Comments on: Sunday Sunrise behind Cypress Head

By: EmilySteed

EmilySteed — Sat, 07 May 2016 18:37:00 +0000

Those brownies go from “good” to “sublime” if you throw in a single-serving container of fruit-flavored yogurt along with the eggs, oil, etc.

By: Michael Fortson

Michael Fortson — Sat, 07 May 2016 15:16:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Domela. Have fun in Alaska, looking forward to following along :-) You can dilute the vinegar by about half with water if you want. I used it in the place we were renting on SSI last year when we had horseflies hanging out around the patio. Worked great on them.

By: Laura Domela

Laura Domela — Sat, 07 May 2016 14:53:00 +0000

In reply to Michael Fortson.

We have OFF! Skintastic on the boat already. I had an insect-repellant hoodie last summer, but it didn’t work on my legs, of course. 🙂

Will definitely keep an eye out for your island bling! Have fun in SF!

By: Michael Fortson

Michael Fortson — Sat, 07 May 2016 14:42:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Domela.

We’re back in SF for awhile; still having work done on the island lot. It’s proceeding on island time.

I just bring some OFF! Skintastic spray for mosquitos and keep it handy. You can get insect-repellent clothing, but I’ve never bothered.

Say hi to the island for us! If you head into Ganges, you should be able to see our Airstream there, on the right side heading in (to the right of the little islands there).

By: Laura Domela

Laura Domela — Sat, 07 May 2016 13:58:00 +0000

In reply to Janna Clark.

No…we have an oven. For some reason I just like doing the croutons in a skillet. I even do it that way at home, too! 🙂 I opted to bring the pressure cooker instead of the food processor this time. (Risotto in 7 minutes! No stirring!) Priorities.

I hear ya about the processed foods. We only occasionally supplement with stuff like that when we can’t get fresh, real food. The Inside Passage isn’t known for its grocery stores and farmers markets. 🙂

By: Janna Clark

Janna Clark — Sat, 07 May 2016 12:43:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Domela.

Thanks Laura–I would guess you don’t have room on the boat for food processors and as you are using a skillet to make croutons–no oven! But where there is a will, there is a way! So many of our RVing friends use processed/boxed foods when traveling–not us, we eat as well in the motorhome as we do at home. I am so excited you guys are going to Alaska again so we can travel along. That’s always been a dream of mine–but neither of us has any water experience–so we will just travel along with you!

By: Laura Domela

Laura Domela — Sat, 07 May 2016 04:41:00 +0000

In reply to Michael Fortson.

Well aren’t you just the go-to man for how to keep bugs away? 🙂 The fly trick sounds good…white vinegar…on the shopping list now, thanks! It wasn’t no-see-ums. Definitely blackflies. It was on the way up in BC somewhere…and I think they take a little chunk of your skin. In any case, I definitely had a pretty intense allergic reaction (welts the size of quarters, or bigger!). In AK there were those giant horseflies…but they never bit me. What’s your trick for mosquitos, should we encounter them?

By: Laura Domela

Laura Domela — Sat, 07 May 2016 04:41:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Domela. Also, you guys are on SaltSpring now are you? We'll be there in a couple days when we leave Anacortes....

By: Michael Fortson

Michael Fortson — Sat, 07 May 2016 04:27:00 +0000

In reply to Laura Domela.

Flies hate white vinegar. Put some in a water gun and squirt it around on posts, dinghies and such. That ought to do it.

Unless you’re talking about no-see-ums… which are those little gnats that bite. Not sure how to repel those. I hate em.

While we’re on the topic, for bees, clove bud oil is amazing. Just a couple of drops here and there (I put some on my hat). Or even just sprinkle some crushed cloves around.

By: Laura Domela

Laura Domela — Sat, 07 May 2016 04:11:00 +0000

In reply to Janna Clark.

HI Janna,
Sure! These are the ingredients I use…feel free to substitute your favorite elements:

Ingredients:
2 Cloves Of Fresh Garlic
1 cup Best Foods Olive Oil Mayonnaise (or homemade, both are good!)
1 heaping teaspoon of grainy or regular Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
½ cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper

Directions:
In a small food processor, pulse the garlic until minced.
Add in the mayo, ground mustard, Dijon, Worcestershire and Parmesan. Turn the food processor on, secure the lid and slowly pour in the olive oil. Season with a ¼ teaspoon of black pepper and pulse until combined. Store in a small jar in the fridge.

Notes: I use a small Cuisinart food processor, but I don’t bring that with me on the boat. On the boat I use a Cuisinart hand blender. I dice the garlic first, throw it into a jar, add the rest of the ingredients, and use the hand blender while slowly pouring in the olive oil.

If you want a little more anchovy flavor, add some anchovy paste or top the salad with white anchovies.

p.s I also make croutons sometimes to go with this by cubing up some sourdough bread, and then tossing it into a frying pan with olive oil and some chopped garlic until toasty. 🙂 Then toss with romaine dressing and a little more freshly grated or shaved Parmesan and some fresh ground pepper. Super yummy!!

Let me know what you think! 🙂