Red lentil, sweet potato and apple soup

I recently traveled 3,000 miles to find suitable soup weather. With no measurable rain and snow since early December, Northern California has been enjoying unseasonably pleasant days. Spring-like days have left us wondering how long this drought will endure. While the mornings often see sub-freezing temperatures, each afternoon brings a new record high.

As I prepared to fly to the East Coast to visit my mother, Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, was recovering from a week of freezing temperatures. With lows in the teens and highs hovering in the mid-30s, the city barely had time to thaw each day before nightfall. That was the week airline flights were being canceled by the thousands.

A wonderful bowl of soup certainly made sense when I arrived. My mother and I enjoyed grilled lamb and kubideh kebabs over saffron basmati rice at Café Shirez on the Friday of my visit. After running errands on the warm, rainy afternoon, we settled in for a quiet evening of soup, conversation and reading.

I wanted to test a soup with red lentil, sweet potato and apples for work. Since mom is always open to try new flavors, I felt she would enjoy it. (Click here and here for soups that mom has enjoyed in the past.) And I was also able to freeze several portions for later enjoyment.

As part of my winter job at Coloma Resort, I've been cooking soups for the Argonaut Café. I introduced the soup on my return to California to positive reviews. The café features a fresh soup each day at noon. I will post personal recipes as I develop them.

We long for soup weather in California. I want to escape a cold, rainy day and cuddle with a warm bowl of red lentil, sweet potato and apple soup. Lord willing, soup weather will return to California soon.

RED LENTIL, SWEET POTATO AND APPLE SOUP

This recipe is to feed a crowd. To serve a family, divide the recipe in fourths and proceed with the instructions.

8 ounces unsalted butter
2 pounds onion, diced small
3 pounds sweet potato, peeled and cubed
2 pounds carrot, peeled and cubed
2-1/2 pounds Granny Smith apple, peeled and cubed
8 ounces red lentils
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons chili powder
4 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
2 quarts apple cider

In 10- to 12-quart stockpot, melt butter over medium heat; add onions, sweet potatoes, carrots and apples. Sweat over medium heat until onion is translucent and soft, stirring often.

Stir in lentils, ginger, cumin, coriander, chili powder, salt and pepper. Pour stock and cider into pot. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook until vegetables and lentils are soft, 30 to 45 min.

Puree soup in blender or food processor, in batches if necessary, until smooth. Thin with water or stock as needed.

Prepares approximately 6-1/4 quarts. Serves 25 (8-ounce) portions. Garnish soup with sour cream, crème fraiche or plain yogurt.

A week of walks in Ocean Shores

Laziness comes naturally when dark clouds hang over the beach town of Ocean Shores. Spending the days cooking, sitting on the couch and enjoying the company of the in-laws saps one of energy. Rain, interspersed with a south wind that runs the length of the peninsula, hinders outdoor activity.

To counter my inclination to waste away my days inside the condo, I've forced myself to venture outside for a daily walk. Exercise is good. It gives me the opportunity to instill movement into this sixty year-old body, and to clear my mind.

A new route each day keeps the walk fresh. I find new sights along each route, pleasing views that I'd never discover in front of the television. On Monday, I noticed as I walked south along the golf course in the center of town that many of the houses appear to be vacation properties. The walk also let me scope out businesses along one of the main boulevards.

Driving rain on Tuesday prevented me from walking. The family watched a movie at the local theater instead. Yesterday's hike took me north from the condo. A light rain showered down as I cut past city hall on my way to the beach. Low tide exposed the broad six-mile long beach. Other than a lady and her dog who was walking into town as I came onto the beach, I enjoyed the view in solitude.

My walk this morning led me around the upper reaches of Duck Lake. Long stretches of residential streets cut through the forest. Well constructed homes on the shores of the standout among the tall pines. Flora on the eastern side of the peninsula stands in stark contrast to the ocean side. Thick understory prevents a leisurely hikes through the forest. In contrast, open spaces, sand dunes and the lack of trees punctuate the western side.

We leave Ocean Shores in the morning. Each couple will head for home. My in-laws are visiting friends in southern Washington. Debbie and I will cross the Columbia River at Longview, Washington. Once in Oregon, we're driving south to Camp Emerald Forest to visit a friend for the evening. An evening walk around Emerald Lake should refresh me after an afternoon on the truck.


The 13th green on the Ocean Shores Golf Course was a lake after tow days of driving rain during my walk on Wednesday. Only Canada Geese walked the course as it was too wet to play.

Water drains into the Pacific Ocean to the left of this piece of driftwood. The beach should be a great venue for long walks in the summer.

I found these rental units a block over from city hall. Much of the Town of Ocean Shores in vacant this time of year.

Homes dot the shoreline of Duck Lake in Ocean Shores. The lake runs the length of the resort on the harbor side of the peninsula .

These cabins stand vacant in Tuesday's driving rain. Too wet to walk, we drove around the peninsula after going to the movies.

Cooking with snow capped charcoal

Last time I baked pizza in a cast iron skillet, I had intended to bake the pizza in a 14-inch Dutch oven. I set up a chimney of charcoal briquettes on the patio. Switching direction midway through the process, the charcoal sat outside on the patio for three weeks.

In the meantime, the Sierra Nevada foothills received five inches of snow. A dome of snow capped the chimney. With melting snow dripping down the chimney, I figured the charcoal was lost.

I didn't bother to inspect the charcoal as it dried.

The Dutch ovens remained in the garage through most of February. Itching to cook outdoors today, I rescued a 10-inch camp oven and set it on the Dutch oven table next to the charcoal chimney. With a new storm on the horizon, this seemed like the best time to use the charcoal.

I lit the wadded newsprint under the chimney. Blue smoke drifted into the backyard within minutes. A week of unseasonably warm weather dried the charcoal. Even the paper immediately caught fire. The family was enjoying a nice meal within the hour.

I'm happy. One of my favorite Dutch oven meals, Mexican rice with chicken (arroz con pollo), was on the menu. And I didn't have to discard a chimney of charcoal.

Afternoon storm

Afternoon storm
Originally uploaded by SeabeeCook

I love Sierra Nevada summer thunder storms. They're a refreshing change from the dust and boredom of the dry summer heat. And it's an exhilarating experience to stand under a tarp in camp and watch large drops of water mixed with hail descend to the ground. Most storms don't drop enough moisture to cause much concern for the camper.

We watched clouds move in from the east all afternoon Friday. The storm built as warm air moved in from the east and rose up to meet cooler air near the crest of the Sierra. The clouds released their moisture just after 5 p.m. on the area surrounding the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe.

We drove into a wall of water on U.S. 50 on our way to eat. My only regret was that we were on the road at the time of the storm. I would've loved to have been in camp for the storm.

Phenomenon on the lake

Phenomenon on the lake
Originally uploaded by SeabeeCook

One Thursday last August, campers at Deer Crossing Camp arose to a strange weather phenomenon on nearby Loon Lake.

A thick layer of fog arose off the south end of the lake and was driven north toward Pleasant Lake by a brisk cold wind.

"This is weird," said Jim Wiltens, Deer Crossing owner and camp director.

"I've never seen this on the lake this late in the season."

The cold front steadily moved in over the lake over the next two hours. The cold air seemed to suck the moisture right out of the warm lake.

With an icy wind that cut right through you, staff and campers quickly domed warmer clothing. The uniform of the day quickly shifted from shorts and T-shirts to long pants and down jackets.

"It's so cold," noted one young camper at the breakfast table. This set the tone for the day.

The instructors scrambled to shift the planned water activities for the day. Extra cold water compromised swimming, kayaking and sailing.

Rain throughout the day drove many campers into the lodge. Instructors fed the woodstove all morning for the first time since the training session in June.

Weird weather for August? Yes, but it was a fun day. We watched the fog, and the rain that soon followed, from the warm comfort of the lodge.

Farewell to a Bosie summer

Close friends Frank and Ann Sexton moved to Boise almost three and one-half years ago. This gave Frank an opportunity to climb into management in the construction industry and move his family far away from the California rat race.

Ann began writing a weekly email letter to friends and family a month before their June 2006 move. She purposed in her opening letter to "keep in touch with the people I care about the most" and to motivate herself to write.

"It seems ridiculous that a woman who wants to be a writer can't make the time to write to the people she loves!" expressed Ann.

With over 120 letters to her credit, Ann's letter writing "campaign" has paid off. She graciously allowed me to share yesterday's letter, written on the heal of a Bosie summer that faded weeks ago.

Farewell to a Bosie summer

By Ann Sexton

October is no longer around the corner, fall is definitely come to roost for a while around here. It was rainy and cold last night and this morning I haven't so much as ventured a toe out the door yet.

It's 8:04 and still barely light, which means it's cloudy at the very least. The days grow shorter, even before the time change, and suddenly hot soup and a warm snugly afghan sound awfully good to me.

For the first time in many years (probably since childhood), I regret summer abandoning me. Usually I can't wait for it to scamper off and leave in its wake falling leaves and cold wind. I don't know, this year is different.

I enjoyed the summer so much, between my projects and walking every morning in the cool new air of a summer morning. I'm going to miss it.

I'm dreading the bad weather because that will make it much more difficult to get myself out the door for a walk ... yep, it's going to be a long winter. (I'm beginning to understand much better why Frank doesn't care for winter ... since he HAS to be out in it daily.)

Barely October and I'm already feeling hibernation mode kicking in ... stay home, stay in, eat, sleep more, snuggle. I will have to fight those urges if I'm going to continue my quest to get "fitter."

And I AM determined to keep on ... NOT give in, just because it's autumn. But still, I'm making a big pot of chili for lunch!

Diamond Springs and snow

For the second time today, Diamond Springs has been blanketed with a layer of heavy, wet snow. The first storm passed through the town around sunrise. The roads were cleared by mid-afternoon as the mercury inched up toward 40 and the sun broke through the clouds. At dusk, there was little evidence that it had snowed.

Then the second wave of the day slammed into the El Dorado foothills late this evening. This (the third storm since Wednesday) may be the last snow for now. Forecasters are saying the next two or three storms will be warmer.

The nice thing about living the 2,000-foot mark in the foothills is the blessing of snow. Most years we get enough snow to enjoy its beauty without being burdened by the threat of constant shoveling. About the time you wish you had more, it's melted away.

Snow on the tail track

Snow on the tail track
Originally uploaded by SeabeeCook

A heavy snow storm slammed into the Placerville-Diamond Springs corridor last night.

As I drove home around 5 p.m., I could see mixed rain and snow blowing over the hood of my truck. Within 15 minutes I was in the middle of a full-blown snow storm.

By 5:30, large, heavy snowflakes blanketed the El Dorado County foothills at the 1,600-foot elevation and higher.

As the two-hour weather system moved eastward, the heavy flakes stuck to everything in their way. By the time I left the house at 6:30, all the roads were covered and CalTrans had set up chain control just east of Placerville on US 50.

A layer of snow still covered the tail track out of the engine house at the El Dorado County Historical Museum this morning. It's all gone now.

Another view of the California Capitol

Another view of the California Capitol
Originally uploaded by SeabeeCook

As an armature photographer, I've started to develop an eye for photographic potential. It's not perfect. But I tend to view my surrounding environment through the view finder.

When I arrived at work, one of the managers asked if I was available to run a document to the finance office in the Capitol. (Yes, Bill. I'm rubbing shoulders with the big guns now!)

It looked like a great way to clear my mind and get a little exercise on the job.

The purple flowers jumped caught my attention as I walked by the Capitol's impressive white marble facade around 8:30 a.m. I quickly composed several photographs in my mind and delved the package.

A late meeting prevented me from leaving work promptly at 4 p.m. As the meeting broke, I sided up a 15-minute break in the weather. I knew I'd have to move quickly if I were to beat the sunlight to the Capitol.

The seven-block walk to the Capitol took 10 minutes. By the time I arrived on the grounds, rain clouds loomed. And the blue sky had moved east of the Capitol dome. I knew that I had to move quickly if I wanted a picture under good light.

This is the first picture of more than a dozen. I like how the purple flowers, lined in perfect rows and columns by the gardner, draws your eyes right into the picture and up to the dome.

First Snow

The first snow of the season comes to you in blog no. 28 ...

A light snow fell through the night at my house, which is located on the 1,800-foot contour. I know snow is old hat to many in the northeast and midwest as we approach the New Year. But here in western El Dorado County, it's a different story. Snow only dusts the mid-elevations two or three times each winter and spring.

Sailor Take Warning

The red sky over Broadway in Placerville last Saturday reminded me of my sailing days in the 1970s. As a sailor who didn't have a fondness for rough seas, I watched the morning sky for any sign of color. I wanted to prepare myself for the coming storm.

The old weather proverb guided me each day: "Red sky in morning, sailor take warning, Red sky at night, sailor's delight."

When you think about it, man has always looked for signs of the coming Lord. In Jesus' time on earth, the Pharisees and Sadducees longed for Jesus to prove that He was the Messiah. Jesus said in one encounter that they had the signs of the messiah. All they had to do was read the existing signs.

Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed (Matthew 16:1-4).

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees, we have today many signs that point to Jesus. All we have to do is read them. Like the young sailor who searches the sky each morning for any sign of a coming storm, Jesus tells us all we have to do is look for the "sign of the prophet Jonah."

Freeze No More

The daily low temperature has slowly risen to the high 30s over the last two weeks. The mercury hit bottom at 22 degrees the day I cooked potato soup at the El Dorado Western Railway engine house. The low in Placerville didn't rise above 30 until January 18.

The temperature in nearby Grizzly Flats sat low 30s in the day Jacob and I drove down North-South Road. North-South crosses the icy creek midway between Mormon Immigrant Trail and Capps Crossing. In the summer, it's a popular "dispersed" camping spot. The Forest Service allows campers to settle along the north shore of the creek.

Ice in the Pipes

Freezing temperatures in California take all the fun out of gardening in the Bay Area. My sister Elizabeth reported via email:

Here's my COLD story. I was attempting to water our yard this morning when the nozzle on the hose appeared to not be working. So I thought I'd just remove it and water straight from the hose. See (the picture) for the real problem!

According to the National Weather Service, a freeze warning remains in effect for much of Northern California. "A dry and very cold airmass will remain in place over Northern California through at least the first part of this week ... resulting in cold overnight and early morning temperatures."

We can expect temperatures in the teens and twenties to continue across the Sacramento Valley, the Delta, the Motherlode and Southern Lake County, including the Clear Lake area. Overnight lows in California's Central Valley will decrease by a degree or two each morning.

Overnight lows should reach above freezing by Wednesday.

State Fire Director Urges Caution Due to Risky Fire Weather

Sacramento – Californians should be extremely cautious due to the current dry and windy weather patterns, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection announced yesterday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Northern California and parts of Southern California for extreme wind gusts of up to 65 mph and low humidity levels throughout this weekend.

In response to the increased fire risk associated with this weather forecast, CDF is warning Californians that conditions are still ripe for a wildland fire. “There is a lot of dead vegetation that is extremely dry,” said CDF Director Ruben Grijalva. “Dry north winds increase the chance of a spark igniting a major fire.”

CDF units throughout the state are placing additional firefighters on duty, staffing more fire engines and keeping bulldozers on 24 hours a day. CDF is also asking for the public’s help during this high danger time. Make sure cigarette butts are properly extinguished, and that any mowing and electric/motorized weeding is done before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Most importantly, all homes and businesses in wildfire-susceptible areas must have 100 feet of defensible space around structures.

For additional tips on how to be fire safe contact your nearest CDF facility or visit the CDF website at www.fire.ca.gov.

The Weather Report

A white weekend! There's no other way to describe the weather events of last weekend.

A cold front blanketed Western El Dorado County Friday and Saturday nights, down to 1,000 feet elevation and lower.

It was a welcomed change from the warm rains so typical to the lower foothills to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.

County snow plows worked Missouri Flat and Pleasant Valley roads in the hours leading up to noon.

The last heavy snows in Diamond Springs fell on March 17, 2002. That's the date stamp on the photograph on the wall in the Diamond Barber Shop -- the one in the Diamond's original one-room school house.

Further east, Eric Stohl, president of El Dorado Western Rail Foundation reported, "I have 2 feet of snow on my back deck. I use it as a gauge because it is the least disturbed."

A white commute
But the afternoon commute up the hill was the most entertaining.

Sometime between 4:30 and 5 p.m., at least two thunder cells moved up U.S. 50 and hammered Cameron Park, Placerville, and Diamond Springs with fingernail-sized hail.

The bus driver's radio gave us our first indication that our homes were being pounded with ice.

Earlier, the National Weather Service had issued a sever thunder storm warning for San Joaquin and El Dorado counties, according to CBS13.com.

"It was like driving through an ice dispenser," reported one El Dorado Transit driver over the radio.

Sacramento commuter no. 4 approached 65th Street and U.S. 50 when we heard the broadcasts.

The dispatcher cautioned all drivers. Proceed with care. Pull over if conditions warrant, she warned.

The next 20 minutes were uneventful, although I suspect cell phone traffic peaked as we headed east.

As we approached the East Bidwell exit, all four lanes of traffic were backed up to the base of Carpenter Hill. The diamond lane didn't help the driver.

We received our first indication of the severity of the storm came as the bus headed up the Bass Lake grade. I glanced down the hill in the direction of Clarksville Road.

A sport utility vehicle resting a ditch that drains into Carson Creek. Apparently, four-wheel drive didn't help the driver as he spun off the road.

At the top of the hill, the driver took the initiative and exited the highway at Bass Lake Road and drove east on Country Club Road to our first stop.

As we turned onto Merrychase Drive, which parallels the highway, the whole area was blanketed with two to three inches of hail and ice.
Back on U.S. 50, I saw two CalTrans plows cleaning the shoulder, a rare event for Cameron Park

The interesting thing about this storm was the indiscriminate manner in which the thunder cell hit one community and skipped the next.

Cameron Park was hammered. But I didn't see any evidence that Shingle Springs received more than a light dusting of hail.

Further east, the bus trailed a CalTrans plow as it approached El Dorado Road. Again, the area between the El Dorado and Missouri Flat roads was covered in a thick blanket of ice -- three inches in places.

The drive home, south on Missouri Flat, gave an indication of how wide a swath the storm cut. The heaviest hail fell near the highway. Pleasant Valley Road, about two miles south of the freeway, had a half-inch.

Interestingly, none of the local media (as of the time I posted this blog) have posted stories about the storm to their respective websites. They, instead focused on funnel clouds at Camp Far West and hail in San Joaquin County.