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by gansie

Screeching, Squirming and Screaming: Crabbing and Fishing in Oregon, Part II

Last week I started photo-journaling my first fishing experience. I left off in the waiting period, which is pretty much what this type of non-casting fishing is all about.

While drifting around in one set of coordinates without any luck, our fisherman Dave got on his cell phone. Yes, I said cell phone. Here we are, on the Columbia River, caressing through the misty Oregon air and Dave chats it up with another fisherman, finding salmon in another set of coordinates.

We brought in our reels and Dave (above) drove us to a new area. (PS-You can totally hire Dave to help you find fish.) Forty-five seconds later Greg, our event organizer, started screaming. A salmon hooked onto Nick’s line. Greg screamed for everyone to reel in their lines, for fear Nick’s catch would tangle other lines. Within another 45 seconds, a 12-inch salmon wriggled in the hands of Nick and Dave. Cameras snapped and the salmon soon returned to the water, for it wasn’t a native fish and it wasn’t the right time of year and salmon politics are awfully complicated.

The excitement hung in the air for another few minutes as we eagerly awaited another catch in our new sexy coordinates.

by gansie

Friday Fuck-Up: Spinach Salad with Water Dressing

Bennett, in a post-hangover primal urge, ordered a pepperoni and onion pizza. After flipping through a few cookbooks (Cook with Jamie, The Ginger Pig Meat Cookbook, Cook This Now) earlier that day, I wanted to be in the kitchen. But only for a second.

I washed some spinach and let it drain in a colander. I also threw in some flat-leaf parsley and—my latest experiment—carrot tops. I’ll stop there for a second. While buying said spinach, which was next to the carrots, at Truck Patch’s stand at the farmers market, there was a whole stack of carrot tops. Without carrots.

Apparently someone didn’t want the tops, so somehow they got chopped off and they were just sitting on the table. Looking pretty sad and lonely, actually.

That’s when I remembered this article touting the uses of vegetable parts usually discarded, like cauliflower leaves and apple cores. I asked what could be done with them and the lady said “juicing.” I didn’t have a juicer, but she gave them to me anyway. They tasted exactly like carrots. I know it’s not shocking, but it was kinda weird not to be eating an actual carrot and still tasting a carrot. Almost like smelling strawberries in wine and knowing strawberries never actually touched that drink. (I just watched Sideways, go with it.)

I finally get to the fuck-up after the jump.

in Veggie 7 comments

by gansie

Screeching, Squirming and Screaming: Crabbing and Fishing in Oregon, Part I

I screeched and squirmed and well, fine, flat out screamed really, really loudly. Like reeeeal fucking loud. But it was okay. It was just the six of us on the Columbia River, with only a few seals popping up through the chilly water.

And maybe some cranes. Pelicans? Well, I’m not sure. This fishing excursion marked my first time in Oregon and I didn’t properly prepare for bird sightings. Or really, for fishing and crabbing in general. For it was my first time at this too. The only other time I’ve played with a fishing reel was on my friends’ balcony, for they lower the keys down from their 6th floor apartment to incoming guests. It’s pretty fun, but Tim doesn’t let me near the reel all that often. I’m not gentle on the line.

The six of us drove from Portland to Astoria (check out this gorgeous, sea lion and Goonie-filled town on FB), drank lovely beer at Fort George Brewery + Public House and went to bed early.

I just had to: here’s one glamour shot of Astoria.

Don’t let the lighting fool you. I snapped this when we returned from fishing, around noon, but the picture is here to move the plot along. Imagine this is all misty.

Kind of like this, actually. We’re just taking off and I’m sitting right behind these crates of bait. It’s cold out and my rain jacket doubled as a blanket.

in Fish / Food Travel 8 comments

by gansie

Where There’s Smoke…There’s Bacon

I appreciate the idea of hummus because it’s such a stinking fantastic dip and it’s not even based in fatty sour cream or cream cheese. I think eggplant based dips, to be honest, aren’t as delightful as bean dips, but I keep trying anyway, especially with almost-out-of-season eggplants filling crates at the farmers market.

I googled for a few baba ganosh recipes and turned to my friend Justin’s fav, David Lebovitz. Lebovitz accentuated the smoky qualities of the dip and I ran with it, adding extra smoky flavor everywhere I could.

Smoky Eggplant Dip with Bacon-fried Tortillas

in Bacon / Cheese / Endless Bacon / Veggie 5 comments

by gansie

A Rachael Ray Rosh Hashanah

Sometimes Rachael Ray is right. Rachael spends most of her time working on dinner and then in the hurried last minute of her 30 minute show, she scoops some ice cream in a martini glass and then tops it with something semi-homemade, possibly a sauce, or maybe just fruit.

For Rosh Hashanah, plenty of emphasis is placed on the dinner. We maintain a few traditions in our family, mostly a last-of-the-season tomato salad. Sometimes we find the time to put together something for dessert, like a boozy chocolate mousse or apple sauce, but other times, we serve ice cream.

in Desserts / Holiday 2 comments

by gansie

Snuggle Up: Endless Simmer’s Fall and Winter Recipe Guide

I know what you’re about to say. And yes, summer is truly over. But wipe away that tear. You’re in store for warming winter soups and crispy broccoli florets. Huddle ’round the radiator, with your laptop (or electronic device of choice) and check out our recipes to keep you satisfied until that first asparagus breaks through the ground.

For this first day of autumn, you’ll find below some highlights from our archives, plus the link to the entire collection, which we’ll be sure to update as we try out new far mar finds and desserts that don’t count because it’s sweater season.

Endless Simmer’s Fall and Winter Recipe Guide

Apples and Chickpeas with Apple Cider
Just how you (may?) like it: sweet and vegan.

Apple Chutney Tarts
“As good as McDonald’s apple pies,” says husband.

Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower with Orzo and Arugula, Cream Cheese, Lemon Sauce
Surprise: Brussels can be awesome when boiled.

Carrot Fries
Serve with blueberry ketchup.

Curry Cauliflower and Coconut Milk Soup
Black beans with coconut milk? Yup.

Click through for more cold weather stand outs. And if you wanna take a look at all of Endless Simmer’s cooking experiments – try our Recipe Index.

in Recipe 0 comments

by gansie

Stuff the Bus: Food Drive Takes Over DC

Hey there. Quick service announcement.

For those of you in the DMV, Venga is teaming with DC Central Kitchen for a two-week city-wide food and donation drive. I’ll be helping “Stuff the Bus” tomorrow at the weekly food truck convention known as Farragut Fridays.

Come out to help support the city’s hungry by donating canned or boxed goods (acceptable goods list) or giving plain old money (onsite or online) while you wait in line for your food truck-sponsored lunch. If you can’t make it tomorrow, check out the full Stuff the Bus schedule, which runs all next week.

What: Stuff the Bus Food Drive
When: Friday, September 23 from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Farragut Square, between I St, NW and K St, NW and Connecticut Ave, NW and 17th St, NW
Bring: Non-Perishable Goods or Money* (Cash, Credit Card, Check)

*And if giving to a good cause won’t provide you with enough warm and fuzzies, read more to check out the discounts you’ll recive for donating.

in Personal 1 comments

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