Happy Memorial Day – hope you’ve had a nice long weekend!
These past few days have felt extra looooong, for whatever reason, but hey – I am not complaining. ;)
My Mom and I kicked the weekend off with a trip to the Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning, natch, but made the rookie mistake of sleeping in an extra 30 minutes and suffered by having to navigate through curb-to-curb crowds when we finally got there. It was madness, I tell you!
We killed two birds with one stone though, and sought safe haven in the pupusa line off a less crowded side street. Room to breathe, AND our favorite farmers’ market treat. :)
I saved up my appetite on Friday night so I would be extra hungry for this puppy Saturday morning. It served me well, ’cause the outsides of the hand-pressed corn tortillas stuffed with fresh spinach and cheese were extra crispy, and extra satisfying. I am seriously drooling at the memory of it all!
Note to self: Get your butt out of bed next week! ;)
Ben and I sought a more serene Sunday so, after sleeping in, we hopped in the car and headed to the country.
Destination: Ledges State Park!
Ledges is about 40 minutes north of where we live, and is named for the sandstone “ledges” that line the stream bed that runs through the entire park. My family and I used to come every fall to hike and take in the gorgeous foliage, but I bet it’s been at least 15 years since we were last here. I was happy to take a trip down memory lane!
In addition to the cool stream, fed from the nearby Des Moines River, there is over 13 miles of hiking trails spread throughout the park.
Ben and I parked the car, picked a trail, and started climbing!
I love how quiet the forest is, save for the rustling leaves, and chirping birds. It’s so peaceful.
The first trail we picked popped us out at a scenic viewing spot called The Crows Nest. You could see all the way to the Des Moines River on the far end of the park.
Which is where our trail unloaded us about 20 minutes later!
The river feeds the stream I mentioned, so we channeled our inner 3rd graders, and creek walked our way back to the car.
It’s fun to play. :)
Hooray for summer!
Later that evening, Ben and I walked over to my parent’s house for an epic BBQ. My Mom had been baking baby back ribs all day, which she served with grilled veggies, fresh watermelon, and barley-corn salad.
Dessert was out of control though – ice cream sandwiches layered with cool whip, toffee bits and caramel sauce. BAHAHAHAHAHA!
It was the perfect, delicious way to end our fun day.
Now, if yesterday was good, today was GREAT– according to Ben, anyways. That’s ’cause he spent the entire day smoking meat. His favorite extra curricular activity!
You could not wipe the perma-grin off that man’s face if you tried!
The meat in question is a 9lb – NINE POUND – pork butt.
After seasoning his 9lbs of pork with a homemade seasoning blend, he fired up the smoker and tossed in a combo of hickory and cherry wood chips.
This is what gives the meat its incredible flavor (and makes our entire neighborhood reek of smoke!)
Totally focused.
While the pork smoked, we hung out in the beautiful sunshine.
A cold brewskie in hand for him…
and iced green tea for her.
Yeah, I am newly obsessed with green tea. It is so good, and so good for you!
I picked up a box of organic green tea at Trader Joe’s, and have been enjoying it lightly sweetened with powdered stevia, and poured over ice.
This afternoon I even put a big mason jar of tea bags and water out in the sun to make green sun tea. My Mom always had a big sun tea jar going in the summer!
ANYWAY – back to the pig. :) After three hours in the smoker, the pork butt had a glorious, orange-hued crust on the outside. Ben was practically galloping through the neighborhood with joy.
We invited my parents over to help make a dent in the thing, so he finished cooking it in the oven with a few pats of butter, a sprinkle of brown sugar, and a couple inches of apple juice in the bottom of a sheet pan, to provide even more yummy flavor.
After a few more hours, and a final quick broil, zee pork butt was ready!
The bark on this stuff was spectacular, and it was soooo tender!
After the pork rested for about 10 minutes, we chopped it up and piled it onto soft & squishy fresh buns.
A couple other dishes helped round out the meal.
Grandpa’s Pasta Salad,
and Bush’s Vegetarian Baked Beans jazzed up with some crushed pineapple and ketchup.
Holy buckets, I could not be more stuffed, or satisfied, right now! :)
And with that, I’m off to go enjoy the last remaining hours of this long weekend. Hope you and yours had a good one! :)
Kari 05.29.2012
I love how the piece of pasta wedged itself in the black olive! Too cute. :)
Kaelin 05.29.2012
I moved to SE Iowa about 3 years ago when my husband took a job with John Deere. I look forward to the Des Moines Farmers Market all winter! I usually have to drag my husband with me since we don’t have any family in the area, but when we do have company its a must-do. I have been once this year and it seemed busier than ever!
We also visited Ledges Park last Fall and loved it so much!! We are definitely outdoorsy people and wished it was closer to us, so we could hike the trails more often. Its a solid 2.5 hour drive for us.
Tasha 05.29.2012
Ok, leave it to me to read that entire post and be focused on shoes. Your black tennis shoes in the creek pic – SO cute! What kind are those?? :)
Iowa Girl Eats 05.30.2012
They are Addidas from an outlet store!
Maggie 05.29.2012
Made your Orzo Corn Salad this weekend…it was amazing! Really great, so thanks!!
Culinarystorm 05.29.2012
aaahh me want me a pupusa so badly!
Doll 05.29.2012
Another amazing post!
I am hooked on green tea, too, and have been reading about it lately.
Just one hint–once green tea starts turning brown from age or warm temps, it loses the antioxidant benefits. As well, the catechins break down after brewing.
For optimal benefits, green tea should be consumed one hour after brewing.
Green tea just isn’t the best as sun tea.
But brewing your own is best–I keep freshly brewed green tea in the fridge with a ton of ice and add ice as it melts. Keeps for a full day this way.
PS Did you know bottled green tea is only green due to the added artificial food coloring? Yuck! LOL
Iowa Girl Eats 05.29.2012
It actually turned out wonderful! I only left it in the sun for a couple hours, since green tea can get bitter if steeped for too long. I definitely recommend!
Kim 05.28.2012
definitely need pupsas recipes and that barely corn salad looked awesome as did the dessert! I love green tea so much I gave up coffee! You have such a sweet family. I love the happy faces on your Mom and Dad’s faces after the meal she made! And who wouldn’t be smiling after a meal and dessert like that! The pork butt looked AMAZING Ben! You both rock!
Lori 05.28.2012
I so wish I could try one of those pupsas! They look delicious! Do you know if I can get them anywhere in the Twins Cities?
Iowa Girl Eats 05.29.2012
Eek, I don’t! I’ll work on a recipe though!
Heather Chambers 05.28.2012
“Iowa girl” I love your blog and I follow you daily. Keep the awesome recipes coming!!! Your beer cocktails definitely made a lasting impression!
jenn 05.28.2012
what a great way to spend the weekend. our farmer’s market gets crowded too! i love seeing so many people out there but prefer to get there early too ;)
Alysha @Shesontherun 05.28.2012
That farmers’s market is seriously insane! I can’t wait for them to kick up around here in WI.
Addi 05.28.2012
typo…”no mention of the meaning”….double merp
Iowa Girl Eats 05.28.2012
Thanks for commenting, Addi. Just because I don’t mention the meaning of Memorial Day publicly on my blog, doesn’t mean I don’t celebrate it, or take the meaning of the holiday to heart.
Addi 05.28.2012
awesome “food” filled weekend.
….couldn’t help but laugh at Ben’s sunglasses…lol
As a family member of a wounded warrior sad to see meaningful mention of the meaning of this holiday! merrrrp.
Kristen 05.28.2012
Just want to make that everyone appreciates their extra long weekend, but be sure to remember all of those who have died serving and protecting our country. That is what today is all about.
On another note, do you have any of your own papusas recipes? :-)
Iowa Girl Eats 05.29.2012
I don’t, but I’ll work on one!
Cheryl 05.28.2012
Okay – I give! I WILL get to the farmer’s market early and try the pupusas! I agree with the green tea comments and I am completely addicted to Trader Joes Jasmine Green Tea.
CarrieOB 05.28.2012
I grew up in Ames and we always went to the Ledges throughout my childhood. I will never forget driving our car OVER the little brook that crosses the path–I thought it was amazing! I need to get back there when I get home. Thanks for the memories.
Melanie 05.28.2012
I loved seeing the pictures of Ledges! My husband and I got engaged there – such a fun place to spend an afternoon! I miss it!
Allie 05.28.2012
I love Ledges! My fiancé and I went camping there last summer and spent the day hiking all over the place. It was recently flooded so not all the trails were accessible, but you have inspired me to go back this summer! I wouldn’t recommend camping there, as there are TONS of raccoons and they are NOT afraid to approach you. :) Looks like an awesome weekend to me!
Glyn 05.28.2012
I like this ENTIRE post. Farmer’s Market/berries/pupusas, your Mom’s food, and Ben’s butt. I mean, the smoked pork butt. ;)Are there recipes for any of these dishes? That ice cream number looked off the hook!
Blog is the New Black 05.28.2012
Your pics of the berries are gorgeous! The hike looks so fun.