"It's Great Day at Devils Head Lodge"

A trip home to snowy Wisconsin wouldn’t be complete without a ski day at Devils Head Resort! Last weekend my older brother’s girlfriend Elise came down from Minneapolis to ski with me and my dad to try out her new ski boots that Jared gifted her for Christmas.

To fuel us for our long day on the slopes Saturday, my mom made this quinoa and oat porridge recipe she found in February’s issue of the magazine Real Simple. I am always looking for ways to add protein to breakfast and quinoa is a great source so I thought I would share this recipe with you all.

The quinoa and oat porridge definitely kept us energized. The weather was perfect, snow conditions were good, and we had a blast! Elise and I ended the day with a cold Spotted Cow beer in the lodge. What else would a native Wisconsinite want?

Over the past few months, I have had a few friends asking me about recommended ski wear so I thought I would also share a few of my favorites in this blog post. If any of my readers do winter sports and have their own favorites please share them with me by commenting below!

Mountain Hard Wear Jacket- My dad and I are both big fans of the brand Mountain Hard Wear. A few years ago I purchased this ski jacket and a pair of their snow pants at a ski shop in Baraboo, WI called The Wild Side and I absolutely love them. All their products are great because they are very light weight yet super warm. If you are in the market for a new active winter jacket, there are some great deals on their website right now at www.mountainhardwear.com

Burton Gore-Tex Mitt- A quality glove or mitten that keeps out moisture is essential for snowboarding since you have to sit down strap in your snow covered boots every run. Since I don’t hold anything while I snowboard, I prefer mittens to gloves. However, these particular mittens are really a hybrid of the two because they have spaces for your fingers inside the mitt. They also have a pocket on the top of the glove where you can place hand warmers and an adjustable cord on the end which keeps snow and cold air from getting in. And as gross as it sounds, the most convenient feature on these gore-text mitts is the “snot catcher” on the thumb. So much easier than getting a Kleenex out of your pocket in zero below weather!

Ugg Boots- If you have ever worn a pair of ugg boots, I can bet you would argue that finding a warmer shoe is just about impossible. The problem is their “classic” boot made of sheepskin and EVA materials aren’t exactly waterproof. What you might not know is that ugg also sells a variety of waterproof boots in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Although they aren’t quite as warm as their classic boot, I do have to say they are much more functional for the slopes. I have worn the boots shown in the picture above multiple times in dirty slushy snow and they still look like new!

Smart Wool Socks- I am a huge fan of Smart Wool’s PhD Light Snowboard socks. Most people would probably look at the price tag on these socks and look the other way. However, if you give these a try I promise you will be warm and dry all day long. Other wool socks can overheat and make your feet sweaty and cold but I have worn these for up to 6 straight hours of snowboarding and they kept my feet warm without overheating. They are designed specifically for women and padded in just the right areas to make them super comfortable in your boots, too. They are fantastic!

Dakine Hat and Neck Warmer- There is something so fun about wearing a hat with an oversized pom pom on the top! Dakine has an entire line of ski and snowboard gear with great bright and creative patterns at a pretty affordable price. You can find this brand at practically any store that sells ski or snowboard apparel. They also have a line of ski and snowboard bags and luggage.  I think I may have trade in my boring standard Samsonite suitcase pretty soon because finding my current suitcase amongst other similar black bags at baggage claim is never a fun task.

Patagonia Base Layer- Although my boyfriend would disagree that expensive brands like Patagonia and North Face are worth the money, I have to disagree. All their products are very high quality and will last you for years! If you are looking for base layers, I recommend searching towards the end of the season. You can find really good deals at REI and on online outlets.

That’s all for now. Stay warm out there!

 

Ingredients:

½ cup quinoa

½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats

2 tablespoons brown sugar, plus more for serving

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 and 2/3 cup water

1 cup milk, plus more for serving

½ cup raisins, toasted nuts, and chopping banana for serving

 

Directions:

Combine the quinoa, oats, sugar, cinnamon, milk and 1 2/3 cup water in a small pot. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Stir in raisins and cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with the nuts, banana, and more milk and brown sugar if desired.