Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Hard Days Night! When the road is too long

After a long day on the road -
TRAVELSAPIEN suggests take a travel break.

Try some Strawberry Pancakes. Some people go crazy for them.

You just have to love these guys
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/toons/strawberry+pancakes/

Put a little song into your day! When you are too tired to move click on the WEEBLS!!
That's it for August everyone! Great stuff in September so surf on back
or why not check out the archive.
Cheers!

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Honeymoon Travel in the 1500's

HONEYMOONER's in the 1500's were interesting traveler's. In Europe, where exactly don't know but probably France, most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor, hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

No. Really. TRAVELSAPIEN is not making this up! If the city of Paris was the destination for all those Honeymooner's one could almost sing
" I love Paris in the Springtime"?

By the fall perhaps the song would be "Bathtub Blues"? Maybe "Two (coins) Honeymooner's in the fountain."? Of course it is "Three Coins in the fountain" but hey, who needs to wash coins.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

FAT MAN WALKING

Weight gain a problem? TRAVELSAPIEN suggests backpacking as a route to contemplate. Travel by foot a gaining popularity. You just have to check on Dave. Netscape and CNET have featured him and his trek across America to lose weight. Call it TRAVEL. Now Dave is one big guy.Dave is taking on celebrity status with even the Oprah Show interested. Dave has a great site to follow his journey and there are great links to those interested in backpacking and hiking. Don't miss out on the TRAVELSAPIEN piece on Walking Tours done back in December/04. Check the archive and if Europe is kool you will like it. Right now though the FAT MAN WALKING is pure innocence and a great tribute to someone who wants to make personal changes. It is inspiring that instead of sitting in some Gym and sweating away to music with cheezy personal trainers barking encouragement at you Dave has choosen to walk it off! Healthy and fun. So Kool you need give him a hand. Travel by foot was truely the original touring vehicle. Let's all follow Dave at
www.fatmanwalking.com
Cheer him on! Go Dave Go
PS: Wonder what his website name will be if he totally changes his weight to maybe Slim Man Walking? Hmmmmm Go Dave Go

Thursday, August 04, 2005

KANSAS CITY - BBQ Pork-a-holics Dream

Kansas City challenges the world. Face stuffing Pork-a-holics dream! If you click on the TRAVELSAPIEN archives for February you will find the comments on Mickey-Lu's-Bar-B-Q as being amongst the finest however (Kansas says) "Try Us you Pork-a-holics! Okay. It is summer so why not. You got to enjoy the Famous America types of BBQ as they are all different, but, Earl Quick's BBQ stands out and Fiorella's JackStack BBQ at www.jackstackbbq.com and Arthur Bryant's digs at www.arthurbryantsbbq.com could intice readers. Then you could take a moment to look at www.oklahomajoesbbq.com and www.bbslawnsidebbq.com . All a bit different to the Mickey-Lu's - Bar-B-Q shout back in February. Anyway if you can't make it to Kansas, try the following Barbecued Pork Shoulder. A little long but worth the effort so say the Pork-a-holics and you can do it at home. Almost.

The Meat - 1 bone-in-pork shoulder, 5-7 pounds
The Rub - You know "rub it on piggy!"
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup paprika
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon garlic powder (not garlic salt)
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon celery seeds
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon ground ginger
i teaspoond ground turmeric

The Basting Sauce
1/2 cups cider vinegar
1 small onion, minced
1 teaspoon hot red chile flakes
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground black pepper ---- and you all thought this was easy!

The Sauce
3 cups cider vinegar
3 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons dark corn syrup
1 cup Heinz chile sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons Crystal hot sauce ( or something like Frank's or hotter as you wish)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons red chile flakes
1 teaspoon ground black pepper


Now you have to ask "What next?" Absolutely! All the above is just getting you warmed up to complete your KANSAS CITY BBQ home recipe. To keep the rubs and sauces seperate from the COOKING click on the KANSAS CITY Part 2 - Time to Cook! Comin up!

PIG OUT IN Kansas PART 2 THE RECIPE

TRAVELSAPIEN wants you all to be sure and thank Andrew Zimmern, former Chef and Food Critic for the recipes empowering you to enjoy this real good Kansas City version of American Barbeques. The Rub. The Basting Sauce. The Sauce............. and now you know what to do with them all.

Remember from the other post THE MEAT>> a 1 bone-in-pork shoulder, 5-7 pounds.

1.Combine the rub ingredients, set aside.
2.Combine the basting sauce ingredients, whisk until sugar and salt are dissolved, set aside.
3.Combine barbeque sauce ingredients over medium heat in a small pot.
4.When simmering, lower heat to maintain simmer and gently cook until barbecue sauce consistency is reached. Cool and refrigerate overnight.

Massage pork shoulder with the rub and let sit overnight in the refrigerator. "Grill" the pork over indirect medium-low heat, using smoking chips if desired

(I do) to establish a deeper smoke flavor. You will want to keep adding hardwood or charcoal every 40 minutes or so to maintain a low heat of roughly 250 degrees. For gas grills, you also want to maintain a temperature of roughly 250 degrees and cook over indirect heat. Baste every hour with the basting sauce. Pork is done when the meat is fork tender, and almost falls apart. ( some people would call that "Pulled Pork"). It will have shrunken back from the bone. This will take roughly six hours or until fork tender.
Serve pork with the barbeque sauce.

Now you know why you were making three different treatments for cooking and eating Always remember good comes from slow. Do NOT rush the recipe. If you do not have time to prepare this correctly there is always some take-out you can go to.
( NOT UNLESS YOU ARE IN KANSAS) PS - Is Barbeque, Barbecue is BBQ? Does it matter?
If this recipe does not work for you - SEE YOU IN KANSAS!

Monday, August 01, 2005

Tranquility Base Found - Break out the Coolers.


Gulf Islands Sunset Hello Canada! Posted by Picasa

GULF ISLANDS BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA


Micro-Brewery Family Style Beer Posted by Picasa

Where the Earth stands still


Salt Spring Island. Endless Views. Posted by Picasa

GULF ESCAPES CANADA - ORCAS EAGLES SEA LIONS

GULF ESCAPES - CANADA There are many "Gulf" places in our world. The Gulf Islands TRAVELSAPIEN is referring too are the Canadian Gulf Islands off the Western Canada mainland. Straddling the 49th parallel located in the Gulf of Georgia between Vancouver and Victoria British Columbia. Just north of the American San Juan Islands Washington State. Now the San Juan Islands are no slouch either however the Canadian version holds something very special. Probably very Canadian.

Protected as they are the Gulf Islands are made up of some 300 Islands in the Southern Gulf area. Now THAT is a lot of exploring to do! Pebble Beaches, Arbutus Trees, Orcas, Eagles, Sea Lions, Salmon, Shell Fish, Land Otter, Warm Sultry Summers, artisans and on it goes.

Maddronna and Garry Oak is everywhere, Friendly People, Farmers, (the famous Saltspring Island Lamb) comes from this area, Studios of Writers, Potters, Painters, Weavers, Spinners, Wood Carvers, Micro Breweries, Organic Coffee Roasters, the Gulf Islands will keep you dazzled every moment of your day. Bicycle Tours, Ocean Kyakking, Hiking, Golf, Walking, Wilderness and Wildlife Cruising, Sailing (yourself or skippered) Charming Guest Houses and Quaint Local Hotels. Natural beauty is bountiful.

To get a picture of the rugged areas look to the southern most point of the larger Vancouver Island to "Race Rocks". Try the LIVE CAM at www.racerocks.com There you can control the camera to take in Sea Lions, live, sunning themselves on the rocky shelves.

To really enjoy the Gulf Islands TRAVELSAPIEN would suggest having a local with all the knowledge of the area show you the best of the best. The people at www.gulfescapes.com are long time experts in putting together packages that will have you active, and, getting the most out of your valuable time. Link them here or on the sidebar if you want to know more. Gulf Escapes has downloadable brochures mapping out great vacation opportunities.
Ask for Jon De West. Everyone knows Jon.

TRAVELSAPIEN would say that the Gulf Islands are one of the world's wonders on this planet. A haven for escape and relaxation. Four Season Splendour. There are enough islands to keep you busy a long, long time. More and more folks are discovering these islands make a great retirement location as well. People like Donald Dashwood on Saltspring Island is a master builder and anyone there can tell you how to find him. I mean how big an Island is it? Not. If you want something, very different, along the line of West Coast Log, then www.nevilogcanada.com
Either contractor can build your dream get-a-way or full time Shangrila. If you want something far less extravigante', no problemo, from basic cabins to riches the choice is always yours.

So get with it everyone! The Gulf Islands call. So many. So little time.

Look! The Moon has water. Posted by Picasa

300 TREASURE ISLANDS - GO GREEN!


300 Islands and counting. Posted by Picasa

Hi! Does anyone have a GPS with them? Posted by Picasa