a friend of mine had a spontaneous idea to get a couple of days off in the middle of the week and go to yosemite when no one else is there. the three of us girls decided and the next day left the bay area to go to that direction. first day we stopped at hetch hetchy reservoir where the drink water of san francisco comes from. it was a great hike around the reservoir with several water falls on the way. it was such a hot day that we didn't mind getting soaked under the water falls although the water was freezing cold.
the next day we hiked more inside yosemite national park. comparing to two weeks ago that i was there, it has changed totally. there was not as much snow any more and water falls had tons more water with a lot more pressure in them. since we hiked along side vernal falls we totally got soaked head to toe again which kept us fresh for the other hikes we did for the rest of the day. i can't wait to go back to yosemite but this time hopefully all roads are open and i can hike up to high country where there are beautiful lakes as well. on the way back to the city the shikamoo(means some one who loves eating in persian) me had to stop at farms on the way near mantecca and got some fresh vegetables and fruits. i got fresh artichokes and onions. the onions still had their stems which makes them more delicious. it's like having red onion and green onion both in one. i came back home and my husband was sick. so i decided to make a stew with those vegetables i bought on the way.
ingredients:
- butter
- two artichockes
- two onions
- four heirloom tomatoes
- four more tomatoes or diced tomatoes
- one bell pepper
- fresh mint
- dried or fresh tarragon
- salt and pepper
- two limes
wash and chop all vegetables except the artichokes and saute them for ten minutes with butter. add diced tomatoes and let them cook another ten minutes with the lid of the dutch oven on. then add two cups of water and put the artichokes in the stew that it cooks with the steam of the stew for half hour. turn them around after twenty minutes and let them cook more. saute the chopped fresh mint in some butter and mix it with some fresh pressed lime juice and add it on top of the artichokes before serving the stew. nousheh jahn!
Ohhh I wish I was there with you girls! Those pictures are fabulous! What beautiful places!
And that stew looks so yummy and comforting. Artichoke is my favorite vegetable (together with eggplant)!
Thank you so much for the beautiful comment you left on my blog! I want you to know that I think the same about you and it would be lovely to meet up one day! :-)
Thanks for the author's suggestion! I have never read anything by Heruki Murakamu, but I am going to see what I can find: it sounds so interesting! :-)
Posted by: Manu | 05/11/2011 at 12:53 AM
Gorgeous pictures and what a lovely trip! The stew looks ah-mazing too! I love love love artichokes!!
Posted by: sarah | 05/10/2011 at 10:13 PM
Wow, those shots are breathtaking! And that artichoke stew looks absolutely fantastic!
Posted by: Tiffany | 05/10/2011 at 10:48 AM
What a great idea to go back during the week. Sounded so uplifting! Hope hubby felt better after that stew. Looks deliciously healthy. Perhaps he just wanted to be there with you ;-)
Posted by: Jill Colonna | 05/10/2011 at 06:43 AM
Wow your hike looked amazing, beautiful pictures! I'm like you I can't go anywhere without taking food or buying food on the way. Your artichoke stew looks delicious and no trimming the artichokes, I hate that. Shikamoo is now my new favourite word!! ;D
Posted by: Natalie | 05/10/2011 at 02:03 AM