Serve up or over ice with cranberry juice or lemonade for a simple Lemon drop or Cosmopolitan. For a twist just left of center, mix with a Kombucha with a dash of Artisan Fermented Honey for complexity.
For an extraordinarily light spritzer, use a hard sparkling berry beverage like Truly Berry Punch as your mixer.
Cool Treats
For an even cooler treat, top your fruity cocktail with a berry sorbet and take in the view.
Delve into the world of vodka with Ketel One Botanical Vodka infused with the luscious flavors of Peach & Orange Blossom. This premium spirit harmoniously blends botanicals and natural fruit essence, offering a refined taste that dances between sweet and aromatic notes, ensuring an elevated imbibing experience.
To craft a tantalizing martini, start by fusing Ketel One Botanical Vodka with zesty citrus juices like grapefruit, orange, lemon, or lime. This infusion introduces a tart and vibrant twist, perfectly complementing the floral undertones of the vodka.
Once the vodka, citrus juices, and simple syrup converge, shake the concoction vigorously with ice in a cocktail shaker. The ice will imbue the mixture with chillness and dilution, culminating in a flawlessly balanced and revitalizing martini.
For presentation, strain the martini into a frosted martini glass or serve over ice. Elevate your libation by garnishing it with citrus peels such as lemon or orange twists to intensify the citrusy aromas. Optionally, enrich the visual and aromatic appeal by adding a sprig of fresh herbs like rosemary or basil or an edible flower or too.
Morels. You hear talk of their abundance in the heart of the Pacific Northwest, where towering evergreens whisper ancient secrets and moss-covered trails beckon with promises of hidden treasures. Here the rainforests produce a kinds of fungi, but the spring morel hunt is a particularly time-honored tradition that draws adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike into the enchanting dance of this elusive mushroom.
Finding Morel Mushrooms
As the emerald canopy above filters the first soft rays of warm sunlight, morel seekers immerse themselves in the forest, armed not with swords or shields, but with humble baskets and eyes trained to spot the subtle, honeycombed caps that lie in wait beneath the forest’s foliage.
The thrill of discovery pulses through the veins as each morel, with its cryptic camouflage, reveals itself like a prize waiting to be claimed.
Ans if you see one, STOP!
A moment of stillness will often reveals a second morel near by, and then a third. Every hunter’s heart – new and old – quickens at the sight of these elusive fungi, nestled among the debris of the forest floor, their wrinkled caps a testament to nature’s artistry and mystery.
Dining on Morel Mushrooms
And then, there is the culinary alchemy that awaits the triumphant morel forager that transforms the humble mushroom into a gourmet delicacy. Whether sautéed in a rich buttery sauce, sprinkled over a bed of creamy risotto, or perched atop a bubbling pizza fresh from the oven, these mushrooms elevate the dining experience to a realm of epicurean delight.
In the McKenzie River Valley, fried morels are the go-to celebratory dining experience for local mushroom hunters. A castiron pan, egg, and seasoned flour and you have the best mushroom appetizer the Eck family has to offer;)
Morels for life!
In the end, morel mushroom hunting in the Pacific Northwest is not just a pastime—it is a pilgrimage, a reminder that the earth still holds mysteries waiting to be uncovered and that the simple act of foraging for food can become a transformative journey of the soul.
Beyond the obvious tasty topping to your favorite tossed salad, Toby’s Family Foods salad dressings and tofu dips have many delicious uses in the dining experience.From burgers and sandwiches to potato salad and fry sauce, Toby’s has a saucy flavor for you☺️
The Classic | Toby’s & Toast
A Eugene/Springfield original dating back to the 1970’s, Toby’s was a staple of my Oregon upbringing. California transplants, my hippie parents were vegetarians for the first two years of my life which necessitated many an alternative protein in my early years. With 3 grams of protein for every tablespoon, Toby’s tofu pâtés were an easy diet substitute back in the day.
On outdoor adventures, we’d pass around a loaf of fresh bread or tear off pieces of bagels or tortillas to scoop mid-hike. Toby’s became a staple in our fridge and, even as an adult, my go-to work lunch was whole wheat toast topped with Toby’s original tofu pâté☺️
Dippers
Chips, carrots, or fries . . . Toby’s Family Foods makes a tasty dipper for all your snack needs.
*Expert tip – Toby’s Jalapeño Dip and corn chips are the best snacks foods ever! Something about the salty corn chip and the spicy jalepeno . . . yum! If you don’t have water handy, stick with Toby’s original for a similarly tasty snack without the heat.
Sandwich & Burger Topper
Grilled sandwiches, cold sandwiches, tortilla wraps, burgers and breakfast sands, Toby’s Family Foods Salad Dressing are the perfect topper to these handheld meals.
Saucy Delights
Basically, you can substitute Toby’s Family Foods Feta or Ranch Salad Dressing for mayo in any given recipe for a unique and well-seasoned take on classic flavors. Not only does Toby’s work on sandwiches and wraps, you can replace mayo in your potato salad recipe for a tasty treat at summer picnics.
Feta, Potato and Green Bean Salad
Slice and roast red potatoes after tossing in oil, salt, and pepper
Roast green beans (broil on top of red potatoes)
Toss in Toby’s Feta Dressing
Chill or serve
*Expert tip – don’t chill this potato salad. Enjoy roasted potatoes and green beans tossed in a Toby’s Salad Dressing and served with the sautéd protein of your choice.
Toss with sautéd pork, chicken, tofu, or beef
Re-Purposed Glass Jars
Double bonus with Toby’s Family Foods Salad Dressings . . . The label peels off easily and the lid is a standard mason jar. Toby’s salad dressing jars make for easy storage containers and beverage glasses. It didn’t take long before empty Toby’s jars took over our cupboards😉
Tasty and local, Toby’s Family Foods is a favorite in our house with their Greek Feta Dressing taking top honors.
The pandemic inspired many a person to get outdoors more and we were no exception . . . and more adventures also meant more gear, right? For us, Yeti proved to be the answer to our outdoor food needs as we traversed from the Mojave desert of Nevada all the way to beaches of Oregon. It was in 2021 that we began our #eckyetilife journey!
OUTDOOR FOOD
The big surprise for me was all the enjoyment we got out of the Yeti coolers and insulated bags! Even a trip through Oregon’s high desert to the top of Glass Butte for a bit of over the fire cooking didn’t faze their amazing chill capacity. The shoulder bag hosted the makings of a beach-side charcuterie board sourced from Provisions. And while the Tundra and stainless steel coolers kept us well-supplied on camping trips, the Water Cooler allowed us to carry the crystal clear waters of the McKenzie River with us where ever we traveled.
All in all, it was an amazing year of Eck Family Adventures and some very cool Yeti gear:)
Tabitha Crystal Eck 