A Hidden Jem

I knew it existed... but it took almost 40 years of living in the valley before I finally got to walk the trail myself. Tucked away in the foot of the south mountain is a little jem, Moorses Falls, but it's not surprising that few people, aside from the locals and some hiking enthusiasts  are privy to it's location. We tried to find the trail a few years ago and although we were in the right area, we missed it. It wasn't until hubby was working in the area a few weeks ago that he stumbled upon the trail entrance.

There are no markings visible from the road...but go in a few feet and there is a small sign pointing the direction of the falls.

The babbling water was beautiful and clear.

The trail was really a foot path along the steep left bank of slate rock, moss and straggly trees. 

We found it easier to walk on the water bed 

although I should think that would be impossible in the spring 

with the higher water levels.

The first falls.

The second...and larger falls.

The pictures do not do the falls justice.

...or me either...he he he

We put our faith in the rope left hanging down the cliff edge and we went up...but we didn't come down. We felt safer to just to continue along the path, coming out on the 101 and walking the long way back to the truck. The distance to the falls is a very short hike from the trail entrance and, along with the longer walk back to the truck, the hike took us just an hour. It was a beautiful hike on a fall day and we will go back. I could tell you exactly where the trail entrance is but won't. The link with general directions is below...finding the path is on you.

http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Moores-Brook-Falls-near-Kentville-NS-6659

Happy Walking

The Ultimate Optimist

Well, I certainly didn't see that one coming.
It just kind of crept up on me
over the last few weeks and now,
I have to admit, I have become
 a
"procrastinator."

I, who has always believed it best to tackle
a task head on and get it done.
Hubby,
on the other hand is wired differently,
 and will often spend more time planning his approach to doing a job
 than the actual task itself.
It's been the source of frustration over the years.
I once bought him a Nike sweatshirt
when their trademark motto was
"JUST DO IT"
but it didn't help.

I am inflicted with a lackadaisical attitude
and it's feeling real good!
Perhaps my fast approaching retirement date
and the prospect of lots of free time in the near future
is responsible, but more and more I find myself  putting off things
I could be doing for another day.

That explains why I haven't walked in over a week
...but I will get to it!

An elderly lady on CBC yesterday said her husband
always claimed that,
"procrastination is the purest form of optimism"
...because procrastinators have an
absolute certainty
that there will indeed be
 a tomorrow
...and that works for me!

 

Mom's Banana Bread

We love bananas, and between what we eat ourselves and what I give to the daycare kiddies for snacks, we go through a lot in a week. Sometimes it's hard to judge how many to buy,
often ending up with over ripe ones.
Some go into the freezer for smoothies
but my favorite way of using them is in Banana Bread.
I've tried many recipes, some healthier, than others over the years,
but my mother's recipe has always remained my favorite.
I've adapted it at times by substituting white flour with whole wheat, reducing the amount of sugar and by throwing in some ground flax seed,
but sometimes I just have to have it just as I remember eating it as a kid,
before I was concerned about weight gain
or the heath issues of too much butter.

Sometimes we just need to 
nourish  our souls!

 

Mom's Banana Bread

1 c. sugar
3 ripe bananas
1/4 c. soft butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda


Set oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a loaf pan.
Mash bananas with butter. Stir in eggs and sugar and mix well. Combine the flour and baking soda them add to the wet ingredients. Mix well. Spoon into a loaf pan and bake for 55 min. or until tooth pick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 min. before removing from pan.

Enjoy!

Piggie Shoes

After going almost a month "coffee free" and "wheat free", 

a weekend in PEI 

visiting my daughter and son in law quickly

flushed all my accomplishments 

down the toilet.

 I was taught as a youngster that 

as a guest in someone's house,

 one was to politely eat what ever was offered, 

unless of course 

it was detrimental to one's health.

I would never think to impose my latest dietary "whim" 

on some one else

...and certainly no one had to twist my arm to get me

 to eat all that breaded seafood 

and yummy squares at the Chinese buffet,

...nor did anyone ride shotgun 

and force me to go up four times.

..and I would never turn up my nose at 
my daughter's Blondie Squares

 topped with Peanut Butter icecream.

...I'm way too polite for that. :) 

Now a week later, I am still eating wheat 

and I am back on the coffee,

although only one a day.

...but tomorrow is another day and 
a new start to going wheat free,

coffee free

and commit once again to exercising at least four times a week.

  I have found that running barefoot on the tread,
while not being very safe,
 is easier than running while wearing sneakers.
While it feels more natural going bare,
without a barrier,
callouses quickly become an issue as
 well as the increased
risk for stress fractures.
 I have been considering for a while purchasing a pair of
 barefoot running shoes
but chickened out
and settled for something more conservative
for my little piggies.



Women's-vibram-five-fingers-sprint


Reebok RealFlex
...super light and with purple and neon orange
...still pretty wild.

Yes Dear...There Is Such A Thing As A Healthy Cookie

The hubby likes his cookies...in fact, if you asked him he would say he "needs" his cookies

...a cup of coffee or tea without something sweet to go with it is 

akin to having his nails pulled off...at least you would think so
to hear him whine.
Place him in the cookie isle of a grocery store and he's like a kid in a candy store.
How many times when shopping together have I heard him lament,
"why can't they make a cookie that's good for you?"
Sorry, hubby, there's no such thing,
at least not in the grocery isle
... and some of the "healthy" home made ones I've tried in the past are good,
but not enough to bare repeating.

One cookie recipe that is loaded with wholesome goodness and fiber, although it does contain sugar and butter, that I do make occasionally was given to me by one of my daycare mom's. You can find the recipe for Field Cookies on my post at Getting Back To Basics.


I found this recipe for Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies on Pinterest and gave it a try. I would post the link but I can't seem to find it...I apologize. These have to be the healthiest cookies...and yet they taste wonderful and are so easy to make. Gluten free and made with quinoa and peanut butter, they pack a protein punch...and they are yummy enough to make again...and again.
  

Chocolate Chip Quinoa Cookies

2 cups cooked quinoa (Rinse quinoa before cooking)

1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)

3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

3/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut (I used sweetened because it's what I had)

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine quinoa, peanut butter, maple syrup, salt, and oats in a large mixing bowl.

Tip: Allow the quinoa to cool before mixing it in.

3. Stir in coconut and chocolate chips.

4. Scoop and mold dough into round, tablespoon-sized cookies. (I dropped mine from a tablespoon but they would stay together better if you mold them)

5. Place cookies on parchment-paper-lined baking sheets and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until bottoms are nicely browned. Do not place directly onto the cookie sheet.

6. Allow to cool completely before storing. I found that I couldn’t remove them until they were cool...place the cookie sheet in fridge to hurry them along.

They are yummy but crumbly so serve on a plate.
 

 

  

These cookies were sweet enough that 

the hubby really enjoyed them.

:)

A Perfect Winter Meal

My first workout of the year

...why it took three weeks to get movin', I'm not sure,

but it felt great!

 

...across the  fields

and through the orchards

...mild with no wind...quiet and still

...just the sound of my snowshoes in the snow.

...perfect solitude...

...then home to cook the 

perfect winter meal...

Sauerkraut, pork and potatoes!

I've been craving a good mess of kraut all week.

Although sauerkraut is a German name it is not a national German dish, and is actually eaten mostly in Russia, United States, and France. It is believed to originate in Alsace, a traditionally German speaking region that today belongs to France. All I know is that I grew up eating this stuff and my family origins are German on both my Mom's side...Wile derived from the German name "Weil" and my Dad's...Hiltz derived from the German name "Huls" whose ancestors immigrated here from Germany in the mid 1700's.

Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage and we all know fermented food is good for you. I have certainly eaten my share of not only sauerkraut but turnipkraut, pickled beans and pickled heads (cabbage heads), all which are fermented in basically the same way under a salt water brine. Fermented foods load your gut with good healthy bacteria that helps prevent things like irritable bowel syndrome and also helps to boost a strong immune system. I attribute my robust immune system to a diet that includes fermented foods, like sauerkraut, and lots of home made yogurt...as well as the fact that we didn't have indoor plumbing until I was sixteen. When you come from a family of ten and have to share things like drinking water from a bucket using the same dipper, as well as sharing bath water and using outdoor toilet facilities, a "two seater," you share more than you think... but that's OK...early exposure to bad stuff just makes you stronger.

Although there are lots of ways to prepare sauerkraut, the basic meal of sauerkraut with pork couldn't be simplifier, just add it to a pot along with your choice of meat and simmer for about two hours.  

Start with your choice of pork. Some people like to use sweet pickled pork or ribs, but I prefer using either a fresh pork shoulder or pork chops.

Place meat in a large pot, dump in your favorite brand of sauerkraut, I used two large cartons because we love sauerkraut and leftovers are even better than the first time round. Add water to just barely cover the sauerkraut, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about two hours. I like to cook mine untl the meat is tender and falls apart.

 

Serve meat and sauerkraut along side mashed potatoes, or as I like it...a la mode...add a few generous grinds of pepper and your favorite pickles and you have a delicious hot "old world" meal.

Asian Miracle Dressing

It's been two weeks since I cleared out my exercise room and despite all my good intentions, I've yet to find my way there. While there's no excuse for the first week, I've been laid low this week with a bitch of a cold...but there's always another day. I did get my cross country skis and boots down and my snow shoes and poles are in easy reach...ready and waiting for me to get some ambition. Maybe with the fresh snow we are getting overnight I may just make it outside.

I have been doing a lot better diet wise now that all the Christmas goodies are gone...well pretty good...there's been a few slip ups.

My daughter gave me a bottle of Toasted Sesame Oil for Christmas along with her favorite salad dressing recipe, "Asian Miracle Dressing". I'm not sure where she got the recipe but she had served it to us once on a salad of mixed greens, baby Romaine, goat cheese, green onions and walnuts and it was delightful. I didn't have and greens so I put together a salad using some ingredients I had on hand and both the hubby and I loved it.

Breaded Chicken Breast

Garlic Fried Rice

Chickpea Salad with Asian Miracle Dressing

Chickpea Salad With Asian Miracle Dressing
1 can chickpeas rinsed
1/2 small onion finely chopped
1 small/medium tomato chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 avocado chopped
pepper to taste
Toss above ingredients with Asian Miracle Dressing

Asian Miracle Dressing
1/8 c. balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 1/2 T. maple syrup (I used 1 T. honey)
a pinch of salt
a grind of pepper
1/2 tsp. soy sauce
1 tsp.toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil.
Whisk until well blended

Garlic Fried Rice
3 c. cooked brown rice
1 c. carrot curls
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 T. oil

Saute onion, garlic and carrots in oil until tender, add rice and mix well. I like to increase the heat and fry the rice enough to brown it some.

Tis The Season Again

There's nothing any better than a steaming hot bowl of Turkey soup to soothe the savage beast 

...unless it's a Lemon Meringue pie, 

but the soup is by far the healthier choice 

and when you have a 

beast of a cold,

 it doubles as a natural decongestant.

Turkey soup - the ultimate comfort food.

I usually make my Turkey Soup loaded with veggies, 

but since this pot was going to be shared with my Day Care kiddies

 I went easy on the veggies and added lots of noodles.

Turkey Soup

 To make soup stock use left over turkey bones from the last time you got "stuffed."

Cover with water and simmer for one hour, cool. 

Strain, keeping liquids for the soup. 

Carefully, especially if feeding to kids,

 remove all the meat from bones and add back to the pot with the stock.

 Add: 

pepper to taste

1-2 tsp. summer savory or more to taste

1/2 tsp. sage

2 pkg. chicken bullion

 Add to the pot whatever veggies you want. 

This time I added:

4 potatoes, diced

1 small onion finely chopped

2 c. carrots, diced

Simmer until veggies are tender. 

If you want to add peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower

or noodles, 

add them about 10 minutes before soup is done.

Another handy thing  to assist when battling a head cold

 is a Neti Pot. 

It may take a few times to get used to using one,

 but they really work.

Just add 1/2 tsp. sea salt and a pinch of baking soda 

with slightly warm water and start pouring.

For detailed instructions on the correct way 

to use a neti pot you can 

watch a video here.

But if Turkey soup and Neti Potting

 isn't your idea of pampering a cold 

...there's always Lemon Pie.

You can salivate over this one,

but the recipe

 remains with me!

 

Starting Slowly...A New Years Resolution

Just over six years ago I started on a plan to to loose weight and get healthy and managed to drop thirty pounds through exercise and eating well, and kept it off for the most part...aside from the yearly "Christmas Creep" where I let my diet go to "Hell in a hand basket" and let those festive 10 pounds settle in only to spend the next few months working them back off again.

To loose those initial 30 pounds I bought everything I thought I needed to set up a home gym in my basement, and for awhile I used it on a regular basis. However, the last few years I found that I enjoyed getting outside and walking every day for exercise more, so my little gym became more of a junk room than a gym, and my equipment became nothing more than dust collectors...which was fine as long as I was walking.

My daily walking routine however has slowly petered out over the past year to the point where I am now not walking at all. I entered this Christmas season already over weight and out of shape and easily ate my way to a few more extra pounds. Although I really enjoyed myself while putting them on I am now faced with the task of getting them back off.  Not only do have my own inner voice telling me I need to smarten up, I now have my doctor's voice singing in the choir as well. Making the choice of exercising, eating well and feeling and looking better over continuing on  my present path of feeling lousy while adding to the already fat pockets of the pharmaceutical companies should be a no brainer...right!

After a slow start, I have made only one small but obtainable New Years resolution...

"to clear a path to my exercise room"

...what follows is all up to me.

I can now get into my little gym and move around.

All the boxes I've been tossing in there during our kitchen renovation over the last few months are gone

...actually, they've just migrated to the garage

... but they are the hubby's problem now. 

 

...it's ready and waiting!

 

I should rename this blog "Finding My Ass Again!" because I have been lapsing for some time now when it comes to exercise and eating well and the evidence of my lackadaisical behavior is creeping up on me. So once again, the push is on to get myself motivated to get moving and eat a healthier diet...day three in and feeling better already.

I had a bunch of homemade pesto floating around in the freezer for ages that I wanted to use up so I threw this together in a hurry for supper tonight and I was amazed at how wonderful it taste...and it so quick and easy to make. The pesto I have remaining in the freezer won't be there for long because I will be making these again soon.

Pesto Beef Wraps

  

2 Flat breads ( I used Flax flat bread)
1/2 c. pesto
Cooked ground beef ( I used some left over Taco seasoned beef)
Grated cheddar cheese
Hot pepper flakes (or whatever seasoning you like)

Just spread some pesto over the wraps, sprinkle on ground beef, cheese and pepper flakes and roll. Heat in microwave one to two minutes.

Eat and enjoy!

New To The Garden

...My new garden inductees,

curry and snow peas...

What to do with them?

...Poached Salmon

in the slow cooker.

 It couldn't be any easier...and so good! 

   Just melt some butter in the slow cooker
...use the real stuff and don't be stingy...use a good 1/4 cup or more,
 along with a chopped green onion and herbs. I used of course... chopped curry.
Dip the salmon in the butter to coat both sides.

Top with snow peas, cover and cook on high for about one hour

 (time may vary depending on slow cooker)

Pair it with a fresh garden salad.

(I've been really enjoying Kraft's Olive Oil and Pesto dressing)

For extra favour, 

don't forget to spoon some of the melted butter/salmon juices on top.

OOPS!

How does that song go...

"Oops! I Did It Again!"

Never though I'd ever admit I had anything in common with Britney Spears 

but, like her, 

I keep repeating the same mistakes.

I made it to day 13 on the Skinny Plate Challenge
before falling off the wagon big time
...again.

Source: leilockheart.tumblr.com via Marisa on Pinterest

After a two week lapse of uncontrollable eating...chips,pies 

and loads of ice cream
...plus throw a couple of birthday cakes into the mix
... I realized all that yummy fun eating just couldn't go on.
...so
...back to the drawing board.

Greens anyone?
The garden provideth...lots of mixed lettuces, swiss chard,
 green onions and herbs.
...too bad we couldn't grow avocado around here...

...and something to satisfy
the sweet tooth,

Sugar Free Coconut Raisin Cookies,

...although I didn't bake them yet.

 I froze them on a cookie sheet, bagged and labeled them 

and threw them into the freezer to bake later when it's not

 hot as hell in the kitchen.

And made a big batch of Hummus.

I love Hummus, but I always end up with way more
than we can eat, so this time

I filled three small containers for the freezer.
 I've never tried freezing Hummus before so I'm not sure
 how it will effect the texture.

SUGAR FREE COCONUT RAISIN COOKIES
    1/2 c. butter 
    1 egg

2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
Dash salt
1 c. flour
8 pkg. Equal (or other sweetener)
1 c. raisins
1 c. shredded coconut
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Cream butter, egg, and vanilla until mixed and fluffy. Beat in dry ingredients gradually, mixing well after each addition. Mix in raisins, coconut and 1/2 cup nuts. Form dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet, flatten slightly with a fork and  bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees 7-10 minutes until light golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

or

Form dough into small balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper, flatten slightly with a fork. Place cookie sheet in freezer until dough is frozen. Remove cookies from freezer, bag and label with baking instructions above to enjoy later when you have a craving for freshly baked cookies.

HUMMUS

In food processor blend the following ingredients

1 carrot

2 cloves garlic

2 T. Tahini 

***(or use 2T of any nut meal...I used walnut

...I never but Tahini as it always goes bad before I use it up)

1 green onion

19 ounce can of chick peas drained and rinsed

add

2 T. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/2 c. green olives

1/2 c. brine from the jar of green olives

About 5 T. olive oil or enough to get the texture you like.

I saw for the first time

 a pair of Red-Winged Blackbirds 

while walking around Miner's Marsh on Friday. 

Were it not for the striking red colors on their wings,

 I would have missed them

...so glad I didn't.

Hope you enjoy this song 

by David Francey 

... Red-Winged Blackbird.

Skinny Plate Challenge

Day 13 of 

The Skinny Plate Challenge.

Avocado with salsa, Havarti cheese,

carrots, Sweet Potato crackers,

cucumbers 

and Smoked Mussels.

Skinny Plate Challenge

Day 12 of the 

Skinny Plate Challenge! 

Toss Salad with avocado,

 along with asparagus and pork 

braised in 

balsamic vinegar.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Not everyone was bright eyed and bushy tailed 

on an early Sunday morning! 

I enjoyed all the Dame's Rocket

growing along the 

road way.
I had mistakenly identified these flowers as Wild Phlox until I was corrected
 by my daughter Grace
who has a keen interest in all things wild,
plant and animal.

...would love to dig some up to take home to

 get established in front of my house.

I do have Lupins...

but these look especially beautiful with the 

old barn in the background.

...a bank of Lupins, Poppies and Irises 

...with and good mix of weeds and grasses.

One of the things I like best about this time of the year are the endless fields coming to life.

The cloudy day really brings out the intense green of the fields and hills and the fog hanging over the North Mountain makes it look mystical.

Normally the fields around here are planted with just one crop, soy beans, corn or potatoes like the field above, so I was surprised to find this one planted with a good mix of vegetables...an assortment of lettuces, broccoli, Kale, beets, cabbages and potatoes.

It makes my little veggie patch

 look kind of puny 

...doesn't it?

Where's The Greens?

Where's the greens???

...not here,

the only thing lurking in the veggie bin

 is a lone garlic bulb. 

...which left me going for orange

 for my "Skinny Plate" supper tonight.

Seasoned baked chicken, 

sweet potatoes 

and carrots with chives.

Wish I could say the buttered  popcorn I snacked on this afternoon 

was a "Skinny Bowl" size

... but that's all under the belt now.