Category Archives: Travel

Today’s The Day

Posted on September 2, 2009 | 3 comments

Jim’s parents are coming out for a visit. A whole week! Normally I like to have a travel book and local magazines handy for guests to peruse and figure out what they’re going to do, but I think this time they’ll be more exhausted from this “vacation” than if they hadn’t taken off work!

There’s the local showcase of homes at which they plan to spend at least two days of the long weekend. We have to go to the Park Silly market on Sunday because my hairdresser’s relatives are coming down from Logan for the farmer’s market bringing heirloom tomatoes and fingerling potatoes that will be featured on my daily menu.

We’d like to send them on the really cool commuter train to several museums and lunch in Ogden one day that Jim’s at work. And so on. This family doesn’t take vacations, much less fly 1,500 miles to get there. When Jim and I first met, his parents had run a dairy for their entire lives. Shortly before we married I was trying to get the lay of the land on family traditions. I asked Jim what his family did for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter. He replied, “milked cows.” So while his father gave up the dairy he still raises cattle, and Margie got 7 goats last year that now number 35, it’s tough to get him off the farm but he’s cut more hay this year than ever before and can take a week off.

I think they’ll love it up here in the mountains. The home tour will provide additional ideas and inspiration for the retirement home they’re planning in Texas, and I’ve also asked for information on touring a nature preserve for local native grasses. They’ve already done research on native grasses in TX and would like to have these as a feature of their new property. Plus they’ve never been to UT and would like to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the copper mine so they’ll be busy. No sitting on the sofa reading civil war books!

It’s cool enough at night that we can cook out and eat on the deck, then come in and start a fire. We’re looking forward to it. I’ll finish cleaning, get a table for dining in (I’m not going to be able to move my desk from the dining table, ran out of time) and we can use the chairs. It’ll work. Awaiting delivery of fruits and veg and steaks from the organic farm so we pretty much have breakfasts and dinners covered. The ribeyes from this farm are excellent and we’ll have some tonight, along with organic russet potatoes with all the fixings and I’ll saute some red and gold cherry tomatoes for color and flavor.

I guess we love new places, new challenges, and enjoy sharing them with family and friends. Writing time may be scarce but I’ll try to keep up. Maybe Jim’s mother can do a post! Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Travel, Utah

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The Russians are Coming?

Posted on August 26, 2009 | 2 comments

The other day a balloon (they go up regularly early in the morning) ran into some trouble, landed temporarily in the Preserve and narrowly escaped our townhomes. I was out with the dog at the time so ran upstairs and got the first shot through the screen in our spare bedroom.

Next, before I cook these I have to show the chanterelles to you because they’re so gorgeous. The vendor also had lobster mushrooms and told me to make them into a kind of succotash. I stuck with the chanterelles this week. Can’t wait to taste them!

The last shot is of the mountains in this strange evening sunlight. I couldn’t even see what I was shooting because of the sun, but it turned out OK, yet it doesn’t adequately describe the beauty of the mountains as they change every hour in the sunlight. One thing I can’t bring you is the stars at night, yes, they’re big and bright, like in the heart of Texas, but on clear nights they awaken me to their splendor.

As the grasses go to seed and dissipate we hope to see more birds on the preserve. We hear the Greater Sandhill Cranes from time to time and Jim saw them just the other day before they went into the tall grass. It is a magnificent sound at 5-6 a.m. Prehistoric (Eocene era) birds calling out to one another. Look the sounds up online and you’ll only get the sound of thousands. I need to figure out how and when to record just three. One of the adults flew 30 feet or so, at least a 6′ wingspan. It’s an amazing feat to behold.

And now I’m sounding like Dad at the Grand Canyon 40 years ago at 6:00 a.m. when we’d been up all night in 112 degree heat and just wanted to get the heck out of the Grand Canyon! Sorry, Dad. You didn’t use up all the “awesomes” and “majestic’s” and we still love you. btw, we had an “air cooling system” on July 4th, three kids so far and our first night out west and no-one slept a wink. So we drove to Flagstaff to a hotel with air conditioning. The A/C in our rental car was broken as well. Luckily the trip picked up upon arrival in San Diego and the drive to SF. Cheers! Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Travel, Utah

Reminiscence

Posted on June 8, 2009 | Leave a comment

It’s ironic that just as I receive photos from my Texas friend who moved to Scotland, I’d love nothing more than being back in Scotland right now.  The irony is that her photos are of her trip back to Texas last week.

Everyone in Scotland must have an electric tea kettle.  I love mine.  At this altitude it takes forever to boil water on the stove and this is quick and easy.  It’s not nearly as fast as ours in the UK, given the difference in volts and whatever that my husband used to scare me about kitchen appliances (there you have to turn everything on and off separately).

We did have a great time there, at least I did traipsing the countryside, literally, with Karen.  We took so many photos, had a lot of tea and scones.  They had terrific water, drinking right from the tap.  Also salmon and their mussels were gorgeous.  Mussel Inn in Glasgow is the place to go for a pail of mussels with your choice of “sauce.”  I prefer just a bit of garlic, white wine, butter, chives in mine.  To cover them with tomato sauce is a sin.  Look it up!

Yesterday we drove the scenic route in a thunderstorm, to Ogden.  We had lunch at pretty much the only restaurant that was open on a Sunday at historic 25th Street.  Jim had wanted to see the Railroad Museum but it was closed.  The Eccles railroad museum was out there, however, so we saw some old trains and pretty cool engines.  Steam, diesel and a jet engine that can pull 735 fully-loaded freight cars through the mountains.  [We also saw the car that carried the Olympic torch in Utah’s 2002 winter games.]

That would be a seven mile-long train.  It’s a near 3,000 foot climb through the mountains from Ogden to California.  It’s just under 3,000 feet up to get to Cheyenne, and Ogden is still a frieight depot.  Wasn’t much of a town, though.  It’s amazing that mid-1800’s trains traversed these mountains carrying mail and other items.

We got home late from our driving excursion so had to take care of the dog et al.  I made my own version of tostadas, cheating all the way.  Note that it’s not the way I normally cook.

corn tortillas (fry or buy already cooked as I did)

rotisserie chicken

tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese

vegetarian black beans

1 avocado, large dice, with lime juice to keep from oxidizing

salsa

sour cream

limes

I took the breast meat off the chicken and shredded it.  Topped tortillas with a 1/3″ layer of refried beans and placed them immediately in the oven (I’m guessing 350 for you as I have to adjust for altitude) for 5 minutes then topped with all ingredients, cheese first so it would melt into the beans.    It was good.  Make sure you have everything ready and top with beans and bake at the last minute as the beans will soften the tortilla.  Top with other ingredients immediately.

There wasn’t any left for a photo, sorry.  Hope it’s the same in your home!  Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Recipe Ideas, Scotland, Travel

Train Ride

Posted on May 24, 2009 | 1 comment

Jim and I headed out of town today for an afternoon trip on the Heber Valley Railroad around Soldier’s Hollow.  It was a leisurely trip but the station was kind of crazy with hundreds of families visiting Thomas The Tank Engine.  It was fun seeing all the kids.  But we took another trip through the countryside.

Some of the folks saw a white mountain goat with black horns.  I missed it.  I kept an “eagle eye” out for the eagle’s nest en route back to the station and sort of caught two bald eagles in their nest.  We saw a few deer, ducks and fish jumping at the lake.  It made for a relaxing afternoon and we skirted the past 48 hours of rain.  Oh well, the grass is getting green and buds and some blooms are out.

Here are a few pics for you:

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Posted in Editorial, Travel, Utah

Lake Erie Sunset

Posted on April 27, 2009 | Leave a comment
Lake Erie Sunset

Lake Erie Sunset

These are very special people, here on the shore of Lake Erie, just for you. This photo is framed, by us, and in their living room. We love them. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Travel

World Travelers

Posted on April 6, 2009 | 1 comment

My Dad and Stepmom had a tough 2008, healthwise. A few months ago when their doctors gave them the “all clear” to travel, they embarked upon a nearly three-month cruise around the world, from which they returned last weekend.

We’re looking forward to stories and photographs of glorious islands Jim and I may never get to see. I finally got to talk to Dad for a few moments from our new digs in Utah. He told me he talked with Andre Soltner (formerly of Lutece) and got something signed for me (exciting!) but hasn’t come upon it yet while unpacking. Apparently Chef Soltner is running a cooking school north of NYC. He said he used to teach at Peter Kump’s, from which I graduated. I’m sure a chef of his stature wasn’t on staff but came in on a Monday in the “star chef” role, as did Daniel Boulud and Patrick Clark while I was in attendance.

It’s ironic that they took eleven bags with them. We took a suiter, two suitcases and a flat wardrobe box for six months. Granted our ambitions were different. We took a dog, files, electronics (yes, Val, the PSIII had to come with us), my knives, utensils, foodstuffs and spices, tea towels and my KitchenAid food processor.

Last time here, a few years ago in a smaller non-vacation town, we had to cobble together our own corporate apartment. Now we’re in a lovely home with way more than four plates and four forks and two towels. We’re in a lovely home and could conceivably entertain here, if I hadn’t chosen the dining room table for my desk. A MacBook can be moved easily, but not with papers, a 24″ monitor, trackball, headphones for Skype, modem and a wireless keyboard. Oh well, we’ll work it out.

Family and friends do want to come visit, and I think a guest-free weekend will become an anomaly over the summer. By then the farmers’ markets will have opened up, the snow will have melted and the grasses and mountains will be verdant. Today is so nice I’ve opened the doors in the master bedroom and shut the screens as we have streams a few feet away and the bugs that live around water love my blood. Always have. Since I was a kid I’ve always had bees, gnats, mosquitos and no-see-ums around. The no-see-ums are the worst. Let’s not go there.

I made the bed this morning watching hot air balloons come over the Preserve from Park City. Luckily the camera was a few feet away from yesterday’s birdwatching shots so I’ll see how those came out.

Thanks again for visiting! I may be able to get in a couple more winter stews as I hear there are two or more snowstorms on the way. Tonight it’s homemade hamburgers with avocado and Australian cheddar. Oh my, I don’t have ketchup. Jim’ll have to stop at the store because he can’t have frozen waffle fries without it. Heaven help me, what was I thinking???

Certain foods are very expensive here (pasta) and others are much less than in Texas (eggs, orange juice). Utah is growing more artisanal foods such as cheeses, breads, even salt. I read about it in Park City Magazine, “Utah On The Plate.” For the first time, local restaurants are using local produce when they can, including lamb, ice cream and other products. That’s always good to hear. At least up north, it’s not really cattle or corn country. It would be a shame if tourism was the only thing Utah excelled at, because ski season is nearly over and there aren’t many people living in our community right now.

We bought Zoe a nylon zip-up “playpen” yesterday, but it was 4′ X 4′ X 28″ high and without adding the top or bottom we realized we didn’t really have a place to put it, so I took it back. I’ll find another. Unfortunately she has a huge (Rottweiler size) metal crate and the 2nd largest airline crate that fits on all planes, but they’re in storage 1,500 miles away. Zoe weighs 40 lbs but we like her to have an orthopedic mattress underneath for her non-hips and give her plenty of room to move around.

I’ll keep writing if you keep reading. It still doesn’t feel like Spring up here but I hope you’re enjoying asparagus, fresh peas, ramps and fiddleheads. In a month I may be able to plant a few herbs in a container, maybe a tomato plant. Home Depot had a great deal this weekend. Bring in your own container or buy one there, buy your plants. They’ll plant them for you and give you the potting soil for free! The catch is that there are no outdoor plants to purchase because it’s too darned cold! Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Pet, Travel

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The Corporate Apartment

Posted on April 5, 2009 | 3 comments

Stars. That’s something most people don’t see from a corporate apartment. We didn’t until tonight, when it finally stopped snowing. It’s April. Snow.

My needs are different in a corporate place, because I actually cook. For the past three years we’ve made use of corporate places through Jim’s work and every one is different.

Since we’ve been looking in Utah for a six-month contract (if we stay longer we’ll send our stuff out from storage in TX and get our own place) we’ve seen a lot of interesting concepts.

One could be funky downtown, and luckily the owner and I are going to try to convert it to corporate given my expertise living in the UK and Utah in vastly different circumstances.

When in Utah three years ago for a major bank, we had to manufacture our own corporate housing, then the bank wouldn’t pay the rent. I had no laptop and no cell phone so had a phone card because everything outside 1/4 mile is long distance. I had to go to the office to use the computer and pay our bills because our mail was never forwarded from home. That was tough, going to the office when a major bank won’t pay the rent on time.

Our next gigs were in Scotland and London. We loved living downtown in both places and I found food to cook or takeout. I got used to the appliances after Jim, the physicist, told me I could be killed with the voltage there. One turns on the circuit for an electric kettle for tea then turns it off when tea is done, about 75 seconds. The washer/dryer is another animal altogether and shook the entire building but Christine was great as is SACO worldwide. We stayed a week at another of their places in Southwark, London.

Here we are in Utah. As we moved and drove cross-country in two cars with the dog (left 99% of our worldly belongings in storage) we decided to stay funky downtown or vacation paradise. We chose the latter.

Most corporate by-the-book places have rental furniture or really cheap, uncomfortable sofas and beds. Most still offer only a VCR! There’s a dishwasher but as you only have four plates, spoons, knives, forks and completely useless knife set (laser, no need to sharpen), I’ve had to make certain modifications.

Note to corporate apartments: NO glass cutting boards. They ruin food and knives. In Orem,when we were up at Park City at the outlet stores I splurged on a spatula and something else I needed, I forget what, for under $5. In Scotland we spent a fortune on winter weather gear (may need to do it again in Utah, at least footwear) and I bought a decent 6″ all-purpose knife and a cutting board, plus tea towels because Jim uses them as napkins/serviettes.

Now we’re in Park City and in a wonderful place. There are many dishes (very large and tough to fit safely in the dishwasher so I run a load a day for two of us). Silverware is sufficient. I have to watch that the sensitive gas burners don’t burn the food. It take a lot of time to boil a kettle for tea (thank goodness they have a kettle!) but that’s a factor of altitude. I’ve heard that at 8,000 feet above sea level water boils at 140 degrees. Don’t know yet if that’s true but actually in my knife case – yes I brought all my knives, including the Scotland one – I have an instant-read thermometer. That’s something to check out.

Maybe it’s because it’s a ski community but we have a condo with an upscale mall and movie theatre 1/4 mile away and a nature preserve 10 feet away and the geese are starting to come in, honking, at 6:31 a.m. There is attention to detail here. The colors go with the scenery, reds, greens and browns. Fireplace, views of a 2002 Olympic site, The Canyons, Park City and Deer Valley plus birds galore.

Upon entry through a knotted Alder door, about 10′ high, there is a stone entryway. Full bath/shower, coat/utility closet, and gorgeous kitchen with knotted alder cabinets and high end appliances and dishes so large they barely fit in the dishwasher.

I’ve already had to buy Jim a solid pan to make two over-medium eggs each morning because the one that is here is very lighweight and scarred by knives. I only use my own utensils, silicone spatulas that do not react to low heat and do not scratch pans.

We have two bedrooms plus daybed, and three full baths. Stackable full-size washer/dryer. We had intended to take out and store the daybed and use that space for an office but instead we’ve taken over the dining table with my MacBook, 24″ monitor and wireless keyboard plus moving and other info. Had the modem installed the other day and another day is about to start. I see Deer Valley now from my “desk” (much better than a dark corridor as I can see the wildlife).

I’d like to combine the ski resort condo with European concepts and make a turnkey solution for business and leisure travelers, short-and long-term.

Not a small goal, but it’s something I know and it may have something to do with kitchens. Thanks Devin for pointing me this way.

Cheers, good morning, the birds are coming in and skies are blue. Thanks for reading and participating. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Cooking Utensils, Editorial, Education, Recommended Pantry Contents, Travel, Utah

Scotland Forever

Posted on April 3, 2009 | 1 comment

Our place boasts a limited edition print of the golf course at Muirland, Scotland. Also a picture of the Turnberry Hotel on the Ayrshire Coast of Scotland. We never got to Ayr. Home of Rabbie Burns and Brig-o-Doon.

We spent over two months in Scotland and divided time for ten days in London. While in Glasgow I had the pleasure of a Texas girlfriend and we toured Scotland two-three times a week. I learned so much about the people and the culture.

My techie husband made sure that I had a MacBook and Skype before going to Scotland and both were life savers. Our friends and I just spent nearly an hour catching up by phone (by mutual Skype) and it was great to hear their voices and what they’re up to these days in this crazy world.

It was great to talk to you, Karen and Jack! We miss you. Send us your itinerary and we’ll see if we can work something out to see you stateside. I’ll get that recipe to you as well.

I think Scotland needs to become its own country again. Without bloodshed, only signing a piece of paper agreed to by Scotland and England. My only worry is the means to do for itself, by itself. But I’ve no knowledge of the Scottish economy, only of the people and their will to be free. After all, England has to want Scotland really bad to try to take it time and time again.

Glasgow Cathedral

Glasgow Cathedral

Welcome to the land of St. Mungo. Let Glasgow Flourish. Remember the tree, the bird, the fish and the bell. And the gold ring, of course. Long stories, enough for today. Best wishes, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Friend Alert, Scotland, Travel

Snow Angels

Posted on March 24, 2009 | Leave a comment

Yesterday morning I took Zoe out and the roads and grass were covered in wet, heavy slushy snow. She didn’t know what to do at first, then started cavorting like a pup. After she finally did her business I took her in and dried every inch of her with a towel.

She looked out the hotel window and barked at the snow. While our room was being cleaned we met a woman with four small children who loved Zoe. She watched them play in the snow outside, making snow angels. Last night more kids were down below building a snowman.

We’re facing a courtyard and the Wasatch mountains. Unable to see the mountains all day yesterday, I look forward to the opportunity of seeing them when the sun comes up today. There is a pool and hot tub and I thought both were closed for winter. The covers roll up and the intrepid skiers here for the last days of the season open them up every night, even in the snow.

Today I hope the weather holds out while Zoe and I find a place to live. A week of hotels is enough and we need a place to call home, even for six months. The good news is that I may have a few more weeks for winter stews, and a grill for Spring and Summer meal planning. I’m thinking of a boned, butterflied leg of Lamb Robert.

If I just mention what my brother calls “Sheep Bob” he may be on the next plane. Who knows, he’d already asked for a weekend stay in Chicago and we’re considerably west of there, now!

Zoe’s “snow” angel, but she’s been a good sport during this move. She thrives on routine, hers, but has really been a trouper for us as we change gears. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Pet, Travel

Food

Posted on February 3, 2009 | 3 comments

It is always on my conscience, what we eat and how we eat. Today I was finally, after several months, adopted into a society for foodies that I may not want to join as it may, by its requirements, err on the other side of my first amendment rights. I don’t yet know if my current blog site will allow their requirements and have to check that out.

Of most importance is getting out a message and gaining a few folks who might want to read my musings. I don’t know that my current blog hosts provide what I need to get their, and my, message out. I need to be able to talk freely. Today I researched Boer goats, how to cook them. I see them and have named some female breeders, and I don’t necessarily want them or their offspring to be sold for meat. But today’s cattle ranchers aren’t making what the market brought six months ago, so why not take on a few goats.

My next step is to research all the many cultures that eat goat and learn the traditions, then help my mother-in-law put them up on a blog or website.

Politics envelop all of us these days, with layoffs and banks taking our money for themselves and not lending it out for farms and houses and cars. I have to talk about politics. It affects my grocery shopping! I did make a terrific skirt steak with chimichurri (homemade of course) for dinner. Today I saw a food site offer a prize for an under $5 meal recipe. I’m not there yet for a really great one but a few years ago I could feed the two of us for $10 per day and that’s three meals home-cooked. I’m guessing cereal with fruit for breakfast, quesadillas for lunch and maybe a stir-fry for dinner with rice.

Does another trillion dollars help us through this economic debacle? Not if we depend on the “trickle-down” theory when our jobs and homes are lost and we can’t put mac and cheese on the table (tonight’s dinner, homemade).

You know Jim’s contract ended and there’s little work. We’ll be here another month. The market was cold, tepid and is beginning to heat up here and across the country for his type of work. I’ll go with him wherever he goes, but wearing womens head-scarves and being always accompanied out of the compound by my husband is out of the question. Especially if there are bombs and guns involved. There’s a lot to learn about food in the Middle East and Africa, about cultures and history, but right now I’d rather visit than agree to live there for several years.

I love the little things while traveling here in the States and overseas that surprise me, also items available in the groceries. It would be wonderful to continue my culinary education in that regard but … we’ll see what happens.

We hoped you survived your Super Bowl Party. It was just us, and Jim read most of the time. I found it an historic game and will make Buffalo Wings in honor of my old team one of these days, depending upon how quickly we have to pack up if we move. We’re already eating away at the frig, freezer and pantry in case we’re moving in the next couple of weeks. At least I know where to find Frank’s Louisiana Hot Sauce. Teresa had it many years ago when she invented the Buffalo Wing at Anchor Bar in Buffalo. But I can get it in TX.

How about a “Who Gets Bambi? Contest. I’ll have to come up with the contest and then arrange for shipping with dry ice. OK, I’ll try it. Cheers, Dee

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Posted in Editorial, Education, Friend Alert, Travel