Sunday, April 26, 2015

The Cabazon Dinosaurs


On the drive to Joshua tree National park we saw these huge dinosaurs along the side of the road, the wee man was sleeping and we had missed the exit so we kept going. So when we came back to my  brother and sister in laws house on the same highway we just had to stop. 

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Honeybell and Avocado Salad



I just adore simple, flavorful and healthy recipes and this ticks all of those boxes. Any orange would work for this recipe and it pairs beautifully with the richness of the avocado. Honeybells are a treat from Florida only available in January they are sweet and very juicy.

We often order boxes of oranges from florida in the winter from The orange shop  there's a lovely video on their site about the family grove. I actually wrote their blog a few years ago and helped with social media I have a great respect for Pete he is a world expert in Citrus and truly cares. This is not a paid link as you know I am really not about that.

 I love promoting amazing farmers and folks who make this world a better place. 

Ingredients:

for one 
  • one honeybell or any in season orange, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 an avocado thinly sliced
  • a little salt and pepper to taste 
  • a drizzle of olive oil and a drizzle of white balsamic 
Method:

  1. slice and layer the orange and avocado 
  2. drizzle with oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper
  3. serve and enjoy 



On Earth day we are going to plant some plants with the kids at my daughters school I am excited, I have been weeding and volunteering in her garden, I have also been helping at the farm at the children's home in the strawberry field. If you want to learn about farming and how food grows a little volunteering really helps :-)

Have a wonderful week everyone

Hugs


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Saturday, April 11, 2015

Vegetarian Lasagna



I recently set out to make Lasagna and discovered I had left the beef at the grocery store, rather than head back I figured why not make a vegetarian one and get creative. I decided to use bulgur wheat instead, and layer it with grilled zucchini. It worked so well, and made a tasty and nourishing meal.

Have you ever got home from the store without something and then created a fun new dish?


Monday, April 6, 2015

Joshua Tree National Park




I have always wanted to visit Joshua Tree National park the funny little tree's fascinate me and I love the remoteness and extreme wilderness of the park. Its actually very accessible to Southern California and it truly is like visiting a different planet. 

The park is at the intersection of two deserts the Colorado and the Mojave. Its a land of extremes being very hot with short bursts of heavy rain. The northern part of the 800,000 acres park features the Joshua tree, legend has it that Mormon explorers thought that the tree's limbs resemble Joshua's out stretched hands leading them to the promised land. 

Indian's passed through the area harvesting Pinyon nuts these are just like the wonderful pine nuts we use in cooking and a key ingredient in pesto. 

Later cattle herders passed through you will enjoy the walk on the hidden valley trail as cattle hustlers hide in this area with its big boulders and hidden nooks. We hiked this trail and were treated to gorgeous cactus blossoms and other wild flowers. 

We relished the small window of tolerable weather and spring beauty before the desert heat kicks in. The trail is rocky and the kids slightly grazed their knee's as the scabs heal I tell our daughter those are the marks of an adventurer and she smiles. 





This is a wonderful trail in the middle of the park with picnic area's there are various trails, that are well marked with interesting signs along the way, most are in the first part.

this was actually on the way to Joshua tree but I just loved these pretty yellow wild flowers and the desert scene. I often think most of southern california would look desert like without the lawns and irrigation and with the drought I think we will see a lot more desert landscaping, with drought resistant flowers, cacti and boulders it can look great.




Joshua tree is full of amazing rock formations and a climbers paradise



stunning wild flowers


Indian paint brush after I tweeted this picture the lovely social media staff at the park tweeted back the name 



The mighty Joshua tree, its soft to touch and very slow growing 

Cholla cactus in the Sonoran desert part of the park, a food source for a wren and other desert creatures and native to this area. Be careful apparently the spines are almost impossible to get out









Our visit to Joshua tree National park was magic, America is a vast and beautiful continent with an amazing network of parks, that are awe inspiring and well managed

go have an adventure :-) 



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