Author Archives: Loving Life Adventures

About Loving Life Adventures

thoughts - projects - inspirations
Apr8

Recipe … Cucumber and Avocado Summer Rolls with Mustard-Soy Sauce

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This looks delicious – I have my list printed to pick up the ingredients from the market this week.

Rich, nutty avocado is a great carrier of flavors, like the fresh herbs and cooling cucumber that star in these fresh rice-paper rolls. The savory dipping sauce features tart, sweet and salty ingredients that mimic an exotic salad dressing—fitting, as these rolls are like a salad that is eaten out of hand.

Ingredients:

  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • 2 Tbs. rice bran or canola oil
  • 1 Tbs. rice vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 tsp. soy sauce
  • 1 tsp. brown sugar
  • 2 Haas avocados
  • 20 rice paper rounds, 6 or 8 inches in diameter
  • 10 green lettuce leaves
  • Leaves from 1 bunch fresh basil
  • Leaves from 1 bunch fresh mint
  • 2 carrots, coarsely shredded
  • 1/2 English cucumber, cut into thin strips

Directions:

In a small bowl, stir together the lime juice, oil, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves; set aside.

Halve, pit and peel the avocados, and then cut them into 1/2-inch dice.

Place a wide, shallow bowl of warm water on a work surface. Lay a clean kitchen towel next to the bowl. Dip 1 rice paper round into the water for a few seconds to soften, then lay it flat on the towel. Dip a second round into the water and lay it directly on top of the first one. Using another towel, pat the top of the rice paper dry.

Center a lettuce leaf on top of the stacked rice papers. Starting about one-third in from the edge closest to you, arrange a few of the basil and mint leaves in a line across the lettuce. Top with a small row each of the carrot, cucumber and avocado; be careful not to overstuff the roll. Lift the bottom edge of the rice paper up and over the filling and then roll once to form a tight cylinder. Fold in the sides of the rice paper and continue to roll the paper and filling into a tight cylinder. Set aside, seam side down. Repeat with the remaining rice paper and filling ingredients to make 10 rolls.

Cut each roll in half crosswise and arrange, cut side up, on a platter. Place the sauce alongside for dipping and serve immediately. Makes 20 rolls; serves 8 to 10.

{williams-sonoma}
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Appetizers, by Amy Sherman (Oxmoor House, 2008).

Apr6

Traveling … Montana

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GOAL:  this trip for Spring 2013

This site: Visit Mt.com is what made this go from a …. wish list travel to a …. I HAVE to go!

fly to –

Glacier National Park – Explore

drive to –

Yellowstone National Park – Explore

Highlights:

The Going-to-the-Sun Road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St Marys Lake … and the waterfall

Lake McDonald (and longhorn sheep and mountain goat!)

Old Faithful Geyser

Lamar Valley to see the bison herds and elk

Mammoth Hot Springs

Apr3

Things To Do

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I’m always keeping lists … often crossing lines through the words … but it seems more often lately the words remain – staring at me … pleading for completion (and a scratch on the back.)

So today I share a few To Do’s  …. and the plan to complete them >

1. Finish Organizing Closet … clothes, shoes, accessories

{plan for completion}

Figure out and make list and purchase organizational tools needs:  bins, shoe storage, hooks…

Complete all laundry, place all hats together, all purses together, shoes together and so on

Put the Closet Space in Order!

Goal Date for Completion >>> April 9th

2. Finish Colorful Vase Display … prepare, paint, arrangement within

{plan for completion}

Choose which bottles to use: check dollar store for glass vases or containers to include

Prepare pieces & paint

Create arrangements within the containers

Make the Display!

Goal Date for Completion >>> April 16th

3.  Create and Add Listings to Etsy … make notebooks, photograph, list on etsy shop

{plan for completion}

Layout and gather materials for 4 notebooks: collage elements, paint, paper, embellishments

Create each notebook

photograph

Create listing

Publish it live

Goal Date for Completion >>> 4 Complete Listed Items by April 30th

note about #3 I’m thinking if I don’t finish this, and/or enjoy it – I may consider closing down the etsy shop for good.

Apr2

Traveling … California Coast Road Trip

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Often I find myself planning complete vacations – knowing my funds wouldn’t be able to make this possible (for now…but a girl can dream) So I plan… for that day to come where I can open my travel notebook – pick a destination – and go!

I’ll share a little trip with you…  

Traveling the Pacific Coast Highway. Convertible car with the top down.

Start in San Diego …  travel up county highway S21 … connecting with S coastal highway 101 /Carlsbad Blvd. around Solano Beach –  Laguna Beach –  Crystal Cove State Park

Keep on the PCH / Highway 1

Though a bit confusing through Los Angeles into Santa Monica – attempt to stay as coastal as roadways will allow.

Then onward up the coast stopping along the way where ever we wish…for photos, food, sights….

Enjoy some time in Santa Cruz, San Francisco

Redwood Forest…

All the way up to Crescent City.

It would take about 18 hours – not including any stops….