Curried Beef Short Ribs

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I’ve talked about comfort food before. Sometimes it’s a gluten-laden bowl of Mac ‘n’ cheese or pizza, but it can also be a totally different kind of belly warmer that makes you smile at dinner time. Thai is one of those foods for me, particularly when there’s red curry and coconut milk involved. This is one of my favorite recipes, and extra delicious if you have 6 hours to let it cook, but is just as satisfying with 2 hours simmering time.

While I’ve made this dish many times before, this was my first attempt at using pork ribs rather than beef. The consensus: beef is better. Try it out and let me know what you think.
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Cranberry, Apricot and Nut Oat Granola Bars

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For those longer hikes and backpacking trips, it’s important to have protein and energy-packed snacks at your chewing disposal. But let’s face it, healthy snacks can be expensive, plus there’s all that extra packaging, and who knows what really goes in them if you didn’t make it yourself, right?

I faced a similar dilemma while prepping for my annual Ladies’ Backpacking Weekend, and decided to take matters into my own hands. Instead of loading up on Kind bars and Soy Joys (though I do love them), I tried my own homemade granola bars and a sweet treat. Thanks to Minimalist Baker for this awesome 5 ingredient recipe, which both accommodates great taste and easy creation. Continue reading

An easy, rewarding hike to Elowah Falls

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There’s something special about the first hike of Fall. The air is cooler, filled with the smell of retired leaves and dampness, and the multi-color visual display is heart-warming. I celebrated the new season with a simple hike to the Gorge’s Elowah Falls. This destination is a gem – far from the Multnomah Falls crowds, and simple for the whole family, no matter what age.

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Sriracha Avocado Coleslaw: A New Fan Favorite

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As far as I’m concerned, there are two camps when it comes to coleslaw preferences: mayo-based and vinegar-based. Both have their virtues and vices, though one seems to be missing something from the other. I’m a mayo fan. Always have been, plan to always be, but I find I miss out on the bite of the vinegar sauces, but when I have them, I miss out on the creamy. :-/ What’s a girl to do? How about creamy and bite in one? Thus, the Sriracha Avocado Coleslaw was born. Continue reading

Fall Menu Ambitions and Favorites

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The crisp smell of falling leaves, rain and harvest is in the air, and my mind can’t help but shift toward stews, potroast, roasted vegetables, pies and all the good eats that come with Fall. I’ve had a few menu items on my “to try” list since last year, so let’s see how many I get to this season:

What are some of your favorite Autumn-inspired dishes?

Synopsis of Summer: Splendid

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Oneonta Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Providence Bridge Pedal (Portland, OR)
Stand up Paddleboarding (Portland, OR)
Wildlife Safari (Winston, OR)
Pool of Winds (Columbia River Gorge)
Crater Lake (OR)
Punch Bowl Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Ponytail Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Columbia River Gorge (Oregon side)
Tom, Dick and Harry (Mt. Hood)
Triple Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Manta Ray Dive (Kona, Hawaii) – Photo credit: Hawaii Oceanic
Kona, Hawaii
Mountain Biking (Hood River, OR)
Hardy Falls (Columbia River Gorge)
Mt. Scott (Crater Lake, OR)
Mt. Hood from Mirror Lake

With one of the hottest summers on record, I found myself extra incentivized to find ways to cool down and enjoy outdoor time. Hiking is a standard practice for me, but I also expanded my horizons and added mountain biking (a first!), stand up paddleboarding and a Wildlife Safari to my summertime activity.

Write ups are still in the works for some of these adventures, so in the meantime, enjoy this little gallery of my hiking, biking, and paddling over the past three months.

Roasted Corn and Avocado Caprese Salad

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Oh, yeah, summer won’t be over that easily! This salad is very simple to put together and a perfect side dish (or even a full fledged meal).

Ingredients (serves 4)

  • 1-2 corn husks or 1 can of corn (on the cob is WAY better!)
  • 2-3 tbsp butter
  • Seasoning – I keep this open-ended, because it can be good with so many different flavorings. I chose a BBQ rub, comprised of chili powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, brown sugar, cayenne and Italian seasonings
  • 2 avocados, cubed
  • tomatoes, diced (I prefer cherry tomatoes, but that’s just my bag)
  • Kale leaves
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Optional meats: salami, cubed chicken, salmon

Directions

Grill up the corn adding butter and seasonings toward the end of its roasting (after about 10 minutes). If it’s not grilling season, it’s just as easy to do this on a stove top, it just tastes better when it’s off the cob. Mix in with avocado, tomatoes, and any other toppings you’d like. I found that the butter coated the whole dish nicely and didn’t require any additional dressing, though I would recommend a squeeze of fresh lime over the whole thing. Enjoy!

#IceBucketChallenge Accepted

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Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock the past two months, you have seen a surge of ice water posts flooding your Facebook streams. In no small effort, the ALS Association has capitalized on a viral campaign where every day people and celebrities alike are dumping ice water all over themselves in order to build awareness for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The neurodegenerative disease affects around 30,000 Americans, debilitating their motor skills while leaving their brains sharp. To date, there is no cure, and approximately 5,600 people are diagnosed each year.

My best friend and his husband nominated three people to keep this modern day chain letter going, so I had 24 hours to either dump a bucket of ice water on my head or donate to the ALS Association. I chose both.

You don’t have to wait for a nomination to join the campaign. Simply record a video of yourself challenging three people to the task, dump ice water on your head and post it to social media, or donate whatever you want to give to the cause. There are no rules saying you can’t do both.

Here’s my video if you’re needing a little humiliating encouragement:

Philadelphia Roll Stacks

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I just… I don’t… I can’t… Yeah, this is happening right quick. Fast, delicious, and beautiful, this non-sushi sushi delight is sure to please guests (or maybe just you). Looking forward to making it myself!

Tina's avatarThe Dough Will Rise Again

Of all the weird, interesting, different foods I’ve tried to make over the years, one specific food has never appealed to me: sushi. I loooooove me some sushi for EATING… but learning to MAKE sushi has never sounded like much fun. I’m sure that one day, I’ll suddenly feel a need to make sushi, and I’ll run out and buy $50 worth of tools and supplies, and then come back here to declare to you how much I LOVE, OMG, LOVE making sushi at home… but for now, my sushi-eating remains in restaurants, where someone ELSE puts together my dinner.

Philadelphia Roll Stacks (with smoked salmon and avocado)

All that being said: this meal is really, really sushi-like, without 90% of the fuss. Last week, my mom and sister and I threw a wedding shower for a dear family friend, and when it was all over I had an extra package of smoked salmon left. I thought for…

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Crater Lake After the Storm

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Last evening's severe thunderstorm cell ignited some new fires, but at least it also provided a delightful side effect. To answer some posters' questions, this photograph has not been retouched or enhanced in any way.

Wild fires are running rampant around the country right now, wreaking havoc, draining resources, and displacing many families from their homes. In the midst of these natural disasters, however, sometimes amazing things happen. Yesterday, the Crater Lake National Park posted this incredible, untouched photo of a double rainbow. I think “awe-inspired” is the best way to describe it.