The A-List Eats - Best Pizza in Bozeman

We've all been in this situation. You're out having pizza with friends. Someone exclaims, "This is the best pizza in town!" Inevitably someone else chimes in, "No way. This is good but the pizza at xxx is so much better." What follows is a lively conversation about the best pizza in town. (The same thing often happens with coffee, beer, burgers, sushi, breakfast joints, etc.)

In these situations, I have always wondered how one could have a strong opinion about which pizza is the best when they are not comparing the two side-by-side. Perhaps it's the fact that while I enjoy good food and drinks, I'm not much of a gourmet. The nuances of food and food memories don't stick with me, and I couldn't honestly declare a pizza (Or beer, coffee, burger or anything) the best unless I tasted them in one sitting. Thus the idea for the Best of Bozeman Pizza Tasting Party was born.

A-List Recipe: Smiling Buddha Ginger Tea

Last week's rainy weekend allowed me to revisit homemade tea and gives me the chance to share another recipe with you. I'm not much of a tea fan but have recently grown quite fond of ginger tea. (Thanks, Mike, for introducing me to Choice Organic Ginger Tea!) While in San Francisco in November, my chef buddy Deno made homemade ginger tea and it was wonderful so I decided to try it on my own. It was the perfect thing to make over a rainy weekend and is quite easy. Enjoy on a rainy spring day or any time!

Smiling Buddha Ginger Tea
~For every six ounces of water, add 12 slices of thinly cut ginger.
~Water
~Honey

• Place the ginger and water in a pot.
• Bring to a boil.
• Simmer for 25 minutes.
• Voila! Your hot ginger tea is now ready. Add honey to suit your taste.

Note: If you have made enough tea to save for later, you can go either way on removing the ginger slices. If you leave them in there, it makes the tea very strong so you'll have to dilute subsequent cups of tea with water.

Update on A-List Activities

If you're wondering about the status of recent blog posts, here is an update...

Taking My Musings to the Masses

Most of my musings are limited to this blog but sometimes they make it beyond and into the big, wide world. 

Aspiring to Bend Beyond

I was once capable of bending beyond

Jumping Back Into It with Hot Yoga 

"The company of other inspiring yogis motivated me as I listened to the gentle coaxing of our teacher. 'Raise your hands overhead, stretch, and slowly lean back,' he kindly instructed us. Slowly I felt my back extending as I folded deeper into the pose. It was then I felt myself bending, expanding, growing, transforming, releasing toxins, becoming recharged. Hot yoga was transforming me."

Road Tripping: Jackson Hole & the St. Anthony Sand Dunes

My last post highlighted some of my recent ski adventures. In non-snow related activities, here's what's been going on....

I am certain that if the name was changed to "Teton View Sand Dunes" they would sky-rocket in popularity!

~

A Sampling of Ski Adventures From the Past Few Weeks

Atmospheric Turns Down Hyalite Peak

I haven't posted anything for a while but my recent adventures have produced some fond memories and good photos. The weather continues to be warm and it looks like winter has made an early departure from town. Flowers are slowly starting to bloom, and we've already had over a week of dry trails for mountain biking. While I am glad to have that as an after-work exercise option, I'm disturbed at the fact that we are mountain biking in the town of Bozeman in March!

A Big Read with a Light Read as an Appetizer

Next time I'll read it in Russian

Several summers ago, I read Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. I was inspired by Kate, the daughter of my cousin Frank's wife Clara. Kate was 16 years old at the time and was in the middle of reading the book. (Smart girl, great way for an outsider to pass the time at our day long "Cousins' Party.") Inspired and not to be out done by someone not yet out of high school, I set out to read the book that summer.

Snow Update - Geeking Out One Year Later

Approaching the summit

This post, about The Steenburgh Winter concept and "geeking out" about snow conditions, has been one of the most popular on this blog, making it into the top five. Although I love snow and skiing as do lots of people who read this blog, for some reason it always surprises me that such posts remain so popular over time (Note the number one post).

R.I.P. Al Dean the Cat

Al Dean the Cat

Al Dean the Cat of Bozeman, Montana passed away peacefully on January 30, 2015 after a bout with mega-colon.

Girl vs. Mountain: Girl 0, Mountain 1

Came and saw but did not conquer

I bet you’re wondering why I'm writing on a Saturday afternoon. If you live in Bozeman, all you have to do is look out your window and you’ll know the answer. It’s 45+ degrees outside with grey skies and it has been drizzling rain on and off all day. My plan was to ski tour from the Chestnut Mountain trailhead to the Goose Creek trailhead. While I have skied Goose Creek often, I have never approached it from the opposite end. It seemed like a good objective, and I was keen on skiing something new.