Wednesday, August 26, 2015

High Tide and Tea

This past Monday was a lovely day. The temperature was just right, the tide was high and the boat was full. It was a perfect day for a tea party for our special guests. Several of the regulars were back after being absent for a while. There were many reasons to celebrate. The tea treats were creative as well as delicious. Some one asked for the dried fruit and nut loaf recipe... so here it is.

Jan's Dried Fruit and Nut Loaf
3/4 cup all purpose white flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup brown sugar (I have been known to use coconut sugar for 1/4 of this measurement)
Mix dry ingredients together.
Add:
1 cup dried apricots - halved
1 cup dried cherries (those tart ones from Costco work great)
1 cup dried figs - halved
3 cups walnuts
Toss the fruit with the flour mixture until all the fruit is covered with flour.

In a bowl - beat 3 eggs with 1 tsp vanilla
Add the wet ingredients to the flour/fruit/nut mixture.
Stir well until all the flour has been mixed with the eggs. (Gooey)
Bake in a 300 degree oven for 50-55 minutes.
This recipe makes 3 mini loaves. The best size for tea bread.

You might say we are the Tea Party Boat... but don't think any of us have leanings toward the Tea Party! If anything our leanings are more toward the Boston Tea Party. I will warn you - this boat load is full of straight talking , clear thinking, determined women. They are a force to be reckoned with!







 






 
This time of year you can clearly see the influence of the Puyallup River.





Pineapple coleslaw with tomatoes, coconut balls,
fruit nut bread with lemon curd on the half shell, there were several kinds of cookies,
watermelon and much, much, more!
We quietly munched during the reading of
The Mermaid - a  poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.



 



 
When asked if she had tried it - she hadn't even seen it. So nothing must do but stop rowing and pull out the toasted bread, add the tomato and herb spread and taste it for herself.
She said, "You are right - it is delicious!"



The wind came up just at the end of our tour. It was a little work to get Verite home.
It was good - it helped to work off all those extra calories.
It is good to be balanced in all things... or so they say.  

Friday, August 14, 2015

Water, Water Everywhere

 I got this note this past week - "The row was fabulous - even temperatures, a high tide, sunshine and smooth water.  We picked up Terese at the Seaport dock.  She had been stuck in traffic.  Leslie, the coxswain did a superior job, including docking us when we picked up Terese.  Tea was, as usual, a wonderful conglomeration of goodies! Somehow food eaten on the water always acquires an especially wonderful flavor.  As we were rowing, someone commented, “water, water, everywhere and not a drop to drink” (I think it was Dorothy).  This led to wondering where that saying originated.  Janet S looked it up and discovered it was from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  Janet read us the section that contained the water, water everywhere piece, which all enjoyed.  This led to talk of how nice it was to listen to seagoing writings while in the Vérité.  Janet offered to provide a new reading at the next row.  We sent good vibes to Voski for her upcoming surgery and healing as we floated under our bridge.  All in all, it was another amazing day on the water."
and then there was the picture of Janet with the water in the background and the figs on the plate...

 
Honestly, it is a bit like rubbing salt in a wound. Here I am at home nursing a sore shoulder and they are having figs on a platter while perched on the Salish Sea musing on seafaring words all carefree and chipper. We should all be jealous -every last human on earth. As for me I will imagine I am there - bobbing with the waves. I will have a sliced fig perched in my fingers ready to eat. Yum... life can be sweet. 

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Victorious Victoria, cucumbers and yellow squash

The tide was strong and the winds 'pushy' on this past summer Monday. The greenish brown Puyallup pushed itself into the Thea Foss Waterway leaving a distinct line to cross. The Verite crew, strong and seasoned crossed the line without a pause as did the pleasure boats, paddle boards and kayaks on their way out into the bay under a rainless clouded sky.





 
 
We salute our Victorious Victoria!
She is strong!
A balm to our spirits and hers to have her along.


 Peaches and cream anyone?
Like anyone could resist.
 
 
How about a cucumber or yellow squash to take home? asked the generous woman.
We took her offering and left her basket empty.