Foodie

Free Summer Entertainment

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

Nature has a plethora of beautiful, free entertainment, just waiting to be explored. With the onset of warmer weather, people start crawling out of their dark houses, ready for some sunshine and time outside. Fortunately, both of these are free. There are so many opportunities to enjoy summer with no cost involved. Bonus that all of these options are also good for your physical and/or mental health. Healthy, free entertainment – who could ask for more than that?

Free summer entertainment

Foraging. One of the most satisfying summer activities is to go foraging out in the wild. Think blackberries, huckleberries and mushrooms. It just takes a little research and a small bucket and off you go. When our boys were little, we would trek to an old, abandoned orchard and pick plums and apples. Now we enjoy heading into the woods to forage for huckleberries. Hucks, as we call them, are a small tart berry that pairs great with a little sugar. Matter of fact, we were having company over for a B.B.Q. this week, so I made a berry cream pie with last year’s frozen huckleberries. I got this recipe from a dear friend over 30 years ago and have made it numerous times. It is fool proof. (See pictures below for the recipe.) I have made it with raspberries, and it was equally delicious.

From fresh picked berries to pie.
As you can see, I have used this recipe a lot over the years.

The library. If you haven’t already, go get your library card… for free! The library is a wealth of interesting and entertaining information. You can download the Libby App, also for free. The app allows you to order and download books to your e-reader from your local library. I have had my Kindle for years and use it almost every day. If you are not a reader, you can also get audio books to listen to. Again, no charge.

Walking. Walking is a great option almost all year long, but it is particularly beautiful in the summer months. Take a walk on a nature path or walk around town observing life in the city. Either way, you are getting steps and lifting your spirits. If you prefer, listen to that free audiobook from the library while you take in the sights.

Music. Most cities have free concerts in parks throughout the summer months. Thursday nights seem to be the most popular evening for these concerts in our area. Pack up your own picnic dinner, water bottle and lawn chairs and go enjoy some uplifting live music. Some venues offer adult beverages if you want to dish out a little cash for them. Then sit back and let the music and fresh air sink into you. Or better yet, get up and dance a little.

Nu Jack City was an excellent band with free admission at a city park.

Beaches. Sitting at the beach, sunshine on your shoulders, mesmerized by the waves lapping up on shore is great therapy. Take a thermos of iced tea and a book or just people watch. When it gets too warm, you can take a refreshing dip in the water. Don’t worry, there is no charge.

Hiking. Look into hiking paths in your area. You may be surprised how many are close by. Tubbs Hill is a natural park that borders our city. It has beautiful hiking paths with views of the lake along the way. You may have to drive a little further to get to some hiking paths. Pack up a lunch, grab a friend and hit the trails. The beauty and exercise are natural antidepressants.

Farmer’s Markets. Farmer’s markets abound in the summer months everywhere. They are a feast for the senses. You get to see colorful produce piled up, take in the aroma of fresh bread and paella simmering, while listening to live music. While you do not have to spend a penny to go, you may want to bring a little cash to support your local farmers and get a taste of some wonderful food. Our area has Farmers’ Markets on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays.

Farmer’s markets are a feast for the senses.

History & the arts. For those of you that are history buffs, there are so many historical sites and museums to see. Or keep an eye out for free art shows. Our city has a Friday Art Walk on the 2nd Friday of every month. You can stroll down main street in the early evening and stop in at the various shops to see local artist’s work. The first weekend in August there is a large street fair called, Art on the Green. It draws artists from all over the PNW that showcase their work. Of course, there are food trucks and live music too. It is big enough that you get in a good walk while enjoying the artist’s creations.

Hours of free entertainment after an initial investment

Some things require an initial investment but then you get hours and hours of free entertainment from them. If it is something you know you will use, and it will not sit in the garage to gather dust, then it is money very well spent. If you take the time to look around enough, you can purchase most summer toys on sale or used and keep the initial cost fairly low. For me, two of those have been my kayak and bike. My kayak was a gift, although it was from Mr. U, so it came from the same coffers. I think he got it for me just because he got tired of hearing me talk about wanting to buy one. Who says nagging doesn’t work?

Biking. I rode my old bike frequently after work before I retired, so, I was sure that I would use it a lot once I quit the nine-to-five rat race. Therefore, I bought a brand new one as a retirement gift to myself. One of my favorite places to ride is along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. It is a 73-mile flat trail that was paved over an old railroad. And one of the best parts is that there are a few watering holes along the way.

Beautiful ride along the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.

Gardening. You can’t beat walking out your back door and harvesting fruit, vegetables or flowers from your garden. There is a small initial cost of buying the seeds and then the labor of planting, watering and weeding them, but it is well worth it when you pick that first strawberry of the season. Or better yet, if you are like me, you have a spouse that enjoys gardenwork. If you do not have the space or interest to grow a garden, try being a potager or find you-picks in your area. It is an inexpensive way to reap the harvest without having to put on a single garden glove.

Kayaking. River rafting and kayaking are popular summer activities where we live. Not the big white-water kind, although people do that too. But more the slow, beer in hand, kind of rafting or the stop and sip of glass of white wine kind of kayaking. It is safer to go with at least one other person. Besides, it is more fun that way.

Perfect calm, reflective water for kayaking,

Fishing. You don’t have to buy expensive equipment or a boat to enjoy this hobby. Just throw a pole in the water and then sit back and relax. There are several old “codgers” that gather to fish at a specific area on our small lake. Personally, I think they do more talking than fishing, but hey, connecting with others is part of the health benefit. They spend so much time there that they staked it out with a sign on a tree.

Lots of old fish stories told at this place.

The biggest hurdle

Sometimes the biggest hurdle to getting out and enjoying summer’s free bounty is our own lack of motivation. It takes a little effort. We retire and settle into our favorite recliner and then we don’t want to get out. After all, we reason, we worked our whole lives and so we deserve to rest. However, too much rest will lead to rust and even depression. Joints get stiff and our brains are under stimulated. Summer removes a lot of the excuses, such as it is too cold or rainy. It is the perfect season to get outside. And no excuses that you don’t want to spend the money, because so much summer entertainment is free.

I am sure there are tons of other ways to enjoy summer on the cheap. The possibilities are endless, particularly if you want to get out and be in nature. Think about camping, roller blading, going to the park with the grands for a picnic, or even just laying on your back in the cool grass and watching the clouds roll by. Just turn off the T.V. and boost yourself out of that comfy chair. Let’s take advantage of these beautiful sunny days and get out to enjoy life… for free!

Cheers to the retirement years!

Gased or Not Gased?

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

Gased or not gased? That is the question you will get asked when you order a water in Europe. Initially we had no idea what that meant. We quickly learned that they were asking, do you want your water carbonated or not. Their water is typically served at room temperature without any ice. No wonder they drink so much wine.

Since summer has officially started, it is a good time to think about upping our water intake. Dehydration is the root cause of so many health issues. Think heat stroke, kidney stones and low blood pressure. As a nurse, I have started countless I.V.’s. It is often the first thing you do when a patient enters the emergency room. Not only do you need a line to give medications quickly, but you usually need to hydrate a person. There are a few exceptions when you don’t want fluid overload, such as kidney disease or heart failure, but the typical person is under hydrated.

Lemon and cucumber water is a refreshing drink on a hot summer day.

Aside from health issues, there are many other benefits to drinking enough water. Our bodies are composed of approximately 60% water, so we need to keep it replenished. On top of that, it becomes harder for our body to hold onto water as we age. Water helps remove toxins from our bodies and prevents constipation. It lubricates the joints and helps regulate body temperature. Think of it as the oil that keeps your body running smoothly. Drinking plenty of water prevents dry skin and makes you look younger. An esthetician once told me that staying adequately hydrated was the key to keeping your skin looking healthy and supple.

Now grocery shelves are filled with a variety of flavors of gased sparkling water. They claim to have no additives, but their ingredient list states they are “naturally essenced.” I wonder what that means??? While I like the sparkling water served in cans, I would prefer making my own flavored non-gased water. It is fresh with a light taste, I know exactly what goes into it, it does not contribute to the landfills, and it is virtually free. No additives, preservatives, or calories. And the flavor options are endless. If you are using herbs, be sure to squish them up a little to release the oils before adding them. I bought a glass carafe with a lid to use as my flavored water container. Some of my favorite combinations are:

  • lemon and cucumber
  • strawberry and lime
  • mint and cucumber
  • watermelon and strawberry
  • lime and mint
Strawberry, watermelon with a few basil leaves. A new experiment.

There are countless combinations. I think orange and mint would be fun to try. Maybe apple slices and cinnamon sticks in the fall? The best part is that you can just step out into your garden and gather some herbs and a cucumber or fruit and add it to your water jar. Experiment a little bit. I have not found a combination that wasn’t delicious and refreshing. Unfortunately, we cannot grow citrus trees in our neck of the woods, but cucumbers and strawberries are abundant in season. And you can grow herbs in pots almost anywhere. I use leaves from my mint plants a lot but if you grow your own mint, be sure to keep it in a planter. I planted some in the ground years ago and it spreads like crazy.

Love the abundance of mint but it can grow out of control.

Have you ever arrived at a hotel or restaurant on a hot day and they have a large glass container of water with fruit and ice floating in it? It always puts a smile on my face as I beeline for it. And it is such a welcome, easy addition to do. So, make yourself a carafe of flavored water and go ahead outside and enjoy the sunshine. You will be delighted when you come back in thirsty and find it sitting in your frig.

Have a great, well hydrated summer!

When Life Gives You Lemons – Make Posset

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

We were in Arizona several weeks ago and the citrus fruit was in season – colorful, fresh grapefruit, oranges and lemons. I add lemon slices to my water and squeeze the juice to use for salad dressings and on fish. But what do you do with an abundance of lemons? I thought about lemonade, but that is an awful lot of sugar to drink. Then I remembered a recipe I came across a while ago for lemon posset.

Posset is a British dessert, made with heavy cream. No extra calories in that… ahem. It is silky smooth with a delicate flavor, somewhere between a custard and a mousse. It makes a cool, tasty, light dessert that is perfect for summer. Bonus that it can be made ahead and kept in the frig overnight. Double bonus that it is super easy to make – only three ingredients! Now that is my kind of recipe.

I had never made posset before, but I did have some at a friend’s home a few years ago, and it was so, so good. I had saved a recipe for lemon posset from an IG account I follow called My Little Houseboat. (If you do not follow her, I highly recommend it. It is a joyful little space on the internet.) I saved it mostly because of the presentation she did by serving it in hollowed out lemon halves. I am a sucker for food decor. After all, presentation is half the taste.

There is nothing quite like lemons fresh off of the tree.

Lemon Posset Recipe

This recipe is from the IG account, My Little Houseboat. I modified it slightly by using all lemons instead of a mix of lemons and limes, as she did. The lime in it would also be really good, but I did not have any on hand and I had an abundance of lemons to use up.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/4 cups whipping cream
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 5 Tbs. fresh squeezed lemon juice (or half lime)

Topping:

  • 1 tsp. grated lemon peel (or lime)
  • 1 tsp. sugar

My Little Houseboat

I juiced the lemons and then hollowed them out with a serrated grapefruit spoon. Easy peasy.

Bring the cream and sugar to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly.

Put in a big enough pan that it does not boil over.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Cool 10 minutes. Stir mixture again and divide into 6 ramekins, hollowed out lemon halves or any fun serving piece. Cover and chill until set. This should be at least 4 hours or overnight.

Mix the lemon peel and teaspoon of sugar together and sprinkle over the top of the set posset.

Presentation is everything

I made the lemon posset a couple weeks ago and it was so easy to do. Half of the fun was deciding how to serve it. I put some in the hollowed-out lemon halves and the rest in delicate, antique stemmed glasses. My friend came over for lunch and I served the lemon posset for dessert with honey/vanilla tea. In keeping with my commitment to use my wedding china more (see previous post, Downsizing Dilemma: The Wedding China) I served them using my vintage china dishes. It was sooo good. I will definitely make it again. Matter of fact, I want to try some other flavors of posset now. It could be a high fat summer ahead!

The lemon posset was so delicious and pretty!

Hunkering Down

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

The new year has been rung in, the Christmas decorations are packed away and it is full on winter here in the PNW. I figure you have two choices. You can get depressed and tired of the cold, gray, dreary days on end, or you can embrace them. I spend my time vacillating between these two viewpoints – enjoying cozy evenings by the fireplace and planning my next escape to sunshine and warmth. But we should love where we are. Life is too short not to.

The cold weather makes me want to hibernate at home, read by the fireplace or put on some peaceful music, light a candle and work in my craft room/office. As one reader has commented, “snow means slow.” I like that. So, I have been spending the last couple weeks hunkering down at home, going for walks, then coming back inside to stomp the snow off of my boots and put together a big pot of soup to simmer all afternoon.

Winter food

One of my favorite winter soups is creamy, cheesy potato soup. I found the recipe on a postcard (Western Image) years ago and have made it numerous times. It is hearty soup that sticks to your ribs… and waistline. And if you are going to be home all day anyway, why not make some homemade wheat rolls to go with it? Absolutely nothing goes better with soup than homemade rolls with butter slathered on top (because carbs don’t count in the winter months).

Below is the soup recipe in case you are interested. Instead of using bacon, I like to boil a left-over ham bone and use some of the meat and broth from that. This can simmer for a while which heats up the kitchen nicely for the rolls to rise. I find it easier to bake or boil the potatoes ahead of time and just add the cooked potatoes to the soup. To assemble, make a roux of the butter and flour and gradually add the milk. (I prefer to use a mix of broth and cream.) Then just dump in the rest of the ingredients and heat through. Add a salad and it is the perfect winter meal.

Getting air

In the winter months, it is very easy to hunker down at home, get engrossed in a project and not step out the door the entire day. Who wants to go outside when it is cold and dreary? Besides, it feels like a lot of work to layer on a coat, hat, gloves, heavy socks and lace up boots. But we all need to air out, so I push myself to get outdoors. Once I get out, I am always glad that I made the effort. There is nothing quite as silent and reverent as a fresh layer of snow. Wildlife gently meander through it in search of food, leaving their tracks behind like cookie crumbs.

We have an abundance of these prehistoric looking creatures. It is surprising how big the tracks are that they leave behind. They can also be quite messy in your yard. Normal people clean up after their dog, we clean up after the turkeys.
The dear are the beautiful, gentle animals of our area. Unfortunately, they will eat everything in your yard and garden, which is a challenge come spring.
The moose are a rare treat to see. This one left tracks right through our front yard.

I hope that you are finding ways to enjoy your winter wherever you are – whether it is basking in the sunshine or hunkering down on a cold night. Every day is a gift to be appreciated.

Happy Fall Y’all

Posted on by The Retired Alchemist

If you have followed my blog for very long, you know that fall, or more delicately called autumn, is my favorite season. I want to indulge my senses with the textures, aromas, foods and colors that feed my soul during this time of year. One of our favorite fall traditions is going to Green Bluff. Green Bluff is a community of farmers that cooperate and share their efforts to promote sustainable farming. There are approximately 30 member farms that are all owned and operated independently. These are their personal homes, but they open their farms to the public for you-picks and festivities throughout the year. Each has a unique offering of produce, food, gifts and things to do. A couple weeks ago, on a perfect sunny fall day, we jumped in the convertible and drove to Green Bluff to spend a leisurely afternoon.

Below is a map of the farms and produce stands at Green Bluff.

There is an abundance of fresh produce, with apples and pumpkins taking center stage.

First on the list was picking a few apples, just for the experience of it. We have access to my dad’s apple tree too, but you simply have to pick a few apples while you are there. Mr. U was happy because the plums were also ripe, so we got a few of those as well. We don’t typically buy any of their pumpkins, gourds or vegetables because Mr. U grows them in his garden, but it is still delightful to look at them. Of course I HAVE to have the fresh pumpkin doughnuts. I look forward to them all year long. Sorry, I did not get a picture of them because, well… you know. They had to be eaten quickly while they were still warm.

Each farm has its own unique flair.

Towards the end of the afternoon, the sun was getting low, and we were parched. Time for our final destination at Green Bluff… the Big Barn Brewery. It is a delightful little brewery with a low-key, relaxed vibe. They have a large yard where you can pull up a chair and listen to music while you sip their beer that is brewed on site.

Thanks for joining me on a beautiful autumn afternoon. Be sure to take the time to indulge in fall y’all! It is coming to an end all too quickly.