Golden Ale, Summer-y Psychedelic Pop, and One Big Whale

Three things rocking my world right now:

1. Moby Dick by Herman Melville- Yes I am finally starting my March project, reading this rather large, rather famous book. It's worth the wait and I am sure I will have much more to say on the topic as I continue reading.

2. Oro de Calabaza Golden Ale by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales- This is my go-to weekend beer ever since I discovered I could buy it locally (and on sale!) It is really a complicated-tasting beer with a nice sour taste. Jolly Pumpkin uses open fermentation and bottle conditioning to make some really great beers. They had them temporarily at our Whole Foods before they ran out and claimed that they couldn't get it anymore. It's great that a few local places carry it now, because it truly is a great beer to be experienced.

3. Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective- What can I say. I know this was a 2009 album, but I think it's going to carry me right through summer 2010. This album is absolutely infectious and it makes me unbelievably happy. I highly recommend it, if you need something a little different to carry you down the road with a smile on your face.

I've also become a slightly obsessed yoga-holic...but more on that later...

Everybody Knows This is Nowhere

Neon sign Fremont East
Originally uploaded by zenhikers

November. Friends, family, and food. A good month, and lots to be thankful for, despite the melancholy that comes with confronting another year's passing in Las Vegas.

Early in the month, I did something completely out of character and had a girl's weekend in Vegas with some old friends from high school. This actually involved things like walking up and down the Strip, eating at celebrity chef restaurants, nickel slots, shopping,and one Michael Jackson dance party (um, yeah I was responsible for that last one.) It was a fabulous time and I just want to note here that I am capable of "being fun", wearing makeup AND a dress simultaneously, and doing "girly stuff". Yeah, I know you doubted me, but that's cool.

Later in the month, we had the in-laws in town and got to spend some quality time catching up. This weekend was full of eating yummy food (complete with Italian accordion players), walking the dog, talk about real estate, love at Love, and a few winning hands of video poker on Fremont Street. It is fun to see the city through the eyes of a tourist and putting together an agenda for the weekend was really fun. I'll definitely be back to Firefly at the Plaza, Twin Creeks at the Silverton, and just for shock value the Hash House (kill the DJ, though!!)

Most recently was the highly tradition-wrought holiday of Thanksgiving. After seventeen heated conversations about methodology and best practices for brining a turkey - we finally got our bird prepped, the fridge packed with groceries and beer, and the iPod queued up with some good cooking music (somehow this became a classic rock-themed meal). My sister and her husband arrived on Thursday and we kept them distracted with learning how to play cribbage as we cooked and baked. I also surprised my sister with a toast to her recent academic accomplishments and I think she was extremely happy to have surpassed a major landmark in her career. I am very proud! Because no family visit is complete without a little sibling rivalry we also ended up playing (what is now a tradition, I suppose) a poker tournament that naturally I ended up losing all my money in (darn lucky river card!). The rest of the weekend involved more football than I ever need in my life, but I did learn about the Florida Gator chomp (?) and some shot called Sex with an Alligator. I'm positive this will come in handy! During an escape from the Mandalay Bay sportsbook, my sister and I snuck away to see the Bodies exhibit which has forever changed me. I mean you are really missing out in life if you cannot immediately conjure a mental image of the complete human skin lying in a glass box. Now, this is burned eternally into my memory. Yeah, totally.

So, now it's officially holiday season. I'm very happy to have had such fun in November and I sincerely thank everyone for coming and spending some time with us in Vegas. But, I have to say a mellow Christmas doesn't sound half bad. So there's the update, just in case you were "wondering what it's like down here". Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving. Cheers!

Blame it on Thunder Road

It's been a long time since I have checked in. I skipped writing about our Christmas trip to Denver and basically February flew by uneventfully. I should mention that there was a great trip to Mojave National Preserve where we got to see the Camper Van Zinda. March came quickly and, well, here I am on my way to another hellishly hot Vegas summer. So did I miss anything while I was obsessively listening to Thunder Road? Let me know. Here's an update about my recent trip to Seattle, and I promise to try to do a bit better at keeping up with things.

Yellowstone Trip 2008 Part III

So I have done a pretty horrible job of recording the Yellowstone trip, I didn't keep any notes because I was navigating and driving a lot, but I did want to finish the summary and I happen to have some time on my hands while I am in an airport waiting to fly back to Vegas.

So, a couple things I wanted to record, some notes on the fishing and some notes on the drive home. I personally fished on two rivers while we were up there, the Madison and the Lamar. If I were to recommend one, I would go with the Lamar, because the drive out to the valley is amazing (which is important if the fish are laughing at your casting and don't bite -- this happened a lot to me!!) Our fishing friend who accompanied us also had lots of luck on the Yellowstone River when he backpacked in for an overnight. I think if I went back I would try to plan a lesson at the beginning of the trip. I am a true believer in getting some decent technique at the beginning and since it has been a while since I had been fly-fishing, I think it would have helped. Even our experienced friend, struggled somewhat until he got into it and had some time to practice.

On the last day at Yellowstone, we headed out towards Ennis to drive through some more pretty country and to make a stop at the Jackson Hot Springs Lodge where we stopped last summer. We had one wrong turn and ended up driving extra miles (like a couple 100 extra miles really matter??) We turned on the road out of Dillon and a huge thunderstorm hit. It was amazing with the clouds looming and lightning and thunder. There were weird pockets of sunshine in between and then spots of hail. A typically dramatic summer storm out west. We arrived at the Jackson Hot Springs Lodge and got a cabin for the night. A few things had changed since we had stayed there last year during the Backpacker project. The former owner sold the lodge and it was not longer being run by Inga and her staff. There was a new bartender/manager and a new chef (not that I got to EAT last time--grumble, grumble!). We spent some time at the fabulous bar, found out about a fishing hole that we had permission to access off one of the ranches, and found out the cowboy poet we met last year had passed away. It was great to spend some time there and check out some of the places we hiked. The weirdest thing was that the whole time we were there last year we NEVER saw the mountains because of the fires and smoke haze. I was SHOCKED at the view and would have never known just how pretty the valley truly was. We took a soak, met some nice folks, listened to the locals talk about the "wolf problem" and observed the Lodge's signature "Shot-ski" where they served shots on a ski outfitted with glued on shot glasses. Three people drink on cue and it is very amusing!

The next morning we stopped at Big Hole National Monument and headed back to Idaho Falls to our favorite Motel 6. That night, in search of food, we stumbled upon a Russian restaurant in the phone book. When we saw the name, we knew we had to check it out...and that is how we ended up at Ida-Russkie!! The woman who waited on us was so incredibly nice - even though we made her cook us every single Russian dish on the menu (actually they weren't on the menu, as this was a fast food place in a strip mall, but we has called ahead and knew she offered Russian food.) We ate and she cooked and we laughed and really enjoyed ourselves at this little gem of a place. Thanks for the hospitality, it wasa a great way to end the trip!

The next day was sad, we dropped our friend at the aiport in SLC, drove the long drive back to Vegas and unpacked the millions of boxes of gear. It was a fun trip and I'm so happy we got to do it with our grood friend from the trail.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

Not since Fast Food Nation has a book affected me as much as this one. I know, I must be a glutton for punishment reading a book about local food and farming when I live in the Mojave Desert which is barely fit for human habituation. But, a girl can dream. If you care about big issues, the way food relates to politics, homeland security, global warming, the environment, corporate greed, and living simply.....just read this. It is powerful.

There are tons of resources out there that say it better than I can, but here are 10 Reasons to Eat Local and the “Locovore Pledge”, which I like because it allows for options:
If not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Fair Trade.
If all else fails, at least don’t eat at McDonald’s!

Local can also be defined differently based on regions, so here in the desert 250 miles from home is “local” compared to say 100 in the Bay Area or 20 miles in parts of the American South. The Eat Local Movement is also closely aligned with the Slow Food Movement, which seeks to encourage and nurture diverse food cultures (think Tuscany, the Mediterranean, and parts of Vermont).

I have a tendency to get a little obsessed with things, and I’ve moved on to reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Coming Home to Eat. But, I like food, I like cooking, and I like the simple pleasures of spending time with people over a meal (as opposed to going out and spending lots of money) so this stuff hits home with me. Enjoy!

Adventures in Food: Where Have You Been?

I saw this list on a librarian blog and since I love food and consider myself moderately adventurous, I thought it would be fun to see how many of these things I've eaten. I still consider myself not vegetarian, or carnivore but another more appropriate term that we used on our long-distance hikes. Most dirty, starving hikers (and probably most college students) are proud to self-identify as Oppotunivores. If it was free we'd eat it. The original blog post about the list seems to come from this site: Very Good Taste.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison: Can't say I really love or hate it...
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros: Probably the best dish on the face of the earth. I like it with flour tortillas, New Mexico green chile, and eggs over easy.
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue: Oh yeah. I can't get enough cheese. Cheese + wine + Swiss kissing games = even more fun.
8. Carp:
9. Borscht: Yum. Beets rock.
10. Baba ghanoush: Eggplant rocks, too. Especially homemade on the grill with lots of garlic.
11. Calamari: Bar food of choice
12. Pho: Too bad our local UNLV place closed down. I miss it.
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi: Indian food is probably my favorite ethnic cuisine.
15. Hot dog from a street cart: I don't know if bratwurst or polish sausage counts, but I don't eat hot dogs. Period.
16. Epoisses: had to look this one up.
17. Black truffle: I think I had this in an olive oil, so I can't say it's really a regular thing
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes: Plum wine is good
19. Steamed pork buns: Thanks to dim sum
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes: I even grew my own Amish Paste
22. Fresh wild berries: Blueberries, blackberries, huckleberries, etc. Along the PCT up north.
23. Foie gras:
24. Rice and beans: For about 4 years I lived on this dish
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters: I love oysters, especially oyster po-boys in Louisiana
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda: had to look this one up
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl: Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut: Essential for the Milwaukee side of the family
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O: I am assuming this is the classic Jello shot? I like lime.
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat:
42. Whole insects: Not really intentionally though, so it probably doesn't count
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more: I think there was a night in NYC...but unfortunately I don't remember it.
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel: I could eat unagi all day and night
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin: Ditto for uni
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal: I wouldn't eat it now, but I have had it at least once.
56. Spaetzle: I love homemade spaetzle with goulash
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine:I had a modified version referred to as Disco Fries, but it contains the same thing.
60. Carob chips: We had a hippie neighbor that scarred me for life with carob.
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian: NOT YET, But I can't wait to try it
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe: Now that was one bad night of imbibing
74. Gjetost, or brunost: A Swedish favorite
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong: I'm not super fond of smoky teas, but I've had it.
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum: Awesome. Love it.
82. Eggs Benedict: Second to huevos rancheros as my favorite brunch item. Good with avocado.
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant. NOT YET....
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers: ISo squash blossoms count?
89. Horse: Aw, no way!
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam Not bad if you grill it!
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster I went to a wedding in Cancun where the resort had an all lobster menu. Too over-the-top for me, but I do like lobster.
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

What is missing from this list? In my opinion

Pierogies, Chicken Feet, Sauerbraten, Bone Marrow, Tofu, Zubrowka, Buffalo Steak, Pasties, and Menudo.

I’m sure there are others, but that’s what jumps off the top of my head.

So there you have it. Now here’s the rules:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

Yellowstone Trip 2008 Part II

The third day of the trip we GOT TO YELLOWSTONE, which is something that you really can't imagine, unless you go and experience it yourself. First of all, there is a ton to see and at any moment you can spot bears, moose, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, bison, elk, deer, antelope, bald eagles, or wolves right from the comfort of your car. It is surreal and amazing.

In addition to the geysers, mudpots, waterfalls, boiling hot springs, and towering peaks there are about a million of your fellow Americans to observe if the wildlife get too boring. The drive into the park allowed us to take in a couple scenic stops including a view of Yellowstone Lake and several waterfalls. We arrived at our campground (Madison), learned all the rules about bear country, and then set up camp complete with our hammock. Throughout the trip the excitement had been building to GET to Yellowstone and yet we promptly LEFT Yellowstone to go to town and buy some supplies (bourbon). We also took our first trip to a local fly shop.

Like a Crested Butte ski shop, Moab bike shop, Oahu surf shop or any other snotty, tourist-exploiting outfitter the staff at this fly shop had attitude and the tourists tended to put up with it; maybe because they are stunned by natural beauty and seek an authentic experience (of which sarcastic outdoor staff have become an integral part). I bought an handful of flies and some flotant, but was generally underwhelmed by the Madison River fly shop. Don't go there unless you are single and want to hook up with an attractive young fly guide and don't mind spending lots of money in the process. Later in the week we re-located all of our fly purchases to Jacklin's Fly Shop which was a million times better. To get it out of the way here is a rundown of the various places we ate in West Yellowstone:

• The Gusher (Pizza)- excellent pizza and a nice local vibe
• Beartooth Barbeque (BBQ)- good sandwiches as long as you can handle meat
• Old Time Cafe (Diner) Polish waitress, try the chicken fried steak, family-run
• tried to go to the microbrewery but it closes absurdly early

On an additional eating note, I have to say that everyone that goes to Yellowstone should at least visit the Old Faithful Lodge. It has a special place in my heart because my Mom worked there as a college student for two summers and it always reminds me of her and our family trips. But, even to those less nostalgic, the building is an architectural wonder and the dining room has an amazing fireplace. Just go there and think about the time in this country when the Civilian Conservation Corps were building our park's grand lodges. Not to mention the view out the back...oh yeah, that would be THE Old Faithful. The one that has rows and rows of seating and erupts just about every 50 minutes.

We went early in the morning of our fourth day and as the sun was rising over the steaming Firehole River we pulled into the vast, empty parking lot literally right before the impressive eruption. Killer timing as the sun came up. After a walk through the geyser basin (Old Faithful is but one of many geysers) we hit the breakfast buffet in the lodge. Notably, it comes with the "good coffee" (organic fair trade and most importantly- strong). You won't be so lucky elsewhere. The food is typical, with nicer than average service and top notch atmosphere. You get the feeling that if you could tune out all the families and tourists that Teddy Roosevelt might be around the corner smoking cigars and telling stories.

In the next installment I promise to get to the important stuff...the fishing.

Tribute to a Great Griller!

Ron at the Tiki Table
Originally uploaded by zenhikers

I just want to say to congratulations to my father-in-law, Ron who was recently recognized by the Milwaukee Journal -Sentinel for his entry in the Milwaukee Grills competition. Ron and his wife Bonnie have hosted us numerous times for a grillout at their lovely home in South Milwaukee and it makes me homesick for Wisconsin just to think of the good times.

Ron's recipes are always good. So good that he has compiled a family cookbook to share with us all and to preserve some of the family recipes handed down over the years. In the Wieselman family Ron is responsible for the cooking and Bonnie handles the baking, so the two are a perfect pair constantly tempting our tastebuds! The featured recipe Ron was honored for is his Chuck on the Grill, so check it out and throw something you like on the barbie. There is no better way to relax and enjoy some quality time with good people. My husband has the Wieselman genes for talented grilling and I plan to challenge him to replicate this recipe this weekend. The thing is...you gotta put that extra ingredient that makes the difference. No, it's not beer (although that always helps) --it's the pinch of love for family and friends that makes Ron and Bonnie's cooking really special. Love you guys!

Tis the Season

Tropical Cocktails

Maybe, the final straw was at Best Buy when they sold out of my carefully chosen, methodically compared, and finally decided-upon holiday gift. Or maybe it was the six hours spent shopping online to purchase a unique special gift, and then finding out that the very same item was available two blocks away. Anyway...I think it's time to consider another holiday tradition- drinking. I have been half-heartedly following the trendy cocktail culture resurgence (Trader Tiki's Booze Blog, Explore the Pour, and Rejiggered are some examples) because I like the aesthetic, I enjoy mixing it up from the usual beer or glass of wine, and I think its kind of fun to concoct things.

A while back I started reading the magazine, Imbibe: The Ultimate Drinks Magazine. This is a great place to start if you plan on doing any holiday entertaining because there are amazing recipes and lots of cool ideas for all manner of beverages; including coffee, tea, beer, wine, spirits, and more. There are often regional articles on coffee shops and bars and there are always very complicated, but delicious-sounding cocktail recipes from leading mixologists. While not everyone really sees the necessity of a driinks magazine, I think it is fabulous and would make a great gift for that special someone who likes to throw a few back.

Last week, I re-vamped my Yahoo page and added a bunch of new content, including the New York Time magazine and the NYT Dining and Wine section. Recently there have been two really cool articles, one focusing on bourbon and the other on the detective work one tiki bar fan went through to discover the original recipe for the Zombie cocktail. Once again, maybe it is the stress of the season, but I seem to really be able to relate to these lighthearted stories that also come with encouragement to try a frosty beverage.

Interestingly, as I sat down to write this blog entry my husband asked me why the heck I was writing about cocktails in my blog. I mean what do I actually know about cocktails? Well not much, but after hearing my better half talk about the origins of the cocktail during Prohibition (and after verifying it in Wikipedia), I got intrigued. You may be wondering where the word "cocktail" comes from, as I was. It may have come from the tailings from the stop cock of the cask in Colonial taverns, or from the fact that cocktails were traditionally drunk in the morning (when the cock crows)! Apparently, one of the earliest cocktails is the Sazerac, consisting of Cognac and bitters and coming from New Orleans.

Which leads to a side mention of absinthe...yes, you have probably heard all about the romantic notion of artists and writers drinking the greenish anise-flavored concoction, "The Green Fairy". Because of the hallucinogenic properties of wormwood (another ingredient), it is banned for import into the U.S., but it's often sought out in Europe and overseas as a popular gift to bring home. But, I have heard the stories and I'd be careful when experimenting.

There are tons of really cool retro cocktail books out there, check your local rummage sales and thrift stores for some cool graphic design and tons of recipes to experiment with. There are also lots of resources online. If you are more into the history of the cocktail there are a couple good books I have seen: And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails and Imbibe: From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash.

Well, before I head out the door to do some more shopping, I did attempt to look up a little bit of info on the soon to open (or is it already there?) Trader Vics at Planet Hollywood on the Strip. Unfortunately, real estate is so chaotic and establishments change names and locations so fast in Las Vegas that I can't actually determine if Trader Vics exists. Is it not yet open? Open and just not mentioned on the Planet Hollywood web site? Or opened and closed already?

Well, if nothing else, I can hit one of the world's best places to sink into a booth for a long night of drinking, making goo-goo eyes at a crush, or reminiscing about 50's lamps. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on the south side in Bay View is the wonderful, amazing, impossible to describe... At Random. It's the kind of place guys used to go to cheat on their wives in big dark booths, and where a ancient, white-haired cocktail waitress finishes off your Irish Coffee with a flourish of whipped cream and a cigarette hanging out the side of her mouth. Truly open at random, they serve every kind of cocktail found in their encyclopedic menu. You can have a flaming tiki love bowl, a dry martini, or a yummy Peanut Butter Cup (what could be better than ice cream, chocolate syrup, and vodka?).

In a time of constant flux, there is something very comforting to me about the long history of drinks as a social phenomenon and minor culinary art. Even if some of those traditions have funny names, involve three kinds or rum, six kinds of fruit, and arrive in wooden hula girl glasses with a paper umbrella.

If Christmas isn't your thing, and (hey, I don't blame you if it's not) you could consider adopting a new drinking holiday and nostalgically express your Constitutional right to tip a few back. Celebrate Repeal Day on December 5th (the anniversary of repealing the Eighteenth Amendment)! This monumental day ensures that we all have legal permission to seek out new cocktails, self-medicate after trips to the mall and generally drink ourselves silly if the occasion dictates! Cheers!

SoCal-Style Thanksgiving

I don't think I will ever get used to sunshine, warm days, beaches, and palm trees for the holidays but this year we did get the pleasure of celebrating Thanksgiving with my sister in Los Angeles. After hearing horror stories of 11 hour drives on the I-15 during holiday weekends, we decided to leave early on Wednesday and make the drive early in the morning. I drank a little too much coffee and needed a pit stop, which isn't really as easy as it sounds when you are driving through the Mojave Desert. We finally pulled over somewhere about 40 miles past Baker at a desolate-looking mini-mart. It turns out that this isnot just a clean bathroom, but some kind of official Ron Paul mini mart. There was a sign in the bathroom asking people to please buy something, so I ended up perusing the sodas, only to discover that they specialized in vintage soda. Yay for Dad's root beer. Not much else was available, so we also bought a Ron Paul marketing kit and hit the road. Some interesting reading material, including: "Why Methamphetamine Should be Legal"!

Once in LA, we navigated the maze of freeways and made it to Woodland Hills. This is a northwestern suburb that is really close to Topanga Canyon and then over the mountains, the Pacific Ocean. We drove through the canyon checking out camping at Topanga State Park and then drove south to Santa Monica on the Pacific Coast Highway. We got trapped in a crazy traffic jam and reversed to go north to Malibu. There was a fabulous park across the highway from what's got to be one of the mosst beautiful campuses in the world belonging to Pepperdine University with views of the beach. Pocky enjoyed a walk on the bluffs and we got to experience the wacky California doggie-poop bags (amazingly complex!) After Malibu, we met my sister and went out for a fabulous dinner in the canyon at Abuelita's and I got to FINALLY PLAY Wii!!!!

On Thanksgiving, we all got up early and had bagels and coffee to get us ready for the big day of cooking. We then proceeded to inventory whether or not my sister actually had enough pots, pans, and dishes to cook a turkey and numerous side dishes. It is hard to believe that three people, two cats (hi Honu and Velzy!), and a dog in a one-bedroom LA apartment were able to pull off an organized, well-timed feast, but we did! The turkey was really great and we had my Mom's oyster stuffing, my Nana's blueberry Jello salad, and Aaron's family's Eastern European cucumbers. There were two kinds of pie for desert and plenty of wine and beer. We played a friendly game of Texas Hold-em while the bird cooked and I got my first four of a kind! After dinner we drank more, and played the strangely addictive game Taboo. (Where else can you ponder which beast your relative considers to be the "yin and yang of animals"? That would be the panda.) My sister even updated her Facebook page and verified that we really are siblings.

On Friday, we had breakfast in the canyon at a great dog-friendly place and then took a trip to Muscle Beach in Venice. It was amazing. I have definitely seen some freaky people on the Lower East Side, in Vegas, and across the country- but Venice certainly has an inordinate amount of weirdos. We saw this super-tanned troll-like bodybuilder with nary a piece of clothing on jogging to the workout pen, several folks conversing with themselves, and a rich guy with a herd of dogs. Aaron got his fortune done and we invested in a few well-chosen bumper stickers as souvenirs. After picking Andy up from the house we headed to Ventura to check out their favorite break, Surfer's Point and to get my national park passport stamped at Channel Islands National Park. We couldn't leave without sampling some of the local microbrews at Anacapa Brewing Company who had an awesome nut brown ale and fabulous asiago cheese dip with beer bread that we noshed on. We even called one of our favorite uncles to spread the Thanksgiving cheer. A great night even though some us drank more than others!!

Saturday, we needed to head back to Vegas, but what is life without a little disc golf? We couldn't leave without getting out butts kicked at the Sylmar Disc Golf Course where we played 18 holes. I am still the worst driver on the planet- but I think my putting has improved. With a little exercise under our belts we left for Vegas and made it back to the I-15. We were SO glad we were driving the opposite way from LA because from Barstow to Baker (about 100 miles) it was nearly bumper-to-bumper traffic. What a mess. With a full moon rising over the desert we headed back into Nevada and into the neon of Vegas. Home from a great weekend.

I Love You P-Town

Portland Building
Originally uploaded by stop.down

"Portland, Oregon and a sloe gin fizz, if that ain't love than tell me what is.." -Loretta Lynn and Jack White on "Portland, Oregon" from Van Lear Rose

Just returned from a library conference at Reed College in beautiful Portland. What a fabulous town! Not only does Reed have a gorgeous campus, every bit as nice at its sister school, Sarah Lawrence -but the campus is in a real city (well, at least what I consider a real city!).

Portland has the most spectacular gardens, and the hydrangea were all in glorious bloom in the city yards. The Bluebird Guest House where I stayed was a restored Arts and Crafts-style home with a hostel feel (and prices). It is located in the SE where I got to explore the Belmont District and walk along Division Street. I bought a pound of coffee at Stumptown Coffee and had a lovely spontaneous meal at Pok Pok located just down the street.

What I loved about Portland was the mixture of classy , smart (Powell's independent bookstore), and stylish culture (papaya salad discovered randomly on a walk) mixed with down to earth, laid back, outdoors-y people (they have a Nau location). Just enough hipster ingredients to balance the hippie elements.

Somehow, I think that the gods may want me to end up in the Northwest. I feel it would be some kind of crazy irony to move from the desert to the rainiest place in the U.S. From what I've seen, maybe this is where I was always meant to be. Good things about the Pacific NW: good food, beer, and coffee; bookstores, the Cascades, good people, digital library programs, dog-friendly and progressive. Bad things: expensive, weather, might be too late to buy a house. But I am seriously starting to develop the theory that living in places with bad weather keeps the bad people out. Snowbirds you can have the sun belt!

Help me find Hitachino Nest beer glasses

I have been in love with the Hitachino Nest (Japan) beers and especially the adorable little owl logo. But, I can't seem to find the ceramic beer glasses that the beer is served in. Back in Milwaukee, my favorite bar, the Palm Tavern served my favorite Hitachino Nest White in these fabulouse white beer glasses...but they are no where to be found on Ebay or the furthest reaches of the Internet. If you know where I might find these glasses...please let me know! I will gladly buy you a drink!

Possibly the best green mush ever!

Palak paneer curry
Originally uploaded by yadavop.

When I was a little girl and my parents took me out for Indian, I always got the "green mush", which to this day I love passionately. Commonly known as "saag paneer" or "palak paneer", this is an Indian dish made with spinach, curry, and homemade cheese.

Recently in Minneapolis, for the School for Scanning training I stumbled upon a nice little Indian restaurant called Bombay Bistro and even though I was alone, I sat down and had dinner. What a lucky decision, since I think I may have found the best saag paneer I have ever had. I also ordered a glass of Shiraz, garlic naan bread, and some basmati rice. I finshed it all and loved it!

You can see this photo of the dish that I am blogging from Flickr...it looks similar to the one I had at Bombay Bistro. In my quest for yummy Indian food, I have even made my own homeade paneer (cheese) to make saag paneer at home. It worked out remarkably well, but alas I haven't had to time to recreate it.

if you've never tried this dish, here's what you should do: find a local favorite Indian restaurant, go to the lunch buffet (usually saag paneer is on the lunch buffet) and try it! When ordered as an entree you can often get them to make it spicier if you like it hot, as I do. Naan goes prefectly with it, as does rice. Enjoy!

Summer = Skinny Dip Beer

Skinny Dip Beer

by New Belgium Brewery

The official beer of my move to Las Vegas.

Bad thing about the move: pretty much everthing about Vegas except for the natural features outside the city.

Good thing about the move: the availabilty of New Belgium Brewing Company beers. (And being 900 miles west of Denver instead of 900 miles east, a slight improvement, I admit.)

Try the beer though, it is light and refreshing and has a wonderful hint of lime making it my choice even when a Weiss beer is in the running…

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chilaquiles

I love this recipe and whipped up a batch last night. It really hits the spot and lots of the ingredients are commonly found in the cupboard/freezer/veggie bin. It may be vegetarian but it is really satistfying. (I use HOT salsa for a little extra kick!)

Black Bean Chilaquile
From Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites
Serves 4-6

1 cup chopped onions
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 cup chopped tomatoes (canned is fine, but drain)
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans (15 ounce can)
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups rinsed, stemmed and chopped Swiss chard or spinach (
2 cups baked tortilla chips, crushed
8 oz. grated fat-free sharp Cheddar cheese (
2 cups prepared Mexican-style red salsa (I use hot)
Preheat oven to 350.

Sauté the onions in the oil for about 8 minutes, until translucent.

Stir in the tomatoes, corn, black beans, lime juice, salt and pepper and continue to sauté for another 5-10 minutes, until just heated through.

Meanwhile, in another saucepan, blanch the greens in boiling water to cover for 1-3 minutes, until just wilted but still bright green. Drain immediately and set aside.

Prepare an 8×8 inch casserole dish or baking pan with a very light coating of oil or cooking spray.

Spread half of the crushed tortillas chips on the bottom. Spoon the sautéed vegetables over the tortilla chips and sprinkle on about two-thirds of the grated Cheddar. Arrange the greens evenly over the cheese and spoon on half of the salsa. Finish with the rest of the tortilla chips and top with the remaining salsa and Cheddar.

Bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and beginning to brown.

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