“Have you heard about the Earthships?”

“What?!”

“The Earthships.  Right down the road…they’re houses built out in the desert, people living totally off the grid.  You should go see them.”

How could I resist something that sounded so…um, alien?  I love the serendipity of travel, and how you just never know what you’ll see and who you’ll meet.  We were in Taos, New Mexico recently.  I already knew that Taos was a quirky place.  For such a small population, it has attracted a pretty diverse group of people, from the Native Americans at the Taos Pueblo to ranchers, from artists and celebrities (including Julia Roberts) to the hippies of the 1960s and 70s.  I wasn’t surprised to learn that a community of people living off the grid have established themselves in the high desert on the outskirts of Taos.

Earthships are sustainable buildings made from natural and recyclable materials, originally designed by visionary architect Michael Reynolds, who built the first one in Taos in the 1970s.  The homes are usually constructed from earth-filled tires, and use passive solar energy and natural ventilation systems.  The interior and non-load bearing walls are made of cans and bottles.  The thermal mass construction regulates the inside temperature so that it is constant, no matter the season or weather.  Water is collected and efficiently re-used in a greenhouse that also grows food.  Earthship residents are generally self-reliant, using alternative energy sources (solar and wind) to power their homes.  Total energy costs average around $100 per year.

We visited the Earthship Biotecture Visitor Center, where we met an intern who was living in one of the homes, saw first-hand how all the systems work together to create a sustainable home, and spoke to some people who were constructing a new Earthship home in the community.  What struck me the most about these buildings, aside from their efficiency, was how beautiful they were, with curved walls and arches, and colorful glass bottles that not only look like works of art, but bring a kaleidoscope of light to the interiors.

Earthships are now built all over the world and some are used for disaster relief in places like Haiti, because they are affordable, sustainable, and can be easily replicated by the local people.  People come from all over in order to learn about the design and construction of Earthships through seminars, internships and the Earthship Academy.  You can even experience green living yourself in the Greater World Earthship Community by renting one out for a night or two.

We always hear about how Earth Day is every day, but in the Earthship communities, the residents truly are living it every day.  For more information, please visit Earthship Biotecture.

Eat well.  Travel often.  Live your passion.

I am different, not less.

– Temple Grandin

Nature is cruel but we don’t have to be.

– Temple Grandin

I was so fortunate to photograph last week, among other scientists and experts in animal science, Dr. Temple Grandin.  For those of you who don’t know her, she revolutionized the livestock industry with her unique designs in humane animal handling equipment.  She is a brilliant professor at Colorado State University, a well-respected consultant in the field of animal science, a best-selling author and a high-functioning autistic.  Diagnosed with autism at age 3, Temple was lucky to have  a mother who believed in her abilities and teachers that mentored her.  Her love of horses and sensitivity to animals lead her to the field of animal science, where she is world-renowned as a visionary in her work for humane treatment of animals.  If you haven’t seen the HBO movie, “Temple Grandin” starring Claire Danes, I highly recommend it.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I met her.  She is a passionate speaker, witty, intelligent and an imposing presence in a room.  Not only do I admire her for her work in the humane treatment of animals and autism advocacy, but for her strong sense of self.  She knows who she is, has confidence in her expertise and knowledge, and does not let anyone get in her way.  She fought her way through a man’s world and got to where she is, in spite of and because of her “different kind of mind.”

I am also fortunate to know, in my circle of friends, a few amazing kids who happen to be on the autism spectrum.  They, too, have different kinds of minds.  It’s not always easy to be one of these kids.  They are easily misunderstood and often bullied because of their different minds.  Yet, because of Temple Grandin I am encouraged that these “smart, geeky kids” will find their place in the world, wherever that may be, especially if they have the support systems in place.  For more information about autism and Temple Grandin, please visit her website at www.templegrandin.com.

Even if we have a different kind of mind, we all have our own unique perspective to share with the world.  For more insight and inspiration from Dr. Grandin, please watch this TED talk.

Eat well.  Travel often.  Live your passion.

I admit I was skeptical.  I’m not a big beer drinker, but I wanted to try something new for St. Patrick’s Day, and thought I’d find some type of recipe using Guinness.  A dessert made with Guinness?  Chocolate, no less.  I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to chocolate – after all, why ruin a perfect food?  But I gave in.  I made it.  And, wow, I’m so glad I did.  The Guinness seemed to add depth and an even richer flavor to the dark chocolate without making it bitter.  So, here it is, the recipe for “Chocolate Guinness Goodness.”  So, have your Guinness or Bailey’s, put on your favorite Irish tunes, and enjoy a fabulous chocolate dessert.  Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Sláinte!

Chocolate Guinness Goodness

• 8 large egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• One 14.9-ounce can Guinness Draught
• 3 cups heavy cream
• 7 ounces high-quality bittersweet (70 to 72% cacao) chocolate, finely chopped

• Special equipment: Six 8-ounce old-fashioned glasses

In large nonreactive mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.

Open can of Guinness and slowly pour into 4-cup measuring cup, pouring down side of cup to reduce foaming. Pour half of Guinness (about 7/8 cup) into heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan. Add 2 1/4 cups cream and whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles just begin to form at edges. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and whisk until smooth.

Slowly pour hot chocolate mixture into eggs, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Return mixture to saucepan and set over moderately low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon, about 15 minutes. (Pudding will look separated.) Pour into blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Divide pudding among glasses, leaving at least 1 inch of space at top of each. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and set.

Meanwhile, pour remaining Guinness into small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 1 tablespoon, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup into small bowl and let cool.

Beat remaining cream until soft peaks form. Add Guinness syrup and beat until combined. Divide cream among 6 glasses of pudding and serve.

This recipe was created by Chef Shane Philip Coffey.

Here’s a recipe for a Bailey’s Chocolatini.

Eat well.  Travel often.  Live your passion.

“The decisive moment, it is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

It seems like we are always striving for that “decisive moment” shot, where everything seems to come together at just the right time.  We’re looking for those significant, celebratory moments, capturing the right time of an event, or a perfect look.  Recently, I found myself chaperoning my daughter’s class on a winter trip to Snow Mountain Ranch.  50 mile-per-hour winds and arctic cold conditions didn’t deter any fun.  These tough Colorado kids were well prepared for tubing, swimming (indoors!), snowshoeing, and nordic skiing.  They even prepared and cleaned up all the meals (Is there a budding food stylist in our midst?  See the last shot).  In spite of the fact that my fingers were numb and practically frostbitten half the time we were there, I still managed to capture quite a few decisive moments of these dynamic tweens having a fabulous time in the snow.  Those images are great fun, but I also love the moments in between, the quiet moments.  No electronics.  Real conversation.  Stories.  Authentic.  Real.  Life.

More information on Snow Mountain Ranch here.

Eat well.  Travel often.  Live your passion.

Isn’t Carnival in Rio?!  Not in a million years did I expect to experience it in a small seaside town in southern Portugal.  Yet here I was, following costumed children down the cobblestone streets of Tavira:  fairy princesses, flamenco dancers, pirates and clowns all coming out of every street and alley, funneling into the town center.  It felt more like Halloween in the U.S.  Carnival usually conjures up thoughts of huge Samba parades in Brazil, thousands of people, a lot of bare skin and revelry into the night.  In Tavira, a lovely coastal town not far from the Spanish border, Carnival is a family affair.  Maybe not as crazy as Rio, Carnival in small town Portugal is still a fun, fascinating look at the celebration of Shrove Tuesday.

Shrove Tuesday (otherwise known as Carnaval, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras and even Pancake Day, depending on where you are) is the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and the Christian observance of the six weeks before Easter.  The consumption of luxury items in the days before Ash Wednesday, such as the rich food and drink that the faithful sacrifice during Lent, is said to be the origin of Carnival.  Some of these celebrations may have even originated during pre-Christian times from ancient Roman festivals.  Carnival parades and masquerade balls were first recorded in medieval Italy, from there spread to the Catholic nations of Europe, and then on to Latin America and the Caribbean.  Carnival partygoers most likely reveled in the ancient town of Tavira long before they moved on to the beaches of Brazil.

So out of pure coincidence, at the end of a week in Portugal last March, I found myself in the middle of this mini-Carnival.  From young to old, everyone in the town came out to celebrate on this fabulous, sunny afternoon.  Music, dancing, confetti – it was all there, but on a very small scale.  As I watched all the floats going around the town square, I realized that they repeated their circuit several times because the town is so small!  Afterwards, the crowd dissipated to various cafes and homes to continue their celebrations, while the lone street sweeper was left to clean up what was left of the afternoon’s festivities.  This Carnival parade may have been short, but it will live long in my memories.

Happy Carnival and Mardis Gras!  No matter what your faith, I hope you enjoy the day with good food and friends!

More about Tavira and the rest of my Portugal trip to come…

Eat well.  Travel often.  Live your passion.

I am a freelance Food and Travel photographer, based in the foothills outside of Denver, Colorado. This blog is a way to share my passion for anything related to food, travel, and creativity. I hope you enjoy the images and musings, and feel free to comment and subscribe with the links below. Thanks for visiting!