Monday, December 30, 2013

Tamale Class

Two weeks ago, (December 14th), I signed Dave and I up to learn how to make Tamales!!  About 4 years ago we were the lucky recipients of a plate of hot homemade tamales from our Hispanic next door neighbors when we lived in our West Jordan house.  They we SO GOOD !!  We were tempted to ask if we could join them for their Christmas eve dinner of traditional tamales.  When I saw that the Harmon's Cooking School was offering an authentic class in tamales, I told Dave I was going to take it and he said he'd join me.

 OH BOY !!  Maybe we can make Tamales for our neighbors this year!!  And look - we're going to get the recipe for real Mole' sauce, (yea).
 Here we are, all excited for class - poor fools.  We have no idea exactly what lays ahead of us.  There are a total of 15 in our class and it's a lively group for a Saturday afternoon.  Well Let''s dive in.  We have a 4 hour class a head of us.
 Here is our instructor, Chef Kimberly Larsen - if you've ever watched Utah television, you've seen her doing lots of cooking demonstrations on all the local stations.  Next to her is the Harmon's Cooking School Coordinator, Casey Boethorpe.  He is a "gas" to have in class, so funny and entertaining.
 Lucky for us our chef pre-made the first 2 batches of Masa Dough and the Mole Sauce - or we would have been there all day.  We discovered that the mole sauce is an "all day" project.  and judging from the recipe it is one that I will definitely want to do in the fall when my garden is producing all the wonderful fresh produce.  And there are an arm's length of items needed to make the sauce!!!  It only takes a small amount of each item, but it takes so many items, (it's like cooking Chinese food!!).  But we did have to make our own corn and poblano filling.  This stuff is yummy.  It would be delicious in a burrito or an enchilada.  And 2 class members volunteered to make 2 more batches of dough during class - it takes about 1 1/2 hours for the dough to sit and be processed.  The chef also cooked up the chicken and pork to save time.
 Here are some of the chilies that we used in our tamales.  We learned that chilies have one name when they are fresh and a different name when they are dried - hmm learned something new.  Some of these babies were real tongue burners, I learned that the hard way - Dave loved them!!
Here a look at some of Dave's tamales and next to mine.  When and if we ever make these at home, I told Dave that I will do the cooking and the make all the dough, sauces, and fillings - he can do the tamale rolling, since he does a better job.  We each make 10 chicken, 10 pork, and 10 corn and poblano, (the mole sauce is mixed in with the chicken and pork fillings).
Here's our little babies in the steam bath getting ready to cook.  Another hour and we'll get to taste our creations!!
 OK - so here's one of the finished products!!  Time to open it up, put it on a plate and see how it tastes!!   OH MY GOSH !!!  These things are DELICIOUS !!  Dave and I each eat about 5 of our tamales and then realize that we have to stop, or we won't have any to take home for supper.
As a surprise for the class, our instructor made a dessert for us.  It is called "Tiger Butter".  It's basically a layer of chocolate with a layer of peanut butter on top.  It's very rich.  It taste very much like a Reese Peanut Butter Cup, Dave's favorite candy - so he of course loved it.  Me, not so much.    Well time to box up our tamales for home!!













Just in case your wondering - NO we did NOT make tamales for Christmas and our neighbors.  It's rather expensive to buy all the ingredients and it's very time consuming.  So the next time you pay your $1.00 or $1.50 for a tamale - be grateful.  That's a cheap price for the amount of work that goes into making a very delicious meal.  But there's still hope that I will slowly gather the items I need and make these wonderful delicious little bundles.  I'll start with the mole sauce, which I can make in the large batch and freeze this fall then I can purchase my corn meal, lard, corn husks, etc. Then one Saturday I'll cook up some meat and mix up some dough and by night fall I'll have a freezer full of these little guys.  And if your lucky I may even share with you!!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Best Friends Animal Sanctuary - November

Last month, Dave and I went down to Kanab with our friends, (Neil and Karen) to volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary for a couple of days.  Here are some of the photos of our trip:

 Here's the entrance.  The scenery around the sanctuary is spectacular!!  If your ever looking for some worthwhile volunteer work.  Go to the website, sign up, then go down for the weekend.  You will come away amazed at the wonderful work this organization does!!  We arrived on Friday around noon and took a short 1 hour orientation.  Then received our name tags and volunteer package.   We were assigned our Saturday and Sunday work areas.
 Saturday morning from 8:15 - 11:30 were were assigned the Bunnies.  There are currently around 450 of these little guys in all sizes and colors.  The most adorable things.  They try to adopt them in pairs, as bunnies do much better with a mate than solo.  Did you know that bunnies mate for life and if their mate dies the bunny will go into depression, get very sick and sometimes die from respiratory problems that they get when depressed.  They don't take to a new mate very well either.  There were a couple of bunnies with stuffed animals to help them adjust to solo life.  It is so sad.  We spent the morning cleaning cages, giving them fresh straw, clean bedding, taking soiled bedding to the laundry room, giving them new toys to play with and socializing with bunnies, (so they are adoptable).  I was ready to take about a dozen home.
 The bunny area also houses guinea pigs and hamsters.  They have about a couple dozen of each available.  As you can see, Dave made a new friend.  This little guy just snuggled up into Dave and cuddled, then started cooing.
 This brother seemed to like me.  We moved these guys outside for some fresh air and sunshine and outdoor exercise in their larger pens.  By lunchtime, we were ready for a break.  There is a cafe' on site, and it's a buffet for $5.00.  A very good deal - it's all vegetarian, but the food was very good and we were stuffed.  The view overlooks a canyon that is spectacular, and I so wish I had taken a picture.  Everyday a bluebird would fly over at exactly noon, land on the outside patio for a few minutes.  But by the time I could get up to take a photo, he would be gone, (darn it).
 Saturday afternoon, from 1:15 - 4:30 were were assigned the cat area.  This was great.  First I washed a few cat dishes, while Dave swept the cat patio, (as you can imagine, there is red dust everywhere - but they keep everything everywhere very clean).  Next we folded some towels, and cat blankets, (every building has it's own laundry facility - and they are in need in some buildings of new washers and dryers.  I wish I had a contact that I could work to get them a couple of new or even used washers and dryers to replace their older units).  Dave and I swept the floors, then we were assigned to socialize with the cats, (so they are very adoptable, all animals get human socialization everyday so that they are ready for adoption at the "Pet Super Adoption" fairs that are held several times a year by PetCo and the "Strut Your Mutt" walk a thons.)   Here I found a new friend who didn't want to leave.  He crawled up into my arms and sang me such sweet songs.  I was ready to load up the car and take a couple dozen home.  But I don't think Callie would have liked that!!

This little lady sure keep an eye on Dave.  She had a sassy look, but she was the sweetest little thing.  She just purred and purred.
 This little lady also like Dave.  It think it's because his body heat is so high.  That's why all the animals cuddle with him.
 As were were headed back to the condo that evening, we almost ran over a small herd of deer.  They are very people friendly, stay next to the road and don't mind their photo being taken.
 They just eat and move around so freely.  They know they are well protected from harm here.
 Back at the condo the sky was a little overcast as evening came on....
 But OH THE SUNSET!!!  It was gorgeous!
 On Sunday morning, once again a large buck by the side of the road having his breakfast and not minding us at all.
 Our Sunday morning shift 8:15 - 11:30 was at the Parrot Gardens and Wild Friends.  We didn't get any photos inside and how I wish we had!!  The macaws are spectacular and there is every kind of parrot you can imagine, (cockatiels, cockatoos, peach face, etc.).  The sanctuary was originally started because of the need to rehabilitate eagles, and other wild birds or to rescue them from situations that were endangering to their life.  Best Friends is one of only a couple in the United States that is authorized to perform the work with the wild birds.  They have a complete separate area set aside to rehabilitate and release back into the wild birds that are brought to them.  Unfortunately they also have a lot of birds that must live the rest of their life here because they  can never be rehabilitated or they are too humanized or to injured to be returned to the wild, (or adopted out for those caged birds).  So sad.  We cleaned bird cages and houses, feed nuts to the birds, and talked to the talking parrots.  We were able to get a private tour from Virginia, (she's been with Best Friends for 27 years, and she showed up all around the Wild Friends area and told us the stories behind the animals that were in their care.  One tour of the facility and you walk away with a whole new appreciation for wildlife.

Dave noticed that his Thanksgiving dinner was wondering around the grounds.  But no one on the grounds thought is was a funny joke.  Most everyone who works full time is a vegetarian.


We didn't get any photos of our time at dog town.  Bur believe me when I tell you - they have a ton of dogs that need homes!!  Any color, any size, any breed, anything you want in a dog - they got it!!
On our way out Sunday - yup old Bucky was still out by the road.  He also had his does close by.



Best Friends have people from all over the United States that come to volunteer and one lady comes each year from Taiwan to work for a week, and yet they are still in desperate need of help, especially during the months of November through March.  They are also in need of towels, blankets, throws, animals toys, and cash.  But mostly your time.  Anyone over the age of 12, (with a parent), can volunteer to work.  And they have work that anyone can perform.

I learned to much just in the 2 days that I spent here.

GREAT ORGANIZATION, DOING GREAT THINGS

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

10th Anniversary - Oahu and Kauai trip

This year Dave and I celebrated our 10th anniversary!!  We decided to fore go our annual trip to Cabo Mexico and instead combine 2 Hawaii islands into one trip.  This would be our 3rd trip to the islands in 7 years.  Since we haven't been to Kauai, we decided to spend 5 days on Oahu and then an additional 5 days on Kauai.  It was a long trip, but so worth it.  Here is a brief photo view of our trip.

 Dave surprised me by having a flower lai greeting at the airport.  We received these large gorgeous lais.  And they lasted completely until the end of our time on Kauai.  Everywhere we wore them, we received compliments about how pretty they were.  I felt wonderful wearing them and smelling their wonderful fragrance.
 Of course we did our usual trip to the Arizona memorial.  It had just barely opened up, after being shut down due to the government shut down because of budget cuts.  This trip is always so emotional and makes me so proud of being an American and so proud of our military and the sacrifices that they have made for us.  One can not walk away with out feeling sadness and yet pride for what our men in uniform go through.
 After a stop at the USS Arizona memorial, we stopped by the Buddhist Temple again.  It is another peaceful stop.  These monks always present such a serene welcoming place to all who enter.  Dave of course loves to bang the large gong.  It is believed to bring good luck, and Dave wants to bring as much good luck as he can, so he always bangs it extra loud.
 One day we just took a drive around the island, enjoying the scenery.  Dave always loves the ocean and how the breeze feels on his face.  The sound of the ocean at night just helps him sleep so peaceful.  And our weather was so perfect on Oahu, (in the high 70's every day).
 And who can't take a perfect photo on the North shore when you have scenery like this?
 And of course what trip wouldn't be complete without our stop at the Dole Plantation for our pineapple ice cream cone.  I swear those people must be putting cocaine in this stuff - it is so additive.  I could eat it everyday and not get tired of it.  I just love, love, love it!!!
 I have always wanted to go the Aloha Stadium Flea Market - billed as the world's largest outdoor flea market.  So we went one morning.  It's $1.00 for parking and free admission.  The place is wall to wall vendors as far as you can see.
 There are vendor with home made goods - we got some of the BEST bar-b-que sauce made with honey guava, and some guava butter, (yummy), and some pineapple coconut spread, (just from this vendor).  We bought some of the best meat/cheese filled breads from another vendor - this made for a wonderful supper back in our condo.  And the food trucks, so many to choose from!!
There were jewelry vendor - many who made these own wares.  I purchased several nice pieces.
 And many crafts/artists who were making their wares there on-site.  You could watch them make your item and they would special make what you wanted.
This artist was making tiki sculptures.
 There were spices and foods, so very exotic, some just from the islands.
It was interesting seeing the different items.
 I was introduced to a new item called Li Hing powder, which when sprinkled on fruits that are not very sweet makes them VERY delicious.  It is only produced in Hawaii.  I purchased a large bottle and brought it home, it really does work well, even on fruit that is a few days past it's prime time.  This vendor was very helpful, even told me where to buy it in town to save money - so I wouldn't pay a lot at the flea market.

 After lunch, Dave asked how much more is there - I took a photo and said here have a look.   It just goes on, and on....
 A couple hours later, we finally gave up and went home, and we hadn't even went inside the Aloha Stadium to see those vendors!!  If you go, bring a good pair of walking shoes and lots of money, there are a lot of sales to be had.  When we got back to the Condo we just collapsed.  But we got quite a few things that we wanted.
 One day we just took it easy and walk over to the beach, (a block away), and spend the morning swimming in the ocean, laying in the sand, and enjoying the view of the city.
 Then on day 6, we flew to Kauai.  It's easy to see why they call this the "Garden Island".  It very beautiful.  But was everyone warned us, it's a small island and there's not much to do, but relax.  Which was perfect for the last 5 days of our vacation.  We were just wanting to relax and unwind for a few days.
 We were greeted at the airport car rental by the official tourist greeting committee.   Everywhere on the island chickens roam, (talk about "free range chickens" this is the place).  Dave said the only place he didn't see chickens on the island was outside the KFC stores.
 The island his some of the most beautiful sites, and the waves are truly a surfer's dream.  Much larger than the North Shore of Oahu.
 With the blue sky and the mountains, it makes for great photo opportunities.
 The weather on Kauai was very, very, very warm.  It was in the high 80's everyday, and very humid.  The locals said that they were having summer time weather, and it was unusually hot for the middle of October.  Dave was taking a shower every morning and every afternoon trying to stay cool.  I was just fine with an afternoon dip in the pool, (which I though was really a little too cool).
 One of the first things we did was go to an official Luau, (on our 2nd night).  They picked us up at the condo, so we didn't have to worry about driving.  It was served buffet style and so much food.
 This master carver was displaying his skills at the Luau.
 Making these tikis
 Our entertainment was very well done.
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to visit farmer's markets.  I love the colors and to see what is being sold and displayed in various parts of the world.  You will always see these photos in my blog posts.  I have gotten ideas for some garden plantings visiting various farmers and talking with them.  So when I saw this sign, I told Dave we had to stop.   I found out that this co-op was comprised of 13 area farmers who grew and crafted everything that was sold at this market.
 You will noticed a glass jar on the table.  Everything is on the "honor system".  That's right, just take what you want, and put your money in the jar.  The farmers are very trusting, and the one farmer said that they feel that if you have to take the food from them without payment, then you must really need it more than they do and they hope you are able to help someone else later down the road for free.
 Some farmers made breads, jams, pulled pork/chicken dishes.  All being sold without the city inspector standing over their shoulder.  And yet the food was wonderful and I might add delicious.  At one stand, Dave had fresh cold coconut, and the farmer saved the shell when Dave finished, so that he could carve it into purses, etc.  Nothing went to waste.
 The food was fresh, and as I picked it up and felt it and smelled it, I was reminded on picking fresh from my own garden the wonderful smells of my own produce this summer.  Again notice the jar for payment on the table - what a wonder way to do business.
One afternoon we drove around the Southwest side of the island, very different from the rest of the island.  Very dry.
 This guy - I called him "Lucy", that short for Lucifer.  That's because EVERY morning at 6:30 when the sun started to rise he made sure to wonder around our complex and tell us it was time to get up.  And he didn't stop crowing about it until around 1:30 in the afternoon.  And then he would find a nice shady shop to curl up and sleep the afternoon away.  If I could have bagged him and delivered him to KFC - I would have.  I was very proud of his job, being the morning alarm clock!!!
 There were 2 highlights on our trip to Kauai.  The first was our stop at Waimea Canyon.  This is Kauai's Grand Canyon.  Dave and I read articles about it prior to our trip.  And we definitely had this stop at the top of our list of sites to see.
No magazine photos are articles can do justice to what you see when you stand at the canyon and look out over the area.  It is like the Grand Canyon, except it is filled it lush vegetation.  The colors are spectacular.  The reds of the rock, the green plants, the blue sky.  On most days, the canyon is foggy and misty.  But we were so fortunate that it was a clear day and we could see for miles in both directions.  This was what we wanted to see and the trip was so worth the drive up to the top.


 The 2nd thing we wanted to do was a cruise along the Na Pali coast line to view the cliffs.  This area is not accessible by car, only by boat.  So we booked a dinner cruise with Captain Andy's the 4th night on the island.  The weather was perfect and we couldn't wait.







The views were spectacular.  We learned that Kauai was the only Hawaiian island that was never conquered during the many island wars, because of these cliffs providing protection.
 The Kauai people only had to protect the one side of the island, anyone who tried to come ashore would smash their war boats before reaching the cliffs, and the few who reached the cliffs couldn't scale the rugged cliffs.  They were the best defense the people had from outside islander's attacking.
It was a beautiful afternoon ride.

 This photo of Dave and I against the Na Pali coast line, was the one we chose for our Christmas card this year.
On our return this back to port, this is the sunset we were luck to catch.  There was a storm out on the ocean and most of it was covered over, but a few of the rays broke through for a quick photo.




 Finally at the end of our last day, we decided to kill some time by visiting the local street fair in town.
 lots of vendors and craftsman, displaying their goods, but our suitcases were already at maximum weight, so I didn't dare buy one more item to take home.
I found it interesting that this carver decided to paint his tiki bright colors, made them very interesting.
 We then drove over to the light house lookout
 Here the state bird, (the nene), roams freely.  They weren't afraid of humans, this one walked right up to me as I was taking his photo and posed quite nicely.
Finally back to our condo to pack up and get our flight back to Oahu and straight on to Salt Lake non-stop.  The nice thing about these new non-stop flights are that it's only 6 hours and your home with no layovers.  Next trip, we will probably visit the big island.  But whatever island, I'm sure we will love it as much as we have loved Maui, Oahu and no Kauai.   It was a wonderful way to celebrate our 10th year anniversary.  Now on to our busy November month.

             HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DAVE - LOVE YOU !!