Hi there, pals and fellow dwelling cooks!
That is my Saturday publication that features 7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads (for the week of August 4-10, 2024) + enjoyable life replace on the backside (I went on a crusing journey this week within the British Virgin Islands).
7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads
DAY 1: Parmesan Zucchini Tomato Hen Spaghetti with Basil Pesto
DAY 2: Salmon Tacos with Mango Peach Salsa and Cilantro-Lime Crema
DAY 3: Pesto Shrimp Mushroom Pasta
DAY 4: Pan-Seared Pork Chops with Caramelized Apples
DAY 5: Hen and Corn Pasta Salad with Bell Pepper, Bacon, and Creamy Basil Pesto Dressing
DAY 6: Italian Sausage Gnocchi with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Tomato Sauce (30-Minute, One-Pan Meal)
DAY 7: Creamy Hen Orzo with Mushrooms and Spinach (30-Minutes, ONE-PAN)
SALAD 1: Strawberry Spinach Salad with Pecans, Feta Cheese, and Poppy Seed Honey-Lemon Dressing
SALAD 2: Mango & Blueberry Spinach Salad with Walnuts and Feta Cheese
SALAD 3: Apricot Spinach Salad with Cherries, Pecans, and Balsamic Drizzle
Life Replace
Virtually precisely every week in the past, I hopped on a airplane from Colorado and flew all the best way to Tortola (which is the biggest of the British Virgin Islands within the Caribbean and is the gateway to just about all of the islands within the BVI). As a result of I reside in such a small city, it took me about 24 hours to get there together with lengthy layovers, however it was value it! Halfway by, I met up with my husband Kevin, and we set off on a 7-day crusing journey on a 46-foot catamaran, simply the 2 of us. He was the captain, and I used to be the primary (and solely!) mate. I ought to point out that I had by no means manned a ship earlier than, and my first crusing expertise (as a vacationer, not as first mate) was simply 3 weeks in the past—I discuss all about it right here.
After spending 7 days crusing, I’ve to say, that being the primary mate is way more demanding and bodily than being the captain (at the very least in my husband’s case, lol).
I dealt with all of the bodily work—tying and untying ropes to the mooring balls, anchoring, elevating and decreasing the sails, docking, and extra. I used to be continually shifting between the three ranges (decks) of the catamaran to safe every little thing and guarantee nothing would break throughout tough crusing, in addition to managing the dinghy. It was a number of bodily work, and I really feel like I acquired lots stronger bodily throughout this journey.
Under, I’ll share among the highlights from our journey. Since we packed a lot into our journey, this will likely be half 1. I’ll cowl the remaining in my subsequent publication, the place I will “dive” into half 2 of our BVI crusing journey.
Anegada Island
We began our journey by spending 2 days on Anegada Island, the northernmost and second largest of the British Virgin Islands, with a inhabitants of solely about 350. In contrast to the remainder of the British Virgin Islands that are mountainous, Anegada is flat. It is well-known for its gorgeous white sand seashores and turquoise waters, paying homage to Turks and Caicos however a lot much less commercialized. In comparison with the opposite British Virgin Islands, Anegada is way farther from Tortola, the biggest and most populated island with the primary airport serving the BVI. Tortola acts because the gateway to just about all of the islands within the British Virgin Islands.
Since Anegada is farther from Tortola and takes a number of hours to achieve by boat, it does not see as many vacationers as the opposite British Virgin Islands. As a result of we visited in the course of the low season, there have been only a few boats and hardly any vacationers round.
Whereas we had been on Anegada Island, Kevin (my husband) determined to lease mopeds. I am unable to imagine I let myself get talked into it—they did not appear very secure with these tiny wheels! I am simply glad I made it out alive. Fortunately, it was the low season, so there have been hardly any individuals, and no vehicles, and we had been the one ones driving the mopeds. We did see a number of cute goats, although. Cow Wreck Seaside was gorgeous, and we had all of it to ourselves. Loblolly Seaside was one other incredible spot.
We had dinner on the Lobster Lure and Sid’s eating places. Anegada Island is known for its scrumptious massive lobsters, so that is what we ordered. Sid’s had probably the most wonderful lobster tacos! One other great spot to eat is Anegada Seaside Membership.
Kevin rescued a stingray!
One thing unbelievable occurred throughout our two-day keep in Anegada: my husband rescued a stingray! I captured the entire occasion on video (you possibly can see it beneath). One evening, simply as I used to be preparing for mattress on the boat, I heard unusual noises outdoors round 11:30 PM. After I stepped out, I noticed a small stingray flopping round in our dinghy. The poor factor was respiration actually onerous and appeared prefer it was begging for assist. In some way, it had jumped into the dinghy, trapping himself there. Stingrays breathe by utilizing gills to extract oxygen from water, they usually cannot survive in open air for too lengthy. I referred to as my husband and he heroically (or stupidly) determined to hop into the dinghy along with the stingray and save this unimaginable sea creature by tossing it out of the boat utilizing a towel. The primary couple of tries had been unsuccessful, because the stingray thrashed round and was too slippery to grip, even with the towel. However on the third try, the stingray calmed down, permitting Kevin to seize maintain of it and efficiently launch it again into the water. He weighed about 20 kilos. We had been relieved to see it swim away vigorously, figuring out we saved it simply in time! After all, our pals later reminded us that Kevin is lucky to not have met the identical destiny because the well-known Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, who tragically died after being struck by a stingray’s barb.
After some analysis, I imagine it was a noticed eagle ray, which is widespread within the Caribbean and has a particular look. These stingrays are sometimes not aggressive however do have a pointy, venomous barb close to the bottom of their tail as a protection mechanism. Luckily, each Kevin and the stingray made it alive and with out accidents out of this case. Right here is the rescue video:
Different actions within the BVI
Other than that, we spent our time paddle-boarding, snorkeling, leaping off the boat, swimming, and simply stress-free and having fun with the ocean. The water shade within the BVI is unimaginable and adjustments with every island you go to. The sunsets are serene and exquisite. Get pleasure from extra photographs from our journey (beneath) and keep tuned for half 2 of our journey in subsequent week’s publication. Have you ever ever been to the British Virgin Islands? We have met a number of People and Europeans on this journey. Although it is the British Virgin Islands, they really use the US greenback as its official foreign money.
