Our first fall camping trip got off to a slow start, cure we accidentally boarded the wrong train! But luckily it was a happy accident. By the time we made it to Tuxedo and Harrimon Park the slight rain that was plaguing us all morning had stopped. We bought our final supplies and headed to the trail, visit this arriving just in time to collect firewood, make camp and start dinner before sunset. Steak, baked potatoes and cilantro pesto corn were the evening meal and a lovely moon to gaze at. Later with the fire and moon in full force we just sat back and took it all in, before heading of to sleep.
The next day we awoke to a beautiful misty fog rolling over the hills and exposing Lake Skenonto in all its fall foliage beauty. The birds sang hello while we made coffee and breakfast. The sky cleared up and it was a glorious fall day to be in the woods. So naturally we pulled out the ukuleles and serenaded the animals with our songs. After some more quiet time it was time to head back to the city. So we packed up, said goodbye to our animal friends and headed for the train and Chinese food. This may have been our first fall camping trip but it won’t be our last.
I wasn’t going to do another chicken soup post, diagnosis but after requests for this recipe and some thought, diagnosis I realized that this is different then the last chicken soup I wrote about. While I was writing, for sale I wondered how many versions of chicken soup must be out there? I have at least 3 to 4 myself. I will post more as they get remade or made for the first time. Until then, here is another addition to the cannon of probably the most American soup out there. I give you, my other chicken soup, which I will officially call; Chicken, barley and vegetable soup.
We began our adventure in a car we rented for the weekend, buy information pills driving 14 hours each way. I’m talking about our recent adventure to Tennessee, symptoms where we hoped to soak up nature and live as one with the land. As much as one can get staying in a cabin. Of course we were roughing it, so to speak. The shower was outdoors, the stove was of the a camping variety, our water came from large jugs, the bathroom was an out house, the light was kerosene lamps and it was heated by a wood burning stove. What else do you want from a cabin in the woods? As it turned out, nothing. It was perfect, peaceful and quiet. Mother Nature graced us with wonderful warm weather. It may have been November but it could easily had been late September. We walked the land, marveled at streams that when it rains become dangerous rivers, chopped wood, went to bed early and rose with the sunrise, saw old friends and made some new ones, all while preparing and eating some amazing food. We even drove into town to the local Piggly Wiggly to get supplies.
There’s something amazing about the mountains in Tennessee. I grew up in a few different environments, one of them was the mountains in California and to this day, I don’t get the same feeling of peace as I do when I’m here. It’s a place that you want to sit back take it slow do some chores and cook till you have filled your pantry with goodies and your belly with food. Lucky for us we arrived just in time for a late lunch and a stroll around the property. Our guide led us around and showed us some old homestead from early settlers and gave us a history lesson on who would have lived there before and what they would have farmed. To me seeing history is always more fascinating then reading it. When we were done getting the tour we took in the incredible sunset on top of the tool shed, and then it was back to the cabin to burn some wood and get cracking on dinner. Grilled corn with sausages and a warm salad with a honey vinegar dressing.
The next day we were left to our own devices. With our guide driving back to his home in Colorado we started the morning with breakfast and a leisurely stroll. We visited friends who lived nearby, catching up on their latest projects, chopped wood and traveled into town for more supplies. That night we slow cooked some beans on the wood stove, drank whiskey, listened to the radio and played cards. Not bad for a Saturday night!!
Our last day we started it off with left over beans and eggs steamed over grilled onions and of course bacon. After our hearty breakfast we took one last stroll said our goodbyes to the neighbors and headed back to NYC and our city lives.
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