Mashed BOO-tatos Recipe

I actually was watching the food network and got this recipe from there.  GREAT usage of Kale.

MASHED BOO-TATOS!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed well, cut into eighths
• Water
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 bunch kale, stems discarded, and leaves finely chopped
• 3/4 cup milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions

Add the potatoes to a pot of cold water and salt the water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook the potatoes until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander.

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the green onions and the kale. Saute until tender, tossing with tongs, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the milk and butter and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Let the milk warm and the butter melt.

Put the potatoes into the pot and mash with a potato masher. Stir in the sour cream and the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve.

Long time no Hike

I'm becoming increasingly bummed out about our weather.  I know fall is the time for rain and wind and cold weather.  I was looking forward to the cooler weather and wind but non-stop rain??  Its getting old. 
Because I have not hiked since last week, and during that hike.....nothing exciting or worth sharing happened.  I still love it though....I just am needing to do more of it.  My boots are calling my name everyday and I feel so bad like I'm neglecting them! 
I have planned some pretty cool hikes as soon as the sun comes out....or at least when it stops raining.  I have the trails mapped out and how far I plan on going.
In the meantime...I have been knitting.  Yes, knitting.  I enjoy knitting though so its okay....I create cool things with my hands.  I have even gone as far as joining a class to learn out to knit socks.  Not the super thick ugly socks that people never wear but the thin, super-cool kind of socks that you can wear everyday.  I am anxious to learn a new pattern and this was the best way for me to learn how.  I've tried watching the tutorials on You-Tube but don't have the best luck...figured it would be easier with a real teacher :)
Not much else is new except for the GREAT fact that Sam and I have been cleared to start fertility again.  With my sugar being under control, they gave us the go-head to begin treatments again.  Hopefully we'll have better luck this time.  I was taking a pill medication for my diabetes that was a huge aid in keeping my sugar levels under control...that along with diet and excersie that is.  Bad thing about this whole thing is I can't get off my medication but I can't keep taking it while trying to get pregnant or if/when I do become pregnant.  So...I am now giving myself injections of insulin on a daily basis.  Its a little trickier and I'm still trying to get used to it.  Its not so much giving myself the shot that bothers me but the keeping track of my levels, making sure I'm eating small meals throughout the day....which I normally  have no issue with but its the "how often" I have to eat.  I need to eat sooner than what I normally would otherwise my sugar levels drop and I get super dizzy, hot flashy...feel like I'm going to pass out kind of thing.  I have to carry the glucose tabs, or (smarties candy, thank you Jenny!) on me at all times.  I guess I never fully realized how the whole insulin thing works but now that I am diabetic, and I'm paying attention to what goes into my mouth, and how much insulin I'm giving myself.....it makes me fully understand what a pain in the rear this really is.  I don't wish any of this on anyone.....I wish my health wasn't as awful as it seems...I know it could be worse but I also feel that I could have done a lot to prevent this years ago....by paying attention to my weight and what I was eating.  But....I didn't and now I'm paying the price for it.  I just pray that I learn to manage it the right way and keep it under control so that I may be able to become pregnant and have a healthy baby....that and to keep myself healthy during a pregnancy. 
So....although this post really wasn't about hiking all that much, it is exactly what has been going on.  Sorry  if I've bored you!
Until next time......

Strenuous Hills and peeing in the woods

So I woke up this morning at 7am and saw the sun just peaking through the trees.  It was foggy this morning but I knew the sun would burn it away in no time.  I figured it would be a great time to get up and hike.....and maybe capture some great pictures.
I arrived at the trail head around 7:30 and began my hike.  There were 2 different trails to choose from and so I decided on the longer one.  As I began walking....I could see my breath in the air.  It was still pretty chilly but I had layered my clothes in anticipation of the sun warming me up.
Have you ever smelled the scent of damp woods, mixed with black walnuts?  I think it has to be my new favorite smell.  Seriously. There were black walnuts ALL over the ground...most of them turning black.  I picked up one that was still green and inhaled its scent until there probably wasn't any scent left to it.  I LOVE the smell...its almost a piney, citrus smell.  Wish I could bottle it.  Anyway....I carry on about my walk and I'm trekking on top of this rim....a high, elevated rim above the gorge.  The sights are breathtaking and I'm wishing Sam was there to enjoy it with me.  About 2 miles in, I come to the top of this super steep hill...I'm talking the kind of hill that you almost need to hang onto to trees to make sure you don't fall on your kiester....or worse....have one of your knees give out.  So....I'm slowly descending the hill, if that's what you want to call it and it takes me about 20 minutes to finally reach the bottom.  All the while thinking to myself that this hike had better be worth the pain in my knees.  I'm limping now but not about to turn around and climb up that stupid thing either. 
After about 2 more miles of these hills, I come to this overlook and am standing in awe.  It. Is. BEAUTIFUL.  I don't even have the words to describe the beauty before me.  There is a little bench there, overlooking the view and I take a seat.  I have not seen one other soul while I have been out there and I take the time to thank God for this spectacular view in front of me.  I thank Him for a lot of other things too but I had found my most favorite spot in the outdoors....that is near where I live anyway. 
So....while I'm sitting there, I'm thinking that I really need to go to the bathroom.  I had already drank two 32oz Nalgene bottles and was about 4 and half miles into my hike.  Have you ever popped a squat in the woods when you think you're alone because you had to pee really bad??  Well...I have.  Many times.....the only difference this time was that I got caught with my pants around my ankles.  Yup!  Sure did!  By the DNR no less!  Can you picture it?
I'm sorry...but nobody...and I don't care how strong your kegel muscles are....cannot stop peeing midstream!!!  Thank GOODNESS the DNR officer was a lady who politely turned around and pretended to scope out the view.  I hurried and pulled up my pants and began to apologize....I thought for SURE I was going to get the dirty look.  Nope...not the case.  While I was apologizing I saw that the lady's shoulders were shaking like she was crying really hard......or in this case....laughing her butt off!!  She couldn't speak to me for like 2 whole minutes because she was laughing so hard.  I didn't get it.....what was so funny about THAT whole scene??  After she had finally recovered from laughing at my expense, she had explained to me that I was the 3rd person this morning she has caught with her pants down!  THIRD!!!  IT WASN'T EVEN 8:30 IN THE MORNING!  Not to mention...I hadn't even seen another person while hiking!  Little did I know that she was NOT that far behind me!  Oh well....her and I got a good laugh and afterwards, I continued on my way back.  It was an enjoyable morning hike...and I did capture great pictures!  I'll post them on FB because I don't feel like uploading them twice.
Until next time......