Busted Butts and Drunken Flies: Hiking to Henninger Flats

So I finally got my lazy ass to hike up to Henninger Flats. When I say up, I mean up. Most of this trail is vertical. I'm in pretty decent shape but I needed quite a few "rest stops" on this outing. Luckily there are plenty of picturesque places to stop, enjoy the view, and pant like a dog. I saw some people running up this trail but clearly they are not human. The benefit of course is that I now have buns of steel and I managed to sweat out every margarita I had drank the night before. This delighted all the little flies and gnats who kept trying to land on my and sip my tequila enhanced perspiration. I sure hope PETA doesn't come after me for getting the wildlife drunk.

Me, at the top, with my tongue hanging out.

Another benefit is the amazing view. On a clear day you can see downtown LA and all the way to the ocean. We could make out a big cargo ship on the water. Once you get to Henninger Flats you will find a grassy green field. And, hallelujah, it's flat! There are groves of shady pine trees and picnic tables to relax at. You can also camp up here, though that would require hiking in all your gear, up the mountain, so good luck to you on that. We sat at a shaded picnic table right near the edge and had a really nice time enjoying the views and the quiet. We had the place to ourselves and it was so peaceful.

This trail can be accessed from Eaton Canyon. Take the usual route through the canyon and when you get to the bridge take the right hand trail instead of the trail that goes back to the waterfall.
 

Italian Garden Soup: It's Like a Party in My Mouth

After watching Eat, Pray, Love I have the urge to go to Italy and eat myself silly. Actually that movie and book give me the urge to do a lot of things but let's not get into that. Inspired by the movie I decided to make this soup. It's slow cooked in a crock pot too which I love cause you can make it up then let it simmer all day and not have to watch over it.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup sliced celery

1 can (14 1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, undrained

1 can (15 1/2 oz.) navy or small white beans, rinsed and drained

1 medium zucchini, chopped

1 cup frozen green beans

2 cans (14 oz. each) or either vegetable or chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1 package (9 oz.) refrigerated sausage or cheese filled tortellini pasta

3 tablespoons basil

Grated cheese (either Asiago or Parmesan are best)

Step 1

Heat oil in a large skillet over-medium high heat unitl hot. Add bell pepper, onion, and celery. Cook and stir 4 minutes or until onions are translucent. Transfer to 5-quart crock pot slow cooker.

Step 2

Add tomatoes with juice, navy beans, zucchini, green beans, broth, and garlic powder. Cover; cook on low 7 hours or high 3 1/2 hours.

Step 3

Turn crock pot to high. Add tortellini and cook 20 to 25 minutes longer or until pasta is tender. Stir in basil. Garnish each serving with cheese.

It was awesome. As my Fiance said, "It's like a party in my mouth!" Bellissimo!

Note: I forgot to put the basil in and we didn't miss it.

Further note: This recipe came from the cookbook Crock Pot, the Original Slow Cooker Recipe Collection, 2008 Publications International, Ltd.

The Waterfall - Eaton Canyon

Eaton Canyon was the first hike I went on after I moved to L.A. I was having "city fever" and I needed green spaces. I needed nature. So I went to Eaton Canyon. I headed down the trail feeling quite content. At the bridge I had to make a decision. Should I keep going? After the bridge the trail becomes narrower with lots of water crossings and rock hopping. Kids were coming down it though so it couldn't be that hard. I thought "what the heck, I'll do it". Some of my "what the heck" moments have led to my best adventures and greatest discoveries.

At the end of that trail, deep in the back of the canyon, I found a waterfall crashing into a deep green pool. What a discovery! I was not expecting that. True to my nature I had not bothered to research much about the canyon and had no idea there was a waterfall back there. Apparantly I was the only one though. On a weekend that waterfall is a busy place. I'm all for encouraging others to be appreciative of nature though so I can't really complain. I sat there on the rocks by the pool with my fellow nature lovers and decided that this was one of my new favorite places in L.A.

Since then I have returned to Eaton Canyon many times. Every time I go it is different. With the changing seasons comes varying plants and scenery. Here are some of my favorite photos from Eaton Canyon over the past couple years.

Stay tuned and I'll tell you about how I finally got my lazy ass to take the turn off to Henninger Flats. I got some flies drunk along the way. It was super!
 
For more info on Eaton Canyon follow this link: http://www.ecnca.org/