Tag Archives: Lake Louise

Post Cards from Canada, Father’s Day Weekend at Castle Mountain

18 Monday Jun 2012

Posted by in Travel

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I did not have a chance to get a recipe together for today, but I am working on one for later in the week. I instead wanted to share some of our pictures we took over the weekend in Banff.  We made a last minute decision to head to the Rockies for a couple of days to do some hiking and relaxing.  I packed up an overnight bag and made some granola and salad in jars (an idea I found on Pinterest), and we were off.

Our first stop was in Kootenay National Park at Marble Canyon.  We hiked a short interpretive trail that crisscrossed the 60 meter deep limestone canyon to a nice waterfall.  We had planned on hiking to the Paint Pots after Marble Canyon since the trailheads are close together, but when we arrived we found the trail was closed, so we decided head up to Lake Louise.  Lake Louise is quite touristy and crowded, and for good reason, the turquoise waters never fail to impress.  We started out from the lake on the Lake Agnes trail.  I wish I could say that we made it all the way to the lake and teahouse, but ¾ of the way the way we found the trail covered in a sheet of ice.  While this normally would not be too challenging, attempting it with two small kids and two very poorly mannered dogs was out of the question.  We hiked back down and headed for our cabin for the night.

We stayed at Castle Mountain Chalets.  The location is halfway between the towns of Banff and Lake Louise, and just a few kilometers from the northern border of Kootenay National Park.  This makes it an ideal location for hitting some of the most scenic day hikes in the area.  Once we checked in to our cabin, it was pure relaxation and bliss.  The cabin was just rustic and cozy enough to make us feel like we were camping, but still had a small kitchen and all of the other comforts of home.  We cooked some chili and hung out by the campfire, Minda had her first smore’s experience, and we played outside way past bedtime.

The next morning we did one last short hike up to Silverton Falls before heading home.  The only regret we had about the trip was that it was not long enough.

Spicy Lentil Soup with Chipotle and Poblano Peppers

23 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Food and Drink, Travel

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It is another magnificent Monday!  Can you tell I am in a good mood?  It is all because we just got back from a long weekend in the mountains.  Matt hit the slopes while the girls and I checked out the International Ice Festival at the Chateau Lake Louise. The weather was perfect, the scenery was beautiful, and now I am home feeling relaxed and ready to face another busy week.  Here are just a few of the pics from our trip.

Speaking of busy, I wanted to share this lentil soup recipe with you because it is so easy to whip up after an exhausting day on the slopes or on a cold weeknight.  Lentils, unlike beans, do not require presoaking, and they cook in only a fraction of the time, while still being packed with protein, fiber, and nutrients.  This soup is the perfect thing to warm you up after a long day of playing in the snow!

Spicy Lentil Soup with Chipotle and Poblano

1 poblano pepper

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1yellow onion, finely diced

2 large carrots, finely diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 tablespoon chipotle chilies in adobo, pureed

1 cup green lentils

4 cups vegetable stock

3 roma tomatoes, diced

¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 lime, juice

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

First, place the poblano directly under the broiler, turning every few minutes until it is charred on all sides.   Remove the poblano from the oven and place in a brown paper bag. Fold the bag closed and let the poblano steam for about 5 minutes.  Remove the poblano from the bag, peel off the charred skin, cut the stem off and remove the seeds.  Finely dice the poblano and set aside.

In a large stock pot heat the oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and carrot and cook stirring frequently until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.  Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, and chipotle to the pot and stir constantly for 1 minute.  Add in the poblano, lentils, stock, and tomatoes, and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 45 minutes.  Remove the soup from the heat and stir in the cilantro and lime juice.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.