Months following ‘How to Make a Pierogi’ I find myself living in a van in Brownsville, Texas. Smack dab in the ding-a-ling of Texas bordered by the Gulf and Mexico. When the wind is still and I close my eyes – I can hear the scuffling waves of Boca Chica beach, crabs scuttle across the sand, the sun is hot, and the air is steamy humid. Aside from the dunes the land is flat. You can see for miles in any direction. My happy place is at the beach, a quick drive past SpaceX’s humming Rocket Ranch. I set my hammock up in the double doors of the van dubbed The Rolling Dutchman III.
I fell in love with a mad genius with an electric soul. Now he is my home. Almost as soon as we met. We were living everyday as an adventure and I think that’s what got me. We slept in the back of my Jeep for a week in Utah. Slow danced under the ominous shadow of Mt. Sy in Washington State. Hiked Lake Berryessa a week before it was engulfed by flames. Had wilderness sex on a cliff overlooking Checkerboard Mesa. Camped on numerous beaches along the Oregon coast.
Van life is an adjustment. I always have considered myself to be handy but, I’m continuously adding new merits to my toolbox arsenal. In the last two months I replaced the radiator in the Jeep – I only had one melt down. Learned to strip, splice, and add butts to electrical wiring. Had a crash course in TIG welding. And helped (mostly absorbed) how to set up our solar panels. I’m gonna have to make some videos showing off my sweet skills. It’s stuff people should know.
Here is to more adventure!
As temperatures rise here in the Verde Valley, Arizona my mid afternoon plant whispering had to cease. Confined to the indoors for now, I must find other things to do with myself which does not include pining over $300 one way tickets to the Czech. Good thing my unemployment is lost in the ether or I’d be smashing that buy button. What’s a good way to keep your mind off of things – carbs! Today I’ll be jamming out to Chopin and making home made Pierogi because, Poland.
Pieróg, the singular name for delightful, dumpling of joy. The half moon shaped Pierogi are traditionally Polish but, could be traced way back to Asian roots – thanks Marco Polo? 17th century Eastern Europe traditionally stuffed the Pierogi with mince meat, fats and greens. Today the most common stuffing is potato and cheese however, I have had a bangin’ apple cinnamon Pierogi. There are no rules. You can prepare them a number of ways: fry ’em, bake ’em, saute ’em, deep fry ’em, boil ’em. The possibilities are endless. This recipe isn’t difficult but, it’s time consuming. Plan to make an afternoon of it.
The Dough:
2 1/2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
1 Large Egg
1 Tsp. Salt
1 Cup of Warm Water (preferably from the boiled potatoes)
Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Add egg and water to the center, mix until dough ball forms. Add more water and flour if needed. Kneed until all ingredients are well combined. You want the dough to be firm but stretchy. Cut dough in half and let rest in the fridge for about 20 minutes.
The Filling:
2 Pounds of Potatoes (I like russets)
2 Cups of Sharp Cheddar
1/2 Cup of Cream Cheese
Black Pepper to Taste
Boil Potatoes with jackets on. Don’t forget to hold some of the potato water for the dough. I find the starch helps keep the dough together better. Use a potato masher or a fork to smash but, not mash the Russets. Combine cheeses and pepper. If the mix seems a little thick add water or milk to thin.
After the dough has rested, roll it out to approximately 1/4 of an inch with a rolling pin. A wine bottle works too if you are in a pinch. Next, use a drinking glass or a 2″ diameter circular cookie cutter to stamp out your pockets. Use a spoon to portion the potato mix into the pockets. Fold the pocket in half and pinch the open edges together (note that the image below has wayyyyy too much filling). Seal the edges by dipping your fingers into potato water and running it along the ends.
Sprinkle some flour over the pierogi as you work to keep them from sticking to each other. To finish cooking the dumplings boil, bake or saute. Caramelize some onions. Slice some chives. Chop up some crispy bacon. Maybe so sauerkraut? Add a dollop of sour cream and enjoy! For a full meal idea, grill up some brats and crack open an ice cold beer. I like a nice lager or pilsner to pair!
This recipe freezes fantastically so don’t be afraid to make a giant batch.
Did you make this recipe? Show me your ‘rogis 🙂
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Grounding is a technique that involves connecting electrically to the earth. Connecting with the natural vibrations in the ground is under research but, is said to aid depression, anxiety, boost immunity, restore sleep patterns, and even reduce blood pressure. The practice is simple. Take your shoes off and stand in soil, sand, or a body of water. Close your eyes, meditate, practice tree pose, poke around in the garden – no rules – but ten to twenty minutes of skin to natural ground contact is enough to start healing. Just remember to stay out of the cactus…
Ok, it does sound like some millennial mumbo jumbo witchcraft but, take a second and think. We have all participated in grounding, maybe you didn’t realize what was happening. Imagine yourself on the beach. Stand in the sand and allow the waves to sink your feet into the shoreline. Listen to the surf crashing and seabirds calling. Let the sunshine bless your eyelids. Do you remember how Zen you felt? Congratulations. Grounding.
Might I also add, the importance of sunshine. Exposure to sunlight increases the body’s ability to release serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that mediates a number of functions including mood, sleep, and digestion among other things. Just 5-15 minutes of sunlight on your eyelids could make a huge difference. I have utilized the combination of grounding and some good ole’ Vitamin D to help me through some of the stresses associated with COVID 19. Since desert hiking or driving to the beach is out of the question for now, I transport myself to another realm by digging in my garden, sunbathing on my patio or pretending I’m on a nude beach somewhere in Croatia.
My favorite barefoot experience was in Paria Canyon in Utah. The mud was ankle deep. Rather than loosing my boots to the murky abyss. I took ’em off and carried them. My companions and I explored a few miles down the riverbed. We played like kids in the mud and puddles.
Check out the Paria Post >> HERE
As far as wellness trends go prancing around in the dirt seems harmless. Why not give it a go? Drop a comment if you have tried grounding!
World As We Know It
I’m going to dive right in: We are in the apocalypse friends. Not in the sense that the world is ending but rather evolving. The ancient Greeks used the word to describe the lifting of a vail. A revelation almost. Modern definitions imply hellfire, the universe swallowing itself, and Will Smith as the last man on Earth.
As per usual, I oppose and refuse to accept the modern definition of an apocalypse. Media stirs a madness which stirs and frenzies the public. Fear is a potent drug. A drug I subscribed to when shit went down. I had just moved from Scottsdale to the Verde Valley. My funds, my resources, and my support system teetered on unsteady ground. Everything that fell into place the past month seemed like a cosmic joke. I traded my NEW full-time dream job to an imminent furlough. The Viticulture and Enology practicums that I needed – cancelled. My doggo angel Mac crossed the rainbow bridge. To make a long story short he had a spinal degeneration that was unknown to any of us. One of his discs burst and was bruising his spinal cord. Paralysis was quickly spreading. When the vet said it was unlikely that he would recover, my Mom and I made the excruciating decision to put him to sleep.
His passing was out of the blue, the finality was inconceivable. Did you know sobbing for eight hours feels like your face was hit with a shovel. I would have gladly taken a shovel to the face. That’s when I lost my cool.
Fearful Kate is like a trapped cat. Impulsive. Paranoid. Bunker Ready.
What happened in between is truly unimportant. What is important is the realization that it was going to be hard but, fear is ok. Communities, states, nations, and the globe are all riding the same wave. A disaster like a pandemic is so far out of human control but, it’s our job to decide whether we keep moving forward or not. It’s our job to protect our livelihood and our families. What we can all do at this point is use the time we are given to work on ourselves. Sit tight, stay put, wash your hands. Change is necessary.
It’s going to suck. The government is going to make unpopular decisions. Assholes will hoard toilet paper. We will be confined to our homes. There will be losses. Be cautious but, don’t succumb to fear. Let’s choose to think of the apocalypse as ending life as we know it, rather than just a fiery end. Remember that humankind is resilient and adaptable. Get ready for change.
Which leads me to my project. I want to discuss constructive ways to deal with quarantine and how to make it bearable. As things change, lets re-evaluate travel. Does travel always include leaving your home? Travel is about discovering life and how other people live it. It’s not always about the destination right? Let us explore the journey!
What do you think?
Want to get lost right now? :
HOW TO WALK LIKE A DIOCLETIAN IN SPLIT, CROATIA
Crimson and rose sandstone rise from the north as the weary traveler exits 89 Alterative route into the Mogollon rim. Energies rise as you approach the gateway into the ancient, lore riddled Verde Valley. At noon the monsoon cycle presents storm clouds gathering, threatening and beautiful. Today’s focus is on the elusive Shaman’s Cave (alternatively Robber’s Roost).
It took me three tries to visit this place… first try I got lost… the second my car succumbed to the old nail in the tire trick. Try number three finally allowed a hike into the wind and rain eroded butte. Shaman’s Cave is elusive hidden away in the lesser traveled South Sedona. If you can find Honanki and Palatki Heritage Sites – you’re on the right track.
The hike into the cave is a relaxing stroll through the desert, but does boast striking views of Sedona Red Rock to the east. It’s approximately 2.5 miles from the lower parking lot and maybe .5 miles from the upper parking (high clearance vehicle necessary).
The cave is to the east side of the butte. As the trail drops off you will be required to perform light technical climbing. Shaman’s Cave is revered as a lesser known, but uber powerful vortex. In short, a vortex is an energy portal conducive to healing, meditation and overall good vibes. In ancient times, archaeologists suggest that the neighboring Hohokam shamans (healers, wise women/men) used the cave for rituals and contacting spirit guides. It’s also a wild theory that the cave is an ancient landing pad for aliens… but I wont get into that 😉 Allegedly there used to be pictographs and forms of cave art but due to deviance, none of it has survived.
When the cave echoes for you, sit and listen. You’ll know what I mean. Contemplate the universe. Soak up what nature has to offer you.
Check out more Badass Arizona History spots:
Unreal Dwellings in the Red Rock
Petrified Forest National Park
Logging into Word Press today a notification of my four-year anniversary with Travel Scout Adventure fluttered across my screen. A whole year looms between this post and my last. I’m nervous to rebrand my myself and my blog yet, here I sit listening to pagan throat chanting (Heilung), nursing a fresh septum piercing, and cursing the virtues of romantic love. Maybe I’m a newly formed curmudgeon. The last few years have been just bizarre. Granted I’ve had incredible experiences, but I found myself miles and miles away from the person I had planned to be. The girl I used to be loved her horses. She spent hours poring over 19th century poetry and classic literature. She drank her coffee black just like the grungy, angry girl music in her earphones. She had goals and direction, peppered with a wild imagination. She was a professional badass who uttered insults in Russian. She lounged in trees while contemplating the universe. She had drifted away from the person she used to be – the me I loved. Chalk it up to becoming an adult but let me admit adolescent Kate had a better idea of what she wanted than final form Kate. Until now… my voice is healed and my fingers long to tell you a story.
Let’s talk about some shit…
Gen X, Millennials and beyond spend so much time planning who we are to become, forgetting to be who we already are. Like a kid with a block set you, can’t force a cube into a star hole. Majority of us weren’t meant to be surgeons, lawyers, or economist but maybe excel as welders, writers or mixologists. Procuring why countless Millennials are six feet under in student loan debt. What eighteen-year-old with limited adult experience knows what rabbit hole they were meant to wander down? High school pounded into our collective psyche that going to university was the only way to stay out of jail *wrong*. Community college was looked down upon as a lesser option, filthy delinquent *so, wrong*. Walking through the golden gates of university academia, Sallie May loans in tow, was the only way to grow into a valuable member of society *furthest from the truth*. Ok, stepping off the soapbox – for now.
If you’ve been following me – you know the story. If not, I’ve provided a recap: I attended community college (criminal) before university as part of my master plan to obtain a degree debt free. My college experience was quiet, mostly because on top of a full slate of courses, I worked forty hours in a restaurant as a server and a bartender. Six years and 56k (out of pocket) later, I’d obtained and AA in Business and a BA in Economics. After school, I left on a six-month excursion to traipse around Europe. I enjoyed a taste of true freedom and it put my priorities in perspective. My life was been irrevocably transformed.
I’m one of those souls who can’t be a cube in a star hole. I can’t visualize myself dying over a desk job with a fancy salary. I’d rather live modestly, even struggle, but live to watch the Aurora billow over the fjord and scramble out of the Grand Canyon whenever I please. That’s why it’s so fucking offensive when asked why I’m still a bartender. It’s a real job. I don’t receive monopoly money. I earn real money – fantastic money. I can transfer my skills of hospitality and martini crafting anywhere I choose. Drink shaking and wine pouring is sharing an experience. Molding a moment with strangers and familiars alike is a quality I never would have discovered without life experience.
Today, I signed up for my first class in two years Agriculture Studies 105 titled Soil. I’m back in the arms of agriculture and education – a place I was raised in – a place I will seemingly never leave. I’m on a journey to discover the world of wine making. Arizona has a baby wine region and the epicenter happens to be the Verde Valley, north of me by 70 miles. Come January I have plans to leave the Metropolitan Phoenix area and move to the high desert in the north. There will be more to come!
My grand advice is to take your time, decide what you are passionate about – hone it. Experience community college. Take classes that interest you or don’t but work like the devil. Evolve. Save money. Travel. I know that we live in a world where you can have it all. Remember that routes are not direct. As I approach my thirties, I know nothing is set in stone. I’m far from the veterinarian, archaeologist, cat mother of four I was destined to be. But FUCK YES… I am exactly the person that I want to be.
At the end of October, I descend into the Grand Canyon in search of the turquoise, travertine paradise located on the remote Havasupai Indian Reservation. The backpacking trek is 26 miles round trip – give or take a few detours. In preparation for my first backpacking trip, my crew and I decided to test run our gear by hiking the 10-mile Fossil Creek Wild and Scenic River located in Coconino National Park.
Fossil Creek is a rare riparian area with a spring that bubbles out of a rare rock formation called Redwall Limestone. Due to high mineral content travertine forms and encases anything that happens to fall into the streambed – essentially fossilizing everything. Hence the name Fossil Creek, all similar to places like Plitvice National Park in Croatia and Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. It’s estimated that the spring fed waterfall pushes out 20,000 gallons of water per minute. It’s crazy that so much water seems to appear out of nowhere as an oasis in an overall high desert biome.
The hike begins in Strawberry (adorable right?), Arizona which is a little town outside of Payson. The elevation of Strawberry is 5,800ft the bottom of the canyon is 4,300ft which means that in five miles, the hike loses or gains 1,500ft. Needless to say, the hike down is easy just beware of rolled ankles. However, the hike back up is a killer. Literally. The Parks Service warns that an average of two hundred people a year have to be helicoptered out of the canyon due to heat exhaustion, improper planning, and insufficient water. Fossil Creek is no joke.
Once the creek is reached, rejoice! Wade into the icy water and cool off. There is plenty of room to cliff jump and explore flooded caves. The pools are deep and the current is strong so keep an eye on children and less experienced swimmers. The Toilet Bowl is particularly dangerous. Yes, there is a feature called the Toilet Bowl. Runoff from the powerful waterfall eroded a travertine chamber that catches and swirls like a whirlpool. The bottom of the canyon is a good ten degrees cooler than the top mostly because of the shade, so enjoy, eat lunch, and rest up!
If you don’t carry enough water, electrolytes, and food you will die. No matter what time of year you go. Don’t be one of the two hundred that have to be extracted by helicopter. The desert is dry, combined with the steep elevation gain is a recipe for disaster if you don’t plan accordingly.
I carried a gallon of water, Gatorade, and a full lunch. It would also be wise to have sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses.
Do: Pack in pack out. Respect everyone’s space. Bring a hammock. Beware of rattlesnakes and javelina. Bring a swimsuit and water shoes. Bring lunch. Take a nap.
Don’t: Light a campfire. Litter. Slip on the travertine (ouch). Hike in flipflops. Hike if it’s over 95 degrees in the morning. Get caught in a flash flood – keep an eye on weather a few days out from your hike.
Due to high volumes of visitors, April 1st through October 1st REQUIRES a permit. Permits are approximately $10 per car. A friendly park ranger will be stationed to check your permits upon arrival. They will accept printed copies only. No phone screenshots.
Also this guy, a green Mojave just laying across the trail, known for neuro and hemotoxins:
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
The wilderness… It isn’t for everyone. It truly is for me. I get a real thrill exploring where few or limited people visit. The wilderness is primitive and untamed despite the world filling up with people. The first key is to stay safe. Every traveler knows that accidents happen and inevitably situations arise where you wont be safe. Preparedness is secondary.
One day, hiking in the Utah wilderness I found myself in a bit of a sticky situation (The Day the Desert Tried to Kill Me – Stories From the Front Seat). Luckily, I had basic essentials like food, water, and sun protection. There were some items, looking back, that would have come in handy. It can happen. A traveler can only have luck for so long until something goes wrong. A shipwrecked truck, a broken ankle, an allergic reaction, losing your way, and getting mugged are all situations wanderers have nightmares about. The severity of the event can be altered based on behavior and planning of the travelers involved. Here are my tips to staying safe when an emergency strikes in the wilderness:
A $400 investment will get you a phone and a plan that will work in the remotest of areas. Using a satellite phone in my situation in Utah would have solved all of my problems. I could have called AAA or a tow company without fear of losing connection. Another feature about satellite phones is its GPS. Along with connection a traveler can also send exact GPS coordinates to someone trying to help.
Disasters can bring out the best and worst personality traits. Just remember the more time you spend panicking the, longer it will take to remove yourself from the situation. Similarly with arguing, stress and fear tend to make even the best of friends argue. Again, work together to come up with a solution.
A healthy person needs sixty four ounces of water per day to survive. When you exert yourself one hundred ounces is suggested. I plan on a gallon and a half of water per person, per day. I carry all of my water in the vehicle as well. Water in the refrigerator back at the hotel is all well and good but, account for an emergency and load up the vehicle as well. Carry gallon jugs to keep in the vehicle and transfer water into smaller bottles that will fit in your back pack. Water is the MOST important survival tool especially in a desert.
Injury happens as frequently as flat tires and broken equipment. A first aid kit with simple items like disinfectant, wound bandages, ankle/wrist wraps, and a sewing kit can fix an issue temporarily until medical help arrives. I also keep a snake bit kit in my back pack as the risk of getting bitten here in Arizona is great.
Speaking of flat tires… Pack basics like jacks and tire changing kits. Stuck in mud or sand? To keep a stuck tire from spinning out and digging in deeper let air out of the tires to create a larger surface area. A tire with a greater surface area will have more grip and give you more mobility to maneuver out. A tire can be let out to almost 10% in emergencies. This would be an argument to carry an inflation pump as well.
In an emergency it is best to just stay together. It may seem like a constructive idea to cover more ground but in the wilderness anything can happen. Chances of getting lost alone, injury, or predator attack rises as the number in your party decreases. A pack of coyotes would attack a single person as well as bears, mountain lions, and even elk if they saw you as a threat.
Wild animals will be more apt to approach if you have an animal traveling with you. Even a large dog like a German Shepherd or a Pit Bull could be subject to becoming prey. If you are forced to hike at night or at sundown keep your pets close and be aware of your surroundings.
Keep a headlamp or a flashlight in your pack. It is also important to keep a mirror or reflective material for signaling a plane, car or a rescue team
Know when it is time to stop or move on. Choosing to wait out a thunder storm is logical if you are in a sheltered safe location. If you are off the trail and lost, staying put may not be an option. If night is approaching and rescue is not foreseeable consider setting up shelter before it gets too dark. There are a plethora of ‘ifs’ in an emergency situation. Go with your gut – usually it knows what it is doing.
This is vital. Storms can be devastating especially in desert wilderness. Risks include flash flooding, lightening, obstructed trails and continued bad weather. Hike knowing if and when a storm might be brewing. Also note storms in surrounding areas. For example a storm north of a river will cause fast moving water or unseasonably high water levels. Even a storm miles away can still effect you. This is especially important if you are hiking in a canyon.
Dress sensibly for where you will be hiking. Layers allow protection from the sun and adjustments for temperature. Check this post out for some cold weather layering inspiration! 8 Outfits I Wore in the Arctic
Stay safe out there! Your Cobweb Clearer, Kate