How Steep Was My Valley: Waipi’o, HI
Great aerobic exercise. Spectacular views. Free sun and Vitamin D. 5 hours. 6.5 miles. 4,000' up and down. 2,500+ calories gone. Cost of admission: nothing. Trail food: $3.
The Winter Spice Rack
If you're trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat, winter's a challenging time. Way less variety at the farmers market. So take what ya got and spice it up. $25'll get you three blends that last for months and breathe new life into your winter diet.
Chilaquiles
The great, traditional Mexican breakfast. A huge amount of flavor. A great balance between the sweet corn, the tart and spicy salsa verde and the rich, mellow scrambled eggs. A wonderfully satisfying breakfast for less than $1.50.
Cast Iron Cornbread
The cast iron pan puts a thin, crunchy finish on a warm, soft, light, crumbly bread. 30 minutes start to finish. 10 minutes or less of actual preparation. 20 minutes in the oven turns your home into the best-smelling bakery in town. Great bread for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Living Room Olympics: Luge Training
Sounds like something slow and lazy. You lie on your back on a strange sled. But then you slide around an icy track at 90 mph. You don't just lay there. You have to steer the thing. With your calf muscles. Really. Time to strengthen and stretch your calves, huh? C'mon, stand up.
Slower Sunday: Chill
Not at all clear yesterday. But, now, the morning after, total clarity. Glad I got out of bed. You would have, too.
Orangettes: Chocolate-Dipped Orange
I love dark chocolate. I hate to waste food. So I was delighted to see what happens when you give an orange peel a quick dip in melted chocolate. A very adult candy. And each orangette weighs in at 5 calories and costs less than 5 cents.
The Walk That Ate Amsterdam
Walk alongside or float along Amsterdam's more than 60 miles of canals. Follow my footsteps for a brisk seven-mile tour; burn about 900 calories in three hours. Or do it the Dutch Way: make a few relaxed stops along the Way to eat and drink.
Chilly>Chile>Chili
Serious, real-deal chili. Deep, broad and complex flavors. There's much more going on here than just heat. With or without carne, you just need great chile powder to make a great chili when National Chili Day meets a Way-Too-Chilly day.
Hard, dry and fresh: Heirloom Beans
For dinner. During the winter, when the ground freezes and our CSA farm share goes dormant. These "new" beans are delicious. Some are meaty, some are kind of creamy. Some are dense, some are quite light. They all have a load of flavor.