Strolling California … Lovely Markets and Other Treasures

Just home from a fantastic trip to San Francisco, Point Reyes, Stinson Beach, Napa and Sonoma deserves a small photo tribute, while I slowly return to life in Colorado … doing my best but still nearly speechless! (click on the first photo if you’d like a slideshow view) Of course, I am managing to savor luscious…

Black Bean, Zucchini Pineapple Chili

Nearly blocked off from town by closed-due-to-the-flood highways, my pioneer spirit from a past life kicked in, high gear. So grateful we are not in the immediate path of high waters, it felt like a just right day to make chili with what was on hand. Grateful for the garden – for zucchini, and jalapenos….

Curry Pickles of Joy

Crunchy and absolutely delicious, these are the curry pickles of summer. Yes, these may be the pickles of your dreams. For one thing, if you grow salad style cucumbers, (we have a “burp-less” variety) and your vines are doing VERY WELL this season like ours are, you may at this point of the season have…

Chocolate Plum Buckle with Honey Whipped Cream

Oh, my my. Feeling decadent and rich with a sack full of fragrant plums, I decided to experiment the other night. Chocolate and spice and everything nice – gluten free, dreamy…. Summer is the time when you particularly get to choose to bake – or if you are attending family reunions, perhaps get to partake – of…

Wild Asparagus Soup and Other Joys

I spy asparagus! My good friend Loui and I took a walk with her dog Simon last week while I was visiting her and her husband up in northern Colorado. She brought several newspaper bags along – one for Simon – and two for picking the wild asparagus. Which reminds me of a little Jerry…

Coconut Rice, Peach and Ginger Dessert Spring Rolls

Roll #2. A smash hit at a birthday potluck badminton croquet party in the park yesterday. DESSERT spring rolls, delicious, with a spicy fruity dipping sauce to go with. What a beautiful day it was….it truly is finally spring time here in Paonia. Spring ROLL time. I’ve been on a spring roll roll the last…

Snow! and Grilled Asparagus Pizza with Oregano Lemon Pesto

Nothing says spring in the kitchen like asparagus, even when it’s decided to snow again outside. Darn…. but then I walked outside. It is sooo beautiful. I took so many photos after the storm – they might find their way into a second post today. You won’t mind, will you? I love to take walks…

Spring Crepes with Fresh Goat’s Milk Yogurt and Maple Sugared Violets

A sweet dessert to stun your loved ones with the fantastic fact that it is Spring… …started out like this, here’s the Girls giving some smooches… (take a visit to Rain Crow Farm in my herbed goat cheese au poivre post): …and then into the kitchen to make a batch of tangy, luscious goat’s milk yogurt….