Cooking Chronicles: Strawberry Cupcakes

These cupcakes were a delight and a perfect summertime treat! Justin and I get lots of fresh fruit every week, and this week the strawberries were especially delicious! I had some extra I needed to use up, so I decided cupcakes were just what we needed. The cake had fresh chunks of strawberries which made it super moist and yummy. I used a classic vanilla buttercream for the icing but they would also be great with a cream cheese frosting or even just a simple dollop of sweetened fresh whipped cream. Wouldn't that be a tasty take on strawberry shortcake? Let me know if you'd like the recipe and I'll make sure you get it. Hope you enjoy this little bit of summer sweetness!

Cooking Chronicles: Apple Cider Doughnuts

Even though it is still 100 degrees everyday here in Las Vegas, I am getting ready for fall! Autumn is one of my favorite seasons; I always picture beautiful leaves changing colors, football games and tailgating, bonfires, Halloween parties, pumpkins, and Thanksgiving! Well, I decided to bring fall to Vegas this past Sunday morning and I made some Apple Cider Doughnuts from this month's FoodNetwork Magazine. These tasty treats were a delicious combination of sugar and spice and they sure made me want to move to Vermont and grow apples for a living!

Travel Tales: Lake Tahoe

"...at last the lake burst upon us-a noble sheet of blue water lifted six thousand three hundred feet above the level of the sea, and walled in by a rim of snow-clad mountain peaks that towered aloft full three thousand feet higher still...I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords." Mark Twain, 1872

Next on the list to see before we leave Vegas was Lake Tahoe. We got to cross that name off the list this past week. This area was one of the most beautiful and relaxing places that we have ever been. It has the perfect mountain resort towns. The lake itself was gorgeous and I can see why Mark Twain raved about it so long ago. The lake is the second deepest lake in the USA and is so clear you can see a white dinner plate 75 feet below the surface. We could only imagine how beautiful the area is in the winter when the mountains are snow-capped and the reflection shows clearly in the glass-like lake. Lake Tahoe was a definite must visit again destination.

Travel Tales: The Grand Canyon

One of our favorite hobbies is hiking. Seeing what God has created is awe-inspiring. Around Las Vegas, we have so many wonderful locations to choose from. A few of preferred spots are Red Rock, Mount Charleston (about 30 minutes north of Vegas), Valley of Fire (1 hour north of Vegas), and Zion National Park (about 3 hours away in Utah). I'll get around to posting some photos of those hikes as well, but today I wanted to focus of the grandest hike of all...The Grand Canyon! In June, we traveled about 5 hours south of Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Canyon in Arizona. I was just astounded at the sight before us and, I admit, a little nervous. I'm scared of heights and Justin likes to scare me. We had a great time at the Grand Canyon. I was determined to see the Colorado River and to achieve this we had to hike 6 miles down into the Canyon. Of course that also means a 6 mile return hike back up! Our favorite quote from the Park staff is "Getting to the bottom is optional, but getting to the top is mandatory." Enjoy the pictures of one of our most memorable adventures!

Finally made it to the river!

Now we just have to make it back up!

Travel Tales: San Francisco and the Pacific Coast

What a fabulous trip! Justin and I visited San Francisco in June of this year and then we headed home by driving down Hwy 1 along the Pacific Coast. This was on our must visit list while living in Las Vegas. We loved seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown, had a great time at Fisherman's Wharf and on Pier 39, and enjoyed lots of tasty food! We especially loved the Sourdough Bread, Clam Chowder, and the fresh steamed Crab.

Our final leg of this trip was the journey down Highway 1 that runs along side the Pacific Ocean.

What views! At times we were merely feet from the ocean and then we would be on the edge of the cliff that had a sheer drop down into the ocean. When we get to experience such beauty, Justin and I just thank God for the majesty of his creation! We also got to see some gigantic elephants seals lying on the beach!

On this trip we also visited Hearst Castle, onced owned by William Randolph Hearst, who owned several major newspapers. The house was truly a work of art. Hearst began building the estate in 1919 and never finished. Visitors to the mansion included everyone from Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill to Charles Lindberg and many 20's and 30's Hollywood stars.

This pool is one of two gorgeous pools located on the property. This one is located under a tennis court and is known as the Roman Pool.