#and I want to try my hand at making homemade bratwurst

[lost-technology]

Ah, having fun checking my email after work. Spam, ugh. An email confirming that my sausage casings have been officially ordered and are ready for the U.S. Postal Service to pick them up from Buffalo, NY!!! Fresh conversational review on Survivor's Guilt! Living my best life.

[tsghuntcountryvirginia]

Wild Roots Apothecary: Wanderlust Guide to Sperryville

In case you didn’t realize, scouted business owner Colleen O’Bryant of Wild Roots Apothecary has been putting out brilliant blogs, which highlight everything from her favorite culinary uses of local spices to homemade herbal remedies. Colleen sat down to talk about her “Wanderlust Guide to Summer” in Sperryville and the surrounding Shenandoah National Park. 

Wanderlust Guide to Sperryville by Colleen O’Bryant

Here are a few things I've either did or thought of doing this week...

This is one of those things that sprouted out of my local love of where I get to do business and play, almost every day.

Have you visited our little mountain treasure recently?  Were a small community with a heart for the mountains and here is an insider guide to enjoy the Blue Ridge as needed.

Escape and explore.  

Its a sweet hazy time of year to see the relaxed smiles of folks as they mosey around town, after a hike or before dinner.  They all seem relaxed and ready to just go with the flow.  So I usually send them on their ways to some of the unique and favorite places I love to go.  Flora and fauna I love, places to eat and hikes to see.  All the good things that make Rappahannock unique. I know this is tour guidey - forgive me.

On to the guide:

I've been spotting so many roadside herbs and plants. I'm the mini-van you may see on the side of the road crawling through the weeds to grab a handful of St. Johns Wort. I can't help it.  

What's blooming now (a brief list):

Wineberries, Rudbeckia, Echinacea, Mullein, Yarrow, St. John's Wort, Queens Anne's Lace, Black Cohosh, Blue Vervain, Teasel, Evening Primrose and all the Milkweed are all pretty easy to spot along the roadsides.  

Fauna and Insect wise: Bears, deer, river otters, and bobcats have all been spotted recently in the park and local areas (love the river otters). Butterflies and moths are everywhere as well.

Oh if you're looking to make it a day trip, here are a few of my mid-summer to-dos.  

Go picking blueberries, raspberries and maybe blackberries are still perfect. Get to Kim Dean Road's End Farm. 853 Scrabble Road.Castleton, Va. It's self serve if Kim isn't there so bring your own buckets to carry your haul. There is still another week's worth of blueberries and the blackberries are just starting to come on out here!

Also, it's already time for peaches, nectarines, plums and cucumbers which are my favorite cooling fruits.  I usually head to Jenkins off Yancey Road, but I'll also drop in on Whipporwill farm to see if they have any organic fruit to offer, they hopefully will have apples and plums this year.  (more on the local farms next time).

Or head out to the Thornton Gap entrance to the Shenandoah, grab a piece of Blackberry Ice cream Pie from Skyland in the park (it's graham cracker crust, blackberry ice cream, and meringue..mouthwateringly perfect), and enjoy the view.

Mosey around the visitor center while your digesting, and when you're ready hike head down to Dark Hollow Falls for a beautiful watery hike. Or up Stony Man Trail for a fantastic vista and mountain breezes. (all hikes under 1 hour and kid friendly).

If you're looking for a bigger hike, Little Devils Stairs (go up and back and not down the fire road) is my favorite glute challenging hike along the river. There are no swimming holes per se on that trail but there are places to definitely squirrel around in and get wet.  

AND of course, for an easy sunset view make sure that you make your way up by 8 pm. I love the first overlook heading towards Front Royal on the left-hand side. Walk down and plop on the big rocks with a bottle of wine and a little picnic. Pack in pack out my friends.   https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/maps.htm

BUT of course a little in town guide with your first stop being our Apothecary to stock up on our botanical teas, syrups, and handcrafted goodness.

Apothecary will be open 11am-5pm on Thursday the 4th, 11am-5pm Friday & Monday, and 11am-6pm Saturday and Sunday.

As things heat up the NEW community garden (thank you again garden fairies) is starting to fill in with all the herby goodness. Grab one of our guides from in the shop and explore the what and the why of the plants we planted.

Brewing will be a few of our favorite summer teas iced to try and cool you off from the heat too.

If you're coming out why not plan your day out too:

Hungry?

The lamb bratwurst from Bear Belly Brats goes perfect with their Golden Swan beer. Nom. Nom. The guys from Pen Druid are releasing their Spontaneous Brew which is always a treasure to bring to any summer festivities...

Or if you miss the market, pop over to Bar Francis where ahem I actually do all the cocktail recipes and enjoy the creative spirit. Insiders tip, Rappahannock Pizza Kitchen is self serve but if you stay in Francis you'll get a little more service, full menu and great bartenders too.

For some good local music enjoy the bluegrass band playing at the HeadMaster's Pub on Saturday night from 8pm-11pm called Copper Cup Collective.

If you want something more relaxed try Copper Fox Distillery. They have a fantastic Riverside Cocktail Bar that is open til 8ish.

If you have any questions please let me know... I love encouraging local wanderlust and adventure in the mountains.  

More on this later but enjoy the magic of today folks.

Be Sure to Tell Them Scout Sent You!

WILD ROOTS APOTHECARY 4 River Lane Sperryville, VA C: hello@wildrootsapothecary.com Follow on Instagram: @wildroots_apothecary

[katheyjoskitchen-blog]

This National Garlic Month, Try Homemade Sausage

Hello everyone! This is Kathleen Raskin of Las Vegas, and I’d like to welcome you into my kitchen today to make homemade garlic sausage. Not many people make their own sausage these days, when busy schedules have left your average person looking for more convenient alternatives. Sausage-making may be a forgotten art to most, but once you’ve tasted the results for yourself you may be ready to bring it back.

 Serve this recipe with pasta for a dish that’ll please all ages. My family’s favorite is homemade ravioli! You can adjust the ingredients of this sausage to make it spicy by using hot paprika or any other seasonings you prefer. This is your chance to get creative. It’s sausage, after all. How can you go wrong with homemade sausage? You can’t!

 If you live in an area with a lot of farms, it’s worth going to the extra effort to splurge on farm-raised pigs for this recipe. You will taste the difference, and so will everyone else at your table.

 A word of caution: when it comes to sausage-making, maintaining sanitary practices is even more important than ever because exposed bacteria on the meat can grow, making you sick. You’ll want to make sure you work with meat that is very cold, clean as you go, and clean everything before and after using plenty of hot water.

 Ingredients

5 lbs ground pork

½ cup chilled red wine

7 – 10 tsp minced garlic, to taste

4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

5 tbsp Hungarian paprika

5 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Sausage casings

 Directions

You can buy the pork already ground, but I prefer to grind my own. Either way, you’re going to want to make sure to get the pork as cold as possible without freezing beforehand. Go ahead and chill it overnight if you need to. If you’re grinding the meat yourself using a food processor or meat grinder, go for the semi-coarse setting. Add the seasonings and garlic to the ground meat and blend thoroughly. Either stuff the sausage into the casings by hand or use a sausage maker. Patties are fine if you don’t want to stuff sausages, but you can buy a sausage maker kit very inexpensively if you want to give stuffing a try.

 Another incredible dish that uses garlic and homemade sausage is this delicious baked zucchini stuffed with chouriço and cream cheese from Jen Reviews! I want to thank Jenn so much for alerting me to this recipe. I’d never tried Portuguese sausage before, and it is simply mouthwatering. You’ve got to check this recipe out. It’s got step-by-step pictures and detailed instructions that make it easy to follow.

 This sausage-making master class is so informative!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqFrbXISZTY

 Bratwurst is healthier and more flavorful when you make it at home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShXdBDEGbDs

[buckner-in-australia]

Day 16: June 11, 2017

Today was our last day at the EcoLodge. To say the least, its bittersweet. Though the food wasn't all that and there were bugs, they had wifi and at least a warm shower. Not only is this our last day at the EcoLodge, this will be the start of our first day of camping in The Outback.

This morning we got up and ate breakfast, so by 9:55 we were ready to load the bus with our luggage and part for Sheoak Ridge. As we loaded the bus, we were expecting a straight ride given that the ride was estimated to take about 2.5 hours. To our surprise about 10 minutes in we stopped once again. We ended up stopping at an old, abandoned smelter site. This site was used for mining after the gold rush for precious metals. Unfortunately, their efforts were of no use and were extremely unprofitable and inefficient. There were two trails that could take you to lookout points. The first lookout point I went to not only had a beautiful view but displayed how inefficient their process truly was. Over 1.25 million pounds of waste was dumped at this site containing both asbestos and toxic containments, thus making the area prohibited for human contact. Imagine a huge, black slab of waste just sitting there. That's what it was lol. The other lookout point was where the overseers house was. There was a panel describing how lavish he and his wife loved while at the bottom a miner's wife was describing her life. She explained how she was miserable, how her infant always cried, ants swarmed, snakes invading when there was rain,  and how unbearable the summers were. Her story could definitely be summed up as "the struggle is real."  I honestly love going to places like this because I love reading the panels and the history within them.

After our little mining excursion, we started trucking to Sheoak Ridge. For some reason I wasn't tired at all so I was awake for all the bumps and hills. After the first hour, we stopped at this little grocery store to pick up some last minute snacks and to have a bathroom break. Thank the Lord I learned my lesson from the EcoLodge so I stocked up. And guess what??! They had COKE ZERO! I don't even drink soda like that, but seeing that drink absolutely made my day. I bought 2, one for now and one for later, two bottles of water, two bags of chips, some crackers, and a pack of gum. I don't even snack like that but hey, you never know.

Fast forward a little bit, we made it to Sheoak Ridge! After becoming one with nature, the change in scenery didn't affect me too much. I am very proud of myself for remaining calm and collected because several people commented how it seemed like I was "in my element". That also made my day, because truth be told, I don't ever and have never been camping.

They described the tents as mansions, so comparing them to the tents I've seen previously, the description is correct. We have a little common area where we keep our bags and we each have separate "rooms". In our rooms, we were given a pillow, a fitted sheet, bed sheet, sleeping bag, and a blow up mattress. Trying to blow up an air mattress in the confines of a tent is very difficult but I did it!

After settling in we were escorted to Claire's home where they recover wild wallabies so they could be given back to the wild. It was so cool seeing the wallabies just chilling in her backyard along with their chickens.

The hardest thing so far about here is the walk from the pavilion to our campsite. During the day it is hard because the incline is very steep, but during the night... it is like we're in a horror film! Without a flashlight it is absolutely impossible to walk the path because it is pitch black. Luckily I have two flashlights and never go anywhere by myself so I'm good in that department.

The second hardest thing is using the dunny. Y'all.... imagine the most putrid smell emerging from a tin rectangular prism. From within that rectangular prism, a wooden/cement box topped with a toilet seat. The smell, oh the smell. It really makes you regret taking American toilets for granted lol. Nevertheless, I managed to use it and am trying my best to not die from dehydration because I'm not trying to use the bathroom more than I have to.

Overall, Sheoak Ridge is a great place. Our ranger Claire and her mate Marcus are great hosts and are great at accommodating us. Their food is really good. When we first got here we had bratwurst and grilled onions, and for dinner we had tacos. Marcus made some homemade salsa from their chilliest and it was great! I love how sustainable they are. During dinner they both introduced us further and we learned so much more about them. It's also interesting how Dr. Claire's family has 1300 acres and she downsized to 165 acres by moving here. That really showed how big Australia truly is.

After dinner, we stood by the fire and waited for the spotlighting tours to begin. I was pretty nervous about spotlighting because they said that we would see pythons and dingos, but believe it or not, that facet of danger made it that more intriguing. With my flashlight in hand, I followed behind a group of 10 of us as we ventured into the dark unknown. Unfortunately, all we came across was their pet wallaby Menzy, baby cane toads, and a grasshopper.  I really wanted to see a python lol.

After the tour, Ashley and I walked back to the campsite and sat around the fire as it continued to rain. We all decided that sleeping in our day clothes would be the best option to minimize the changing in the dark aspect of camping. No one told us that it would be as cold and wet, but hopefully we will manage to get some good sleep with a little help from my friend Benadryl lol.

Things I've learned 

The Australian Outback is beautiful 

Tent-life/camping is not for the weak

Nothing compares to the smell of an Australian Dunny

[lovettshaper-blog]

Austin is a city that seems to never sleep. In a place where the hill country meets the urban jungle, this rapidly expanding town simply doesn’t have time to rest. Its inhabitants are either weird, talented, out to change the world, or a mix of the three. Austin has a celebrated food scene, but seeing what the city has become, there is no room for the food scene to sleep either. Whether you are finishing up a long night of work, or the bars are beginning to shut down on 6th Street, everyone has fallen victim to midnight food cravings at some point. Here are a few suggestions to keep in mind the next time the late night munchies attack.

The Experience:

Opening its doors in 1950, this Austin-based café chain has been serving quality, homemade food around the clock for millions of satisfied customers. I visited the university branch, where one can seldom find the establishment completely empty no matter what time of day. The layout is much like that of a 50’s style diner (minus checkered floors), but with some Austin funk thrown in. A blue and lime green color scheme keep the place seeming bright and lively at all times. At the time of night I visited, the crowd was almost entirely college students who had stopped by for a late night bite.

The Eats:

The menu is so extensive that if you aren’t quite sure what you are in the mood for, this is the spot for you. That being said, if you do show up thinking you know what you want, there is a serious chance that you might change your mind after a brief skim over the options. Because I enjoy breakfast no matter the time of day, I went with the Crispy Chicken Benedict, which is two homemade biscuits topped with poached eggs, chicken fried chicken breast, hollandaise sauce and onions, and topped with a green chili sauce for some extra zest. I inhaled it along with my side of homefries. Salads, sandwiches, gourmet burgers, tex mex, pancakes, omelets, and everything in between can be ordered to your liking twenty-four hours a day. If none of those tickle your fancy, look to “Kerby Lane Creations,” where you will find standouts like the Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf and the Green Chili Mac (which actually comes with fried chicken in it).

Info:

Hours: 24/7

Address: 2606 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78705

kerbeylanecafe.com

(logo and picture from kerbeylanecafe.com)

The Experience:

At Frank, where they have dubbed themselves “purveyors of artisan sausage,” you will find endless shareable plates and libations bound to satisfy anyone’s late night cravings.  The old wooden tables and white-painted brick give it an authentic feel of a sausage house/beer garden. I would highly recommend this place for a group outing. I found that most patrons order several different sausages and sides to share around the table (they will even cut up the hotdogs for you). It’s a fun way to eat with a group, and gives you a chance to try a little bit of everything. With plenty of TVs on the walls, a drink menu that is twice as big as that for food, and the easily shareable nature of its plates, Frank is a great spot for a late night hangout with friends.

The Eats:

I was amazed by some of the items on the menu. The Stag caught my eye, which is a jalapeno, cheddar, venison, and pork sausage covered in smoked black pepper-honey cream cheese, blueberry habanero espresso BBQ sauce, and crushed barbecue chips as a garnish. I was also intrigued by the Frank Thunder Brat, which was a Austin Beerworks Black Thunder Schwarzbier-infused smoked bratwurst accompanied by cider grazed red cabbage, caramelized onions, and scratch-made mustard. Both of these came inside a warm, custom-made Frank Bun. Don’t forget to pick a dipping sauce of your choice to cater your own tastes. They do not limit themselves to sausages and brats either. Their menu also contains a veggie and gluten free section, along with a catalog of waffle fries and pretzels.

Info:

Hours: Sun: 10AM-12AM/Mon-Thu: 11AM-12AM/Fri-Sat: 11AM-2AM

Address: 407 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701

Hotdogscoldbeer.com

(logo and picture from hotdogscoldbeer.com)

The Experience:

Homeslice is one of Austin’s most well known spots for serving New York style pizza. Located down South Congress, it is at the heart of the city’s food scene. More Homeslice is the takeout sister restaurant that doesn’t quite count as a sister restaurant considering the two share a parking lot. Even though it is designated as “takeout,” you’ll still find plenty of its patrons scarfing down their pizzas outside on the steps or nearby picnic tables. I enjoyed my slice of ‘za on the steps soaking in the views of South Congress, and looking out towards the illuminated downtown skyline.

The Eats:

Customize your own pizza with a long and assorted list of toppings, or look to their “Tried and True” section for specially priced, signatures pies. I decided to stick to the basics, and went with two slices of pepperoni pizza.  The pizza is thin, as NY-style pizza generally is, and has a puffy, yet chewy, crust. This can be attributed to cooking the pizzas in a brick oven rather than a conventional one. When ordering my pizza, I asked why a brick oven produces a better pie, and was told that the higher cooking temperature crisps the outside of the dough faster so that it locks in the moisture as, well as providing a smoky flavor that cannot be reproduced in a conventional oven. The menu also features select salads, calzones, sub sandwiches, and even a beer & wine menu to accompany your takeout order.

Info:

Hours: Sun-Thu: 11AM-11PM/Fri-Sat: 11AM-12AM (Window open for slices only until 3AM)

Address: 1412 South Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

Homeslicepizza.com

(logo from homeslicepizza WordPress/picture from Michael Hsu)

The Experience:

If you are heading up Lavaca Street and aren’t looking for this little gem, you very well might miss it. Walking in, you would think that someone took an old sports bar and turned it into a restaurant. It is a small and cozy establishment. The walls are covered ceiling to floor with beer signs, sports posters, and other paraphernalia of the like. Rather than watching one of the TVs, you can easily spend your meal entertaining yourself by admiring all of the “artwork.” It’s pretty hard not to. Here you’ll find college kids, families, and regulars who have been coming for decades. Despite the modest appearance, don’t let the look of the place fool you into thinking you’ll be served subpar bar food.

The Eats:

For all the chili lovers out there, this place must be added to your list of restaurants to try if you haven’t already. Go for a Frito Pie, Chili Mac & Cheese, or one of their “legendary” bowls of red chili. Bowls of red come in three degrees of spiciness: 1X, 2X, and 3X. I went with 3X (yes, I live life on the edge) and was very satisfied with my choice. It had good spice, but not an offensive amount that would drown out any of the flavor. If you’re looking to treat a special someone to some high-class dining, look no further. Feast like royalty with the $100 Chili Dinner, which offers with two bowls of chili, a large Caesar salad, and a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Champagne. For those not inclined to order chili, the menu also offers a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and tex mex.

Info:

Hours: Everyday 11AM-2AM

Address: 1409 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701

(logo from Democratic Underground/picture from Trip Advisor)

The Experience:

Classic 50’s diners inspired this establishment, but it has been put together with a modern twist. You won’t find a jukebox or any fluorescent lights here. Seating comprises of booths and contemporary bar stools, all of which are well lit by some fashionable light fixtures. If the weather is nice, they have a covered outdoor seating area where you can enjoy your food along with some fresh air. Located on the corner of 6th and Lamar, it is only a few blocks away from Austin’s prime bar scene. You are sure to find some folks enjoying a late night munch after they’ve been out on the town.

The Eats:

This diner’s name represents the fact that they serve food to eager customers around the clock. Breakfast, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and an assortment of entrees are always available to order. There is even a gluten-free menu available. Make sure to look into their various hash and Belgian waffle dishes. I ordered the 24 Hash, which is hand-cut potatoes mixed with onions, jalapenos, cheddar, bacon, sausage, and two runny eggs. If you are feeling adventurous like I was, add chili on top of that for only a few extra bucks (because why not). For those looking to stay away from breakfast, the Bacon Gorgonzola Burger is a favorite, and so is the Steak & Fries. Be sure to check out their daily blackboard specials that include items selected from local farming partners.

Info:

Hours: 24/7

Address: 600 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78703

24diner.com

(logo from @24dinerATX Twitter/picture from fedmanwalking.com)