The Buzz

We had a relative visiting from New Hampshire recently, and as good hosts do, we took her all around the area to see the sights. It was during this week-long adventure of daily excursions that I was reminded of what a plethora of wonderful natural sights and adventures Placer County and the surrounding area have to offer. All too often we get tied up in our busy lives and don't take the time to appreciate the beauty in nature all around us. There is truly so much to encounter just minutes from our doorsteps.

In one week's time, we were able to take in the wonder of the Foresthill Bridge along the Foresthill Divide and all the stunning canyon and river views, a closer look at the American River, Upper Lake Clementine and the amazing waterfall created by the dam, Overlook Park with a view to the canyon and dam site, another beautiful canyon view at Canyon View Overlook (off of Maidu), and a gorgeous Sunday drive along highway 49 where we stopped to check out the true heart of Gold Country, Sutter's Mill and Marshall Gold Discovery site. We also squeezed in a stroll in Old Town Auburn where we checked out several of the quaint shops and had a nice meal (along with beer for the men and cider for the ladies) at The Auburn Alehouse. Finally, we took a few hours to check out the museum in the Courthouse building where you can see the collection of Placer County's gold nuggets as well as lots of other items and books about the history of Gold Country.

Venturing outside of Placer County, we continued on 49 beyond Placerville where we eventually ended up in Amador county and (finally!) made it to Daffodil Hill (just outside Volcano, CA) to see the daffodils in full bloom. This was a somewhat long, windy drive to see a "quaint", but not neccesarily "breathtaking" sight. However, the discovery of a daylily flower farm/nursery and more importantly, a dozen or more wineries all nestled in a hilly area of Amador County, was worth the drive. I can only imagine the flower farm will be stunning when all the lilies are in full bloom and the nursery offered all sorts of flower and plant varieties that you don't find at your average box-store nursery. The wineries offer spendid views of vine-covered knolls, one after the other, and at least a day's worth of tasting!

Back in Auburn, we headed North on Highway 80 and up to Meadow Vista where we took a nice drive along Placer Hills Road and eventually down Plumtree Lane where the wonderful views of Bear River awaited us. Down in the canyon along the river, we were surrounded by Pine trees reaching up to the clouds. This is perhaps my favorite spot around here. It is a simple and serene surrounding. The crackling of the river over the rocks and the blue dragonflies dancing over the river always remind me that I am exactly where I want to be; home.

We also took the time to show our guest the lovely communities of Grass Valley and Nevada City. Both towns offer nice window-shopping opportunities. As a musician, I was especially excited about the World Instrument shop that we discovered in Nevada City as well as a neat little father-daughter art studio offering children's wall art, cards, bookmarks, etc.

After our week of discoveries, our visitor was most impressed by all the breathtaking views just minutes from our home in Christian Valley. She couldn't believe that some of these stops were just "side trips" along the way to a final destination.

If you haven't taken the time to find out about all the wonderful opportunities for outdoor adventure in our little paradise, you might be surprised to learn all that Placer County has to offer. According to the 2007 Placer County Citizens' Report, Placer County...

Has hundreds of miles of trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding

Has the largest concentration of world-class ski resorts in US

Has many lakes for boating, swimming, fishing and camping

Is home to the Tevis Cup 100-mile Hourse Endurance Race

Is home to the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run

Is in the heart of histroic Gold Rush country

Has 6 museums

In my estimation, everything described above is just a sampling of what the outdoors has to offer in our area . We didn't even make it up to the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe afterall, but that awe-inspiring trip will be reserved for the next visit!

Bounced over to Court House Haven on a splendid Fall day,  partook of the Truman Chipolte sassy turkey sandwich, chatted with Gary, owner of Carpe Vino who was showcasing tasty goat-cheese pastry from his eatery along with a local winery for the Wine Fest.  Walked down Lincoln and found myself enjoying the variety of art/crafts/jewelry at the Old Town Gallery where a solid crowd gathered to taste the grape.  Headed out to The Ridge to swing big under a cloudless sky and a riot of chirping birds filling the tall oaks. 

Recently, it was reported in the Auburn Journal that Trader Joe's is planning a store in Auburn, California.

If true, this is really great news! If the rumors are true, the new Trader Joe's location will be in the old Ralph's Supermarket at the corner of Highway 49 and Bell Road.

Some of the great products that Trader Joe's carries include their very famous "Charles Shaw" wines for only $2 a bottle. Commonly referred to as "Two Buck Chuck"....Charles Shaw wines have won Gold Medals in wine competitions, most recently at the Orange County Fair.

Another thing Trader Joe's does well is dried fruits and nuts. They have great frozen foods, even a good line of pet foods too. If they choose the old "Ralphs" spot, they'll have plenty of space for a "Flagship" store.

Hopefully this is not a pipe dream, and will actually happen in our lifetimes!

Whats next? Costco or Home Depot? (wishes do come true!!!)

Spring has sprung and summer is almost here! It's time to whip out those quick and easy recipes so we can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with our families, friends, and doing the things we love to do.

Here is a quick recipe I found awhile ago. It was so quick and easy it has become a regular meal in our house.

Ingredients:

• 2 Large skinless boneless chicken breast halves
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled
• 1 Tablespoon butter
• 1/4 Cup dry white wine (I prefer Sauvignon Blanc)
• 1/3 Cup whipping cream
• 2/3 Cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed
• 1/4 Cup chopped fresh chives

Pull out a large sheet of plastic wrap. Put the chicken on top and fold the remaining plastic wrap over the top. Smash that chicken with a rolling pin or meat tenderizer until it is about 1/2 inch thick. Season with salt, pepper, & tarragon.

Melt the butter in a large skillet / frying pan over high heat. Add the chicken breasts and saute until golden brown and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Reduce heat to medium, add wine to skillet and cook until reduced to glaze, scraping up browned bits, about 2 minutes. Add cream and peas and carrots. Cook until vegetables are tender and sauce has thickened slightly, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken back into the skillet along with any juices from the plate and cook until the chicken is just heated through, about 1 minute.

We normally serve this with buttered Fettuccine with black pepper and of course, a glass of wine.

Option 1: Serve chicken breasts topped with cooked veggies and sauce with side of Fettuccine

Option 2: While Sauce is cooking, slice chicken up into chunks. When sauce and veggies are ready, add chicken chunks back to the skillet. Once all is ready, toss it on top of a bowl of cooked and buttered Fettuccine and mix it all up.

This recipe will feed 2 adults and 2 small children. It can be doubled to accomodate a larger family.

Let me know if you try it, how it worked for you, and if you liked it!

Cheers

 ps.  If you have a quick and easy recipe that you want to share, log in and click on the "Write Blog Entry" link under the User