*Travel Update*

I am currently somewhere in ...

Mexico City
Honduras
El Salvador
Costa Rica
Panama
Bogota, Colombia
Islas Bay
San Blas
Bocas del Toro


I will try to update but if I don't get the chance, see you all sometime in the NEW YEAR ~ 2011!

Galapagos Underwater Cam

Here are some underwater shots that I took on and around Isla Isabela and some shots on a dock on Isla Santa Cruz

New Thanksgiving Experience

I ended up making the whole Thanksgiving feast this year instead of the usual. From the mashed potatoes to the cranberry sauce. The stuffing to the sweet potato apple pie. A pumpkin pie upgrade---three different ways. Gravy. Salad. Corn. The works. Oh and yes, the turkey too. I roasted my very first turkey. A scary experience I must say but not as nervewrecking as I had previously thought. :)

How did it come out? Moist? Dry? Flavorful? Bland?

Was the dinner a success? A failure?

Details will soon follow...

Baltra, Los Gemelos, and the Wall of Tears

Here we are in the Galapagos Islands. To make your way onto these unbelievable islands, you must either take a flight to Baltra or San Cristobal or take a cruise. Me, I like to explore, and made the smart choice to stay on the islands and experience it completely by foot. I landed in Baltra.




Los Gemelos



The twins were formed from an explosion that happened thousands and thousands of years ago. Except if you ever visit the island of Santa Cruz, you will see that the twins don't look alike. The one above, is shaped like a crater, while the other one ended up not exploding to crater-like status. An amazing site to see.


What you don't really hear at all is that there is another crater (above) that was also cause by the same similar explosion. It is known on the island that there are triplet, not twin, craters. The triplet looks nothing like the other two, as you can see. It is much smaller and not as deep as the other one mentioned above. But nevertheless, they are triplets.

The Wall of Tears





*Located on Isla Isabela. This wall was made by prisoners who suffered here on the island and it was made to show and express to everyone what they went through after they were finally released.

Sounds of the Amazon Part II

Here I am on the Rio Manduro in the Ecuadorian part of the Amazon, night status on the canoes. Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature and the flow of the river.

Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Burgers

Made these amazing burgers awhile back with a friend of mine in her kitchen. She made her pasta dish and I decided I was craving meat. Maybe a burger, perhaps? Walked around the supermarket to see what would spark my interest. It came down to bacon and blue cheese. Success! The makings of my burgers were actually only using four main ingredients: Ground Beef, Garlic Powder, Blue Cheese, and Bacon. I was afraid that Diana wouldn't try the burgers because she isn't a fan of blue cheese, but with persistence and the smell in the kitchen, she gave in. And you know what? She LOVED them. One of the best burgers she has ever tried and probably the best burgers I've ever made! She's been craving them lately and so am I. These are unbelievably amazing and you would be missing out if you don't stop and make these yourself.

Blue Cheese and Bacon Stuffed Burgers



Ingredients
1 lb Ground Beef
Garlic Powder
1/2 c. Blue Cheese
4 strips of bacon

Directions
1. Get the bacon in the skillet and cook thoroughly.



2. Remove bacon from skillet when done; allow to cool. Break bacon apart into small pieces. Combine with the blue cheese; set aside.

3. Prepare the ground beef by placing in a bowl and adding as much garlic powder as you'd like. Diana and I are HUGE fans of garlic so we added a huge heaping of it. :)

4. First wash and dry your hands, then get down and dirty with your meat. Mix it together. Work it a little.

5. Divide the beef into four equal rounds. Shape the patties and make a deep hole for the blue cheese and bacon mixture. Stuff all four burgers.



6. Shape the burger to cover the hole and get it ready for the preheated grill pan.

7. Cook the burgers about 3-5 minutes per side. Test one to make sure they are cooked through and enjoy! I served my burgers with just plain avocado and tomato. Didn't need ketchup, mustard, or anything else. That simple. I love the tangy blue cheese with the bacon and the beef combined. The blue cheese replaces my need for salt. A flawless burger, for sure. You can serve these burgers with the usual, like fries. This time I served them with banana fries that I quickly pan fried. Would have liked to deep fry them but Diana was out of oil! Nevertheless a better alternative than fries. And a better alternative to burger making than the standard burger these days. Give this a try sometime. AmaZING.