Hiking in Montreat

This was a hard one.  Two days after the hike and my thighs and my knees and my ankles are still sore!   I think Julie is trying to see how tough we are!  

This entrance to the Memorial Garden was the first thing we saw after unloading from our cars and getting our packs on.  It looked innocent enough at the trailhead. 

We crossed over Flat Creek and almost immediately began to climb.  And then we climbed and climbed, one switchback after another.  What goes up must come down, so it was mostly an up and down day, not that I'm complaining or anything...

The three M's stopping to catch our breath, Margie, Maggie and me.

(Photo Credit- Julie Eargle)

There were lovely long range views through the leafless trees.

And some serious icicles.

Pointing out some landmarks from Rainbow Mountain Trail.

The view from Rattlesnake Summit.

The lunch bunch at the summit.

(Photo Credit: Maggie Skroski)

Maggie snagged the best seat. 

(Photo Credit- Julie Eargle)

Billy Graham's log house sits straight ahead in the valley.

We hiked the Rainbow Mountain Trail, Rainbow Road, the Old Mitchell Toll Road, the Rattlesnake Trail and the Old Trestle Road for a total of 6.5 miles.  I'm so glad Julie knows where she's going.  We're a very trusting bunch.

 It was a beautiful day to be in the woods, and climb mountains!  The hardest hikes are the most memorable.  Have I mentioned that I love this hiking club?

*Take the Time Goal #16 - Participate in as many Friday hikes as possible.

Making Gnocchi

This is my third attempt at gnocchi making.  First time was at a supper club with friends.  We used a traditional recipe and I think it turned out pretty well.  It was a challenge to cook for a crowd, to keep the gnocchi from sticking together and becoming mushy.  We still ate them with gusto though.   

As with most things in the kitchen, practice is required to get the hang of it and feel comfortable with the technique.  I've been practicing and it's getting easier.  I still wouldn't say I've mastered it.  I found a recipe that calls for ricotta cheese, instead of the cooked potato and because I had some cheese that I needed to use I thought I'd give it a try.  I found it to be a lot easier than the potato recipe.  Here's how it came together:

I mixed the ricotta cheese, egg, olive oil and salt and pepper in a bowl.  Then I added plain flour, a half a cup at a time, until the dough was soft and held together.  I placed it on a floured mat and kneaded it a few times, then cut it into six pieces.

I rolled each piece into a long rope,

and then cut them into small pieces.  

I rolled each little piece of dough over and down the back of a fork.

The ridges are for collecting the wonderful sauce that you serve with the pasta.

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and drop the gnocchi in.  When they float, they are ready.  It only takes a minute or so.  Drain and serve with your favorite pasta sauce.  At the moment, mine just happens to be Giada De Laurentiis' marinara.  I'll blog that one soon.

I like these little pasta pillows!  I've learned that they need to be eaten as soon as they come out of the pot, which means sauce and anything else you want to have with them must be ready and waiting.  This recipe makes more than we can eat, so I've put some in the freezer (uncooked) and the next time I plan to try a copycat version of Olive Garden's Chicken and Gnocchi soup.  Yum!

The recipe can be found here.

*Take the Time Goals - #17 Eat less meat.  #20 Make pasta once a month.

Chat Books

Have you heard about Chatbooks?  

It's an awesome app that allows you to create books from your Instagram feed.  Don't do Instagram?  You can create them from any photos on your phone.

It's easy.  Really easy. It's cheap.  $8 a book.

You customize each book with a name on the spine.

The quality of the printing is great.  I'm in love with them.

You can check out Chatbooks here and start creating your own memory books.  I'm not getting a commission or anything.  I just wanted you to know about something that's making me happy!

*Take the Time Goal  #38 Take lots of pictures.  #25 Organize photos.

Norman Wilder Trail

Yikes!  I'm getting behind on my hiking posts.  A couple of weeks ago, the club headed to the Norman Wilder Forest in Tryon.  This is so close to my home and I had no idea it existed.  I think it would be fun to do a "staycation" and explore all the interesting things within a hundred mile radius of your home.  Another possible project, for the project girl.  That would be me.  

Today I got my wish to hike in the snow.  It was beautiful and tapered off after about thirty minutes, so thankfully we didn't get too wet.  It was a cold day though and each week I'm learning how to better dress for winter hiking. 

Evidence of the snow

An old homesite at the beginning of the trail.

Stacked rock walls in the forest means at one time this land was cleared for homes and pastures.  My husband has helped me have a greater appreciation for beautiful rock walls.

Mountain stream

Our fearless leader getting her bearings on the trail map

I'm happy we didn't have to cross on the old bridge!

(Photo Credit- Julie Eargle)

Our hiking group today.  Aren't we a colorful bunch?

(Photo Credit- Julie Eargle)

Our lunch spot under Drip Falls.  Food tastes so good in the great outdoors! 

(Photo Credit- Julie Eargle)

Naturalized bulbs are another sign that at one time there was a home close by.  This was my first daffodil sighting of the year.  Springs a coming!

I'm super grateful for these Friday hikes.  On a cold day, it could be tempting to curl up by the fire and read a book, and some times that is exactly what I want to do.  But, bundling up and heading out into the woods is exhilarating.  I can imagine this trail in the summer when the trees are leafed out, and though it would be lovely, there would be missed long range views that we can enjoy now.  Not having to worry about swatting bugs this time of year is a bonus and there's interesting plants that stand out, ready to be noticed against a brown landscape.  Every season has its beauty and I'm appreciating winter more this year thanks to my Friday hikes.

*Take the Time Goal #16 - Participate in as many Friday hikes as possible.

In the Kitchen this Week - Valentines and Menu Planning

This Week in the Kitchen

It's clean out the refrigerator day, which also means I'm planning some menus and determining how I'm going to spend my time in the kitchen this week.  Before I do that though, I like to look back and hold myself accountable for how I used my resources last week.  My goal is zero food waste and even though I was a little nervous that I had over purchased in the produce department, it was a good week.  

It was Valentine's Day too, and that meant chocolate around here!

Menu plan for last week and how it all turned out.

Penne with Creamy Pesto Sauce - Check!

(use leftover penne, pesto, cream and fresh mozzarella)

Grilled Chicken

Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette 

(use spinach, blue cheese, glazed pecans)

Chicken Parmesan (use leftover spaghetti)- Check!

Recipe for my favorite marinara sauce coming soon.
Sautéed Kale

 Mardi Gras meal - Check!

Jambalaya

Lemon Bars (These were so, so good!)

Veggie Cheese Soup - Check!

(use carrots, broccoli and potatoes, cheddar cheese)

Artisan Bread

Chicken Burrito Bowls - Check!

Shredded lettuce and toppings

Tortilla Chips

Making edible Valentines for friends.

(Chocolate Cherry Scones for Valentine's Breakfast)

Valentine's Day

Beef Stew with Veggies - Check!

(Not necessarily what I would consider a romantic meal, but it's Sunday and I can

cook it in the crockpot while we're at church.  We had those poached pears last night and 

man oh man, are they delicious!  We're having them again this week.)

Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce (use chocolate sauce)

Lunch Ideas

Jar Salads - greek, kale, and spinach

Veggie Stir Fry (use peppers, mushrooms, etc.)

Roasted Veggies with Brown Rice - check!

(use brussels sprouts, carrots, onions, butternut squash)

Other Kitchen Tasks 

Make marinara sauce- Check! Stashed some in freezer.

Artisan bread - Check!

Dinner Rolls -didn't need them.  We had plenty of other breads to eat.

Cook pot of black beans - canned beans to the rescue!

Now, what do I have in the Refrigerator?
Leftovers:  Beef Stew, hummus, 
vanilla syrup (from poached pears), kale salad

In the vegetable drawer: red cabbage, carrots,
celery, romaine lettuce, celery, green pepper, 
spinach and iceberg lettuce

In the fruit drawer:  2 apples, 1 orange, 1 grapefruit

Dairy products:  cottage cheese, ricotta, plain yogurt,
buttermilk, milk, coconut milk, feta cheese, cheddar,
mozzarella

Meats: bacon, ham hock

Miscellaneous:  vegetable stock, ww tortillas
NO FOOD WASTE THIS WEEK! 

What can I do with the food I have?  
Menu Plans for Feb. 15- 22
(* linked recipes)
Beef Stew and Kale Salad
(Leftovers)

Chicken Piccata
Sautéed Spinach (use spinach)
Spaghetti Squash with walnuts
(squash in storage)

Gnocchi
(use ricotta and parmesan cheese)
Salad (use romaine and other veggies)

*Butternut Squash Soup   (and here- two approaches to the same delicious soup)
(squash in storage, use bacon, veggie stock)
*Artisan Bread
Baked Apples (use apples and vanilla syrup)

Chicken Pot Pie
Salad

*Black Bean Burgers
Mexi Rice 
shredded lettuce, salsa and sour cream

Sabbath Meal
Oven BBQ Chicken
Melanie's mac and cheese
green beans
*dinner rolls
Chocolate Sheet Cake

Lunch Ideas
 greek salad
Tuscan bean soup
hummus wrap

*Take the Time Goal #33 - Make menus each week.  Eliminate food waste.