But they did it…ALL of them.

Okay…I’ve clearly rattled on waaaaaay too long here. I will wrap this up and leave you with some final thoughts in my favorite form…bullet points:

      * I over packed. Totally. I would have been fine with 2 swimsuits, 1 sarong, 1 pair of shorts, 2 tank tops, a fun skirt and a party dress. Nice sandals and flip-flops would have sufficed for the whole week. As far as make-up???  My eyelash curler, mascara, and some powder would have done the trick.

* We were WAY closer to the equator than initially thought. SPF 30 does NOT cut it. Let me repeat that…SPF 30 is not enough. Even if re-applied every hour.  Pack the SPF 50…and pack a LOT.

*   Take advantage of all the time you have. Take that sailing day excursion to the other islands! Visit with the crew… and I guarantee you’ll hear some great stories.

*    Don’t be afraid to get off the resort and visit some local places. Everyone speaks English…so just ASK.



Trunk Bay Beach...again. My favorite.

*   When I go back…I’m renting a house on St. John and a Jeep and will be-bop around to all the lovely National Park beaches…with a cooler of hotdogs and Doritos…because when you spend the day swimming on a gorgeous, white-powder-sand beach…you really want a grilled hotdog and some nacho chips.

*    For every fruity-rummy drink…do yourself a favor and drink a glass of water.

*    Although St. Thomas is great…St. John is pristine. Truly, if God vacationed…this is where He would go.

I don't even care at this point how I look.
Quote: "I haven't felt this good without a prescription in 5 years!"

My Favorite Travel Movies

Well here we are, just past Independence Day weekend. And generally the kick off for summer vacations. If you’re like me as soon as the weather starts to warm up and the days get longer you begin pining for some time away from the hum-drum of your daily existence. That might take the form of jetting off to a Mexican beach, taking the family to Yellowstone National Park as a “rite of passage” trip, or simply tossing your dogs in the back seat and road tripping down Highway 1 through the verdant shade of the pines in Big Sur.

Whatever your vacation of choice is I find there is nothing better than a good old movie to whet my appetite for some windshield time. Below are some of my favorites (in no particular order) but because I’m a little OCD…they are grouped topographically and/or geographically:

Mountains

Going to the Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana

A River Runs Through It – Quite possibly my favorite Brad Pitt movie because he was at his most “Robert Redford”-ness. Nothing calls me back to my care-free childhood summers like watching the early scenes of that movie when the boys are young and just goofing off in the river during the summer…throwing rocks, fishing, etc. The backdrop of the Canadian Rockies is simply breath taking. If you enjoy the mountains in summer, I’d highly suggest reading my post from last summer at Glacier National Park, MT. What an extraordinary place. Highly recommend the “Glamping” option over the high cost of the park lodges and simply the ickyness of camping on your own on the ground with rocks in your back and no plumbing. Just sayin’…

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Brave Heart/Skyfall – If you need some “heritage site” inspiration I highly suggest these two movies. Nowhere else will you get these cinematographic sweeping views of the Scottish Highlands. Though not as high as our mountains in the US…the Highlands are not without their rugged charm. The way the mist appears out of nowhere and seems to cradle these craggy, rolling hills in mystery is otherworldly. If you’re a fall traveler like me…fall is a wonderful time to go there.

Band of Brothers – This HBO mini-series is one of my all-time favorite WWII series. I watch it every time it’s on TV…and consistently ask for the boxed DVD set every year for Christmas. But I digress…the shots near the end of the series after they’ve survived Bastogne where they are in the Swiss Alps are mesmerizing. The Alpine lake surrounded by mountains and blue sky is visually like popping an Altoid in your mouth…so refreshing and minty! Note to self…if you don’t have the $$$ for an Alpine Adventure, why not check out some of our state-side options? The Cascades through Washington and Oregon have some beautiful alpine lakes as do the Rockies up around Jackson Hole, WY and Swan Valley, ID.

Europe/Cities

Amelie – This is a sweet little French movie that I absolutely adore. It embodies everything that is sweet and storybook-like about Paris. If you’re planning a Parisian escape this summer, add this to your movie list while you’re packing. It will get you SO excited to visit this beautiful “city of lights” and all its unique cafes and patisseries. And as a bonus…you might pick up some French words since it’s subtitled.

Love Actually – though this movie takes place at Christmas I find there is never a bad time to watch it…especially if you’re gearing up for a London excursion. This movie is “so London” watching it is like watching a movie filmed in your home town. The value of this movie, visually, is that it doesn’t pander to the major tourist attractions of London (The Tower, The Bridge, Westminster, Big Ben, etc)…but rather spends most of the time meandering thru the little side streets of the West Bank and Covent Garden. If you want a true Londoner’s vision of that city…watch this movie.

Under the Tuscan Sun – now I had a hard time deciding whether to put this under “beach” or “Europe” since, when I think of this movie, I always think of the scenes shot in Positano a gem of the Amalfi Coast. Now I don’t say “the” gem of the Amalfi Coast for a reason and that’s because I think Amalfi itself is the true gem. Positano is great, but touristy, overpriced, and crowded. Amalfi, on the other hand, is just a short drive (or in my case a bus ride) away from “Posi” and is far more genuine. If you want the true Amalfi Coast experience…take my advice and skip a little further south to the true heart of Amalfi.

A Good Year – The movie version of “A Year in Provence” is another stunner for those hoping to take a summer vacay to the south of France. This movie makes me want to throw on a little cotton, wispy dress, rent a Vespa and hit the dusty back roads of rural France. Or, if we’re honest, the dusty back rural roads of just about anywhere.

Beaches

Jaws – So…I highly considered leaving this one off of the list simply due to all the REAL shark attacks we’ve been seeing daily up and down the east coast. However, it seemed dishonest to leave it off. Martha’s Vineyard is the site for this classic. If you remove the menacing, mechanical shark…you’re left with a beautiful New England beach town in the ‘70s. Which, when you look at Martha’s Vineyard now…hasn’t changed a whole lot from the ‘70s and therein lies its charm.

Momma Mia – Watching Meryl Streep sing and ludicrously  trip around a Greek Island was slightly annoying (and I LOVE her), but the scenery! Oh. My. GAWD. The scenery. If that movie doesn’t make you want to jump on the first flight to Mykonos…I don’t know what will. The azure water, the whitewashed cottages…I’m relaxing just thinking about it!

White Squall – This movie was shot primarily in Charleston, SC. An absolutely gorgeous colonial city on its own…but add in some sailboats (and a very tan, younger Jeff Bridges) and I’m thoroughly IN. Ignore the fact that the boat sinks and nearly everyone drowns. The gorgeous pre-disaster sailing scenes are worth renting this movie…and Jeff Bridges of course.

Cannon Beach, OR

Goonies – Most people would not necessarily think of this as a “beach movie” BUT…it was shot at Cannon Beach the home of Haystack Rock…aka the rock where One Eye’s Willies ship was hidden. I LOVE summer in the Northwest. The Seattle-ites have a saying “visit after the 4^th of July when it stops raining”. Although Cannon Beach is in Oregon…I find the same holds true there. This is a gorgeous little, seaside village that is more up-scale. Not crazy expensive…but more like the west coast version of Martha’s Vineyard. So quaint. So friendly. I love it here. It’s, hands down, one of my favorite places on God’s beautiful earth. Watch “Goonies” and then go here.

Charlie St. Cloud – Don’t judge. I’m perfectly self-aware enough to admit that I have a little thing for Zac Effron. I think we can all admit (now that he’s legal) that he’s VERY pretty. However, he is not the main reason I watch this movie over and over…it’s the gorgeous British Columbia scenery. I’m totally stoked because I’m headed there this summer as a little “mini-break” after a work trip to Seattle. Again, this is a movie with sailboats. Sorry…I’m starting to see a trend here as I type this. Most of this movie was shot in the Vancouver area and spotlights stunning coastline comprised of craggy rock cliffs covered with giant pines.

Love and Mercy – I was really excited to see this movie this summer. I love the Beach Boys and have been intrigued with Brian Wilson’s “tortured genius” reputation. Add to this John Cusack is playing said genius and I’m totally in. Readers…if you have not seen this movie…do yourself a favor and go see it NOW. This is an absolutely beautiful movie about one man’s struggle with mental illness, the a-holes who preyed on him, and the woman who finally “saved” him. See this movie especially if you’re planning a trip to southern California…LA area.

Aloha – I was really excited to see this movie this summer namely because of the cast. Okay…namely because of Bradley Cooper AND because it’s a Cameron Crowe movie. I love Cameron Crowe movies…or perhaps I should say I LOVED Crowe movies. This one is a stinker. Even the gorgeous Hawaiian seascapes aren’t enough to salvage this movie. No plot. Bad dialogue. Not even a good soundtrack and he’s KNOWN for good soundtracks! Nancy please come back! He’s lost without you!!! Skip this one. If you’re headed to Hawaii…I suggest re-watching “LOST” on Netflix.

 

Random USA

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – I love this movie because it’s based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, my favorite American author, but also because it’s shot primarily in New Orleans. New Orleans is such an amazing city. Nowhere else FEELS quite like New Orleans. There is so much history and culture in this city that it’s worth a visit. I’d suggest visiting closer to the fall…not so much in July or August unless you simply like to sweat. A lot. When you go…stay in the French Quarter or the Garden District as you’ll want to walk the cobbled streets here.

The Hangover – What do I think of when I think of Las Vegas??? Bachelor Parties. And boy does this movie deliver. Given…it’s the bachelor party from hell…but this movie gives you a good view of the Las Vegas Strip! I’m not a Vegas fan. I don’t gamble. I don’t drink a TON or smoke. And frankly I don’t like walking around in an oven…but there is something to be said for the flight…at night…in and out of Vegas. Nowhere else has quite the same skyline. Watch this to get geared up for your trip to the desert.

Forest Gump/Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – I’m splitting this one for Savannah, GA. What a marvelous place. It’s like a more genteel New Orleans. Did you know that Savannah has more fountains than any other city in the US? It’s also a great place if you like pirates and stories about pirate ghosts. The food is amazing, the shopping is grand, and the people are incredibly courteous. These two movies will have you ready for the Spanish moss draped trees and the southern plantations that this city, and the surrounding area, have to offer.

When Harry Met Sally – Easily my Top 5 favorite movies of all time. I love this movie. It is the “Love Actually” version for NYC. This movie depicts the very best of NYC. This movie makes me want to go to NYC/Manhattan every time I watch it. Sadly the two times I’ve been to NYC I’ve frozen my tail off and been miserable. Hopefully one day I will actually experience the NYC that Harry and Sally did (and the bazillion people who choose to live there). I long for summer walks thru Central Park and strolling down cobble stoned streets amidst the fall foliage. Nevertheless, if you’re headed to NYC this summer…Netflix this classic.

There you go! A LONG post…but hopefully if you watch just a couple of these movies they will inspire you update your passport, put some gas in your car, or simply lace up your sneaks and GET OUT THERE!

Chicken Stew

New niece, Nikki. Isn't she a doll? AND
she's a good eater. I'm sure she'd love this stew!

So I know that I’m WAY late on sharing my latest GRAND adventure to Europe with everyone. I’ve been stewing in all the fine memories I have of those wonderful two weeks. Truth be told, I just needed a little time to collect my thoughts in the middle of work trips to LA, Christmas, New Years, and a trip to Houston to meet my new adopted niece.

All that said, this is NOT the European Trip post. No, it’s a quick post about getting back on the wagon after vacation which flowed seamlessly into the holidays. Believe it or not, I lost 7 pounds on my vacation. Hard to believe that I did that whilst feasting on sausages, potatoes, pastries, beer, wine and whisky, but I did.  I apparently was so excited about losing the weight while denying myself nothing that I unconsciously decided to continue the trend throughout the holidays.

Jump to last week when I’m at the doctor’s office for an upper respiratory infection and what do I find??? I find the missing 7 lbs. Yeup. It sucked. Or rather I sucked in a TON of air very quickly. So quickly (and apparently loudly) that the nurse asked if I was okay.  I assured her I was…but that I’d just found a missing 7 lbs that I hoped would stay away forever.  She simply laughed and stated the obvious…”time to start on that new year’s resolution I guess eh?”

Errgh. I hate being naughty and having to get back on the wagon. Let me rephrase that…I LOVE being naughty (let’s be honest I lived on fudge and booze during the holidays)…it’s the getting on the wagon of healthy eating that I loathe.

So this weekend I went to the grocery and stocked up on all sorts of HEALTHY foods. My cart looked like I was buying veggies for a small herd of goats. Out of the depths of my despair was born a delightful concoction that I will call “Chicken Stew”.

I’m not even kidding…I’m salivating right now just thinking about it it was THAT good.  And SO easy. It can be adapted to a vegan diet and still taste amazing I’m sure. I just prefer mine to have some animal protein in it.

What you’ll need:

A giant pot or dutch oven. This makes a TON.

½ red onion

1 green bell pepper

2 handfuls of fresh green beans (let’s say 2 cups for those of you who need actual measurements)

4 cups fresh baby spinach

6 stalks of celery

6 medium carrots

3 medium chicken breasts

1 tablespoon of pesto sauce

2 bay leaves

Salt

Pepper

Red pepper flakes

2 cans lite chicken broth

1 giant can of diced tomatoes

 

In your giant pot, add a little veggie oil (or olive oil) to the bottom and heat it up to a medium high (7 on my stove).

 

Roughly dice your chicken breasts. You want big-ish pieces since this is a STEW not a soup. And add them in.

This is what it should look like before adding
the tomatoes and stock.

Next roughly dice up the onion, carrots, bell pepper and celery and add them once the chicken is beginning to brown.

I would also add a tablespoon of minced garlic, but since I didn’t have garlic I used pesto.  I highly suggest this. I feel like it gave it a whole other layer of flavor. But if you don’t have pesto, the garlic will work.

Let all this saute and the chicken finish browning.

Salt and pepper everything really good.  This makes a lot so don’t be scared to go a little heavy on the S&P shakers.

Next add the broth, tomatoes and bay leaves.

Turn it down to simmer and then GO AWAY.  This is not a dish that needs your constant eye. Just let it simmer for about 30-45 minutes and then come and check on the flavor. If the spices all seem right to you…then it’s almost ready to go. 

After you taste for spice, roughly cut the green beans and add them. Let it simmer for about 10 more minutes and then just before you scoop it up, add the spinach. Give it a good stir, allow the spinach to wilt and then serve it up.

Behold!

For vegetarians you could simply cut out the chicken (and use vegetable stock) but add some nice red beans or even some quinoa for protein.

I’m trying to keep to my gluten free diet as much as possible but if I weren’t…tossing in a couple of cups of egg noodles would also make this extra tasty.

Food for the Masses

Did I mention that I row? I do. I LOVE it. It cracks my family up that I was never athletic as a kid but at the ripe age of 31 I finally found my sport. It’s great for me because it does not require me to be on my feet. Which, given my inclinations to skinned knees, twisted ankles and broken feet, is a very good thing.

This week was the Head of the Oklahoma Regatta and theOG&E Night Sprints. Shameless plug time: this is an amazing thing that the OKC Boathouse District puts on every fall. It’s family friendly and is really a terrific opportunity for the community to come out and see something very foreign to most Oklahomans. There are corporate races, collegiate races, masters races, everything. They have entertainment for the kids, food trucks, and a beer garden. You can get tours of the boathouses and even learn how to kayak from the US Kayak Team coach.

My team (pictured) was amazing this year. We’ve been practicing every Sunday afternoon for the last 3 months.  All ladies from work and I’m the only one who’d ever been in a racing boat before.  In celebration of the end of the season, I had the entire team (and spouses) over to my home last weekend for a Mexican Fiesta.  I love to cook and entertain and this was just the opportunity I’d been looking for to pull out my crock pots and get them warmed up for the Fall!

The only hitch was that I’d be at practice while everything needed to be cooking. Enter my wonderful friend Jake who came over and popped the enchiladas in the oven to bake while I was sweating away the calories out on the water.

Sadly, no pics of the deliciousness that was my ropa vieja, chicken enchiladas and Spanish rice…but I will share how they are made.  Be warned, I’m a “creative cook” and rarely use a recipe or adhere strictly to one. What is below are time tested, family/friend/boyfriend approved recipes that I’ve tweaked and made my own over the years.  Also, these “recipes” make a TON. Enjoy!

Chicken Enchiladas

3 chicken breasts

4-6 chicken thighs
1 can cream of chicken soup (you can use low sodium/fat/whatever you like)
1 can Rotel
1-2 cups Greek Yogurt (you can use sour cream here, but I like to use the yogurt as it accomplishes that you want without the fat and calories of the sour cream)
8 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese
Salt/Pepper to taste
2 garlic cloves
½ onion finely chopped
Sliced jalapenos
20 flour tortillas

·         In a large pot place the chicken and cover with water. Add the two garlic cloves (smashed) and salt and pepper. Boil until cooked thru. I let mine cook about an hour which might be too long but with chicken I ALWAYS err on the side of too long rather than not long enough. Nobody wants Ecoli.

·         After the chicken is cooked remove it from the pot and allow to cool. You’ll have some nice chicken stock in the pot so reserve that for later.

·         Once the chicken is cooled shred it in a giant bowl (remember this makes a TON) then add the soup, rotel, yogurt, onion and 4 cups of the cheese. IF it seems a little dry, you can add some of your stock to it. I usually wind up using about a cup.  ***Because there is so much of this, I like to just use my hands to mix everything. It’s quicker and because you feel it… you know when everything is mixed well.

·         You’ll need to large lasagna/casserole dishes for the baking.

·         Lightly spray your lasagna dishes with cooking spray then begin scooping about a tablespoon and a half of the chicken mixture into each tortilla. Roll the tortilla and place it edges down into the dish. I like to place them all pretty snug so that they hold each other together.

·         Once they are all placed in the dishes, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and then top each one with a jalapeno slice.

·         Cover with foil and bake in the oven at 325 for about an hour.

·         These can be made early and frozen or just kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

 

Ropa Vieja (this is by far the easiest thing you’ll EVER make)

1 beef chuck roast (you can also use a pork roast but beef seems to be the crowd pleaser) I usually just get whatever size looks like it’s going to fit into my crock pot. IF you’ve got a small crock pot get a smaller roast. Be sure to get one with good marbling. This bad boy is going to cook at least 8 hours so it’s going to need a little fat in it.

2 – 12oz cans tomato sauce

1 largely diced onion
2 largely diced Anaheim peppers
1 jalapeno
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Bay leaves
1 Tbsp cumin (I really like cumin so I usually use a bit more in mine)
Salt/pepper

·         In the bottom of the crock pot put the onion, peppers, and jalapeno.

·         On top of all that put your roast and be sure to salt and pepper it really good.

·         Sprinkle the top of the roast with the garlic and cumin

·         Pour in the two cans of tomato sauce and add the Bay leaves to the sides.

·         Turn your crock pot on to High and let it cook for 4 hours then check it. You might need to add a little water if it’s looking dry. Then turn it down to LOW and cook for another 2 hours. ***You can also make this while you’re at work, just cook it on LOW all day (8hrs) and it should be fine.

·         After six hours it should pull apart with a fork. I leave it in the crock pot and try to pull out as much of the onions and peppers as I can before shredding it. But honestly it’s fine with those in there. You really only need to pull out the Bay Leaves.

·         Serve the shredded beef with corn tortillas like tacos OR it’s really great served over rice.

 

Spanish Rice

3 cups long grain rice

½ onion finely chopped
1 bell pepper finely chopped
1 – 12oz can tomato sauce
1 can Rotel
1 cup chicken stock
½  tsp cumin
1 Tbsp butter
Salt/pepper to taste

·         In a large sauce pan sauté the onion, green pepper and rice with the butter.  *** You really just want to kind of toast the rice.

·         Add the rest of the ingredients, stir and cook to the directions on the rice bag. ***usually about 45 minutes or until all the liquid has been soaked up by the rice.