The weather has been amazing. In what I interpret to be a very Western weather pattern, we've had bright, bright sunshine, but it remains chilly until noon or a little later. Then the cool gives way to the warmth and it's gaw-geous til sundown, when we get back down into the 40s and 50s. But, even at 72°, the shade feels quite cold. Maybe this is related to humidity, or lack thereof? The air is more fickle? I feel like the heat hits earlier and harder in the East. Better staying power. Regardless, it has been lovely. I hope the summer is similar.
I have more photos to share from our walks by the water---they might be a little redundant to my Easter post since we walk the same path in the same place, but it's an important stretch for us. We go there a lot! And the greenery is ever changing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX2BdMbqL7a26gkvMHAGEe7yysC5LCiMIitUR8LQljExjg0g00dUio5s1FhUX1zqsQYa59lJDM8lMyrUQ3ssim9UzdjT5HZjwqVX44MmgsHmQoX1mQ-G5M-Bc72czVhddtxFgDp_qUXYP/s320/grassy+knoll.jpg) |
Grassy knoll hides the city |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTirgIJWKpXIo7KN22b40gSRv031RDn_peVjsnU66vTaUUDSXAmk8aAsQguMzaAxPnmadJKL1Nr0Fjv6cn4y5VWlyoGs-WewJYA9x3o6gWuSHdb_wYmefd-oMEHmCNvxBxqgZEuHFBKXgu/s320/Salmon+elevator.jpg) |
The weaving path is punctuated by cool art installations. You'll just have to trust me on this. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvyEksY4Dzuym3cb6LPc8tMxDFhO8iMtsnyJ0ZNirYSuU9DDWHPSK2cwC_Pnq4rest_9494CUWwhwhog9w0ZHE0_tPFwIA0Y7SAbDPbifRllxRFMx2nemoPZ0KRNiSOveaQ99Vtp_Rg2A/s320/Snowy+mtns.jpg) |
Olympic Peninsula. Forks is thataway, Twilight fans. O'er the mountains.
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuK4lCc21G-jzHhBl9tCznripzRWkQaDGs4QfpZyUWaXnAi3ajwolzRPxw4TL8Nw_3AEFz4SYLzKIJZfatWGDIN-BUS9k3T_UThuyPwYpx9WUtq2STGPLTvE020BWwXA05ESiHoIzL9Yb/s320/Rainier+zoom.jpg) |
Best Mt. Rainier visibility to date. Zero to 14,411ft in 54 miles. Hoo-boy! |
I'm also loving how, as the skies clear out, we get different views of the snow peaks that surround us. For example, when driving over various hills in town, what I understood to be nothing more than A View of the Neighborhood turns out to be A Lovely Snowy Mountainscape. Such a nice surprise! The effect is similar to snow days; however briefly, we get to experience an environmental makeover. I hope the snow stays on the mountains through the summer so our guests can see them too.
On to food:
With the warm weather, I feel motivated to cook lighter foods. This time I made baked cod with vegetables... it was a real Spa Dinner. I told Edwin, "It'll be so healthy, we'll feel like we haven't eaten anything at all!" ...He pointed out that, for people on a budget, perhaps "empty" dinners of this sort aren't the best idea. Oh well! It wasn't empty in terms of, like, nutrition.
I lined up some asparagus on our toaster oven tray and drizzled with olive oil, salt, pepper.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-m1iV8v8YxXKMaflkjU3uUpWoZoBu0hSpiTA-U-fX-9LGK5jvZPzK_r-TBXP-zvv8BgHq9z9qBBI6hCQbhbgwBfDWSiR1wAVQI8gRr3HZromUDovq6zlIIIXZNNriNKqVT_BtZRFttUB/s320/Asparagus+.jpg) |
Little green soldiers |
Then I put the cod fillets on top of the asparagus and scattered it with thinly sliced garlic, shallots, and halved cherry tomatoes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjxDcXF7k1d9I4m3sGdxVmTK0lsjcsGRjhL-oUleUAhrreW58KAlnOjcceIQMYNzA71uMsu0nPrg7ND1AeskONx2bPgn9IVv4Iw1igbl9tVQ-a6YJxx0DCIo4FhD6z_I8L9SZMScRCD67/s320/Fish+with+shallots+and+garlic.jpg) |
This is one pound of "true cod." Fit for four modest servings. |
Then I added lemon wedges and thyme...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTE2W4ZVI4In-68bS2AoFD8y-kyqZmPkKDqEFs3h_6Ta3qnlspRtFw2UQD1l-AGN0ttoqOttOBj5H49y1hID3U-_alZpPVzg1Ryvm_SXvX4ahu5TRegUCnThkbw6u3UBPkU4Zenv7cT5F/s320/Fish+just+before+oven.jpg) |
Prettier by the minute |
And, lastly, I drizzled the fish with olive oil and dotted it with tiny tiny bits of butter. If I'd had an open bottle of white wine, I would have sprinkled a little of that on the fish as well.
This is how it looked after 15-20 minutes of baking in the toaster oven, 400°.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jGFPY9ksHug9W3nXNzUyVR2KP9wC-5YIZ4qT6MNVRIHhFbda3V7YojJ6vJ7iI7A_kCkGibUDsTlPCRMykRAvaM6Xz7Eoda-JdcLu7YnTf29QERGZCJW9YE3H2wDQhomyzw3zz96Js37C/s320/Fish+after+oven.jpg) |
AKA about the same as before |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31-sSvCD9F6L-beyF8_cKI68fhyjlfsrtxJlh01W6WYFA_FaB_5bz2eYIfgV1LiRp0zJSRUU8d6JjEYfVuk0BK8AfcAPqa1GvKxwv4GoUkWIBDUpOytGJLxatapkwcj1V_QBddoF0A7Tq/s320/final+zoom.jpg) |
Toasty garlic = yum |
It tasted great, and I was right: felt like we hadn't eaten anything at all! More room for ice cream, I suppose.
Beet Follow-up
They've been sitting in the pickling liquid for six days and taste great, though crispier than I was expecting (because I didn't roast them long enough?). I'm going to let them sit in the liquid a while longer so they can reach optimum deliciousness.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtf2Hq4jZ33DOnbAFF3UcIeKWHmuGesxCpsjf19MtA5uzkevzdibeLlyc_YQ0CAMLsxlefmjQ4Z20bwe5z8uyvVLK8kdnyaacaDpLdUyYbWdEY7W5rZIoHY6k-Cvd0VeEB5BX-Kw-VGgF/s320/Beet.jpg) |
It takes a particular constitution to withstand a week of sugar and vinegar and still look this perfect. Or perhaps it's vanity. Is this why some refer to beets as "Diva Bulbs"? |
Oh wow, that food looks supreme. I love the photos too! Good camera....and especially that shot of the beets. (Neat!)
ReplyDeleteSure it's all delish. Think I'll go get some cod and asparagus.