Sunday, September 26, 2010

Northwest Washington Hikes: Max's Shortcut

If you're familiar with the world of The Hobbit, you'll remember the story of "Bilbo's shortcut," which as it turns out is no shortcut at all. Well, this is one thing Max's Shortcut has in common.



It was a beautiful weekend and I was rearing to go play outside. Just the previous week, my chemistry professor had recommended this hike to me, so I was carried there. Several years ago, on my first hike ever in the Chuckanuts, my friends and I accidentally took Max's Shortcut on a failed trip to the Oyster Dome.* We ended up finding a logging road which we followed until we found a spectacular view of the ocean and (ahem) the Oyster Dome about four miles in the distance. Hm...



Anyways, four friends, two dogs, and I drove to the upper parking lot late in the afternoon. We followed the road up a mile or so (don't miss a surprise view of Baker to the right!) before we hit the intended trailhead. It was called the Alternate Incline Trail: a nice steep ascent and one great workout.



We wandered, we examined mushrooms and random railroad ties, I chased the dogs. It was a very lovely fall hike. We went by Lily Lake (that's not a lake!!!) and sat down for a little bramble fire. I made s'mores and we ate dinner. After thoroughly putting out the fire, we tromped down the mountainside via Max's Shortcut... in the dark! My friends were familiar with the trail, so I followed them. We had flashlights and headlamps, but often we find it more adventurous to keep them off. However, we did turn them on after about an hour and a half of stumbling and tripping off the trail. Right in the nick of time! Our hidden turn was ahead and we found it. We took one detour and had to backtrack a bit, but we found the parking lot no problem.



Lily "Lake":

So if you're interested: From I-5 take the Alger exit (#240) and go west for about a half mile. Turn left on Barrel Springs Rd. for another .7 miles and turn right on Blanchard Hill Road. One can park at the first sign for Lily and Lizard Lakes, this is a good place to park if you have a horse trailer. Another option is to pass the horse trailer parking area and ignore the Lily and Lizard Lake Trailhead sign and travel about two miles up the road, staying right. There is another parking area after the sign that will be visible on the left side of the road. After parking, you walk along the road continuing upward for about a mile and a half or so, then the incline trail will be on your left. Have fun!


*There is a way to reach the Oyster Dome from the east side of the mountain, but we did not find that way.

Northwest Washington Hikes: Oyster Dome

I feel like the Oyster Dome Trail is one of those hikes that gives a lot of bang for your buck. Right outside of Bellingham along Chuckanut Drive, this trail is convenient, moderately easy for a seasoned hiker, and has spectacular views of the ocean and San Juan Islands.


This was at least my sixth time doing the Oyster. There are some things you need to bring on this hike: Firstly, you'll need an adventure woof:


Right there Clif is eating grass. Terra a golden woof came as well. Next on the list of necessaries is your trusty hiking buddies. Kat, Alex, and Mimsical joined me this time.


You'll need a mushroom guide to show you what's what. Mimsical was our semi-expert (though he always gets a second opinion before eating anything; you can never be too careful with mushrooms).


This is a puffball, which are edible unless they're overly mature. When that happens, you can squeeze them and green particles POOF out. It's fun. Poof poof poof!

And finally, you can't leave the trail-head without an apple to share with the horses you'll find at the end of the hike.


Well, okay, you don't actually really
need any of these things, especially the last one. Horses are aloud on the trail, but this was the first time I had ever seen any. The Oyster Dome Trail is a very pleasant hike to do by yourself. If you do bring your dogs, bring doggie bags to pack their wastes off the mountain. Also, there are some steep parts so bring some decent shoes. And mostly, be respectful of others and enjoy yourself!

It was breezy but surprisingly warm for us this time. Altogether another great trip.


DIRECTIONS: From the north, take Exit 250 to Chuckanut Drive, following that road for about 12 miles. Just past the Oyster Bar is the trailhead on the left side of the road; park on the pavement on the right side of the road. Sometimes it is easy to miss so keep a lookout.

A LITTLE INFO ABOUT THE TRAIL: It begins with a couple miles of switchbacks. I find this to be the toughest part not because it is the steepest or athletically taxing, but switchbacks aren't my thing. But fear not! At the end of this stretch is the first viewpoint! A nice bench overlooks a portion of the waters. This is where my friends and I usually take a water break. Because water is delicious. From there, you'll travel several miles over easier terrain, over some streams and through beautiful woods. Then finally, two very steep parts are the only things between you and the Dome. There is a trail leading to the bat caves in the middle of the second climb. They are very cool and I definitely recommend a visit. When you reach the top of the second incline, you follow a trail up a little hill and reach the end! Soak in the views, go explore. It's fun. Try it.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

It's Curry Night Again!

I do love curry.


Not so much as Lister does on Red Dwarf, because if I had curry for every dinner my bowels might not appreciate me.

But almost as much as Lister.


Tonight after a very beautiful hike right outside of town, my friends and I gathered at my house and we made two different curries: a pineapple-chicken curry and a spicy vegetarian green curry. I was responsible for the veg curry and my friend whipped up the other one.

Neither of us followed any sort of recipe, but rather just started putting things into a pot. Mine had coconut milk, sauted onions, peppers, eggplant, some potatoes, tofu, carrots, bananas, pineapples with juice, coconut flakes, garlic, curry paste, and then a bunch of spices like curry powder, red pepper, cayenne pepper, cumin, cinnamon, onion powder, but no salt.


I'm all salted out from salt & pepper pistachios from Everybody's Nuts! Have you tried those? You have to, they're just too good. They're more peppery than salty, but if you eat half of the huge bags, you'll be salted out too.


The pineapple-chicken curry consisted of basically the same, but with coconut flakes and eggplant omitted and chicken instead of tofu. She also added cashews and honey. She is a fantastic cook. We served it with delicious store-bought naan from Costco and some white rice. Then we watched a Western. Monte Walsh.

Do you like my idea?
"Curry and Cowboys." I thought it was clever. It sounds nice at least.

Also, Monte Walsh is one of my favorite movies. Behind Quigley Down Under, my top movie of all time, but still pretty good. Tom Selleck makes one fine cowboy. He's just a great actor in general.


So go try making curry! It's simple, delicious, and a fun event to do with friends. Curry is a social food.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bacon-Oatmeal-Peanut Butter Waffles

I have a problem, a dilemma you might say.

Bacon.


Why is that a problem you ask? I don't eat bacon. I don't eat pork at all for that matter, nor beef, chicken, lamb, etc. I am a pescetarian, fish is my only meat.

But I love baking with bacon. The excitement spreads throughout my entire body. BLTs, classic bacon and eggs, bacon and chive twice baked potatoes, bacon cookies, bacon weaves, bacon bacon bacon. Chicken bakes with bacon bits at Costco?

I don't even
like bacon. It's just fun to play with in recipes.


Today I made waffles for my boyfriend topped with bacon, bananas, peanut butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and some whipped cream. He said the bacon kind of clashed with the other flavors, but he liked it. (He always likes it though--He's the best). So maybe I went a little crazy with bacon this time, but maybe you want to try it out!


Oatmeal Peanut Butter Waffles
(serves two)

1 c. quick oats
4 T. peanut butter
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 T. sweetener of your choice*
2 slices bacon
1 banana, sliced
cinnamon
syrup

Mix first five ingredients together and cook in a waffle iron. Fry up your bacon. Then in the same skillet**, fry the banana with several shakes of cinnamon. Serve bacon and banana over warm waffle with a drizzle of maple syrup.

I topped it with cinnamon whipped cream sweetened with maple syrup because my friend loves it and I had a huge tub of whipping cream in my fridge.***

*I go for honey.
**No bacon for me! Same for bacon grease. I just use a little butter.
***I made a fried egg (duck egg, double yolk) and cut up some peaches for a side, but the waffle was so big he didn't even get to them.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Peanut Sauce With Chicken

It may come off as rather odd, but most foods I post and/or make in my kitchen are not consumed by myself. I love making cookies, but would rather give them away to neighbors, friends, strangers, etc. rather than eat them up myself.

Also, I do not eat a lot of meat. "Pescetarian" is the technical term, so I eat fish and seafood, but chicken, beef, pork, and the likes are not part of my diet. So it might be a little weird that I get excited about foods like chicken bakes from Costco (mmmm) and bacon in any form.*

Mostly, I feed my boyfriend. I like making food for him because he appreciates it and says that everything I make is delicious, even when it is not. He always eats what is on his plate, even my terrible experiments. Luckily, tonight's dinner was "delicious."

As always.

I must be some cook. :)

ON THE MENU TONIGHT: chicken breast sautéd with garlic, pepper, and rice vinegar; white buttered sticky rice; steamed broccoli; and to top everything off, some homemade peanut sauce.**

But first an appetizer? Frozen boxed eggroll and Asian dumplings from Trader Joes.


Peanut Sauce
(Recipe from Cooking With Amy)

1/4 cup peanut butter (natural, no sugar added kind)
2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup coconut milk (lite is fine, if you prefer or substitute water)
1/4 cup water
red chili flakes to taste
chili garlic sauce to taste or 1 clove crushed garlic

Optional:***
sesame oil
curry paste
rice wine vinegar
fish sauce
grated ginger
shallots sauteed till brown in oil
Worcestershire sauce

Combine all ingredients with a whisk in a small bowl, adding the water last. Pour into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat until sauce begins to bubble and thicken. Experiment with this sauce adding a teaspoon at a time of one the optional additions and tasting as you go. Serve hot or cold.


Try it out. My boyfriend says, "If one was okay and ten was pretty great, I think I'd probably give you a hundred and ten thousand stars."

Oh, I like that man.

*There are so many things you can do with bacon! You have the classics like eggs and bacon and toast, BLTs, twice baked potatoes with bacon and chives, chicken bakes. Then you get the weirder stuff like bacon weaves, bacon cookies, peanut butter and bacon sandwiches, etc. etc. Everybody loves bacon. I love bacon. Just not eating it.
**My friend tells me that next time I HAVE to make some Pad Thai to go with the peanut sauce.
***I added one teaspoon yellow curry paste and two teaspoons rice vinegar.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

The four of us returned home from Alaska Wednesday morning, 5 AM! Let me just say that Alaska is incredible. I did three hikes in three days, met such nice folk, learned to appreciate every inch of a walk, and saw a lot of wildlife.


Five bears moseyed alongside the highways, four moose--one chilling in the middle of a pond with some swans--chewed on their moose chow as we whizzed pass, two red fox sidled by, countless ravens and bald eagles and hawks, a golden eagle up close. So many adventures and sight-seeing.


Three days to get there, four days visiting, and two days back. I saw my pops. He made us a sourdough pancake breakfast twice--so yummy! And an interesting, perhaps random, occurrence: My appetite was monstrous! I ate so much food and was hungry all the time.


Beautiful, serene, clean, wonderful.