The Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Reserve - a wonderful walk

The air was a little crisp on Saturday, but not a cloud in the sky.  Guys had gone golfing.  surprise, surprise.  Sitting at the cottage with my 3 girlfriends, Lindsey, Maryjo and Sharon, (probably talking about our husbands - actually there is no doubt that we were talking about our husbands!!!), we decided to put on our running shoes and head over to the Torrance Barrens for a walk around one of the most beautiful trails in Muskoka.  http://muskokatrailscouncil.com/trailguides/muskokalakes


The Barrens are classified as a "Dark Sky Reserve", you can see 360 degrees of the sky, at night there isn't a light anywhere other than the natural beauty of the stars and planets.  I haven't been able to talk myself or anyone else into going over at night.  It is beautiful but I think at night it would be a little scary.  One day, when there is a full moon I will drag someone over (watch out girlfriends)....

The rock formations are wonderful, huge vistas of rock with nothing growing on them, no powerwashers here to keep them clean, just the wind, rain, ice and snow.  You can see the quartz veins running through them.  These rocks are part of the Canadian Shield and 2 billion years old.
There are 3 trails, we thought we had walked the large one, but looking back at the map - sorry girls I think we only did the 3.5 km one.  lol  Before too long, sweaters were coming off.  MJ was gloating over the fact that she had her shorts on.  And to boot there weren't any prickly bushes to walk by as most of the time you were walking on the ROCK.  Running shoes definitely a good idea.

We came upon this little group of Standing Stones, needless to say we all started thinking about the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon with most of the talk being about our darling "Jamie".  http://www.dianagabaldon.com/books/outlander-series/ it is now being turned into a tv series.

A beautiful fall like day in Muskoka what more could you ask for.

Peach Coffeecake - Discovered a new twist for this old favourite

I was introduced to the coffeecake family of deserts by my good friend Claudia Figgures and it has been a love affair ever since.  This coffeecake can be made with fresh or canned peaches.  This recipe is from "The Good Housekeeping Cookbook" I was given as a shower gift over 35 years ago (in 1978).

Coffeecake

1-1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons double acting baking powder

2 teaspons grated lemon peel

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

4 eggs

1 29-ounce can sliced cling peaches, well drained

or

4 to 6 fresh Ontario peaches, peeled and sliced.  (I soaked them in boiling water and then the skin came off really easy - with a couple of burnt fingers :) )

Topping:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar 

1 tablespoon grated lemon peel

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease 13 by 9" baking pan.  

Into large bowl, measure flour and next 6 ingredients; with mixer at low speed, beat until well mixed, constantly scarping bowl with rubber spatula.  Increase speed to high; beat 4 minutes, occasionally scarping bowl.  

Spread batter evenly in baking pan.  Arrange peaches on top of batter.

Topping:  In small saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine, remove from heat.  Stir in 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel to form a soft dough.

Sprinkle entire top with Topping.

Bake 45 to 50 minutes until light golden and toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean.

Makes 12 servings.  It will keep for a few days in the fridge.

New Twist:

Andrew and I really wanted to try some last night, so we put it in a bowl with ice cream while it was still hot.  I now can't imagine eating it cold.  

Next time:

Thinking I might add some fresh Ontario wild blueberries on top of the peaches.  

Just as an aside, is there anything that doesn't taste good with "lemon zest" in it....

Enjoy.

Baby Boomer Childhood

I find this hilarious, hope you do too!!!!

An old favourite. Pineapple Banana Split cake

This favourite was first served to Jim and I by Mary Jo who was given it by our friend Denise.

Pineapple Banana Split Cake

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter softened

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

19 oz can of crushed pineapples

3 bananas

1 cup butter softened

2 eggs 

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups icing sugar

Large container cool whip

Garnish - chocolate, nuts, cherries ??? Your choice. I used shaved jersey milk chocolate bars

Mix 2/3 cup of butter together with graham cracker crumbs and press into 9 x 13 pan.

Drain can of pineapples. Save juice into a bowl.  Slice bananas and soak in pineapple juice

Beat 1 cup of butter until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.  Add icing sugar. 

Pour butter mixture over graham crumbs.

Place drained sliced bananas on top and then top with crushed pineapples. 

Use large container of cool whip and spread over the top.

Garnish with chocolate sauce, shaved chocolate, nuts, cherries or whatever your heart desires.

Refrigerate. 

Note:  you are correct this s a no bake desert.

Delish. :)

Muskoka Boathouses and Cottages

What would a trip in the boat be without taking pictures of some of the wonderful boathouses and cottages on Lakes Muskoka, Rousseau and Joseph.

Boathouse just being built across from Lake Jo Golf Club and Waters Edge

Water's Edge a great place for lunch or dinner

If there isn't enough room in the cottage you can stay in the boathouse O:)

A humble abode, room for a few close friends and family

A new style boathouse starting to appear on the Lakes, reminds me a little of a pagoda

A very old, original boathouse as you approach Port Carling from Lake Rousseau

One of my favourite on Millionaire's Row on Lake Muskoka.
 I would love to see the cottage.

On the Indian River, does the job, keeps the boat dry

Another beautiful piece of property on the Indian River, connecting Lake Muskoka to Rousseau and Joseph

Love this sign.  The speed limit on the Indian River is 9 km.  This sign
does a good job of getting the point across.

This is just a few of the 100's of beautiful boathouses on the Muskoka Lakes.  I never get tired of taking pictures of them.  So be prepared for another blog on them.

Have a wonderful day.

The Artful Garden in Muskoka

A windy Monday up in Muskoka, a little too cool for swimming, and luckily my good friends Janine and Arlene were up visiting.  Janine who loves art shows suggested we go up to the Artful Garden for a visit.  I couldn't wait, usually when I get in the car at the cottage my husband and I are off to a golf course.  We grabbed our visa's and off we went.  

Adding a little bit more of an adventure I thought it  would be fun to drive the full circle, we headed off towards Bala and Port Carling and then would come back through Bracebridge.  The exciting thing about going this way that we didn't know at the time is that we discovered Wendy Moses Gallery, which is just down the road from the Artful Garden.  An absolutely delightful setting with pictures that just oozed happiness and colour.  Wendy was just like her artwork, bright and breezy with lots of energy.  Definitely worth a visit.  

Just down the road is the Artful Garden an absolutely delightful, whimsical perennial garden owned by John and Susan Partridge.  John is a well known potter in the region and their garden is open to 100's of visitors for 3 weeks every summer just at the height of the summer colours.  Huge cone flowers, black eyed susans, etc intermixed with bark pathways, little shacks, roosters and chickens running around make a wonderful setting for displaying over 40 artists and potters.  I was absolutely mesmerized.  Everywhere you looked were pieces of art intermingled amongst natures beauty.  John and Susan have put together a truly memorable experience.  I think I might have to take a book and a coffee for my next visit O:)

Admission is free, there is a donation jar, but no pressure to donate.  Needless to say the 3 of us purchased some beautiful pieces.  My first piece was by David Hickey, “3 birds on a branch” – bright blue little sparrow looking birds done in metal on a long pole with a branch at the top.  I had just the perfect spot for it.  My next piece was by JP Schoss – “Cat with Bird” .  LOL  the names don’t leave you guessing.  Yes Cat with Bird was a bright red metal cat with a bird on its tail.  (much better than the way my Cleo likes her birds).    The hardest part of the whole day was picking the piece you wanted.  There was also an “Ugly Fish” that I am going to drag Jim up to see, maybe, hopefully, possibly  LOL

The Artful Garden is definitely worth the visit, in fact I am marking it on my calendar for next year.  

Steak Salad with blue cheese dressing and chili lime corn

Ingredients:

Lettuce

Red onion

Lots of tomato

Avocado

Green beans

Portobello mushroom

Cucumber

Monterey Jack

Chilli lime corn

Blue cheese dressing

1/3 cup olive oil

3 tbsp red wine vinegar 

2 tbsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic minced

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground pepper

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

3/4 cup of crumbled blue cheese (don't skimp)

Mix all ingredients together and chill

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/steak-salad/

Chilli lime corn

12 ears corn
1/3 cup lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
Directions:

1
Preheat BBQ to medium-high. Husk corn. Soak in water at least 5 minutes before grilling.
2
Stir lime juice with chili powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. (We would suggest adding tequilla) Set aside.
3
Place cobs on grill, using tongs to turn every 2 minutes until charred, about 10 min total. After each turn, brush the length of the cob with juice mixture. Transer to a platter. Serve when cool enough to handle.

I did 5 cobs and cut the kernels off for the salad

http://www.food.com/recipe/chili-lime-grilled-corn-on-the-cob-463380