Jan26

Outrageous Pumpkin Pie

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Outrageous Pumpkin Pie

I admit it — I hate pumpkin pie. When surveying my family for what desserts to serve at Thanksgiving, the overwhelming  response was “pumpkin pie.” I wasn’t excited to make one and I was even less excited to eat it. I decided I would change the traditional pumpkin pie recipe into something tastier and more interesting that I would actually want to eat.

Everyone raved about this pumpkin pie – it has some exciting flavors, the texture is more appealing (to me) than traditional pumpkin pie and it just tastes better! This pie went very quickly after Thanksgiving and I will definitely make it again for future holidays.

Note: To save time, you may want to use a store-bought caramel sauce in lieu of making your own caramel sauce. This will save you a great deal of time when preparing the pie.

Outrageous Pumpkin Pie

Print recipe
Serves: 10
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hours, 10 minutes
Allergy: Egg, Milk, Tree Nuts, Wheat
Dietary: Vegetarian
Meal type: Dessert
Misc: Freezable, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot
Region: Worldwide
Unique pumpkin pie recipe with a pecan & graham cracker crust is sure to please even those who hate pumpkin pie.

Ingredients

Filling

  • 1/4 teaspoon Cloves, ground
  • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper, ground
  • 1.5 cups Half and Half
  • 1 can Canned Pumpkin Puree (Don't buy pumpkin pie filling -- it's pre-seasoned.)
  • 2 Eggs
  • 3/4 cups Brown Sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ginger, ground

Crust

  • 1 cup Pecan Pieces, frozen
  • 6 tablespoons Butter, melted
  • 1 1/4 cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar

Caramel Sauce

  • 1/2 cup Caramel Sauce (You can use prepared caramel sauce or make your own -- either works well in this recipe.)

Directions

Step 1
Preheat your oven to 350 F.
Step 2
Combine the graham cracker crumbs, frozen pecan pieces, butter, salt and brown sugar together in a large bowl and mix until it is all combined. Pour the mixture into the pie pan and press it down to spread the mixture out. Work the mixture up the sides of the pie pan and try to flatten out the crust so it is even on the bottom and sides.
Step 3
Place the pie pan in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to chill before baking.
Step 4
Place the sugar, pumpkin pie spice, ground ginger, ground cloves, eggs, canned pumpkin, half and half and pepper in a bowl. Blend the mixture until it is uniform and all of the ingredients are incorporated.
Step 5
Remove the pie pan from the refrigerator and spread the caramel sauce on the bottom of the pie plate.
Step 6
Pour the filling mixture over the caramel sauce. Place the pie pan in the oven to cook for about 45-55 minutes.
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Jan20

Red Potato & Kale Gratin

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Red Potato & Kale Gratin

I had this huge block of beautiful Cabernet goat cheese on hand that I picked up while visiting my in-laws. They live near a dairy that produces these wonderful cheeses that are free of growth hormones and other grossness, so The Hungry Husband and I picked up a few blocks of cheese on our way home. We managed to widdle down the blocks of Santa Fe and Smoked Cheddar, but I still had not opened the goat cheese. I decided I had to do something with it and thought a gratin would be a perfect way to use up some of the cheese. We were about to take a trip, so I was also in use-up-everything-in-the-fridge-mode and thought I should probably use up the red potatoes and kale that I had sitting around.

You can really play with the ingredients in this dish by using different potatoes or whatever cheese you have on hand. You can also vary the amount of cheese based on your preferences.

Feb13

Top 3 Funny and Ridiculous Travel Moments

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Top 3 Funny and Ridiculous Travel Moments

As I was packing for my winter travels the other day, I started thinking about some of my travel experiences.  Some of my favorite moments were originally really terrible -  like getting robbed, but others have been funny or absurd.  I came up with my top three:

1.  When I lived in Ohio years ago, I flew with my now-husband to Hawaii to get married and have our honeymoon.  I made advance reservations with the airline to have my wedding dress properly stored so it wouldn’t get wrinkled.  It turns out that the “special accommodations” was actually a closet where they stuff wheelchairs and various supplies on the plane.  My wedding dress was severely wrinkled after the long flight.

After arriving in Honolulu, we were robbed the day before our wedding and our marriage license was even stolen.  Because we were in Hawaii, our credit card companies wouldn’t send us new cards so we had to make due with what cash we had in our hotel room.

2.  I was staying in Mexico at an eco-resort on the ocean that only had water and electricity for part of the day.  It had a salt water shower and just one light bulb in the entire cabana.  It was a really hot summer day, and I decided to walk down the road to the local restaurant and get a decent meal.  When I walked back to the “resort” I saw the mattress and chair from my cabana being removed and carried to a nearby two-story building.  When I asked one of the staff members what was happening, they said a hurricane was coming and everyone had to stay in the two-story building until the hurricane passed  in case the area flooded or rogue waves hit.  I didn’t stick around to find out how this would all work out.  Instead, I headed over to Valladolid a few hours away to stay at a hotel that resembled a castle in the middle of the town square.

3.  After hiking ten wet and soggy miles on Kauai’s Pihea Trail, I was soaked head-to-toe and covered in mud.  Even my camera was completely covered in mud and filth.  This wet trail forced me to climb up vertical stretches covered with mud and use tree roots to pull myself up.  I have hiked many trails over ten miles, but this trail (when wet) is an absolute killer!  I was so exhausted when I was a mile from the end of the trail that I just tuned people out.  I think people were talking to me, but at the time I did not realize it.  I heard a group of several people remark that I must not speak “American” because I wasn’t saying anything.  I began laughing hysterically after hearing that, which in hindsight probably just made me seem crazy.

Dec7

Hiking the Kau Desert Trail

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Hiking the Kau Desert Trail

Hike: Kau Desert Trail
Length: 3.6  miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (moderate)
Beauty: 8/10
Views: Desert, Mauna Loa, occasionally Mauna Kea

You can view the entire article for the hike here:  http://www.examiner.com/islands-in-honolulu/exploring-the-kau-desert-on-the-big-island

I thought I would just post some other photos of the trail.  The area is always so sunny and strikingly beautiful – it is such fun to capture it on film!

Nov10

Hiking Kauai: Kuilau Ridge Trail

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Hiking Kauai: Kuilau Ridge Trail

Kuilau Ridge TrailThe Kuilau Ridge Trail is one of those trails where the effort required to get to the end of the trail is far too little for the amazing views that lie ahead.  Hiking on Kauai always feels like a magical experience with all the lush tropical foliage, beautiful scenery, and breathtaking vistas.  The Kuilau Ridge trail is no exception.  The trail is about 4.5 miles roundtrip, and the elevation gain is extremely gentle, only gaining about 760 feet over 2.25 miles. 

The trail going up is surprisingly wide and has excellent footing compared to many other trails on Kauai.  The area is often a favorite spot of hunters – so be aware that hunting dogs may be in the area.  When you begin your ascent to the top of the ridge, you will often catch a glimpse of Mt. Waialeale, the wettest place on the planet – but only on a very rare clear day. 

For most of the way up, you will only have limited views of the mountains to the west.  But, that is not a problem because the trail offers up some stunning native and non-native plant life.  Depending on the time of year, you may see strawberry guava, ohia, lantana, and hala. 

Once you reach the picnic area at the top of the ridge, this is a great place to stop for lunch and photos.  If you have more energy, you can take the trail near the picnic area and continue to the bridge where the train meets the Moalepe Trail.  It’s a fun .25 mile jaunt with great views of Kapaa and the ocean.  

How to get there:  From Kapaa, turn right on Kuamoo Rd, and follow until it ends.  The Kuilau Ridge Trail is marked – it’s the last trail on your right just before the arboretum parking area.

Nov8

Visiting the Inyo National Forest in the White Mountains

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Visiting the Inyo National Forest in the White Mountains

 Several years ago, I hiked in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, in the White Mountains near Bishop, California.  The area is extremely remote and desolate, but it is so incredibly beautiful – you will never forget visiting here.  I was raised in the Southeast, so summer always meant unbearable heat, intolerable humidity, and driving rain.  But, summers in the White Mountains are something else entirely:  dry, hot, and without a cloud in the sky. 

 During my first visit to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, I was struck by the desolation, dryness, and the rich blue cloudless sky.  I hiked the 4.5 mile loop at 9,000 feet, known as the Methuselah Trail.  Hiking this trail was one of the most surreal hiking experiences of my life.  Like so many other higher altitude trails,  you often notice what you don’t see first - the lack of animal life and the immediate lack of noise. 
 

 Walking among these 4,000 year old trees, you wonder how they are even alive.  They leech nearly nonexistent nutrients from the rocks they are so precariously perched on, and they drink what little water they can from melted snow.  Lightning strikes them, and yet they live on to see another day.

Nov6

5 must do hikes while on the Big Island

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5 must do hikes while on the Big Island

Each Hawaiian island has many hiking trails, but none are as diverse and unique as the Big Island’s trails.  You can explore the desert, traverse trails covered with volcanic rock, hike in the rainforest, and even climb peaks with snow. 

These are the 5 must do hikes, when visiting the Big Island:

1)  Kilauea Iki - Hawaii Volcanoes Park:  If you do only one trail on the island, this is the trail!  In only four miles, you will get views from the rim into Kilauea Iki that are absolutely surreal.  Spending time in both the rainforest and the barren lava field below makes the hike even more interesting.  From the trail, you can even see the plume rising from the Kilauea Caldera, and when it is clear you can often see Mauna Loa.  Also, after finishing the trail, walk over to Thurston Lava Tube and see what all the fuss is about.

2)  Pololu Valley – Hawi:  While the trail into the valley is only one mile each way, it is quite steep and rocky.  The views from the top and the beach below are absolutely beautiful.  Make sure to spend time hiking around in the valley around the beach, swing on the tree swings, and even hang out on the beach for a while.  Another trail leads up to the top of the other side of the valley where you can get great views of the next valley over.  Only do these extra few miles if you have brought a lot of water and are in good shape.  The trail can be overgrown and hot because the airflow is somewhat stagnant.

3)  Waipio Valley – Honokaa:  This is probably the steepest paved mile you will ever drive or walk down.  It’s best to get into Waipio Valley in a four-wheel drive vehicle or on a booked tour.  Walking down isn’t difficult, but walking up is!  The grade is extremely steep, but at least the views are scenic on the way down.  Most people head to the beach and think that is all there is to do, but this is not the case.  You can try the first part of the Z trail on the other side of the valley near the beach or, my personal favorite – hike to the waterfall at the rear of the valley.  It involves locating a trailhead which isn’t too easy to find and hiking along a path that is relatively easy.  You also have to walk in a stream up to your waist until you get to the falls.  It’s a fun hike, but it isn’t for everyone!

4)  Lake Waiau - Mauna Kea:  This one mile round-trip trail seems like it might be easy, after all, it’s just one mile, right?  Wrong!  It’s one mile at over 13,000 feet elevation meaning you won’t have much oxygen to breathe during your trip.  The hike is to a high altitude permafrost lake that was thought to be bottomless by ancient Hawaiians.  The lake isn’t bottomless, but the area is surreal.  It’s extremely quiet – almost like being in a vacuum.  Seeing the lake in person is a really unusual experience – one that you must do if you are heading up to the summit or going to Mauna Kea for stargazing. 

5)  Petroglyphs Trail – Hawaii Volcanoes Park:  Far away from the lush rainforest at the summit of Kilauea, you will find that the barren lava fields off Chain of Craters Road offer glimpses of ancient petroglyphs.  The best trail to view petroglyphs is near the end of the road – you can’t miss it - it’s across the street from the Puna Coast Trailhead.  The trail is two miles round-trip with no elevation gain.  Along the trail, you will see plenty of petroglyphs, but the real treat is at the end, where you will walk on a boardwalk loop that will take you around to the best petroglyphs in the area.  Many of the petroglyphs are from birth rituals where families came to deliver the umbilical cord to the goddess Pele – they are easy to spot because they look like single holes in the lava rock.

Sep16

Hiking: Kilauea Iki – Big Island, Hawaii

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Hiking: Kilauea Iki – Big Island, Hawaii

Hike:  Kilauea Iki
Length:  4 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (moderate)
Beauty:  8/10
Views:  Jungle, Kilauea Iki crater, Plume in Kilauea Caldera, maybe Mauna Loa

Note:  I don’t mention the length of time to complete the trail since hiking time is unique to the individual.

Kilauea Iki is probably the best overall hike on the Big Island.  Hiking from the cool and shady rainforest down to the hot, barren, and windy crater – you get a sense of just how dynamic and diverse the landscape is. 

This trail is one of the most popular trails on the Big Island as well as the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Having hiked this trail at least eighty times, I can definitely say the trail is in the best shape I have ever seen it in.  The park has worked over the last year to make the trail much nicer while protecting native plants along the trail.  They have reworked all the stone stairs to make them safer and have corrected areas where footing may have been bad for those not accustomed to hiking over lava.  

Start your hike by parking at the Kilauea Iki overlook parking area.  Proceed to the right (counter-clockwise) and descend down the stairs to hike along the rim of the Kilauea Iki crater.  Hiking this direction allows you to take full advantage of the views in the distance like the caldera plume, Mauna Loa, and the entirety of the crater below you.  The hike through the rainforest is very easy – the terrain is mostly flat, and the park has graded the path to make it even easier.  You will pass several viewpoints where you will want to stop and take photos or just look at the crater below.   You will have an amazing view of the main caldera as you walk towards the stairs. 

You will notice along the way that two other trails intersect the trail you are taking to get to the crater.  One of those trails is part of the Crater Rim Trail, which kind of paralells Crater Rim Drive.  Portions of the trail are now closed because of the smoke plume in the main caldera.  You don’t want to follow the trails off to the right this time.  Continue going straight until you reach a sign for the Kilauea Iki crater – descend the stairs on your left.  

After you get down the stairs, make sure that you follow the ahu (rock piles) across the crater.  The path isn’t as easy to see once you are on the floor of the crater compared with how visible it was from 400 feet above on the crater’s rim.  Watch your footing on the lava rock and take care not to fall in the crater - the lava rock is very unforgiving.  Once you pass all the a’a (rough) lava you will spend most of your time walking on pahoehoe (smooth) lava.  Watch for cracks in the crater floor – you will have to hop over them.  Head straight and you will start to see an opening at the bottom of the tree line. 

On to the switchbacks!  Climbing back up was a bit harder a few years ago because the trail was not as well maintained and it was heavily used.  But, fortunately, today, they have put stairs in areas where it was previously just rocky and have smoothed the grade of the switchbacks a bit.  The first two switchbacks are the longest – especially the second.  Fortunately, the remaining switchbacks are very short until the last one where it mostly becomes flat and winds up to the Thurston Lava Tube parking area. 

You will see the parking lot and probably think, “Hey, I didn’t park here!  How do I get to my car?”  Just follow the sidewalk up to the left where you will see a sign for the Kilauea Iki overlook – follow the paved path on the left.  The trail over to the parking area is about half a mile and it is completely flat the entire way.  Make sure to stop at some of the view points and capture those last photos before you reach your car.

Sep14

Hiking: Kalopa State Park – Big Island, Hawaii

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Hiking: Kalopa State Park – Big Island, Hawaii

Hike:  Kalopa State Park - Perimeter Trail
Length:   3.5 miles
Difficulty:  2/10
Beauty: 4/10
Views:  Mauna Kea, Forest

 Having lived in Hawaii for so long, I often find myself missing the fall season on the mainland.  Here in Hawaii, we have only two seasons:  winter and summer.  But, every time I visit Kalopa State Park I always feel like I have stepped into a forest that belongs in Northern California or Oregon.  Because of the 2,000 ft altitude, the air is quite cool and breezy.  I enjoy seeing the ground covered with fallen leaves and it is always a novelty for me to smell the earthy forest scent that you rarely smell here in Hawaii.  The park functions as an arboretum of indigenous trees but it also has a great nature loop as well as a perimeter trail that is fun to do. 

You won’t find a crowd at Kalopa - or anyone for that matter.  Years ago, the park was actually better maintained.  In the last year, the perimeter trail has become largely unmaintained.  The trail now has many fallen trees on it forcing you to get off the trail and scramble to pick up the trail again.  In some areas, the wild ginger and grass have all but taken over the trail.  But, the trail is still enjoyable and it is easy to do. The total elevation gain is only about 400 feet over a mile and the terrain is dirt with excellent footing entire way. 

When doing the perimeter trail, start by following the jeep trail up to the top boundary of the park – where you can often see Mauna Kea in the distance.  Make sure to take a left to complete the loop by walking near the gulch.  Don’t turn right – the trail is not marked very well and if you are not an experienced hiker you probably won’t pick up the trail very easily. 

While hiking in the park, you may see old signs for trails that no longer exist.  The trails are no longer maintained and are extremely difficult to pick up.  Many wild pigs live in the park so you will also see pig trails which you do not want to follow.  Also, be aware that hunters are often in the area.  You will probably see the ties they put in the trees but those ties don’t mark a trail so don’t follow the ties.

If you are thinking of taking horses or mountain biking, you may want to think twice before you try.  The trail has numerous trees and logs down lying over the path with smaller logs acting as stairs.  Most of them roll if you try to step on them and I can’t see a mountain bike getting over them without stopping and carrying the bike over.  If that is something you enjoy, go for it.  Personally, I would not enjoy getting off my bike every two minutes to carry it over logs. 

Realistically, you would have to try to get lost here.  Just walk downhill and you will reach the park road, it’s that simple.  The park is fenced in so the worst case scenario is you walk downhill and follow the fence.  I have been off the trail here numerous times (intentionally and unintentionally) and it’s never a cause for worry here. 

Even with all the things that are wrong with this little park, I still love coming here to hike.  Wandering around the grassy areas, having lunch at the picnic tables, or even renting a cabin here are great ways to take in the surroundings at Kalopa.