Goin’ Home To Oregon & Baked Walla Walla Sweet Onion Dip
Story & recipe originally published in 2008. Click Here for–> our sweet onion dip recipe.
One of the drawbacks to living in beautiful Southern California is that I am nowhere geographically close to any of my immediate family. Since no one in the family has yet to retire or become independently wealthy, none of us see each other that often. It was finally Dad’s turn to have to put up with a visit from us, so we packed our bags and headed up to Oregon.
I grew up in beautiful North-Eastern Oregon on good-sized cattle ranch, which has since been dissolved when my parents’ lives grew apart. However, my dad still lives in the same farming valley, now on a nice, little 10 acre property where he still has a few horses and enjoys the splendor of living on fertile soil surrounded by alluring foothill mountains. Going to see Dad is always still “Going Home” even if it isn’t the house I grew up in. To get home, we fly into Portland, then drive 5 hours east. The journey allows one’s mind to change pace from the busy city life to the more laid-back country-side. I become more reflective and nostalgic as the miles roll by. My mind starts savoring the things I loved from growing up in that little farming and logging valley, and I find myself more at peace with those things which I spurned as a youth.
“Snip”, the stallion & “Doc”, the gelding
We always enjoy seeing the changes in geography as we course our way across the northern edge of Oregon. Beginning in the lush, rain-heavy Portland, the highway leads us upstream along the Columbia River and the gorge which it has carved. Soon the rains fall less, the heat increases, and the winds dry out the landscape. In early spring there were still signs of green, but those will soon disappear. I used to see these parts as barren wasteland, but now see beauty in it’s dry frontier. Not long afterwards, the highway diverges from the Columbia River, and the geography changes again. The winds are less, and the rain a bit more, so you’ll start seeing farmland sprouting out of this gentle, but warm landscape. If you diverge north, you can cross the border and follow the road leading to the super fertile plain which Walla Walla, WA calls home. There is nothing like a Walla Walla sweet onion grown in Walla Walla. Soon our road east leads us through the cowboy and Native American town of Pendleton, then starts heading up into the foothill mountains.
“Rascal”, the troublemaker
Once in the mountains, I start to feel like home is near. Before long, the highway drops down into a valley where a river lazily courses through it, farmland quilts the land, cattle and horses outnumber the people, and where a cowboy turned urban Californian was born and raised. I’m back to soak in the beauty of my birthing ground. One of the allures which dominate my longings for home are our horses. I can get a quick mountain fix less than a couple hours outside our southern California home. We have friends down here which train show jumping horses, so it isn’t just horses in general that I miss. I miss “our horses.” Most of all Doc, who was the last colt born on the ranch I grew up on. Fully of personality and sass, Doc is a beautiful Quarter Horse who it notoriously ornery about being caught or letting people pet him. He’ll just tease you to let you know he is “allowing you the privilege” to come up to him. But once he’s accepted you, there isn’t a better horse to have under you to ride the trails or work cattle. I miss him like a brother. I know I am truly home when I’ve seen and hugged Dad, then have gone out to the pasture and been nudged by Doc.
“Best Ever” Baked Sweet Onion Dip !
Sweet Onions from their ranch Garden. Click here for the current sweet onion dip, which many have dubbed as the “crack dip”.
What reminds you of home?
I love the color of Rascal! 🙂 What reminds me of home? Sand and clear blue water.
look at those gorgeous golden goodness! (u know i am partial to anything goldie) hehe
anything deep fried reminds me of home hehehe hehehehehe
That baked sweet onion dip sounds amazing. The golden brown cheese crust looks great. Bookmarked.
I bet that dip is fantastic straight out of the oven all bubbly and delicious. As for what reminds me of home I’d have to say vineyards and bright sunny days (I grew up in Napa).
I love you guys! How wonderful these pics and trip are! I thought about you guys today as my mom appeared with some green onion from an old friend’s garden. They’re like 12″ long. Im taking them with me to ATL and trying them out… I wish I had a bit more time to be as adventurous as you guys…Then again, I’m manless these days and all that outdoorsy stuff sucks doing it alone!
D, how are those shoes coming along??
That was a great post with awesome pictures. Although I have been to Oregon couple of times, never been to the Eastern side of it – always restricted myself to the coastal West.
Walla walla onions – sounds funny and the dip looks great. Can I replace the Mayo with any non-egg substitute?
Wow, that looks like a beautiful dip. And the property is too die for!
The video was so much fun to watch. I really liked how you filmed the drive to Todd’s Dad’s home. The horses are so cool – [I have a special affection for them as I was born in the year of the Horse :)]
I never heard of the waterfall you went to. It’s amazing – just breathtaking. Great moves on the trampoline, Diane! 🙂 Great to see you’re having a blast out there!
I will try that onion recipe soon (is it Walla Walla season?). It looks awesome.
awww must be so nice to be home, and horses at the ranch! that’s cool and i wish i have something like that to go home to… but still, even without that, my home will always be home because it’s filled with love and that’s plenty to keep me happy…
since home where i grew up is a couple of continents away, i’ve learn to love home away from home (in europe) by making myself “belong” here, not to feel like outsiders, but never to forget my roots too… 😉
First – The 2nd photo is spectacular (on multiple levels.)
Second – The recipe–easy and delicious. I can make this tonight!
Third – The video–wow. I feel like I just went on vacation with you! The waterfall, the scenery, the ranch chores, the horses…the whole thing was beautiful (although I find myself wondering if you actually got a ticket or got off with a warning?)
What reminds me of home? I’m not sure right now as the answer has changed a lot for me over the past year. In the spring though, it might be lilac bushes.
Wow, great post. I’ve never been to Oregon, but you managed to communicate VERY successfully, through words and pictures, just how different it is from Washington DC! Love the pics of the onions, gives me a real appreciation of the resulting food, makes it more precious. I just finished hosting my parents here for a week, so reading your post really hit home. Thanks!
for the first time in my 25 years, i’m pretty far away from home, so it’s probably not a stretch to say that EVERYTHING reminds me of home. case in point: pictures of horses automatically make me think of the two beauties back home, running around in our meadow. (sadly, i haven’t seen a single horse since i’ve been in ny.)
enough moping! thanks for sharing your lovely pictures and commentary! 🙂
Great looking onion dish guys. Really cool dishes too I have to say.
There is nothing quite like going home.
looks so amazing! wish I was there too!
Another enjoyable video guys! The scenery looks gorgeous – so much wide open spaces! I’m sure the baked sweet onion dip is delicious but somehow I’m drooling over the unbaked version…
Beautiful scenery! I love the second photo; the background looks breathtaking, as of a painting. I’ve never heard of Walla Wallas (the closest I’ve come to something of the ‘w’ alliteration would probably be Willy Wonka! :P), but that baked sweet onion sure looks delightful!