A quick hike at dusk

We decided to take a quick hike out to McDowell Creek here in the Valley a few weeks ago, but by the time we got out the door, it was getting dark.  We went ahead and labelled it our, Dusk Hike!  And we had a great time!

It was pretty dark when we reached the waterfall, but the view was still pretty.

The hiking poles that Skylar is holding can be purchases below this post.  They are poles that help you keep your balance and support while hiking in rough terrain or wet surfaces.

What a great little dusk hike.  

Eco-Tip:  Always cover your pots and pans when cooking, it speeds up the cooking time on foods and also saves on energy used for cooking the dish.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Spark of Loves this Week: Safety, Human, Skyline, Skylar, Oven, Trombone, and Flowers

This Video.

Because this would be a flight safety lesson worth listening to for a change.

This Video.

 Because every time I watch it, I will admit, I almost cry......really.

This Skyline.

Because it was what we all saw on our way to take a hike at dusk.

This Picture of Skylar.

Because I think it captures his youth exactly.

This Solar Oven.

Because, gosh darn it, it's fun to cook with.  Instructions coming soon on the blog.

 This Vintage Trombone.

Because I can play it, and because it's OLD!

Random Photo of the Week:

  

I miss the little summer flowers growing in the yard.  

Eco-Tip:  Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging of products whenever possible.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.

    

Reading the wine bottle

Opening a wine bottle is really rather easy and most people freak out a little when cork gets in the wine inside the bottle. That doesn't really affect the taste, but it could be a bit embarrassing if it pours out into a wine glass with the wine. 

Even if you pull the cork out perfectly there is still a chance that some cork could end up in the wine inside the bottle inevitably but having a good cork screw is important as well. Having a cork screw that doesn't do it's job, can mean more work for you pulling the cork out and possibly more cork chips to end up in the bottle too. Look for one with a rounded spiral and a handle that's easy for you to grip. Metal spirals are the best for digging dip into the cork and pulling it out with ease.

When it comes to pouring the wine, fill it only 1/3 full and never to the rim of the glass. You want to leave room for the wine to move around in the glass and allow oxygen to hit the wine to help release flavors in the process. End your pour with a turn as you come up to end the wine's forward motion so that not a drop is dripped more. 

Good rule of thumb only decant young and old wines, young wines for oxygen to help with the flavor of the wine and old wines to help remove sediment. 

Always drink wine slow and enjoy the taste. If you sip it fast, you won't get to really see if the wine is one that you will like in the future. Smell the wine, let it sit on your tongue and enjoy the taste and scent of the wine to fully grasp the entire boldness, fruitiness and freshness of the wine overall.

Common Wine Flavors:

• Zinfandel, Shiraz:  Peppery Flavor

• Chardonnay, Champagne:  Toast or Butter Flavor

• Burgundy:   Nutty Flavor

• Pinot Blanc:  Peach or Apricot Flavor

• Riesling:  Citrus Flavor

• Pinot Noir:  Red Fruity Flavor (strawberry)

• Cabernet Sauvignon:  Chocolate or Mint Flavor

• Sauvignon Blanc:  Vanilla Flavor

Look for body, weight, depth, and texture in the wines above.  Your taste pallet may differ from someone else so don't guaranty you will like what someone else does automatically without tasting it. 

Go for these tips in restaurants as well, just don't go for the expensive wines for the first time in a restaurant.  Use that time to spend money on expensive wines for when you are at home.

Brandon's Great Guacamole

Photo credit: avocadopoint.com

2 avocados

1/2 fresh tomato

1/4 onion

1 fresh diced jalapeno pepper

1 lemon squeezed

salt to taste

Cut and scoop two avocados into a bowl and mash the into a paste. Dice half a tomato, a quarter of an onion and one jalapeno pepper and place them into the bowl. Cut and squeeze one whole lemon into the bowl and the salt to taste. Mix the ingredients together and you have yourself a very quick and tasty guacamole.

Enjoy!

Eco-Tip:  Remember, unless you have Celiac Disease your body can digest gluten products.  Celiac Disease is an autoimmune condition triggered by the intake of gluten in genetically predisposed individual.  it is estimated that the 1% of the population have Celiac Disease  but a vast majority of the population still remains un-diagnosed.  If you suspect that you may have CD talk to your doctor.  For this and other tips on going green visit, The Earth and Me Go Green.