Spring has leapt into Summer. “It’s the most glorious time, of the year!” Though by all counts, this time around, so far, summer is pretty darn hot. I sure was charmed by these sweet pea blossoms and new pods way back in May: You may remember, I was so very happy to secure a plot…
Category: Eat Local
Grilled Endive and Quinoa Salad with Dried Sour Cherries and Toasted Almonds
This gardening season is going to be like no other in my life! I’m just thrilled to have secured a spot in one of the many community gardens here in Fort Collins, Colorado. By the time I got over to the gardens to really check out my plot, shovel, rake, gardening gloves and a desire…
Tomato Nirvana: Heirloom Tomato, Basil and Goat Cheese Tortilla Pizzas
Here in Colorado we have finally reached peak tomato ecstasy. I think for me it is truly a deep down, ingrained, hereditary love. Of tomatoes. A gift of tomatoes is a treasure indeed. Hot off the vine. Recently, from my plants and from my CSA share, I happily, gratefully gleaned purple Cherokees, Valencias, Green Zebras,…
Grilled Vegetable Ratatouille with French Pistou
There are two main styles of cooking, as my eyes see it today. One celebrates the simple purity of the ingredients and aims to let each one shine through in a merged state of clarity with the others. The other style contains more emphasis on stylistic appeal, sophistication, complexity – not to mention ambition. Both…
Celebrating What Is, Including Lots of Kale, and Saag Panir
Celebrating what is. Each morning we get to wake up and decide what we cook up to place on our plate of life. I love and appreciate all the seasons, but summer, oh summer, is so easy to celebrate. Even amidst some hardships this season: super-strained knees, and a foot bent out of shape for…
Two Step Fresh from the Garden Thai Style Coconut Curry
I hope all your garden dreams are coming true this summer. It’s just about my favorite place to be, and favorite thing to do: garden as noun and garden as verb. ❤ This summer we seem to be blessed with few varmints in the garden, grateful for that. For this particular batch of curry, I did…
Fried Apple and Wilted Kale Salad with Curried Raisins and Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
I live in a climate that feels winter deep into it’s bones. This year we’ve gotten more snow than usual; the blues and whites stunning – merging, a dreamy fusion, blending land and sky. I’m to be found at home today, fire in the woodstove, thinking greens. This perfect little salad has been rolling around…
Double Coconut Chocolate Brownies on a Perfect Fall Day
Now I truly don’t know which is better. These double coconut chocolate brownies, or this perfect fall day. I’ll let you decide. Go on. Sit yourself down and try one. There’s coffee, too, dark Italian roast from Steaming Bean out of Telluride. In French Limoges Haviland third generation china cups, on the old front porch….
Bittersweet Autumn … alongside a dish of Curried Spaghetti Squash with Currants, Chives and Ghee
Oh Summer, I feel you pulling away like a lover’s goodbye – with a bittersweet wrenching in my heart. My eyes follow slanting light on leaves, on rippling water, witnessing a dazzle of unexpected miracles. My heart soft from sadness in the world today, this hollyhock nearly makes me weep with it’s fragile, exquisite beauty,…
Incan Quinoa Salad with Roast Yams, Sweet Peppers, Black Beans, Lime and Chilies
Years ago, I’d been studying with indigenous healers from South America here in the states. A trip to their homeland had not quite manifested, but I had to get out adventuring somewhere. My solo camping trip to Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon inspired my spirit, and inspired this satisfying main dish salad. I made three hearty…
Watermelon Jalapeno Slushies and Granita + a Few Good Mom Maxims
It’s been hot. Incredibly. STILL SUMMER. 🙂 I bought a watermelon a few days ago, and in my mom’s words, I thought today – “did your eyes get bigger than your tummy?” Sometimes I go on a spree, remembering all the goofy-wonderful maxims our mom would say. “You girls would forget your heads if they weren’t…
Roast Beet Caprese, and a Cup of Sangria
Every once in a while I have to throw a party. And go all out. Everybody dropped by that were in the neighborhood. You may remember — salivating — along with my friends when you saw this rose tea infused deglet noor date chocolate fudge in a post awhile back. And after a cup or two…
Weekly Photo Challenge – Creepy
Creepy… or reason to cheer, if you’re a gardener. Word Press Photo Challenge “Creepy” From September 18, 2012, Praying Mantis Encounter… “But, back to my tale at hand. I was out in the sun, sipping cider, picking green beans, when literally, I almost picked a praying mantis! Blending in with the surroundings, until I looked…
Of Butternut Squash Coconut Curry Soup, Trumpet Vines and Impermanence
Good morning from my porch in Paonia … there’s just a bit of a chill. Sit and face the sun, breathe in birdsong, and train whistle. Coffee. I can imagine the winter squash ripening … not in my garden this year, but just like this photo from the 2012 patch. I have to say, growing squash gives…
Pachamama's Beautiful Food 