Biking Gooseberry Mesa: a ride along mars

Bike along slickrock and sand without a soul in sight to lead you to spectacular red rock views.  The 30 miles of trails give you lots of variety and stunning vistas.  The rides are for moderate to advanced bikers depending on which routes you take.  

The first of the trail is mostly sand.  Have you ever tried to ride a bike through sand?  I found that part to be the most challenging.  Once you get into the trails a little more, the sand turns into slickrock.  Go on a dry day to avoid slipping because even when the rock is wet it can be slippery.  There are lots of beautiful views all along the way.  

Make it to the view from the point of the south rim start and you could ride an advanced area with deep drops on both sides of your wheels.  I would definitely recommend going in spring, early summer, or fall.  If you must go in the summer, try going at sunrise or just before sunset to avoid the extreme heat.  Don't forget to bring lots of water and snacks.

Want more info?  Check out the links below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17AepQiEROc

https://www.visitutah.com/articles/mission-to-mars-riding-gooseberry-mesa/

https://www.visitutah.com/articles/gooseberry-mesa-guided-biking-video/

Mom's Homemade Oreos

Outside cookie's ingredients:
1 box devil's food cake mix
3/4 c shortening
2 eggs
Blend together
Cook @ 350 for 5 minutes.  They won't look done, but they are

Filling:
1 cube butter
4 oz cream cheese
1 lb powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
Cream & put between 2 cookies.

Mom's Rainbow Pizza Dessert

Sugar cookie dough bottom cooked.
Spread with cool whip and cream cheese.
Put choice of fruit on cooled cookie dough

Glaze:
1/2 c sugar
pinch of salt
2 T cornstarch
1/2 c orange juice
2 T lemon juice
1/2 c water
boil 1 minute.  Cool glaze but put over fruit warm.

Cacio é Pepe

INGREDIENTS

1/2 lb. pasta

2 tbsp. butter, divided

1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Coarsely ground black pepper

3/4 c. freshly grated pecorino, plus more for garnish/


DIRECTIONS

In a pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente. Reserve ⅔ cup pasta water and drain pasta.

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter with oil. Add a generous amount of black pepper and toast until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add ⅓ cup reserved pasta water and bring to simmer. Whisk in remaining butter then, using tongs, toss pasta into butter mixture.

Add cheeses and toss constantly until cheese is melty, removing skillet from heat when about half the cheese has melted. (If sauce is too thick, loosen with more pasta water.)

Best buttercream frosting

5 cubes of butter
6-7 cups of powdered sugar
5 tbsp heavy whipping cream
1-2 tsp vanilla

Be sure the butter is softened to room temperature. Cream the butter well. Add powdered sugar . Cream well. Add other ingredients .

Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients
* 1 lb medium shrimp
    * 1tablespoon pure olive oil
    * 2 tablespoons garlic, finely chopped
    * 1 1⁄2 cups white wine
    * 1⁄2fresh lemon Juice only
    * 1teaspoon italian seasoning
    * 1⁄2cup softened butter
    * 1tablespoon parsley
    * 1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS
    * Heat cast iron skillet and add olive oil.
    * Add shrimp and cook until tender and no longer translucent, reduce heat. Remove Shrimp and set aside.
    * Add garlic and cook 2-3 minutes. Do not allow garlic to brown - it will make it bitter.
    * Add white wine, and lemon juice.
    * Cook until wine is reduced by half. After it is reduced, add Italian seasoning.
    * Reduce heat to low, and add butter. If pan is too hot, the butter will separate.
    * Add shrimp back into sauce, add parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
    * Sprinkle with grated Parmesan Cheese.

Creamy chicken marsala

Ingredients
2 tbsp Olive oil
16 oz mushrooms
2tbsp garlic
1 c marsala cooking wine
1c chicken broth
1c heavy whipping cream

Directions:
Brown mushrooms in Olive oil
Add garlic
Boil cooking wine
Add chicken broth & whipping cream
Pour over chicken cooked to your liking,  oveand top  over mashed potatoes and serve with broccoli.

Sausage Breakfast Brunch Casserole

Ingredients:
2 lbs bacon or sausage
8 slices of soft bread
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
5 beaten eggs
2 3/4 c milk
1 can mushroom soup
1/2 Tbsp mustard

Directions:
Place bread pieces on bottom of greased 8x13 pan.  Place sausage on bread.  Combine eggs, milk mushroom soup and mustard.  Sprinkle cheese then pour egg mixture over cheese.  Cover & refrigerate overnight.  Bake uncovered @ 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes -1 hour 25 minutes.

PIC Mom's chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients:
1 c shortening
1/2 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
3 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 large package chocolate chips


Instructions:
Cream shortening and sugar and vanilla.  Add eggs and beat well.  Add dry ingredients.  Bake @ 375 for 10 minutes

Mom's Crepes

1 c flour
1 1/2 c milk
2 eggs
1 T salad oil

Combine all ingredients.  Beat until smooth.  Grease skillet.  Spoon in tablespoon batter.  Spread evenly in pan.  Turn over quickly.  Put on paper towel.

6 things to do outside of Chongquing

Chongqing is such a unique city.  It has one of the largest populations in China.  The urban area is absolutely massive.  Here are some recommendations of things to do while visiting the area.  

1. Eat some spicy food.  

The Sichuan providence is known for it's spicy food.  Chongqing is definitely the spice center for that.  White pepper and Sichuan peppers frequent the dishes in the region. I am not a spicy food lover, so I even told the chef that I wanted zero spice and I was crying by the time I finished my non-spicy meal.  When I Rome I guess, right? At least once.  Then you can frequent western chains if you can't handle the heat.

2. Visit the Longshui Gorge in Wu Long

 As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there's lots to see in the gorge with the bridges, nearby rivers, waterfalls, and ancient building structure called Tiansheng.  It's a geological wonder and was formed over thousands of years.  

3. Shop for some souvenirs outside the city.  

You'll find all kinds of treasures.  Many of them are home made from the locals who are extremely kind.  

4. Check out the 3 natural bridges 

These 3 natural limestone bridges are pretty impressive and are named after dragons. The area was the setting place for several movies and during the summer is extremely lush with all kinds of indigenous species growing on the side of the gorge.  

5. See the Fairy Mountain National Forest Park

A glorified park with open spaces where kids can run around in the western world is a big deal to many people in China.  Many of the Chinese that were on the tour with us were amazed to not see a building and have complete mountain views.  Bonus: There's a train that goes around the park.

6. Go to a rural outdoor market. 

See how people shop for food in rural China.  There are all kinds of roasted animals that you may or may not have wanted to see.  True story: a couple asked to take a picture with me and their kids and then even asked me to take them home with me.  It about broke my heart.  

Tomato basil soup

Ingredients:

8-10 tomatoes

4 ounces Pesto to taste

4 c chicken broth

1 can 8 oz tomato sauce

1/2 c butter

1/2 c flour

1/2 c basil

2 c Orzo (optional)

Directions

Cook the tomatoes in the oven @ 350 for 1.5 hour

Transfer to a crock pot or pot and slow cook  covered on low  

Smash tomatoes while cooking

Make a roux out of flour and butter then add chicken broth in small amounts until incorporated

Add roux mixture to tomato mixture and all other ingredients.  Serve warm.

German Pan Fried Potatoes-Bratkartoffeln

Ingredients:

1 onion minced ~ 1 cup

5 small red potatoes~5 cups

Cooking Oil

1/2 c 1.5 oz bacon bits (half a bag)

Directions:

Mince the onion & cut the potatoes in small chunks.  Heat cooking oil and sweat the onions.  Add the potatoes to the mix.  Cook covered 15 minutes.  Uncover, add bacon bits & cook for 5 minutes.

serves 5-6

The yummiest Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

1 tsp garlic

5 minced carrots~ 2 heaping cups

5 minced celery sticks ~2 cups

1 minced large onion~2 cups

1/4 c cornstarch

4 Tbsp butter

8 c chicken broth

1 cup water

1 rotisserie chicken

1/2 tsp lemon juice

Sweat the vegetables.  Add cornstarch stir for 1-2 minutes.  Add butter, chicken broth, water, and lemon juice.  Take the majority of chicken off the chicken bones.  Refrigerate chicken and put bones into pot. Simmer for 1 hour +.  Take bones out and replace with chicken from the fridge.  Enjoy

Serves 8