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…
Tag: cooking with friends
A Fish Tale ~ Colorado Kokanee Salmon
The alarm went off at 3:30 am and I truly leapt out of bed. Excited for an early morning adventure – I poured fresh brewed coffee into my mug, gathered my cooler and coat, then hit the road. I was driving through the dark morning hours up Highway 133 in southwest Colorado, making the right…
Just Kidding Around….with a recipe for Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Leek Tart with a Potato Crust
Spring last year in the North Fork Valley, western slope of Colorado, included one sunny, cool mid-April day cuddling with kids. Baby goats, that is. Just two days old, so sweet, and hilarious to watch! The North Fork Valley is a gorgeous place! With often snow capped mountains overlooking about half of the sprawling, fertile…
The April Fool’s Day Banana, along with a tasty recipe for Banana Jam
Long ago, in the cavern of time, when I was a young mom and my son was 8 or 9, there was the celebrating of every holiday together, and particular fun come April 1st. According to the scholarly words of Wikipedia: “April Fools’ Day (sometimes called All Fools’ Day) is an informal holiday celebrated every year on…
Onions I Have Loved, Beatrix Potter, plus a recipe for Six Onion Soup with Broiled Chevre Croutons
For starters, may I include this fabulous allium? She is surely an onion I have loved. Along with the whole onion family – the reds, whites, yellows, the Walla-Wallas! The leeks and shallots, scallions and boilers and pearls….spring onions…chives. The garlic…. I began this post long months ago, last year in the spring, with a different…
Cabernet Chocolate Truffles
Luscious, incredible, creamy, ecstasy invoking truffles… Flavored lovingly with one of the most intoxicating fragrances – the zested clementine… – and a good splash of Cabernet, simmered down to virtually a syrup, deepening the truffles with rich, concentrated, elusive mmmm. Having a little sip of wine as the afternoon rolled into evening, I could not resist making these…
Leek Gratin with Asiago Jarlsberg Mornay Sauce
Late fall and winter actually become easier to bear when it’s finally snowing, and just beautiful to be outside! What eases the early darkness of this season even more for me is, coming back indoors, watching a fire in the fireplace, and – let’s face it – the amazing foods of the season! Freshly pulled leeks are…
Jumping In – To the New Garden, and a Triple Herb, Aged Sherry Vinegar Sour Cream Dip
Well, not literally (into the dip), but yes, I’m jumping in! With diminishing sadness, leaving my Paonia garden behind – because the new place is such a joy! I added my little terra cotta hummingbird heart onto the barn board fence beneath my friend’s plaque, to offer up some company! With dill exploding like small fireworks all over one raised…
A Swirl, a Stack, a Plateful of Memories! or “I Love My Home, Planet Earth”
The bonds of friends live on in our hearts – sometimes, especially when we also have a memory of those last foods we prepared or shared together. Today I came across a bright sheaf of photos from the week before I moved from the North Fork Valley. Living to CELEBRATE WHAT IS – I simply…
A Grilled Spaghetti Squash, with Fresh Pulled Ramps! Tuscany Style Influenced-by-Paul-Newman Dinner
It’s a precious time, really, to spend an evening relaxing, laughing and cooking with family, especially when they have a nice balcony, great grill, enthusiastic epicurean appetites, and a little wine to share…along with pleasant breezes and a long weekend. With the garden just beginning to pop, my contribution was a thick handful of ramps, two varieties of…
Asparagus Fever! Two Toned Frittata and a Red Potato Smoked Oyster Salad
Two streamlined recipes to make the very most of a star spring vegetable: 1. Two Toned: Asparagus Frittata with Uncured Turkey Bacon, Romano Cheese and Chives 2. Red Potato, Asparagus and Smoked Oyster Salad with Sharp White Cheddar and Lemon Zest Let’s get right to it – for a fine brunch dish with great eye…
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…
Quadruple Coconut Chocolate Pancakes
Perfect for the weekend. Or a beautiful breakfast any day. When you have a little extra time to breathe…. These light, gluten free pancakes have a delicious quadruple dose of coconut: coconut flour – a high fiber, tender addition to the batter, coconut milk – luscious and pure, creamy coconut oil, plus flaked organic coconut…
Pumpkin Dal…and the North Fork Valley International Food Club
Last year a group of foodie friends in the Paonia area created the North Fork Valley International Food Club, a monthly gathering featuring cuisines of the world, selected by the whim of a dial spun on a roulette board of a couple dozen different countries. From Thai, to German, French, Moroccan, Brazilian, Japanese and many more, the chosen Saturday…
Pachamama's Beautiful Food 