The Lake Life

As you can probably see from the simple change in scenery, I have left the Jersey shore and headed north to my home away from home, New England.  Currently I am recovering from my cafe and shore lifestyle in a not-so-little house on Squam Lake in New Hampshire.  The road to recovery has not been easy.  I no longer have access to 4 shots of espresso a day, I have sworn off makeup, and I can no longer call myself an artist (cappuccino artist that is).  So, here I am living the lake life for a bit, and barely missing that ocean life …

How to live the lake life:

1. Spend an entire day in the water: Don’t forget to lather on sunscreen.  You can get burned even in New England.

2. SUP: Stand up paddle boarding has apparently become a huge trend in the last year.  I must say I’ve been doing it for years without the proper equipment.  We just take our windsurfing boards and kayak paddles.

3. Cook fabulous meals from your garden:  This is Fresh shrimp with zucchini and sun gold tomatoes in an orange and white wine sauce

Shrimp and Zucchini with an Orange and White Wine Reduction Sauce

Ingredients:

– 1 tbsp. olive oil

– 2 cloves garlic minced

– 3 zucchini

– 2 yellow squash

– 3/4 cup white wine

– 2 cups sun gold tomatoes

– 1 orange (zest and juice)

– 12 large shrimp

Chop zucchini and squash into 1/2 inch slivers

Sautee the garlic in the olive oil till slightly brown in color

Throw in the zucchini and squash along with wine simmer until liquid is reduced by 1/3 and zucchini is almost cooked

Mix in sun gold tomatoes cook until soft

Mix in peeled and cleaned shrimp along with the zest and juice of one orange

Simmer until squash and zucchini are almost translucent and the shrimp is pink in color

4. Hike a Mountain: Yes, you are allowed to complain on your 2 1/2 mile ascent into the clouds (this is the lake life not the mountain life after all); however, you are NOT allowed to talk on your cell phone the entire way up.  This is about enjoying nature, not answering your husband’s calls every 5 minutes.  My favorite hike in the area is the Mt. Morgan and Mt. Percival loop.  It’s a 5 1/2 mile half day hike that promises spectacular views of Squam lake if you make it up the ladders and boulders at the top.  For the less outdoorsy, if my mother can make it, so can you.  It is, however, an intermediate hike, so plan accordingly.