“Blue skies, smilin’ at meeee, nothin’ but blue skies, do I see.” Ah, this past holiday weekend was fabulous, and I have the hangover to prove it. What can be better than spending time at the lake house? The weather was reasonably good, the fishing was phenomenal, and the food was even better. And of course, we can’t forget the tasty beverages that accompanied the fine food. And at this moment, I literally can’t. 



We began the weekend with me fighting a headache, and because we were in mid transit to the lake when the pounding began I had no water available to take my aspirin. So I swished it down with the next best thing, a Miller’s Chill beer from the backseat. I’ve wanted to try this beer for a while, so what better time than now? Interesting beverage: light, tangy, with a hint of salt. My mom would dig it. One was enough for me. (Note to reader: I wasn’t the one driving.)



After we arrived at the lake and put everything away, I immediately got started on dinner by pulling out the old crock pot. I’ve said it before, using a crock pot while vacationing is the perfect fix for dinner. All the work is done ahead of time and you can relax for the rest. It’s a no brainer really.



Throw in some chicken pieces, fresh oregano, onions, tomatoes, LOTS of garlic, Kalamata olives, white wine and preserved lemon. The preserved lemon really is the key here, folks. It truly adds a whole different dimension to the meal. You can find Mustapha’s Moroccan Preserved Lemons at Metropolitan Market. De-bone the chicken when it’s done and serve over Mahatma Saffron Yellow Rice, also from Met Market.



I served the meal along with Domino De Tares 2001 Mencia from the Bierzo region of Northern Spain. Six months in American oak, this deep cherry colored wine is full-bodied but elegant. This Spanish beauty exudes earthiness, but not too much dirt, for the fruit comes shining through like a champ. Just the way momma likes it. That was my last bottle too, damn it. At $14 a bottle, I should have stocked up.



For our next meal, we were living off the land, or so to speak. After I got the crock pot meal a-cooking, we headed down to the lake for some fishing time. I am here to tell you, fishing for trout this day was like taking candy from a baby. We would throw the line in and less than five minutes later, it was trout-on baby. We had six fish in less than an hour, and our neighbor caught one that was 17 inches long!



And, no I will not tell you the name of the lake.



We pan-fried those bad boys with some lemon, butter and red potatoes.  Se magnifique! Trying not to choke on the teeny tiny bones was a challenge, but we washed them down with a lovely NV sparkling wine from Australia by Thorn-Clarke. It is a pinot noir and chardonnay blend that is perfect for delicate fish like trout. Crisp and toasty, it is a pretty pale pink with hints of strawberry. This is a great bargain for only $15.



My friend Leslie asked us if we always eat like this when we are “roughing it,” and I said, “Absolutely!” Just because we are out in the woods and fighting off spiders and aggressive chipmunks, doesn’t mean we have to eat hot dogs and baked beans. Not that there’s anything wrong with baked beans. Don’t get me started on hot dogs. Oh, and thanks, Leslie, for continuing to fuel my borderline destructive Bloody Mary phase by making your famous homemade mix this weekend.



Personal note to Big Bubba’s Burgers in Allyn: Please be open on the weekends! You’re killing me!



Eat out, Tacoma. We need your love.