It's been a bit over a year since the finishing strip of moulding was applied across the top of the original range hood in our remodeled kitchen. And we could not be happier with the function of all of the elements. The highlights for me are the 48" Wolf Rangetop with its centerpiece Wok Burner, a Magic Corner II spice rack and a Create Good Sinks ledge workstation. My husband is equally delighted with his Rev-a-Shelf KitchenAid cabinet lift and 30" Wolf Wall Oven. The kitchen is definitely the center of life in our home, and we designed this kitchen around cooking with friends.
The Farm & Forage Dinners at Lost Creek Farm are truly an unforgettable experience. After bumping and jostling down a narrow gravel road, you emerge into another world -- a gracious warm-white farmhouse, lit by the angled rays of the setting sun that transform into strings of fairy lights. Chef Mike Costello and Chef Amy Dawson and staff work their magic for a seamlessly perfect evening filled with easy-going camaraderie, cultural education, and a series of creatively interpreted dishes based in local traditions and heritage flavors. Not only is each dish delicious, but also each story and each bite form interwoven connections that build in a culinary crescendo before descending gently for a perfect, lightly sweet landing. We are already strategizing our return next year...
1880's farmhouse with cider making to the left |
Lou's ravioli : roasted chicken : turnips several ways : brown butter |
We discovered Lost Creek Farm through happy serendipity. We happen to be good friends with a couple whose daughter moved to West Virginia. She discovered Lost Creek Farm after conversations with her patients often involved reminiscing about treasured culinary traditions and worrying about their loss. While exploring this topic further by googling West Virginia heritage foods, she came across Lost Creek Farm.
Easy Green Chile Stuffed Poblano Peppers: Low-carb, Gluten-free and Highly Adaptable
October 06, 2022
This easy stuffed poblano pepper is robustly satisfying, flavored with green enchilada sauce and shredded cheese. The recipe is straightforward and highly adaptable, based on what vegetables are fresh and in season. It is equally good enjoyed as a vegetarian meal or stuffed with your choice of ground meats. No tortillas needed for that great enchilada flavor, and it plates up beautifully for company.
A farmers market bounty is transformed into poblanos stuffed with pork, corn, chopped poblano, tomatillo, shallots & garlic with a fresh tomatillo salsa instead of the top layer of cheese. |
Stuffed poblanos with turkey, tomato, chopped poblano, garlic and onion. Topped with a browned, bubbly layer of mozzarella and garnished with cilantro and dill blossoms |
I discovered this wonderful recipe from Kalyn's Kitchen for Cheesy Stuffed Poblanos with Ground Turkey back in 2016, when I was doing the South Beach 2-week low-carb insulin-reset diet. It was so hearty and satisfying, that I find myself making variations of this recipe over the years using ingredients that I have on-hand. The dish does not require precise measurements, but regardless of variations, it always comes out beautiful and delicious. In fact, you don't even need to have poblanos or ground turkey to have an impressive, easy and satisfying meal.
The basics
To make a variation of this delicious dish, you just have to have a few ingredients on on hand, namely, some sort of stuffable pepper, mushrooms or meat for the filling, and enchilada sauce.
Peppers
While the original recipe called for two large and one small poblano chile, I have made this with four poblanos or five poblanos, orange or yellow bell peppers, Hatch chiles or a combination of different chiles.
Poblanos and Orange Bell Peppers stuffed with cremini mushrooms, hatch chile, shallots, the rest of the bell pepper and a mix of pizza cheese blend and sharp cheddar for delicious vegetarian version. |
When using poblanos, at least one chile is chopped up to add to the filling. When using bell pepper, I cut the pepper vertically to get two nice, cup shaped pieces from each pepper, and then chop up the remaining parts of the pepper to use in the filling.
A farmers market bounty with fresh poblanos, tomatillos, cilantro and scallion being washed. |
There is nothing quite like biting into hot, golden-brown burnished buns filled with succulent, salty and mildly sweet chunks of Chinese barbecue pork. A perfect marriage of Western-influenced yeasty milk bread and traditional Cantonese roast pork, we seek out this inexpensive, hand-held meal whenever we visit a Chinatown -- whether in LA, Boston, Vancouver, San Francisco, New York or D.C. Imagine our delight when we first tried making these at home and they came out beautiful and totally delicious! Over the years, we have compared several dough recipes and developed a pork-zucchini version for a more balanced hand-held meal.
Perhaps nothing is as emblematic of a perfect East-West fusion as the Chinese Bakery. Traditional Chinese homes did not have ovens, which utilize a great deal of fuel. As a result, people would go to the bakery to pick up roasted meats. Alongside the whole roasted ducks and chickens are the red-tinted slabs of Chinese barbecued pork, or char siu 叉燒, which literally means fork-roasted. The sauce permeates and roasts into the meat, leaving a finger-friendly, dry surface and tender, flavorful interior. Char siu can be enjoyed straight from the broiler or grill, and it forms the starting ingredient for a wide variety of delicious dishes. It is often enjoyed as a hand-held snack enveloped in a white, fluffy steamed bun -- a filling staple of push cart dim sum tea parlors called char siu bao 叉燒包.
Sunrise over the Grand Canyon is truly spectacular! Silhouettes of thrones and temples highlighted against a rose-orange sky give way as distant canyon walls bloom into color when illuminated by shafts of morning light. As the show brightened into day, we strolled into the El Tovar Dining Room. After enjoying breakfast, my sisters set out to Montezuma Castle on the way to the airport, while my husband and I hiked deeper into the canyon. We wrapped up our last day in the Grand Canyon with a tour of even more dramatic vistas stretching west to Hermit's Rest.
Bright Angel Trail |
On our last day at the Grand Canyon, we planned to watch the sunrise at 6:05 am, noting that first light was predicted to occur at 5:39 am. Since we were staying so close to the park entrance, we figured we would be fine departing our hotel by 5:15. Although we forgot to factor in time to catch the Red Bus, luck and a bit of early morning running favored us, and we got to Hopi Point in time for a fantastic sunrise! Today was a splendid day for viewing different shades of earthy reds.
Following our Rim-to-River introduction to the Grand Canyon, played out over the first two days, we returned for a deeper look at its fascinating geology, natural history, and art-inspiring viewpoints along the South Rim. The Trail of Time allowed us to venture back in time (or further down into the canyon) to touch 1.75 billion year old rocks. After a fantastic steak lunch at the Big E Steakhouse, we resumed our driving tour of scenic viewpoints capped by a beautiful Grandview Trail sunset.
Trail of Time with the ever-present Raven |
From upper part of Grandview Trail |
Peeking at O'Neill Butte from right side of Mather Point |
We enjoyed a leisurely day exploring the South Rim in greater depth. Instead of continuing our driving tour where we left off at Moran Point, we decided to visit the popular Mather Point before it got too crowded. Shortly before 10 am, it was still easy to find parking in the main Visitor's Parking Lot. As we strolled along the Rim Trail, we paid more attention to the plants, animals and birds of the Grand Canyon, as well as taking a closer look at rock layers and key geological features in the National Park.
Summary and Quick Links
Part 1: Dining and Sunset on the Rim. Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Lunch at El Tovar, a toe dip below the rim, Desert View, Navajo Point, Sunset at Lipan Point, Dinner at Plaza Bonita
Part 2: Rafting the Colorado. Rafting from Diamond Creek to Pearce Landing with Hualapai River Runners, Dinner at Diamond Creek Restaurant in Peach Springs
Part 3: The Trail of Time & Grandview Point. Mather Point, Yavapai Museum, Walking Back in Time, Big E Steakhouse, Moran Point, the protection of Ravens, a Grandview Trail Sunset
Part 4: Sunrise, Hiking down & Hermit Road. Hopi Point, Powell Point, an El Tovar breakfast, hiking Bright Angel Trail, Montezuma Castle, The Abyss, hiking Hermit Trail, Pima Point, Mohave Point
After viewing the dramatic upper canyon from the uppermost layer of the Colorado plateau, one of our most exciting days at the Grand Canyon involved getting up close and personal with some Colorado River rapids! This one day, 55-mile journey hosted by Hualapai River Runners was surely a highlight of our trip. Whitewater thrills, miles and miles of dramatic canyon walls lined by 1.75 billion year old rocks, wildflowers, a waterfall grotto and viewing canyons and peaks of historical and cultural significance. And did I mention the frybread at the Diamond Creek Restaurant afterwards? Sublime perfection.
Either the Guiness or Bridge Canyon Rapids |
Vishnu basement rocks with pink Zoraster granite tower above our tiny blue rafts |
After climbing a ladder going up a waterfall to reach the Travertine Grotto |
While most of our trip consisted of activities selected spontaneously after we had arrived in the National Park, we were happy to have booked a week in advance the One-Day Adventure with the Hualapai River Runners. From a cursory online search, it seemed that this may be the only way to get down to the Colorado River for a day trip in the Grand Canyon (See Tips below). We were lucky that this rafting adventure had just reopened. It was available for only one of the full days our whole group would be together. So I quickly called around to get everyone's approval and put down the nonrefundable fare to reserve it for four people.
We thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Note that you will get thoroughly soaked, unless you stay back on the platform with the cooler through the rapids (you will get wet there, too). So it's best to wear wool or synthetic, quick drying clothing. You will have ample time to dry off during the relaxed cruise past forty some miles of scenic canyon after lunch.
We visited the Grand Canyon to celebrate a sister's birthday, and found ourselves captivated by the ever-changing light, color and shadows displayed across the immense canyon walls. The allure of the canyon draws you down to see what is just around the corner, while curious ravens and bold squirrels look on. The canyon is so convoluted that you can only get small glimpses of the mighty Colorado River, and it is necessary to go below the rim to fully appreciate this natural marvel. Yet Rim-to-River treks require extensive pre-planning and excellent physical conditioning. This 4-post series highlights how we maximized our Grand Canyon experience more or less spontaneously – no backpacks or mules required. We dined twice at El Tovar with no reservations, enjoyed spectacular sunsets and sunrises, took several small hikes below the rim, and even got up close and personal with the Colorado River, the easy way.
Lipon Point - about 10 min before sunset |
Rim Trail near El Tovar |
On the Rim with the Battleship formation to the left of my elbow. |
April is a fantastic time to visit the Grand Canyon. The snows that can extend into March have abated, and you will not have to worry about icy trails along the cooler rim. At the same time, going in the spring helps avoid the deadly heat of the summer and presumably, the peak of the crowds (although it was plenty crowded in some of the parking lots!). After flying in from different parts of the country, our plan was to meet up at a hotel in Cottonwood and drive out together the following morning to the Grand Hotel in Tusayan, AZ, a community on the doorstep of the South Entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park.
After a fantastic New Year celebration with family in San Diego, we drove north to enjoy Paso Robles and Pacific Grove with two chow chows. Both communities were dog friendly with lots of outdoor activities and dining options. In Paso Robles we stayed in a fantastic AirBNB and enjoyed wine country, brown butter cookies, an olive oil tasting, many excellent meals and a walk amidst craggy oaks on rolling hills.
The idea of a driving vacation, staying at dog-friendly AirBNB rentals, and making plans on what to do at the last minute sounded very appealing for its freedom and relative safety compared to crowded airports and hotels. My sister had heard of Paso Robles, equally accessible from Southern California and the Bay Area. So we booked a dog-friendly AirBNB and set off from San Diego for a 3-night vacation in Paso Robles. On the drive up, we stopped for lunch in Solvang, CA with its Danish bakeries.
Eight Treasures Sticky Rice Bundt Cake: Ringing in the Lunar New Year with Ba Bao Fan 八寶飯
February 10, 2022
We celebrated the first weekend in the Year of the Tiger with a dumpling wrapping party -- the first since the pandemic. It was great fun to get together with friends and family again. After enjoying all-you-can-eat pork-cabbage dumplings, gluten-free crystal dumplings, and various potluck sides, the evening was capped with this spectacular (and surprisingly easy) Instant Pot riff on a festive Chinese treat. Ba Bao Fan 八寶飯 literally translates to Eight Treasures Rice.
Thanks to the pandemic, I had plenty of time for online cooking courses in the MasterClass series. These in turn gave me the confidence to try making a recipe for spring rolls that I had clipped and carried around with me for over 4 decades. Although I did not much care for the shrimp-snow pea filling because the soy sauce masked the delicate flavors of the main ingredients, I found myself making spring rolls over and over again, basing my seasonings on Grace Young's vegetable spring roll recipe in The Breath of a Wok. What I did learn from that old recipe was how simple it was to make spring roll wrappers. Can't get to the Asian Market for wrappers? No problem if you have flour, water and a pastry brush!
Among my more ambitious cooking endeavors was this beautiful, rich mushroom-topped celebration rice cake, based on a vegan recipe I found online by Yotam Ottolenghi. I had trouble finding some of the ingredients, so I adapted the recipe inspired by childhood memories of Ba Bao Fan 八寶飯. I also wanted to save time by figuring out how to make it using a Bundt pan that fit perfectly in my 6 quart Instant Pot. It was stunning to both eye and tongue!
A riff on Ba Bao Fan with 8 savory treasures, modified from Ottolenghi's Celebration Sticky Rice Cake |
Interestingly, I learned that "Bundt" itself was a word invented by Dave Dalquist by adding a "t" to part of the German word bundkuchen. Although Google translate suggests it might mean anything from a Federation of Cakes to just a bunch of cakes, the Norway House website states that bundkuchen means "a cake for a gathering." So perfect for a lunar New Year celebration... albeit by Zoom for 2021
So when it came time to plan the finale for our 2022 Dumpling Club party to ring in the Year of the Tiger (now that everyone is vaccinated and boosted), I decided to try making a more traditional, sweet Ba Bao Fan 八寶飯 in a Bundt pan for extra pizzazz.
Spectacular Short Coastal Hikes in the San Diego Area: Razor Point and Annie's Canyon Trail
January 10, 2022
During a New Year's 2022 family gathering near San Diego, we enjoyed outdoor cooking, hiking and reading in the sunshine. We revisited the spectacular Torrey Pines shoreline and discovered a hidden canyon gem in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Preserve. Each of these featured hikes is less than 2 miles round trip.
California is known for its stunning and varied landscapes. In addition to its nine National Parks, a network of state parks and local parks offer new discoveries for every trip. One of my favorite places is Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, south of the Monterey area. On a family trip around 5th grade, this was where I took my very first hike, and we happily walked every trail in the reserve. About 30 years later, I was able to take my own family to Point Lobos. The big thrill was hearing a tapping noise that led to seeing my first sea otter in the wild.
We were able to enjoy exploring the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve a bit more frequently as it was closer to my home growing up. On this trip in 2022, we were limited in time to a single trail so we selected a route with some of the most iconic views of these dramatic wind- and rain-etched cliffs.
We also discovered new hikes in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, a San Diego County Park. While our initial path was stymied by an impassible area (without waders) due to the recent rainstorm, we were able to find an alternative dog-friendly loop past reed-lined lagoons and bright red prickly pears on the east side of the preserve.
Then we drove to the western end of the preserve where we discovered the narrow Slot Canyon portion of Annie's Canyon Trail, which was a lot of fun.
Dogs are not allowed in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, but my sister's chow chows enjoyed hiking the trails around the San Elijo area and going for walks in the neighborhood.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
There are few vistas more striking than the wind- and water-etched red-tan cliffs at Torrey Pines. Although the state beach attracts a lot of visitors, filling up the parking lots, to me the true beauty of this area requires a walk or drive up to the top of the cliffs.
Torrey Pines is named for the most rare type of pine tree in the US -- Pinus torreyana, with its big pine cones, long thin needles and leaning, twisted wind-sculpted branches. I believe at our last visit, I read that the few remaining pines are genetically identical, contributing to their fragility. The Torrey Pine grows only here and on Santa Rosa Island in the Channel Islands National Park.
Nov. 2023 update: The Torrey pines in La Jolla are genetically identical, but the groves on Santa Rosa Island are slightly different, with larger cones and denser branches. Click here for our hike to see them.
The reserve also includes one of the last natural salt marshes in the state, but we did not have a chance to visit this area.
On this trip, we brought my 89 year-old mother, who was limited to walking among the benches along the top of the ridge and a short segment of the Guy Fleming trail before we had to return for a Zoom call with other family members. So we limited our main hike to a single loop with high yield views.
West Overlook
This is a short, flat gentle trail that leads to some nice ocean viewpoints with benches. Red Butte dominates the vista, with scattered Torrey Pines rising above the short bushy shrubs characteristic of chaparral vegetation.