13 Ekim 2012 Cumartesi

2 (fabulous) uses of leftover yogurt dip

To contact us Click HERE

I have tucked the rest of the meatballs from last week into the freezer, along with the rest of the stash I am leaving for my parents as a thank you for a superb month in the mountains of Idaho. But, I still had a bunch of the yogurt dip on hand, and that won't freeze. Lucky for us, we enjoyed the last of it two ways today, both of which I highly recommend:


For brunch, I placed a dollop of the yogurt sauce on each person plate, then topped it with a poached egg (or two). It was creamy deliciousness spread on the accompanying rosemary bread.


Later in the day, I marinated chicken breasts in the rest of the yogurt dip + lemon juice + olive oil (everything into a big zip-loc for about 30 minutes), and grilled it for a quick and easy summer dinner. As you can see with the kids' plate above, I also made good use of the rest of the grilled veggies we'd had with the meatballs (adding them to a boxed Seeds of Change blend I found in the pantry out here)... tomorrow it'll be back to cooking, as I think I successfully used everything up on Sunday!

this summer's (red) gazpacho!

To contact us Click HERE

Chances are, it's either hot, hot, hot where you are.... or you're feeling the (achem) social nature of summer catching up with you, and you're wanting to indulge in something healthy. I've got you covered on both fronts with this cooling, refreshing, and flavorful soup. Earlier this summer, I posted a recipe for "green gazpacho" which is soooo good if you haven't tried it yet. And, a few years back, I shared my recipe for a chunky gazpacho, made with all sorts of shredded veggies. That one was good, but this summer's version is even better! I am listing the ingredients below, but I'll leave the amounts and ratios up to you, as this should be made to taste and take into consideration what you may have on hand...
Summer of 2012's Red Gazpacho(not to be confused with Summer of 2012's Green Gazpacho!)
(2-3) organic bell peppers (I used red + yellow), seeded and rough chopped(1 small) fennel bulb, white part only, rough chopped(1-2) organic cucumber(s), peeled and rough chopped(5-7) medium organic tomatoes, rough chopped (1/4-1/2 cup) kalamata olives, pittedsalt + pepper, to taste
optional: corn relish (which I found at our local Whole Foods in the produce dept) as a topping
Pulse everything in a Cuisinart, until desired consistency. Will store for several days in the fridge. In fact, it's even better day 2+ because the flavors really start to meld. 
Here it is in photos for those who like a visual....

Before everything is pulsed, it takes up much more room in the food processor....

So, I filled my bowl to capacity, and pulsed the first batch of ingredients until well-blended.




Then I added a bunch more tomatoes, and blended it again, until it reached the thickness I desired.


Voila! There you have it! So easy, so healthy and so delicious.

the first batch of this year's lunchboxes

To contact us Click HERE

If you saw my post over on the full plate blog's Facebook page, you know that I pulled a total dingbat move last night, starting to make lentil soup at 6:00pm... even though dinner should have been ready by 6:30 at the latest for the (hopeful) 7:00pm bedtime. Or maybe it was subliminal, and I really wanted grilled cheeses for dinner, and to not have to make dinner tonight? Either way, we had grilled cheese last night... and the lentil soup finished cooking mid-evening, and I packaged it up so we could enjoy it tonight. But first, I popped a small portion into today's lunchbox.

apple cider as a (super special, he picked it himself) treat + a small portion of lentil soup in the thermos + half a grilled Applegate ham and cheese (which he'd be enjoying cold, good thing he's not picky) + organic strawberries + English cucumber slices


As you guys know, I try to keep our meals colorful. That's the easiest way for me to know our meal is healthful, and to ensure that my children are getting a bunch of fruits and/or veggies throughout the day. No matter what I am planning for dinner/the next day's lunchbox, I try to stay ahead of the curve by having some prepped (washed + cut) fruits and veggies at the ready. This makes assembling my children's meals super easy. Here are a few more lunch boxes from last week to provide some packing inspiration.... and remind you to set aside some of tonight's dinner if you can, so your packing is simple!


organic raspberries + "rainbow" tomatoes and cucumber slices + organic strawberries + baby carrots + cream cheese and jam sandwich + Greek yogurt (don't forget to include a spoon!)


organic dried cranberries + a slice of pumpkin bread + some of the homemade "mac and cheese" (remember the re-purposing post from last week!) + steam broccoli (again, from dinner the night before) + chicken-apple sausages (yes, you guessed it-- from dinner the night before)


turkey-vegetable Bolognese (again from that week when I was re-purposing the extra cheese from the Feta-Fig appetizers... this sauce was studded with lots of cauliflower, broccoli and carrots so I didn't include an additional veggie in his lunch today) + a bit of fruit salad + a fruit smoothie

2 new food crushes: treats to keep in my purse

To contact us Click HERE

This is a quick post because I am fully immersed in an Autumn detox where I am enjoying whole foods... but no sugar, dairy, meat or gluten for a little bit. Our family meals have been delicious and filling, and I have allocated my free time to crossing things off my to-do list, and really taking care of myself.  Doing a re-set like this makes a world of difference in my life.
OK, so real quick-- In the course of this detox, I came across two new food crushes that I want to share. I found both of these at our local Le Pain Quotidien when I met a girlfriend for bday lunch. I did a little searching and you can also buy the energy mix pictured up top directly from the Chukar site here or on the REI site. The one I love is called "Nuts Over Bings". It's a simple combination of dried cherries, pecans, cashews, almonds and a bit of salt and has quickly become the snack I pop in my purse in case I am hungry and out and about. 

They also sell a spendy (but totally worth it, if you're looking for a healthier *treat*) granola bar. Made by Westport, CT-based Nothin' But which sells their yummy bars a lot of places in CT/NY. I've tried some of Nuthin' Buts other bars, but this one is definitely my favorite. The bar pictured above is made with: organic oats, cranberries, raisins, currants, hazelnuts, almonds, honey, olive oil, organic coconut, almond flour, almond butter, brown sugar, quinoa puffs, vanilla, sea salt and cinnamon.

I am wishing it didn't have the added sugars, so I could enjoy it this week. But, it's good to know that a delicious alternative exists to the 'junk' I sometimes pick up when I am craving something sweet!

whole foods detox-friendly treat: coconut-almond "candies"

To contact us Click HERE

After 7 days of eating exclusively whole, unprocessed foods + drinking lots and lots of water + making more of an effort to get out and exercise several times/week + setting aside time to relax and get enough sleep, I am thrilled that I have kicked some of my bad eating habits.  Several months of dining out, and simply operating on "vacation mode" this summer had taken their toll. It happens to the best of us.

When I was craving something sweet last week, this was a simple treat that hit the spot.

Simple Coconut-Almond "Candies"
pitted datesunsweetened shredded coconutraw almonds, soaked*
Slice dates in half. Roll inside of date (which is quite sticky) in unsweetened coconut. Press a soaked almond into the date. Enjoy!
*Place raw almonds in a bowl, and cover with water. Place into fridge overnight, then drain and store in fridge. The almonds will be fresh for 1 week, after soaking, if stored in the fridge. The almonds will be softer and soaking will make it easier for your body to digest all of their nutrient goodness, including protein, fiber, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. 
p.s. Dates also pack a nutritional punch, being loaded with minerals, antioxidants and fiber.... but they do have a high natural sugar content, so don't indulge in too many of these sweet treats!

12 Ekim 2012 Cuma

Saturday, September 22, 2012

To contact us Click HERE

 

Saturday, September 22, 2012:
Jesus said: “My people, I point out to you My greeting: ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’ This Gospel is about listening to My Word of the Gospel. You are fortunate to have Bibles so you can read My very words as recorded by My evangelists. In the first reading you heard how you are made up of body and spirit. The body seeks earthly things, while the soul seeks to have rest from its Creator. In order for My faithful to grow and bear fruit, you must listen to My Word, and place it in your heart. It is only by your providing fertile ground that My Word can grow in your heart. By focusing on Me and living a holy life as I did, you can go forth in performing good deeds for your neighbor out of love for Me and love for them. I give you My Word, but it is what you do with My Word that will allow you to profit from My direction for your life. Not all people have open hearts to receive My Word, and some even reject My Word. These are the souls who need your prayers, since without your help, they could be misled on their path to heaven. Keep praying for them, and they could be saved. You can help your neighbors with the physical needs of their lives, but helping to save their souls by your prayers would be the most important gift that you could give them. Remember to keep listening to My Word, and you will gain eternal life in heaven.”

Jesus said: “My people, I am showing you this lonely crucifix as a representation of the many locked churches where I am a prisoner and I am alone in My tabernacles. You are fortunate to find Adoration chapels where you can come and visit Me in My monstrance or My tabernacle. I am God, yet people should have more access to visit Me in My Hosts. I understand why churches are locked to prevent vandalism, but each area should have one chapel open for people to visit Me. I am a loving Being, and I desire to be with My faithful who believe in My Real Presence. I enjoy every moment that someone comes to keep Me company. Come to Me and share your daily troubles with Me so I can calm down any of your fears. Allow Me to give you discernment in making any major decisions in your life. I love My adorers very much, and I thank you for every visit that you take time to come and see Me. I love you and I want you to share your love with Me. It is a beautiful time in Adoration when you can pray to Me in contemplative prayer. Take five to ten minutes to pray with Me in silence. Be open in your hearts and minds to listen to My words. If you can hear My words, you need to place these words in your journal of secrets. If you have a spiritual director, you could share these words with him. I give gifts of prophecy to many souls, but they need to be open to Me in order to share My words with others.”

http://www.johnleary.com/index.php/2012/10/05/saturday-september-22-2012/

Sunday, September 23, 2012

To contact us Click HERE

 

Sunday, September 23, 2012:
Jesus said: “My people, I set a child in front of the people to show them how much I love the little children and the unborn children. My people should know that every person has a body and soul, and each person is a temple of the Holy Spirit. This is why every person is important to Me, and each soul is equal in My eyes. So do not discriminate between some people you may like more because of any difference in their clothes, their race, or their financial status. I call all of you to love everyone equally as I do. This means to even love your enemies which is hard to do, but with My grace you can try to do this. In the vision I am comparing your President of power to the least person in your country. You are to respect each life equally if you want to work toward your perfection. In your society the unborn children are not protected from abortion, but their lives should be just as important as any other living person. Pray and fight abortion in your country so these little lives can be protected.”

http://www.johnleary.com/index.php/2012/10/05/sunday-september-23-2012/

Hopefully It Will Hold Up for Another Use!

To contact us Click HERE
Photobucket
We found out if we put our hands out while Brandon was spinning him, we could all smack Joshua in quick succession.Joshua laughed and said "You're kidding me?!! You are all going to gang up on me at once?!"
Um, yep!
Photobucket
Use the force, Brandon!
Photobucket
Look how intense Brandon looks, and look how big Amanda is smiling!
Our favorite piece of playground equipment is this swing. When Caleb was a baby, we put him in his car seat in the middle of that tire to quiet his colic. That was the gentlest use it has seen from the Asbell Gang.

'Bye Buddy!

To contact us Click HERE
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
We had three large dogs come to our house in the middle of the night. The Golden Retriever stayed around. The other two ran off. This one was smitten with Hannah and Emily! He'd follow them every where! He even walked forwards and backwards to stay close to them while they were on the swings. After going on three days, we figured he didn't know how to get home, so we fed him and put up signs. You can see how grateful he was for the food above. I am happy to report he has found his way back to his owners! She saw our signs on Monday and called us right away. She really loves her dog and is so happy to have him back!

Old Family Pictures

To contact us Click HERE
A lifelong friend of mine was commenting on how much our children look like Clint and I did when we were younger. So, Clint and I dug out our pictures to see for ourselves. We will try to share more pictures from our childhood in the coming weeks.
Photobucket
I can really see Bethany, Emily, and Hannah in the picture of me. I was three.
Emily bites her lip like that all of the time. Now we know where she gets it from!
Photobucket
I can see Joshua in this picture of Clint (sitting down). Clint thinks he was 13 here.

11 Ekim 2012 Perşembe

Good News!!

To contact us Click HERE
God has been gracious to our family once again! PTL! The sleepwalking issues she's had do not look like it played any part of Amanda's accident. If it had, she would have to surrender her driver's license! No need for further testing! No need for follow up visits! (And, they think her sleep issues are GONE for good! Won't know for a few years yet, but it looks that way!)

For everyone who has prayed for her during this, thank you!

Amanda said "What looked like the worst day of my life led to some of the best news of my life!"

Homemade Window Cleaner

To contact us Click HERE
This the recipe I have used for window cleaner for close to 25 years:

1 cup distilled vinegar
1 cup clear ammonia
1 cup isopropyl alcohol
1 tbsp dish detergent

Pour through funnel into one gallon container. I use recycled vinegar bottles. Fill the rest of the way with water.

When I need a new spray bottle, I purchase window cleaner from the dollar stores. You can't beat a new sprayer already filled with cleaner for $1. These sprayers last much longer than the empty spray bottles I have purchased. I have even tried industrial bottles and found they don't hold up as long.

Sometimes I leave out the alcohol if I do not have it on hand. Adding it boosts cleaning power and helps the cleaner evaporate which helps eliminate streaking.

When I make my cleaners, I make several gallons at one time. To me, it makes more sense to pull everything out once and make enough to last a good while than to make smaller quantities every week or two. It saves me a lot of time. I try to keep around 15 spray bottles on hand so there is always plenty filled and ready to go into helping hands.

One of the most important rules you can follow when making your own products or medicines is LABEL EVERYTHING CLEARLY WITHOUT FAIL. It's a safety thing. Your family is worth that extra few minutes to grab a permanent marker and make a label. I write the recipe right on the bottle too. Sometimes I will mark the line for each ingredient as it is added so all I have to do is pour. 

Difficult Situations and the Process of Change

To contact us Click HERE
I've learned in the past two years that the outcome might not be as important as the process of change we go through during difficult situations. Those difficult situations and the people who cause them can be blessings if we allow God to change us.

Last fall, we thought God was going to finally restore a relationship Clint and I have prayed over for many years. Clint and I desired to welcome this person and their family into ours and to surround them with the love God has given us for them. It went from bad to worse because the person came in pretending to want to be a family while he was hiding things for personal gain. Clint and I have forgiven him and stand ready to welcome him and his family in with love should he ever contact us. 

Looking back, we see where in response to the Lord's leading, that making changes in our hearts to help the situation might have been more important than actually restoring the relationship.

God blessed our ministry and testimony through this. Our oldest children said we provided them with "a touching testimony about love and forgiveness." Amanda told us "For you two to keep loving them and being open to a relationship after all you have gone through, you are just incredible! I am glad you are MY parents!" Our friends told us they admire our walk with the Lord and have inspired them to forgive others. A man wrote and told us he is reading his Bible again. People have told us of how they reached out after hearing our story and were able to mend broken relationships. You can not put a price on things like this! God is good!

Like in our situation, He will carry you through whatever it is as long as your mind is stayed on Him and you genuinely try to walk in obedience to His Word. 

We can't always fix our situations or breakthrough to the difficult people in our lives, but we can fix our minds on God and let Him breakthrough in our hearts and ministries.

'Bye Buddy!

To contact us Click HERE
Photobucket
Photobucket
Photobucket
We had three large dogs come to our house in the middle of the night. The Golden Retriever stayed around. The other two ran off. This one was smitten with Hannah and Emily! He'd follow them every where! He even walked forwards and backwards to stay close to them while they were on the swings. After going on three days, we figured he didn't know how to get home, so we fed him and put up signs. You can see how grateful he was for the food above. I am happy to report he has found his way back to his owners! She saw our signs on Monday and called us right away. She really loves her dog and is so happy to have him back!

Career Path

To contact us Click HERE
Photobucket
We are very proud of your hard work, Brandon!
Brandon has consistently been on the Director's List (3.85 or higher GPA) in his college. He has done so well in his studies that recently a professor sat down and spoke with him. That professor laid out a career path for Brandon that will have Brandon making a six figure salary within the next 4-6 years. He also gave Brandon some valuable tips for shortcuts in his education that will save money and time. This path will open many doors for Brandon to accomplish a vision for a ministry he has. This needs to be put before the Lord to see if this is the path He has for Brandon. There are also many goals to accomplish between now and then. We are excited for our son and are asking you to pray with us for him. Thank you!

10 Ekim 2012 Çarşamba

Guess Where I'm Wandering 2?

To contact us Click HERE
Guess Where I'm Wandering 2

By far, one of the coolest things I've ever done. After going out on a boat to see the powder blue icebergs closer, I got to touch them where they washed ashore downstream.

I topped off the day with the most amazing, and controversial, meal. And earlier had another first, the oldest thing I ever ate.



Bought a speedometer before the trip and saw that I walked 7.69 miles today. And 4.74 miles yesterday. I'm bushed and have an early morning flight. So that's all for now.

*****
1 year ago today,
2 years ago today,
3 years ago today, Chinese Scallion Cilantro Dipping Sauce.
4 years ago today, Choosing a Blog Host.
5 years ago today, prickly pear cactus fruits, golden kiwis, Taiwanese white melons, and yellow watermelons.

Guess Where I'm Wandering 3?

To contact us Click HERE
Guess Where I'm Wandering 3

After four visits to this country, I finally got to see this area.

The day after I got into town, my cousin suggested that we leave that very evening since the weather today isn't supposed to be as bad as it's forecast for the next few weeks. I saw tons of waterfalls and cute towns, and about 10 minutes before the boat was about to dock, rain gushed down. Just in time!

Guess where I am now?

P.S. I should also point out that I'm now in a different country than 1 and 2.

*****
1 year ago today, How to Make a Homemade 3-tiered Cupcake Stand.
2 years ago today,
3 years ago today, Dragon Fruit Bud.
4 years ago today, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (Chinese Garden) (Spring) - San Marino.
5 years ago today, Korean fried chicken at Kyochon Chicken - Los Angeles (Koreatown).

Guess Where I'm Wandering 4?

To contact us Click HERE
Am I making these too hard? This one should be very easy? A major international award is presented each year at the city hall building here.

Guess Where I'm Wandering 4

Today, my cousin and I went to a festival on the waterfront in front of city hall. Panjabi MC was performing on stage when we arrived so it was packed! I ate Pakistani Lahore fish (lovely spices) and chicken tikka and a chickpea kebab wrapped inside naan, finished off with a mango lassi.

The city hall seems like a pretty obvious clue to me? And if you've been reading for a while, you know I have family in Europe in this country, which has a large ethnic Pakistani population. And a good-sized Vietnamese population too, obviously.

Since it's my fourth visit here, it'll give me a chance to catch up on the blog. I'll probably still do these updates though after I hit up some of the tourist spots that I haven't been to since my first trip 15 years ago.

Where am I?

*****
1 year ago today,
2 years ago today, dragon fruit blossom abundance.
3 years ago today, dragon fruit blossom extreme close-up.
4 years ago today, part 4 of my How to Start a Food Blog Series - Picking a Name: Be Clever, Original, and Memorable.
5 years ago today, Deep-Fried Squash Blossoms Stuffed with Basil and Cottage Cheese.

Guess Where I'm Wandering 5?

To contact us Click HERE
Guess Where I'm Wandering 5

So you figured out I'm in Oslo, Norway. This is one of my favorite spots that my cousin took me to on my first visit 15 years ago.

This park features several hundred statues by one artist, who donated all his sculptures to the city. The sculptures run the gamut of human emotions and ages. I'll show you some of my favorites in more depth later.

Where am I?

*****
1 year ago today, Ding's Garden - Alhambra (Closed).
2 years ago today,
3 years ago today, my sad little tomato harvest.
4 year ago today, a garden tour and outdoor party.
5 years ago today, whipped cream, clotted cream, Butter with a handheld mixer.

Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon

To contact us Click HERE
19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 1

Let's backtrack a little to the beginning of my trip. While looking for some places to take Gourmet Pigs, a quick Google search for Portland and pie turned up this Travel+Leisure article on "America's Best Pies" mentioning a vanilla salted caramel apple pie. 

Pie! In Portland! I was all over that. Since it was on the northeast side of town, I figured we'd stop off for a late afternoon snack after a morning chasing waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge.

Of course we had to order the aforementioned vanilla salted caramel apple pie.



19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 2

Brandied peach, flirty berry, and Kentucky pecan. Too many choices!

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 3

Coconut cream, banana cream, chocolate cream too? And savory pies? Catalan vegetable, chipotle pork, and old-fashioned chicken pot pie. I should have ordered the chicken pot pie then because it was all out on my next visit. But I was saving room for dinner with my parents.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 4

What I liked about Random Order's pies are that they're made with an all-butter crust, made from scratch, from local and seasonal ingredients. Notice the flour is from Bob's Red Mill - Milwaukie - Oregon.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 5

We ended up going with the vanilla salted caramel apple, flirty berry, and banana cream pie.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 6

The banana cream pie was THE BEST BANANA CREAM PIE I'VE EVER HAD! Yes, all caps was completely justified in describing this pie. The crust was flaky and light. You know those butterfly cookies with the flaky layers? The crust was like that. The whipped cream was homemade and not too sweet. I seriously was in awe at how good the pie was.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 7

While the vanilla salted caramel apple pie was good, it wasn't revelatory for me as the BEST BANANA CREAM PIE EVER. I turned down a dollop of whipped cream, but I should have figured out that the whipped cream was homemade so don't pass it up.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 8

The flirty berry, a combination of blueberries and raspberries with lemon and a dash of nutmeg, was good too.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 9

We lingered for a while in the cafe, vowing to return before we left town. I kept looking over the pie menu, trying to decide which ones I wanted to try. I needed reinforcements if I was gonna try them all!

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 10

So on my last full day in town, after an epic day that ended at The Tao of Tea - Portland - Oregon, I made a quick run to Bob's Red Mill to grab some spices for my mom, and met up with my second-oldest nephew and Darlene of Blazing Hot Wok for brunch.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 11

Between the four of us, we ordered nine pies. Three savory slices (one of which we sent home with the nephew) and six sweet pies.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 12

Darlene declared the coconut cream pie to be her favorite.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 13

The brandied peach featured peach slices simmered in their own juices with a wee bit of brandy, topped with a lattice crust. I made sure not to pass up the homemade whipped cream this time.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 14

Kentucky bourbon pecan. Yum. Yum. Yum.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 15

Shaker lemon, paper thin slices of whole Meyer lemons in lemony custard. A little tart to counteract all the sweet.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 16

No way was I passing up the chance to have another slice of THE BEST BANANA CREAM PIE EVER!

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 17

The chocolate cream pie featured three kinds of chocolate, unsweetened, dark, and semi-sweet. Forget any other chocolate cream pie you've ever had, this was sooo good too. Not too sweet and just perfect.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 18

They were out of the chicken pot pie, so we got Catalan vegetable.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 19

And chipotle pork.

19 Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon 20

Surprisingly, everyone liked the vegetable pot pie a lot more. Very flavorful and hearty. The chipotle pork was just OK. I'm bummed that I missed out on chicken pot pie.

The sweet pies are about $3.75 a slice and the savory pies are about $4.50. The pie slices are generously portioned and the quality makes it well-worth it. There's a cocktail menu so you can order drinks too. Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery is my new favorite must-visit whenever I'm home.

Random Order caters whole pies for weddings too. Remember that episode of "How I Met Your Mother" when Marshall and Lily are planning their wedding and he smiles at the mention of wedding pies? That would be me. Mmm. Wedding pie.

All Oregon posts can be found with the tag Series: Oregon, but I suggest reading this particular trip in this order:
I'm Coming Home
Bunk Sandwiches - Portland - Oregon
Horsetail Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Multnomah Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Wahkeena Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Bridal Veil Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Shepperd's Dell Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Latourell Falls (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Crown Point Vista House (Winter) - Columbia River Gorge - Oregon
Stinging Nettle Soup
Stinging Nettle Tea
Nai Xao Xa Cuon Banh Trang (Vietnamese Sauteed Lemongrass Venison Rice Paper Rolls)
Thirsty Lion Pub and Grill - Tigard - Oregon
Reuben Sandwich
Argyle Winery - Dundee - Oregon
Hawks View Cellars - Sherwood - Oregon
Clyde Common - Portland - Oregon
Teardrop Cocktail Lounge - Portland - Oregon
The Secret Society - Portland - Oregon
Toro Bravo - Portland - Oregon
Spanish Radicchio Salad with Manchego Olive Vinaigrette
The Tao of Tea - Portland - Oregon
Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery - Portland - Oregon

Random Order Coffeehouse and Bakery
1800 NE Alberta St.
Portland, OR 97211
971-340-6995
Monday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday to Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

*****
1 year ago today, Las Cunadas Rosticeria and Mexican Restaurant - Alhambra (Closed).
2 years ago today, Earth Machine compost bin.
3 years ago today, Dau Hu Nhoi Cha Tom voi Sot Chao Ot (Vietnamese Shrimp Paste-Stuffed Tofu with Fermented Bean Curd Chili Sauce).
4 years ago today, Pinkberry - Los Angeles (Koreatown).