This season for the second year in a row, I drove to a little town near the foothills to choose my holiday tree, cut up near Red Feather Lakes, thinning the forest there to help keep the trees healthy. Last year my tree was so happy it greened up over the weeks standing in its…
Adventures of a Cookbook
Like I preface most of my conversations about the journey of creating my cookbook Pachamama’s Beautiful Food, I begin this post with the same sentence. I have no illusions of grandeur. No thoughts of huge fame, and surely not fortune, but a joy that this long term dream of mine wriggled through the recipe filled…
Rustic squash, olive and cheddar galette … and the first snow of the season
Yesterday was beautiful … and bittersweet. The first snow of the season happened, in midst of the October eruption of golden leaves and fall prairie flowers. The familiar changes are always, to me, a bit startling and therefore so entrancing, creating magical landscapes in the tiniest and grandest of details. The afternoon before I had…
Fresh corn, sweet pepper and basil soup
The flavors of late summer are so bright. Harvest at the farmer’s market, here in Fort Collins, Colorado. A genuine balm for the winter to come. And this soup is so simple and absolutely fresh, perfect for this fall week, taking advantage of the last of this season’s corn. You will love the flavors of…
Lemon Basil Muffins with Ground Pistachios
It’s been a whirlwind of book publishing these last two months, and kitchen life has for the most part been pretty simple. Which has been great. Grilled cheese with tomatoes and basil from the garden. Blistered shishito pepper and garlic – from the garden – omelettes with red pasada and yukon gold home fries, you…
Pachamama’s Beautiful Food book proof is here! So close to publication!!
My heart was pounding when I heard the FedEx knock on the door this Tuesday, August 6. I was actually on a call with a client then, and had about 35 minutes to wait until I could open that door, lift the box and take a deep, joyful breath before I opened it. I…
Oh Joy! Pachamama’s Beautiful Food Cookbook is coming soon!!!
I am so thrilled to share with you – my longggg term dream is becoming a reality! Dear Readers and Friends, Gluten Free Eaters and Pachamama Lovers, My first job getting paid to cook was 41 years ago at a little diner in Iowa City, Iowa. From then to now there has been a whole…
Celebrate Spring with this Asparagus Crimini Mushroom Herb Tart
It (truly) is the most glorious time of the year. Spring Equinox here in the northern hemisphere, and the renewal of all things green and alive is the launch into my favorite season. Celebrated below in the grandest way: All of these things and more charged up my heart and spirit in the last…
Kahlua Dark Chocolate Truffles with Black Onyx Sugar and Coffee Beans
Wishing you all sweet holiday blessings! And a little something sweet … Left to my own devices near the holidays, I tend to get down, pretty much immersed in chocolate. And I’d love to share this recipe with you. Kahlua Dark Chocolate Truffles with Black Onyx Sugar and Coffee Beans Makes about 27 3/4 inch…
Grain free Gingerbread Layer Cake with Pumpkin Maple Mascarpone Frosting
I ALWAYS think I’m going to hold out on summer forever, and then – something happens… It may have something to do with pumpkins ripening – looking so earthy and appealing, and the Canadian geese honking overhead as chilly days commence. Whatever it is, gingery, spicy, pumpkin pleasures were on my mind as I conjured…
Mountain magic and a tasty recipe for four seed crackers – GF of course
Practically gone now, these golden gleams in dappled sun rippled through my heart a few weeks back. I was visiting the western slope of Colorado, where I once lived, and felt the irresistible pull to a few favorite places. Though many views could be soaked in most anywhere in the Rockies Here I was on…
Peach and Lavender Semifreddo with Elderberry Swirl
Summer = peaches. It’s that glorious time of the year. And oh man … …my first ever semifreddo (kind of a cross between ice cream and gelato) turned out so deliciously well … as you can see … This twist on a traditional Italian recipe celebrates classic dairy ingredients, plus, (*Colorado peaches*) and foraged elderberries,…
Carrot Top Pesto – “root to stem” deliciousness
Aside from the fact that carrot top pesto is just plain delicious, using the whole plant from root to stem is a thoughtful thing to do, in the theme of Waste Not Want Not. As some of you dear readers may remember, I just took part in the 2nd annual Slow Foods Nation in Denver, Colorado, where not…
Feta Stuffed Squash Blossom Summer Casserole
It was magical in the kitchen today. And it all started in the cool morning garden. 🙂 Take a quick peek: Then I had to celebrate with all the vegetables I brought home. As I said on my Garden Mandala post earlier today, “Point me to a garden plot in late February and I’ll…
