Middle Eel River trip- Part II

The coastline of the campsite



After we ended the River trip, BTE and I, as well as JB and KG went to the Coast. We stayed at Mackerricher State Park. I have to say i can't believe how much the camp site cost...$20 and the park manager came at like 10 and said "12 is the check out time, if you stay beyond that time you will have to pay for another day".... Can you believe that, also most as strict as a real hotel.

Can you see the sea lions?

Some strange marine plant

JB and KG took off after breakfast and BTE and I head to town (Fort Bragg) to explore the coast and have some lunch. It is actually a cute little town. It was really windy, so although it was quite sunny, it was still pretty cold. We walked around town to look for a good place for lunch and actually settled on a Japanese restaurant called Taka's Japanese Grill(I know hehe... I love Asian food :P). Who would have guess I have to say it was one of the best Japanese food I have had in a while. Although you can get sushi in Tahoe or Reno, but it is really hard to find home style Japanese food. The sushi there was great!!! Most importantly, no sauce!!! and I got Katsu Don(I miss that.... Tokyo Grill in Toronot!!! The best!!! sorry BTE, I know you can't have eggs). It was fantastic!!! Thinking about it makes me want it :). Then we went for ice cream and that was amazing too. I think it is called Cowlick's Handmade Ice Cream. I got coconut flavour and it was so good. There was like huge coconut chunks in the ice cream...........Yummmmmmmmmmm

All so tasty Katsu don......

In the afternoon, BTE took me to the botanical garden. Yup the botanical garden, I felt like a kid again. The flowers were really pretty and it was at a great location. We had a nice wonderful walk around the garden and enjoyed some sheltered sun. We were supposed to stay for another night, but the weather was turning grey on us so we decided it would be better off for us to head home. So we went to the grocery store, grab some snacks for the road and ON THE ROAD AGAIN.....Thanks BTE for doing all the driving :)

I know this post is pretty long, but I just had too much fun!!! I didn't want to go home at all. But i guess good times had to end somehow :( but I sure hope that we can do this again!

My first Kayaking trip- Middle Eel River- Part I

Everyone getting ready to be on the river!

I know I am slacking off again with my blog. Well same excuses...again. I have been busy. A lot happened in the past couple months, not only that field season has started, I also went on my very first kayaking trip with a group of amazing people and of course BTE :). Well my very very good friend CC and PN from Toronto also came to visit, but I will talk about that in my next post....

MIDDLE EEL RIVER first!!!

Four days on the river.............I was actually really nervous before this trip cause I have never done this before. I think I am the only beginner in the group. But everyone was really nice and encouraging, especially BTE was extremely patient with me.

Protection is key!

Before I talk about the actual river trip, I have to talk about the drive down. I thought I was going to faint :) Those forest service road are simply my biggest enemy, I got extremely car sick and thought I wouldn't make it. Ran into some pirates on the way down :) (They are actually our friends)

Thanks to BTE sister, I get to be on an IK (inflatable kayak, that is how everyone else called them). They are really comfortable and I felt really safe in them. To start, BTE tied my IK with his so he can guide me through the river.

C cruising on the river


I flipped!!! I swam my first rapid....and that was really scary........I honestly felt like I have to fight for my life. But the funny thing was, while i was trying to grasp for air and keep my legs up so they won't hit the bottom and get caught, but i was also thinking I can't let go of the paddle. In my mind I was like " I really want to let go of this paddle so I can use both of my hands to hold on to the boat, but I know this paddle is probably pretty expensive" I can't believe I was thinking about that while i was fighting for my life... I guess that just means it was that scary after all :)

J and K having a snack on some warm rocks

After my swam, I all of a sudden felt a lot stronger, so I detached myself from BTE and went on my own :). I actually paddled some little baby rapids by myself :)

Enjoy some videos!

After being on the river for three days, we finally got to the put out at Dos Rios.......

To be continue-

Bacon Fire!!!

Here is an action shot of BTE creating this Bacon Fire at CS most recent bond fire.....Details will come later :)

Thanks to Asian Clams...I am on the internet

I know I am already on the internet with this blog.....but this is different.......I am on the internet because of a NPR radio show!!! That is what is exciting :)

Plus it is semi-related to my work which makes it even more exciting :)

It is a recipe for cooking Asian clams.......Link



You have to scroll down almost to the bottom to see it....

Look for the title "Asian Clams invade Lake Tahoe" with a large clam picture and there it is....

Corbicula fluminea is the newest non-native species in Lake Tahoe. We are doing a lot of work to try to find out more about them. Here is a recent report about them if anyone is interested...Link

You can also hear all about it on the show :).....the link is with the recipe

Now lets start cooking Asian Clams :)

A tricky bbq pork bun business.......

I don't even have a picture of them this time, cause they got devoured so quickly.... it is not even funny! The one above is from a while ago :)

Even since the first time I made them........BTE, CS, and MW have not stop requesting them......I have even recruited the whole of Ryan household to make some a while ago...........

Since I haven't made them in a long while, I decide to produce some to satisfy those hungry minds :)

I said I was going to post the recipe a long while ago, but i forgot.......so I will do that this time..........

Cha Siu Bao (BBQ Pork Buns)
Make about 12

Dough

2 ¼ cups of All purpose flour ( I usually use 1 ¼ cup of bread flour and 1 cup whole wheat)
3 tsp baking powder
½ C white sugar
2 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp water
8 tbsp milk

Procedure:
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix all dry ingredients together (flour, sugar and baking powder)

2. Add milk to the mixture and mix it with your hands until the flour completely absorbs the milk

3. Add water and mix it with your hands until completely absorb

4. Add vegetable oil and try to form dough. At this point the dough is still not very smooth and elastic.

5. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead for about 15 to 20 mins until dough become smooth and elastic

6. You can also do all that with the bread maker just follow the procedure of adding the ingredients

7. Cover the dough with saran wrap and let it rest for an hour

8. Divide dough into desire size, row them flat with a rolling pin (roll the edges thinner for easier wrapping) and is ready for use

Filling

1 C diced BBQ pork (pork marinated with Chinese BBQ sauce and cook either on BBQ or in the oven)
½ C diced onion
*I also like to put other vegetables in them, e.g. yellow squash, zucchini

Seasoning for the filling

½ tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp Chinese cooking wine
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp ketchup
1 ½ tsp soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
2 ¼ tsp corn starch
5 tbsp water

Procedure

1. Heat oil in medium low heat and add chopped onion in pan, sauté until golden brown (about 5 mins)

2. Turn to medium high heat, add pork and sauté for a few min

3. Add Chinese cooking wine and give it a quick stir

4. Add all other seasoning (except corn starch) and 3 tbsp of water and allow to simmer for a few min

5. Mix corn starch with remaining water and add the pork mixture

6. All the sauce to thicken (keep stirring)

7. Turn off the heat and add sesame oil and mix well

8. Allow to cool and sauce thicken

9. Ready for filling

Buns

1. Fill flatten dough with fillings

2. Steam for 8-10 mins on boiling water until bun become nice and fluffy


I usually have to put them into bags and separate them so everyone gets a fair share of them........and this is how much they love them.......

CS and BTE came home after a day of boating and wanted some...... but they weren't going to share, so each of them took one out of their own bag..............then when CS was about to leave.....BTE was like "do you want to look after MW's bag?"............and CS was like "of Course......extra buns for me"...................I had to hide MW's in the freeze so they won't disappear into the boys' stomachs......

Then the next day I ask BTE if he can bring MW's pork buns to her at the soccer game.....and BTE's response was....... "sure..... but it will cost her.......one pork bun for delivery"........

See......BTE and CS have also went as far as wanting me to make "all you can eat pork buns" for them.........

See that is why it is a tricky business........I can only make some many.........sigh

but Thanks, boys and girls for loving them so much :)

Happy V-day........1st with BTE

Now into what had happened so far in Feb :)...............

of course of course the Hallmark holiday..........Feb 14.........V-day

The week prior to that..... BTE was at a week long ski trip and at first he told me that he might not be able to make it home on V-day.......and I told him we can always just do it another day.....but then plans changed and he actually made it home......I was super super excited cos it was the first V-day I had with BTE..................he was so cute when he first came back....all mountain man looking!!! It might be weird, but it is actually my favourite look of his.........he is simply a mountain person :)




Anywaz..... since he just got back from his trip, we decided that we should just stay home Sat night......I wanted to treat him with a nice meal.......so I went to Whole Foods and got a bunch of fancy food to make


And on Sat night Feb14......BTE became the first customer of DOT (hehe long story... but basically, if i have a restaurant, it will be named DOT)


and what was on the menu of DOT that night......lets see........


Pan seared Scallops with a saffron Kaffir lime cream sauce





Eggplant Parmesan deconstructed (basically the eggplant is not breaded, so no eggs cause BTE can't have eggs, instead I lined the eggplant construction with some homemade 5 seeds bread that i made the day before)





And finally, Dry aged New York steak with caramelized sweet potatoes and red wine pan jus




Pretty fancy eh..... even impressed by myself :)



The next night, BTE actually took me out for dinner which was really really nice........We went climbing first and then went to this restaurant in Incline Village called Frederick's..... Frederick's can be considered a restaurant that serves fusion food....... California style of food with an Asian twist................We had an awesome night........in fact it was so great that i only remembered to take one picture in the beginning........


and looking at it..... my food is pretty up to par when compared to what is out there....wouldn't you think?

Panko fried oyster and Caesar salad

Thank you so much for everything BTE.......looking forward to the next V-day we will have :)

Chinese New Year.......@ the BLUE!!!

Well Chinese New Year was celebrated a couple of weeks ago :)..................and I hosted this awesome party at the BLUE :)

I was great because i got to celebrate Chinese New Year with some Chinese New Year virgins.......and based on data collected and my analysis.....everyone had a great time.


What better to do with a house full of people and super cold outside? Chinese Hot Pot...........

KD and M, S and A, CS, MW, BTE and I, plus R................we all tried to wear red for good luck and eat and drink till we were too full :)

I got loads and loads of food.... with all kinds of exotic ingredients............and Since AS is a vegetarian.... we had one meat pot and a veg pot........I was so glad that everyone was super adventurous and tried and pretty much liked everything!!!





It looks like everyone is enjoying themselves.......NO? Look at all those mad chopstick skills!!!



Then BTE and CS had a apple pie baked off..............and guess who won :)..... My mighty BTE!!!


the funny thing is we had so much left over that we had a second hot pot night the next night.....and it was still very enjoyable :)


When i looked at that table on that day with everyone surrounding it.....I was so happy I have these friends in Tahoe..........i am so lucky :)