Tahoe, Days 2 and 3

After a day at Tahoe without much hiking, the next two days needed maximum mountain use. My dad and I went on a beautiful hike up to Dardanelles Lake.

I scrambled down some rocks to the water so I could get my feet wet. With no one around, it was easy to jump in without a swimsuit, even if you're a modest Midwesterner like me.

Then I found a delicious piece of slab not too far off the ground, so I horsed around on that in my clumsy hiking boots.

Here's a closer look.

The cypress trees around are enormous!

 And the meadows are absolutely breathtaking.

Our reward after 7+ miles was a martini by the lake. Or two or three.

We set out early on our last day for a progressive drive home (we had multiple stops scheduled). On a back road off hwy 89, we took in this view.

My dad and I took a picture where we both look great. It's kind of a big deal. (I usually only publish the ones where I look good, so this is a rare one for him.)

We hiked around Echo Lake.

This was my favorite house- I always pick the littlest one.

Will be back, Tahoe!

Tahoe- Day 1

A couple weeks ago I went to Tahoe with my dad and his friend, Maddy. It's a three hour drive from the East Bay, which means that you still get the better part of a day after you get there. Our first stop was the lake, of course, where we found a couple new friends.

The irony was that the little guy was a far more enthusiastic swimmer than the retriever.

At Tallac Historic Site, we got to walk on trails by the lake and get a little culture at the same time. This once upon a time resort had a museum and restored cabins capturing the essence from its heyday at the turn of the century.

Here's an old icebox from the kitchen. I love old kitchens.

And old laundry rooms. It makes my visits to the laundromat not seem so bad.

I took the opportunity to snuggle up with Smokey the Bear. We were next to the big fireplace in the lobby, but he didn't seem to mind.

The grounds were full of beautiful gardens to explore.

This is where I would sleep if I lived here- the nanny's bedroom!

When there's more time relaxing on the porch than walking, it's a good indication that happy hour is near. Until tomorrow!

Dress Up an Old Hat

Believe it or not, this lonely old sunhat was sitting in a pile of free stuff, ready to be kicked to the curb.

Until I snatched it up.

I found a cheery ribbon, a little glue, and voila!

Thank goodness we still have a couple more months of summer to put this baby to work.

Have you "up-cycled" anything lately?

Sushi for the Squeamish

Chuck got me a sushi mat way back at Christmas, but it's taken some major cajoling for me to make the move into Asian cuisine. Cooking it, that is, not eating it.

Now that I'm settled in my own place, experimental cooking is far easier, so the time has come for me to venture into uncharted territory. Ready, set, sushi rolls!

Here's what you need:
-sushi rice (please, please, don't try it with anything else)
-rice vinegar
-sugar
-nori (roasted seaweed for wrapping)
-fillings (I used avocado and ahi, but salmon, sprouts, tofu, carrots, etc. are great- whatever your fancy)

Before you begin, rinse your rice a few times before you cook it.

Cook your tofu or fish unless it is smoked or very, very fresh. I seared the tuna to a medium, just to be safe, but medium rare is ideal.

After you have cooked your rice, mix in a little rice vinegar and sugar. The same rules rice cooking rules apply, but sushi rice will be stickier to help bind your rolls.

When all your ingredients are prepared, get your mat ready. I lined it with plastic wrap to make it cleaner and keep the rolls from drying out.

Line your mat with a sheet of nori and a layer of rice, leaving a lip on one end for sealing it. There should be enough rice so you can't see through the nori. Keep dipping your fingers in water to help with the stickage.

Have sliced fillings ready.

Line them up in layers in the center of the rice. This ended up being a little too much filling, but allow yourself a learning curve and take note for next time.

Use the mat to press the roll over and carefully roll up as tightly as possible.

Wrap in plastic and chill, it will make them much easier to slice.

Alton Brown gives a great tutorial on making sushi rolls, but there are zillions out there. Have no fear!

Piggies!

Trout brought home these little piggies to raise for home cured bacon, tenderloin and other porky morsels this winter. I got to meet them on their drive home and wanted to introduce you. There will be more visits with them to come!

I peeked in on last year's pigs as they matured, but missed the slaughter. I think this is a crucial part of the cycle to witness as a meat eater (I suggest reading The Girl Hunter and Cleaving if it strikes an ethical cord for you). I caught the end of butchering that year and am fascinated with the efficiency of raising meat. My hat goes off to my empowered friends for putting in the hard work themselves- it makes a far more conscientious carnivore. 

I never dreamed piglets could be even stinkier than adult pigs, but I still have lots to learn if the masters' patience allows.

This essay by Thomas Keller completely changed my thinking about how we eat and cook meat, and reinforced my deep respect for the labor that goes into each ingredient we consume. Please read before you picket!

Mitch Visits!

If you haven't heard from me in a while, it's because I've been too busy having fun with my bestie who came for a visit from Minnesota last week. I'm dogsitting, but the pup, Zero, is so cool we let him join the gang and pretty much took him everywhere with us.

Our first stop was Golden Gate Park, where we conveniently parked in front of the Conservatory of Flowers for a brief walk around the Music Concourse.

Time was of the essence, so I got us out of the city to spare my poor friend from my San Francisco navigating instincts. We stopped at Sol Food in San Rafael en route to the beach. I went for a steak combo (though probably a rash decision for take out) and Mitch got the most scrumptious pork chop pressed sandwich that anyone could have ever dreamed up. Yum!

We took a short hike at Pinnacle Gulch in Bodega Bay. I love this place if you have a dog and are short on time, but look out! Parking is super pricey, though I like to think it's for a good cause.

Here I'm helping Mitch identify kelp from jellyfish.

We stopped to say hello to Hitchcock in my beloved Bodega, put on the map with the filming of The Birds.

Wine tasting! But not just yet ...

We couldn't come all this way without the perfect Northern California picture.

The next day we went for a tour and tasting at Korbel.

Then when we couldn't get enough champagne, we headed to Iron Horse for more. (With a little lunch break, of course.) This is a local's favorite I hadn't been to yet, and it has one of the most breathtaking views of vineyards framed by mountains.

Don't worry, I also gave Mitch a taste of Dry Creek (Unti) and Alexander Valley (Hawkes) wines, not just Russian River.

On our last day, we met up with the colony of harbor seals at Goat Rock.

Aren't they cute?

Look out, Mitch found a taffy shop! How is this the one candy I've yet to understand? Flavors like vanilla cake? Apple pie? Is taffy the new jelly bean?

All I cared about was that she send some home to her amazing taffy-loving husband, who cashed in some miles so she could have a spontaneous trip with her kooky bestie in California.