Tag: Video

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Stick Game

December’s snow melted away between Christmas and the first part of January. We took the opportunity to do some exploring along the upper Deschutes River.  It’s closed to fishing this time of year, meaning far fewer people and with only a hint of snow on the roads you can get nearly to Wickiup Reservoir via USFS roads.

At one spot we stopped to grab some pix of lichen and such with the macro lens.

Tip figured it was a good time to play a bit of fetch. He proceeded to pull a stick from the pine needles and insisted one of us throw it for him.

This game can last a few minutes or carry on for half an hour … today it was a brief game before we got back on the road and continued exploring.

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Smoked Trout for Dinner

Here is a recipe with ingredients acquired in a stop at  Trader Joes and on the table in half an hour. Smoked trout, a lemony onion dressing and creamy avocado combine for a great meal.  A good loaf of bread is key and in this case we didn’t source that from TJs, but rather Sparrow Bakery.  Your favorite hearty bread will work … you could try the baguettes from TJs.

The recipe was taken off the Food52 web site. I think those folks are working for Trader Joes because often their recipes, right down to the quantity, match what you’ll find on TJ’s shelves. You can use any canned meat but smoked trout is best and ironically that is the only place we could find it.  Include the oil from the can as it enhances the flavor but doesn’t make the salad too oily.

Along with a baguette from Sparrow, there’s one other alteration. We don’t broil the bread or serve the salad on toast, we prefer the toast is on the side. Be sure you allow the lemon and shallot mix to macerate for the full 20 minutes.

Print Recipe

Smoked Trout and Avocado Salad Toasts

Delicious salad that comes together in no time at all
Servings: 2 people
Author: Alexandra Stafford @ food52.com

Ingredients

  • 1 small shallot minced
  • 1/2 lemon juiced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil in small bowl
  • 3 heads Belgian endive one pkg Trader Joes
  • 4 oz Smoke Trout 1 3.7oz tin from Trader Joes
  • 2 scallions finely sliced
  • 1/2 avocado firm but ripe
  • 1/8 cup fresh parsley finely minced
  • 4 1 inch slices of bread

Instructions

  • Preheat the broiler to high. Finely mince the shallot and place in a small bowl. Cover with the lemon juice and a pinch of salt and freshly cracked pepper. (I like to add a pinch of sugar, too.) Set aside to macerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Use a fork to whisk in the olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. 
  • Meanwhile, quarter the heads of endive through the core, then finely slice crosswise. Place in a large bowl. Scatter the scallions over top. Break the smoked trout into large pieces over top. Pour the dressing over top, and use your hands to gently toss everything together, keeping the trout in largish pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed—now is the time to correct for seasoning because once the avocado is in, you don’t want to toss too much or it will all turn to mush.
  • Dice the avocado, and add to the bowl followed by the parsley. Toss with your hands again gently until combined. Set salad aside.
  • Arrange bread on cooling rack set on sheet pan. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Broil 2 minutes or until lightly golden, keeping a close watch. Remove pan from oven, flip slices of bread over, drizzle with more oil, and return pan to the oven for another 2 minutes, or until bread is golden. Transfer toasts to a platter. Mound trout and avocado salad over top. Serve immediately.
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A Game of Fetch

Before winter storms close the Cascade Highway, we try to make one final trip to Upper Deschutes River.

The three of us love this spot. Jack for the fishing, JQ for shooting video and photos. As for Tip … this is his favorite swimming hole. Fun is had by all.

In the Fall you can often catch the spawn as the big Rainbows move into the river from Crane Prairie. The river is very different during each of the seasons. not sure when is our favorite. But then, why choose?

 

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Sunriver Nature Center

One sunny afternoon last week we headed over to the Nature Center at Sunriver Resort.

The idea was to check on the new trumpeter swan cygnets and maybe get a glimpse of the river otters JQ spied earlier this month.

The swans were in sight, however no river otters. Instead we were treated to a close up view of a Great Horned Owl, Joe.

He was hit by a car and is blind in one eye, thus he’s become a permanent resident of the nature center’s rehab and education facility.

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Walking Circles

The initial frigid fall temps have moderated and we’re currently enjoying an “Indian Summer” of sorts.

Hiking is thirsty work. For every step we take, Tip takes four. He runs ahead, then runs back. We stop frequently to keep the little guy hydrated.

Taking advantage of these mild fall days we’ve re-started fall hiking trips that were put on hold when it seemed like winter was upon us.

In spring of last year we’d attempted to walk the Rim Rock Springs Loop trail but it was buried in snow. It’s not a summer hike destination as it’s way too exposed to high desert sun … but Fall is perfect.

It’s a relatively easy hike, taking off from a wayside East of Madras on Highway 26. There are a couple of observation points to get a look at migratory bird habitat and some great vistas of the Cascade Peaks. The first half of the trail is even paved.

The were no other hikers so we enjoyed the solitude, shot a bunch of photos and generally took in the scenery. Finished up with a picnic lunch for a perfect November day trip.