Early Spring - Seymour Conservatory

Sambar with Malloreddus Pasta

After the rich fragrant broth was poured into a shallow bowl, malloreddus was placed on top, dusted with parmesan, pepper, and dried flatbread crumbs.

Crispy Pineapple-Coconut Pancakes

Start with buttermilk pancakes, with crushed pineapple and powdered coconut added. Keep the batter thick, so the pancake is at least a half-inch high when fried. Fry the pancakes on both sides, then dress the exterior with olive oil, mango syrup, and cinnamon. Fry again, on both sides. The result is a soft pancake on the inside, with a crispy exterior similar to a caramel-pecan cinnamon roll. Dust with powdered sugar, or just serve plain with fruit.

Four Days at Katy Lake - Eastern Washington

When I was shopping on Friday at Top Foods the clerk looked a little perplexed when she saw the large golfing umbrella I was about to purchase. It was pouring rain outside. I told her we were going camping over in eastern Washington, and was preparing for cold weather, wind and rain.

"Haven't been looking forward to this trip", I said, while purchasing soft brown garden gloves. "These gloves are for wearing at night, if it gets down to 45 degrees."

It was our fifth camping trip to Katy Lake, near the Columbia Wildlife Refuge. We consider this area our favorite, for its exquisite vistas, the marvelous hiking, and close proximity to a variety of seep lakes offering wonderful canoeing.

The seep lake areas were jammed with campers and recreationists over the holiday weekend. Lots of activity and noise. Only a few people bother to visit Katy Lake - usually we are the only ones camping there. All gear has to be carried down-slope to a little plateau over-looking the lake. We love it - the privacy, the views, the bird songs.

We set up camp anticipating cold weather at night - we brought plenty of bedding, pillows and down comforters. No sleeping bags here - I make little walls of rolled bedding to buffer against the cold. If George rolls over and takes the covers with him this bedding blocks any cold air that could enter inside the covers.

Saturday was George's birthday, so I made a flaxmeal cake for our lunch. It was served with a variety of salads: Curried Garbanzo; macaroni salad with salmon; Boston baked beans; cottage cheese and fruit; and a tossed salad. I also brought Rasam soup and crockpot beef stew - substantial hearty food for cold evenings.

Ruhiyyih and Matt joined us on Sunday - they dressed for cold, rainy weather, too! I prepared tiny east-Indian fried doughnuts right before they arrived, and offered some cherries. Dosi, a snack made from fermented Urad lentil flour, are served with mango chutney.

Setting up their tent, they discovered that the rain-guard for their tent was missing, so we offered a tarp. At bedtime it began it sprinkle just a little - a wonderful sound at night out on the prairie.

Sunday night all of us slept poorly - the wind was the worst part, rattling the tent throughout the night. I got up early the next morning, made coffee, Spanish potatoes, sausage and eggs, and blueberry-banana pancakes.

Mid-morning, Ruhiyyih and Matt returned home and George and I spent the day hiking and canoeing.

We enjoyed two long paddles over the weekend - glorious sunshine, warm temps.

George took over 600 photos. I'll select a few for a set on Flickr.

We had such a good time, had moderate weather, sunshine, and family to share it all with - so I'm a happy camper!

Parsnip & Broad Bean Soup

I was making this Parsnip & Broad Bean Soup today when Oprah had her last show today. I lived in the Chicago area when she first started the show, and was there to see the first year and now, the last show. Today she said, "Wherever you are, that is your reach." I liked that - bloom where you are planted.

It takes a month for parsnips to germinate...I'm waiting for June 7th, to see if that happens.

This soup is hearty - carrots, celery, leeks, onion and garlic, a smoked ham bone; seasoned with salt, pepper, za-attar, turmeric. Seasoned, fried pita bread is wonderful in this soup.

An Afternoon at Guillemot Cove

Our son Rue joined us on a day hike at Guillemot Cove.
It was a cool sunny day, perfect for exploring a forest.
The twins - Bonnie and Bonita.
A little creek wanders through the Cove.
This old barn is part of an early homestead.
The homestead, long abandoned.
Frank and Bonnie settle in for lunch on the beach.
A treasure chest is on a shelf inside this playhouse. People sign a guest book and leave little talismans or gifts - I left a little flashlight in the stump house. I could hardly see anything inside!

An Afternoon on the Nisqually Delta

My sister and her husband enjoyed a gorgeous day, fresh air and sunshine at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge.
We packed our lunches and enjoyed a lazy afternoon on the boardwalk. Here, Frank is inside a viewing station.

Deb Explains Detachment - Ruhi Book 2

Hiking the Greenwater Lake Trail

We started hiking in light rain, winding our way along mountain terrain still blanketed in snow.

Several bridges crossed the creeks along the trail to Greenwater Lake.

Ruhiyyih and Matt, Bonnie and Frank, and George and I had tough choices - climb over, climb under, or find a route around. Three of us fell, unable to get secure footing.

We packed lunches, thermoses of hot coffee, and rain gear.

This hike is challenging in late spring.

I'd like to come back in the summer - the varied terrain and the views are worth the hike.

A Meal for Hungry Travelers

When my sister and her husband arrived for a ten-day visit I had a meal waiting - Rasam soup; Boston baked beans with pork belly; cottage cheese; curried garbanzo salad; and beet-red onion-orange-walnut salad.

When they sat down and looked at the food my brother-in-law said, "Real Food!", meaning, primarily plant-based whole food prepared at home.

Throughout the ten days they were here I prepared about twenty-five meals, most of them vegan, heart-healthy, and with middle-eastern origins - Egyptian, Indian, and a little Italian. George threw in a meal of fresh cod and another featuring pork chops, and he cooked most of the breakfasts - bacon and eggs, pancakes. We all enjoyed that, especially on a hiking day. And one day our guests ordered pizza to enjoy while we all watched 'Survivor'.

I had a great time improvising, and emptying out the freezer of bread, soup, paneer, and pappadam filled with khoshari or curry. It was enjoyable improvising, sharing some of my most favorite recipes, going over my 'workbooks', recipes and photos. This apple pecan pie had a flaxmeal/walnut crust and butterscotch syrup poured over the top.

When all is said and done, every artist hungers for self expression, and everyone hungry after an all-day hike will eat just about anything!

A Getaway: Canoeing on Lake Ohop

We had a beautiful day on Sunday - brilliant sunshine, warmth, everything green and budding-out. Ohop Lake was rimmed with people fishing - the lakes were stocked for the beginning of the season.
We ended the day with a picnic and a walk at Lake Alder.
Brauts on a bun and green beans.

Grilling on the BBQ: Polenta-Couscous Dressing

Wheat and corn were combined with vegetables and seasonings, then placed inside a whole roasted chicken. The combination was great - chewy, yet firm. I roasted vegetables on the side, then piled them on top when the meal was served.

I placed the chicken on the grill with some marinated pork ribs, then grilled corn on the cob. We enjoyed our first spring barbecue in the backyard, side-dressed with sunshine and cherry blossoms.
Dessert: Marshmallows and Hazelnut Wafers.

Little Friends Along the Way

This raccoon was having lunch at Oyster Bay on Saturday.

An interesting day at the garden yesterday. Nobody was there, as there were infrequent moments of light rain, followed by sunbreaks. I was thinking, "perfect weather for sprouting carrots", when a beautiful pigeon fluttered down onto my plot. He began pecking in the straw, shoving pieces to each side to find edibles. Oddly, he followed me from section to section, stopping when I stopped, keeping occupied, just like me. A partner in the garden!

He occupied himself there for several hours, visiting some of the other nearby plots, but always returned to follow me around. At 5:00 I stopped my work and spoke to him. He cocked his head as if truly understanding, that it was now time to head home. I picked up my digging fork, put it on the side of my little wagon, and jolted the wagon along the path. He instantly flew up, and left the garden, the park, the neighborhood. I stopped and watched him glide away. When I got home I googled 'leg-banded pigeons', because that is what he was, and that is why he felt comfortable being my companion for the afternoon. I was absolutely delighted!

A Relationship: Mud and Soil

We had planned a four-day camping trip this last week, but temps were down to 31 degrees at night. We canceled. Instead, we devised a way to enjoy the canoeing, the brauts and beans over the fire, ending the day in our own warm bed at home.

We paddled into Oyster Bay and portaged a return on Mud Bay, which had drained. George failed to check the tide-schedule, so he had the opportunity to learn how to push a canoe a half mile back to our put-in point.

At the front, I paddled our canoe as far upstream as currant allowed. Then I walked along the beach, pulling my garden boots out of the mud as I walked and using canoe paddles to test the density of the mud.

These mud flats are slippery and deep, like sinking into a peat bog. Suction holds boots down. George would not have made it, if it had not been for the canoe, which he leaned on for support while pushing it across the mud.

We drove to Isabella State Park for afternoon coffee, then on to Twanoh State Park on the Hood Canal for 'bratwurst on a bun' over the fire, with all the condiments and saurkraut, pork and beans. Got home about 9:00, just as stars were popping out in the sky. I threw my outer wear - pants used to protect my slacks - into the washing machine, and we hosed chunks of mud off our boots. We were covered in mud - one of the best signs of adventure!

I've finished digging and tilling all the berms in the garden - not an easy job. Then we hauled in manure and straw. Seeding can begin - turnips, rutabaga, parsnip, beets, peas, broccoli-raab, purple sprouting broccoli, chard, daikon radish, carrots.
Now it is all a matter of sunshine and rain.