Howdy, pals and fellow residence cooks!

That is my Saturday e-newsletter that features 7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads (for the week of August 11-17, 2024) + enjoyable life replace on the backside (PART 2 of my crusing journey within the British Virgin Islands). You may learn PART 1 right here.

7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads

DAY 1: Creamy Orzo with Inexperienced Peas and Crispy Prosciutto

DAY 2: Greek Hen and Lemon Rice with Chickpeas, Spinach, Grape Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

DAY 3: Pan-Seared Trout (or Salmon) with Garlic Lemon Butter Garlic Herb Sauce

DAY 4: One-Pan Pesto Hen and Veggies (Cherry Tomatoes, Solar-Dried Tomatoes, and Asparagus)

DAY 5: Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon with Fig Unfold (30-Minute ONE-PAN)

DAY 6: 30-Minute Cilantro-Lime Hen Tacos with Peach Salsa and Creamy Sauce

DAY 7: Mexican Floor Beef (30-Minutes, One-Pan)

SALAD 1: Berry Spinach Salad with Pecans, Feta, Crispy Prosciutto, and Balsamic Glaze

SALAD 2: Spinach Salad with Cooked Apples, Pecans, Spinach, and Maple-Lime Dressing

SALAD 3: Beet and Burrata Salad with Pine Nuts and Balsamic Dressing

Life Replace

In my final e-newsletter, I shared half 1 of our crusing journey via the British Virgin Islands from two weeks in the past, and now it is time for half 2. I’ll be sharing our expertise of crusing the boat with simply the 2 of us—my husband and I; spending 3 days at Guana Island (one of many few privately owned islands in that a part of the world); our expertise with wonderful crusing neighborhood; numerous images; and a sneak peek at my 2024 swimsuit assortment, lol!

The Boat

2 weeks in the past my husband Kevin and I launched into a brand new journey we might by no means carried out earlier than. We sailed collectively on a Bali Cat Area catamaran within the British Virgin Islands for every week. He was captaining the boat whereas I dealt with the bodily duties—hoisting the sails up and decreasing them, managing the mainsheet, the principle halyard, and the jib (numerous terminology to be taught, I’m certain I confused just a few issues). He guided me via the method, as I might haven’t any clue what to do in any other case (it is my second time on the boat ever!). Issues just like the timing or which sail to lift first, when to launch the principle halyard, and so forth.

Whenever you’re on the boat, every part must be carried out rapidly and with exact timing because of the course of the wind and different components, so crusing is unquestionably at the very least a two-person job. The largest problem for me wasn’t hoisting the sails up and down, although, however tying the boat to a mooring buoy. With so many different sailboats close by, the area to maneuver is tight, and you must get it carried out rapidly and accurately, which was fairly troublesome. However I’ve to say, by the tip of the journey, I received actually good at it.

That is the boat we sailed – is not she lovely? I took this photograph at Guana Island (one among my favourite islands within the BVI).

I like the sight of a sailboat below full sail:

And sure, there’s even a grill on the boat. As a meals blogger, I discover the sight of a grill set towards the gorgeous backdrop of nature and water particularly fascinating, lol.

Guana Island

Guana Island is a privately-owned, 850-acre island within the British Virgin Islands. It is named one of many few remaining really “virgin” islands largely untouched by large tourism. The island provides every part you’d dream of: pristine white sand seashores, crystal-clear turquoise waters, lush tropical landscapes, mountainous terrain, dozens of mountain climbing trails, and even flamingos. With no public bars, marinas, or different business companies, Guana Island is a really unspoiled gem. The island’s non-public house owners are deeply dedicated to restoring and defending its natural world, working to reintroduce species that had been as soon as widespread right here.

There’s a small, family-owned resort on the island that homes solely 35 company throughout 18 rooms. In the event you keep there, you will have entry to every part you’d need for an ideal ocean trip: pristine seashores, snorkeling gear, paddle-boarding, quite a few mountain climbing trails, and farm-to-table eating from the resort’s personal sustainable backyard. In the event you’ve ever dreamed of being stranded on a abandoned island, that is as shut because it will get! Are you able to inform I’m in love with this island?

Although we didn’t keep on the resort, we parked our boat close to Guana Island, stayed on the boat for 3 days, and loved the crystal-clear waters, paddleboarding, swimming, and easily enjoyable – all of those actions had been greater than sufficient for our 3-day keep, and we did not wish to go away, lol. However I undoubtedly wish to return sometime, and keep on the resort on the island (not on the boat), discover the mountain climbing trails, their farm-to-table eating, all of their seashores, and the entire island! They supply all their meals (fruits, greens, meats) for his or her eating places from their sustainable gardens and agriculture, which, as a meals blogger, I discover very thrilling.

We did discuss extensively to one of many managers of the resort (I believe his title was Jason) and that is how I do know a lot about this island. Being parked on the boat near the island it was clear how lovely it was even from the gap. We truthfully didn’t wish to go away.

My Summer time 2024 Swimsuit Assortment (LOL)

I am unsure for those who’re conscious, however I’ve talked about on my Fb web page and in earlier newsletters that I am an avid hiker and love utilizing mountain climbing as train. Nevertheless, as is usually the case with runners and hikers, the legs develop into sturdy whereas different muscle groups can get ignored. Just lately, previously few months, I’ve began specializing in strengthening my higher physique, significantly my arms and abs, and I am happy with the progress to this point, although there’s nonetheless much more energy to construct. Sustaining muscle as we age is necessary (and troublesome!), so I am working in the direction of that aim. By the best way, which swimsuit do you want probably the most? Let me know, and I am going to share my favourite from this journey.

Superb crusing neighborhood

I wish to point out one thing in regards to the crusing neighborhood. As a result of my husband and I are newbies at crusing, there have been quite a few events once we requested for assist from close by boats, and everybody was so pleasant and willingly helped. It was unimaginable! Listed here are simply 2 examples, I am so grateful to those folks:

One night, after darkish, we arrived at an area restaurant by water, touring in our dinghy from the boat for dinner. After we had been seated and ordered our meals, my husband, Kevin, determined to go again to the boat within the dinghy to seize some limes, which ought to have taken not more than quarter-hour. He left his cellular phone with me. However he was gone for an hour, and I turned so fearful that I began asking folks round for assist. A gaggle of vacationers was there, and their captain kindly supplied to take me again to our boat in his dinghy. As we approached, I noticed Kevin, soaking moist, simply climbing onto our boat.

It turned out that when he went to get the limes, he hadn’t tied the dinghy correctly, and it received carried away by a powerful present. Kevin determined to leap into the water and swim after it at nighttime. He’s a powerful swimmer, however as he swam, he rapidly realized the present was too highly effective to maintain up with. He swam again to a close-by boat and requested two guys for assist. All three of them jumped into their dinghy, lastly caught up with ours, and introduced it again to our boat. That’s why Kevin was gone for an hour. At the very least he received exercise proper earlier than dinner, swimming at nighttime for half-hour.

One other time was when it was one among my first occasions attaching the boat to a mooring buoy. I made the error of leaving the ropes too free. Through the two windy days, we stayed in that spot, the boat bounced round and over the buoy, giving each of our ropes loads of time to get completely tangled on the base (unbeknownst to us). When it was time to go away, each ropes had been so tangled and caught up on the base of the buoy, it was inconceivable to untie them. We requested a close-by boat for assist, and two guys came to visit to help us. Considered one of them labored from a dinghy, whereas the opposite used snorkeling gear to untangle the ropes underwater, the place the entanglement had occurred. It was fairly a challenge, it took a very long time, and it will not have been attainable with out the snorkeling gear.

There have been many different examples of individuals serving to us, I am so grateful to all these folks. I’ll pay it ahead.