eating artichokes minus the butter

I love artichokes, but I have only ever eaten them accompanied by an ocean of melted butter. Mmmmm butter... sorry not the point! I have been searching for a healthier way to eat this vegetable, but didn't find anything that looked adequate. So, I made my own concoction. 

Making artichokes in this way is simple and much healthier than dipping each leaf into melted butter and tastes almost as good! 

• boil water, olive oil, lemon juice, Italian spices and s + p
• cut off the stem and the tops of the leaves
• steam your artichoke for 20 minutes
• while it is steaming, add more oil and spices to the top so it can soak up the flavors
• remove your creation, add cheese  (I used grated parmesan), let the cheese melt
• devour

Let me know what you think! Also, how do you guys prepare artichoke? Happy eating. 

namaste 

my new puppy: australian shepherd + border collie

Guys, I just had to.  This is my new puppy! His name is Lebowski, but I call him The Dude based on the 1998 film The Big Lebowski. If you've never seen it, see it now!

The Dude and my other dog, Calli. She is a golden lab and he is a border collie and Australian shepherd mix. 

He loves to cuddle. And play with this toys..... 

O.K., I'm done now. Is it too obvious that I love him? Have a great night everyone and if you're having a bad one, hopefully these pictures will cheer you up. 

namaste

filling and healthy breakfast parfait

Ingredients:

• sunflower seeds
• berries
• low fat yogurt
• granola
• chai seeds

What to do:

      First, soak about 2-3 tbsp of chai seeds in water for at least 20 minutes until they become squishy (for lack of a better word). After your chai seeds have soaked up all that water, place them at the bottom of your glass or bowl. Then add yogurt, granola, yogurt, berries and finally, the sunflower seeds.  Obviously, feel free to vary those layers according to your preferences. This breakfast parfait keeps you full and energized all morning.  The chai seeds expand further in your stomach, making you feel satiated for longer. And who doesn't love the salty, sweet combination of sunflower seeds and fresh berries? Yum! Please add your own flare to this breakfast dish, and let me know what you come up with! 

namaste 

lots more moab pictures

 I have been getting some requests for more pictures of my trip to Moab this Spring Break.  This is me humbly complying with said requests.  This picture is from my first campsite in Elephant Canyon of the Canyonlands.  Absolutely stunning view, but the high exposure made for a cold, windy night. There is no way you can fully appreciate these rock formations from a simple photograph, by the way. 

This is from the same campsite, but a different perspective and time of day, obviously.  Seeing the dark rock formations against the fading sky was artistic in itself, I just snapped a photo.  

Speaking of rock formations, this one caught my eye. Does anyone else see a phallic nature to this particular rock? Or is it just me and my mind in the gutter alone?! This is near my second campsite in Lost Canyon. Much more protected from the elements here and close to a fresh water source. Score!

If you have never been to Moab or the Canyonlands, these little piles of rock are what guide you along the trial.  Known as cairns, these man-made piles of rock are a trail marking idea created in prehistoric Eurasia. I really loved searching for the cairns as I wove my way through canyon after canyon.  It made me feel like I was on the right path, but still, in a sense, creating my own. 

My favorite formations I saw were these "mushrooms." They come to be through erosion and weathering of the weakest layers of rock first, which are under a stronger layer, creating the mushroom effect.  The picture below also shows signs of weathering.  I was obsessed with the textures, grains and diversity of all the rock here.   

This last photo is of me just starting my journey into my first canyon.  Along the trail there are a few ladders and this hand rail, but be warned, backpacking in the Canyonlands is not for the out-of-shape individual.  You are truly adventuring when you backpack here.  Which, in my opinion, is just how I like it.  What fun is anything if there is no sense of danger accompanying it?

namaste

goji berries: a himalayan superfruit

     Sun-dried goji berries are my new obsession guys! They are known as "power food for the modern lifestyle," but let's be honest, none of us live a modern lifestyle. That just wouldn't be any fun. I like to refer to them as a Himalayan superfruit packed with vitamin A, vitamin C and iron. Still, my favorite benefit of this delicious berry comes in the form of protein. A vegetarian's dream! Goji berries have been used in Asian herbal medicine for more than 5,000 years and provide beta-carotene, antioxidants and trace minerals necessary for a healthier you. As seen above, I like to pair my berries with some sort of nut, but are also very tasty in smoothies, tea, yogurt, granola and salads.  Other uses? How about an awesome snack while camping, hiking and adventuring? Finding this beneficial of a food that actually makes my taste buds happy is a rarity, a rarity I would like to share with you. Make sure to buy your goji berries certified organic to receive the full benefits from this superfruit. 


namaste

gear for moab: a relationship, an art

Gear of all sports and activities is one of my favorite things to talk about.... and spend money on. Your gear is a pure extension of your soul and body. Okay, okay, so maybe it's not that important, but it is pretty essential to whether you have a good adventure or a not so good one. As seen in the picture, I use several "vintage" pieces of gear. My tent is a backpacking tent called a walrus.  Complete with quick set-up, spaciousness and rain flaps, this lightweight, two-person tent easily serves its purpose.  Also pictured is my large Coleman Peak 1 External Frame backpack, an item I am not as in love with.  However, after living out of a backpack for several days, one tends to create a bond with that pack.  It is pretty obvious to me that, that relationship is one of love and frustration.  I really need a new pack.... (any suggestions?) 

A  love-filled relationship has blossomed between the MSR Pocket Rocket backpacking stove and myself.  This 3 oz. stove is shockingly powerful and boiled about two cups of freezing water in less than two minutes.  I'm not trying to advertise here, I'm honestly saying this is my favorite piece of gear I currently possess.  And how important it is, considering how much I love food and tea!

 
All packed up with my stove, pots/pans, tent, food, book (Tao the Watercourse Way), extra layers, climbing shoes, maps, massive amounts (and pounds!) of water and a 0° sleeping bag, I was pretty exhausted after the first day of hiking.  Somehow I managed to somewhat accomplish tree pose atop this interesting rock at the start of my journey into The Needles of Moab, Utah.  Gear can be your best friend, your only chance of survival, but it can also be a real pain in the ass! What is some of your favorite gear?

namaste