MAYNE ISLAND in February . . . and Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

These guys made this holiday extra special.  They were so curious about us.

On the map, Seal Beach Cottage is at the blue tent marking.

View from Seal Beach Cottage

 Miner’s Bay

On the way to Fernhill:

A short hike to Isabella Point:

I like how the Japanese who believe spending time among trees reduces stress and enhances wellness call it "forest bathing".     

The Arctic Vortex brought snow during our last night.

Exploring St. John's Point

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I started planning menus, cooking and freezing food about two weeks before we went so that I would not have much work to do at the cottage.

The day before we went, I made a list of all the stuff that had to go into coolers and got up at 5 am  to pack  them.

We have huge appetites when we're glamping.

Buckwheat pancakes for breakfast

Spicy Carrot Date Soup for lunch with Dill Buns

Lamb Curry dinner

Apricot Squares

GOOD NIGHT MOVIES:

Finding Your Feet

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PEANUT BUTTER HOT CHOCOLATE

  Based on a recipe by Jacques Torres in PEOPLE magazine, Oct. 29, 2018

3 cups whole milk

6 oz. dark sweetened chocolate  (like a chocolate bar) 

1 tbsp creamy peanut butter

Whipped cream

1.     Whip cream and set aside.

2.     Melt chocolate over low heat.

3.     Whisk in peanut butter and milk.  Stir constantly until mixture is very hot.

4.     Pour into 3 or 4 mugs. 

5.     Add a large dollop of whipped cream.

YUM!

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Betty Crocker's HEALTHY HEART Cookbook

It’s not the recipes in this book that I am recommending although I did try a couple. 

The recipe for “Spicy Chicken Drumsticks” on page 104 is good (I left the skin on, however), but the “Caramelized Onion and Sweet Potato Skillet” is much too dry.

It was the introduction that I found interesting. 

Particularly, this:

“Studies show that people with ‘apple’ shapes – those who tend to accumulate fat around their waists – have an increased risk of coronary heart disease. . .”

AND:

“To determine whether you’re carrying too much fat around your middle, place a tape measure around your waist just above your hipbones.  A reading of more than 40 inches in a man, or 35 inches in a woman, is considered a health risk. . .”

Eeep!