After seeing some great recipes for French onion soup, I decided to try my hand at the dish. The end product was a success!
The soup was actually very easy to make - it just took a while to cook the onions.
Anybody have experience with French onion soup?
Back in July, we decided to head down to the Eastern Sierras for some hiking. Our first time in the area was rewarding and spectacular. I highly recommend visiting.
On day 2 of our trip, we drove up to South Lake (elevation 9768') to start a hike. After trekking 6 miles one way, we finally reached our destination: Bishop Pass. At 11,972 feet above sea level, it was the highest I've ever been on land. The view from the pass was incredible - the expansive lakes we'd been hiking along earlier looked like puddles you could splash in.
Then it was only 6 miles back on tired-out legs...
While hiking along a stream in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, I came upon this little cascade and pool. The creeks in Las Trampas are something else, descending from rugged canyons into the flat valleys below.
Anyone else have some waterfalls nearby?
Donner Creek in Mt. Diablo State Park. To get this photo, I got down into the rushing creek with my tripod in the water. It really is an amazing creek, exciting and interesting. Upstream, in the canyons, there are several large waterfalls.
Here's a delicious dessert that I made earlier this summer. It's great for a hot day, when you just don't feel like you can stand the heat anymore. The graham cracker crust is tasty...
The poison oak is getting some amazing color right now. Although fall doesn't officially start until Monday, the plants can tell that the seasons are changing.
This cascade is on the North Fork of Big Pine Creek in the Eastern Sierras of California.
The creek, fed by glaciers high in the mountains, flows down through the camp of Glacier Lodge and continues into the town of Big Pine. It really is an amazing creek, rushing and cascading over waterfalls and boulders.
Second Lake, near Big Pine, California.
This lake is fed by meltwater from one of the southernmost glaciers in the United States, the Palisade Glacier. The finely crushed rock washed downstream from the glacier gives the lake its milky, turquoise color.
A backlit fern in the hills of Las Trampas Regional Park. The sun was just setting through the California bay trees and it was illuminating this fern.
Anyone gone hiking lately?
I just made this quiche lorraine from a recipe found in a 35-year-old French cookbook, La Cuisine Toute Simple.
The quiche was actually pretty good. Just make sure you use plenty of Gruyère cheese - that makes for the best flavor!
It's foggy outside right now, but that hasn't stopped the morning glories from opening.
The fog probably has, though, stopped the tomatoes from ripening...
The 'Heavenly Blue' morning glories are finally starting to bloom vigorously. What an amazing color for a flower...I have never seen anything like it.
One of the many 'Grandpa Ott' morning glories this summer. They are actually experiencing a second bloom period, and the 'Heavenly Blue' vines are just getting started.
Does anyone else have some morning glories this year?
Zebra longwing butterflies at the Golden Gate Park Conservatory of Flowers in San Francisco.
They're hosting a live butterfly exhibit right now...
Another photo from today's visit to Redwood Regional Park. This park is just minutes from Oakland, and a short drive from the inland East Bay.
It was 98 degrees inland today; at Redwood, it was 83. Talk about relief from the heat!
Walking on the Stream Trail in Redwood Regional Park.
Although located a mile from Oakland, this park seems a world away. Huge, 150-foot+ redwoods stand majestically along the trails.
You will be craning your neck most of the time...
The 'Grandpa Ott' morning glories are going through a second bloom period. There were over 50 flowers on the plants today!
The 'Heavenly Blue' vines are not blooming much yet, but there are a lot of flower buds...
These are 'Grandpa Ott' morning glories. They have been doing very well despite being confined to a container. The 'Heavenly Blue' vines are much taller though, and lusher.
Anyone traveling through Pepin, Wisconsin must stop at the Harbor View Cafe.
All the plates they serve up are delicious and creative. I was at this cafe back in July on a trip and was amazed by the superb food.
Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area and the cafe is open.
P.S. The one on the top is "Lake Pepin Lime Pie" and the one on the bottom is chocolate buttercream pie. Which slice would you like?
