Garden of the Gods

When Nicole and Lauren were visiting I made sure to save some of the really cool Colorado thing to do with them. So when they were finally here I couldn't wait to go to Garden of the Gods! Garden of the Gods is a city park and one of the top ten most visited parks in the country. The rocks are results of The outstanding geologic features of the park are the ancient sandstone and limestone sediments deposited horizontally, but have now been tilted vertically and faulted by the immense mountain building forces caused by the uplift of the Pikes Peak massif. It is absolutely beautiful and I would recommend going for a tour at 10am or 2pm. We went for the 10am tour and our guide was amazing! He was singing to us and pulling rocks out of his pockets and recommending places to go for lunch! Overall we had an amazing time!

Air Force Academy

As you know I had visitors last week Nicole and Lauren. There we all are on the lower left! One afternoon they picked me up from work around 3pm and we headed up to the Air Force Academy. I was told to visit the academy by my former roommate and I wasn't really sure why. Once I was there I realized how cool the 1960s architecture of the chapel was. We walked up to the chapel from the nature path and stood in front of this towering structure in aw. Once inside it was truly amazing to see the light bounce off of the glass panels. I wonder what it sounds like inside the chapel when it rains! The pitter patter on the glass must be amazing! Then we headed out side for revelry and the flag lowering. What a great experience!

Haddock with Asparagus & Roasted Potatoes

Well, LB is really enjoying preparing and cooking food for the family! Tonight he built a meal around roasted potatoes. These he first par-boiled on the stove before roasting in the oven. Par-boiling helps the potatoes maintain a crisp exterior and fluffy interior. The fish he cooked in a covered skillet stovetop in a spicy red pepper sauce. His sous chef buttery stick, also known as LP, prepared the asparagus which was also par-boiled before briefly being sauteed in olive oil, red pepper flakes, and salt.

Roasted Potatoes

2 lbs. golden potatoes, Yellow Finn, Yukon Gold, par-boiled

6 Tblsp. olive oil

2 Tblsp. coriander seeds, crushed

Salt & fresh cracked black pepper to taste

1 Tblsp. balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven and jelly roll pan to 425. Boil water and a pinch of salt for par-boiling. Meanwhile, cut potatoes into large bite-sized pieces. Once water boils add prepared potatoes. Boil for 5-7 minutes, then drain (potatoes are still hard in the middle). While the potatoes are draining preheat a wide skillet on high heat. Toss drained potatoes in a large bowl with the olive oil, crushed coriander, salt, & pepper and place potatoes in a single layer in preheated skillet (depending on pan size this step may take more than one batch to complete). Potatoes need only about a minute before transferring to a preheated pan in oven. Only 20 minutes in the oven and you'll have crisp golden potatoes.

NOTE: If you have an iron skillet and are cooking for only a few, you can skip preheating the jelly roll pan and simply transfer skillet directly to oven to finish!

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon is a park located right across from Old Colorado City and Manitou. Nicole, Lauren and I stopped at it on our way back from Donut Mill. After eating giant donuts a brisk walk is recommended. We weren't able to explore to far because I had to be at work by 10am but the park is a great place for walking, mountain biking and viewing Garden of the Gods from a far (second picture).

La Baguette

La Baguette is the little pastry shop that I always stop at before I head over to Jives in Old Colorado City. Nicole, Lauren and I grabbed a quick lunch there while they were visiting. They both had the french onion soup which was highly recommended by a local customer and I had a croissant with turkey and swiss cheese. To finish it off we had a cinnamon croissant for dessert! Everything was amazing! If you find yourself in Colorado Springs, make sure you head over to La Baguette!

Pasta Puttanesca

Welcome home LB! LB is eager to build his cooking skills, so he began by cooking his favorite Puttanesca Sauce for his family! Lovers of anchovies, kalamata olives, capers, and fresh herbs...we all agreed...he executed this dish to perfection!

Puttanesca Sauce

Serves 4

2-28 oz cans whole tomatoes

2 Tblsp. olive oil

1-2 garlic cloves, smashed

2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp+ red pepper flakes

18 ct. kalamata olive, halved/quartered

3 Tblsp. capers, drained

1 can (2 oz) flat anchovies, chopped

2 Tblsp. fresh basil, chopped

1/4 c. fresh flat leaf parsley

salt & pepper to taste

shaved fresh parmesan to liking

Cook tomatoes down in thick bottomed pot for at least 30 minutes stirring occasionally to avoid sticking to bottom of pot. Then add dry spices and garlic. After an additional 20+ minutes of allowing the dried spices to begin working their magic in the sauce, add anchovies, capers, & olives. About 10 min. before serving add fresh herbs, salt, & pepper. Garnish with parmesan, & ENJOY!

Apple Zucchini Carrot Quick Bread

I love quick breads but I've never had a recipe that I've used twice. But I think I found one. I tweaked it a little and added extra vegetables and the result was a super moist delicious bread! Don't be afraid to add what you want to this...carrots, zucchini, apples, coconut, bananas, chocolate chips etc.

Apple Zucchini Carrot Quick Bread

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup shredded apples
1/2 cup shredded zucchini
1/2 cup shredded carrots

1. Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
2. In a separate bowl combine the rest of the ingredients. Add these to the dry ingredients.
3. Butter a loaf pan and spread batter evenly.
4. Baking at 350F for 1 hour.

Green Mountain Falls

One of the servers at Charles Court where I work recommend that I go and check out Green Mountain Falls. Green Mountain Falls is about half way between Colorado Springs and the Donut Mill. The Donut Mill is my new point of reference. When headed west into the mountains the Donut Mill is about 20 miles from here. And Green Mountain Falls is about 10. Last Sunday I headed up there to have coffee and do my homework at Duckies. The town has a main strip with a few bars, a restaurant and a park at the far end. I loved the small town feel; the dirt roads lined with houses and littered with pick up trucks. When I arrived there was sign on the door (see above) so I walked around the main street area and into the park. I wasn't able to find any falls in Green Mountain Falls which was disappointing but they had this lake at the park that was pretty so I took a picture of it. After watching a woman feed the ducks and geese near the lake, I headed back to Duckies and waited a few minutes longer.

I was a little disappointed with Duckies because all of their pastries were from places I had already been except for the brownie that I bought and ate. The brownies were the only in house pastry option and I was planning on just getting a snack because I had already had three cups of coffee earlier that day. But I ended getting the brownie and another cup of coffee. It was ok. The most interesting part of my visit at Duckies was when this woman walked in and said she was from the FDA and needed to get into the Liquor store next door. She disappeared outside with the owner of Duckies who was mumbling that the owners truck was there but he hadn't seen him all day and I don't know what happened after that. Not long after I drove back to Colorado Springs. I don't know if I'll go back to Duckies.

Chemex Glass Kettle

Kettles get a lot of use in our kitchen. Water is boiled for coffee, tea, and any number of cooking/baking preparations. And DD has gone through many a kettle b/c most must absolutely be emptied or else the interior rusts! Not much of a lover of the basic stainless steel versions, DD's discovery of the Chemex coffee carafe led right to discovering their glass kettle. Glass doesn't rust! This is truly exciting! What is more is that now when DD boils water for coffee, the water goes straight from kettle to carafe! Coffee is HOT and delicious!

Sonic

We don't have Sonic on the east coast. Well not in New York anyways. Sonic is a fast food drive in where people deliver your food on roller skates and sometimes they run into your car. But that's ok. I couldn't imagine having to deliver food on roller skates. I'm not that coordinated and I do not think that I could pull it off. So here it was 8:30pm in Colorado Springs and I was begging my roommates to go out for ice cream with me and because I've never been to Sonic before this blizzard, that is where we ended up. It was a chilly evening so we stayed in the car and ate our blizzards and watched the servers run around on roller skates. I can't imagine what its like when its super busy there. People and cars everywhere and orders flying by on roller skates.

Smoked Applewood Cheddar Souffle

Just another Saturday morning...P<, how do you do it?! This morning DD played the part of sous chef while P< baked souffle and fried potato cakes. Truly, heaven is on earth!

Semi-Raw Dining

MUSHROOM RAVIOLI & SIDE SALAD

As DD often does, adapting a recipe to what is on hand or what might satisfy a craving is vital to the JOY of time spent cooking. Although Gram's sauteed mushrooms were an added element, the original recipe called for mushrooms and kalamata olives in the ravioli. I cheated tonight for a quick meal and used frozen. The raviolis are cooked, of course, but surprisingly tossed in a raw sauce of parsley, lemon juice, & pistachios. Both the main dish and the side salad of julienned zucchini, carrots, and red peppers tossed in a raw tomato sauce, are compliments of Sarma Melngailis' Living Raw Food cookbook.

Pure Food and Wine is Melngailis' Manhattan restaurant that is on DD's list of must try. The owner and chefs are clearly creative, but equally important, appear to emphasize the diner's experience. DD 's hunch is that eating healthfully and being in utter bliss appear to be the restaurant's aim.

Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers

What can I say. A picture is worth a thousand words! Thanks CC for finding the recipe and Kathy Patalsky for posting this recipe! We paired this burger with Oven Baked French Fries and a favorite brew. Now we're talking beer, not coffee;-)

Chemex Coffee Brewing

So whatever happened to the Hario experiment. Well, P<, aka, PM, and DD went shopping, and returned home with a Chemex brew system. Who knew! A German chemist and inventor, Dr. Peter Schlumbohm created this gem over 70 years ago! And equally exciting was his original contract with Corning Glass in the early 40's to manage the mass production of his coffeemaker. It is not only beautiful in design, but also in function. Coffee prepared in this manner can be brewed to the desired strength with absolutely no bitterness! I appeal to your finer senses. I urge coffee lovers to consider a Chemex and ENJOY the process of making this exceptional brew!

German Sweets & Agia's Chai

I'm convinced that everything good in Colorado Springs is located near Old Colorado City. Old Colorado City is my favorite place to go to cafes, eat pastries and window shop! Today I decided to visit Wimberger's Old World Bakery and Delicatessen. And of course it is right next to Old Colorado City. At first when I was driving down the road I wasn't sure I was in the right place. This bakery borders on residential property and is across the street from random warehouses. But there it was. This quaint little building with paintings on the side of baskets of baked goods and specialty items. I was surprised when I walked into Wimbergers because they had more than just baked goods. They had a whole store filled with German deli meats and cheeses, pastas, baked goods, candies. I wandered around the store and ending in the pastry section. They had one wall filled with baked goods. As I was standing there trying to decided between a croissant, turnover and various other German pastries women kept coming out of the back with laundry baskets filled with kaiser rolls and filling up the shelves as customers were shopping. It really was something to see. After the third laundry basket wandered by I needed to decide because I was in the way. I decided on this sunken apple cake above because I had overheard another customer raving about it. The cake tasted like it was angel food at the base with sauteed apples and raisins on top! It was very sweet and I can't wait to go back and get something else to try next time. I left with my sunken apple cake and headed over to Agia Sophia's for a GIANT iced chai latte and enjoyed my strudel upstairs in the bookstore section. Then I settled in and read my new book, Try This by Danyelle Freeman. I knew this was the right book to buy because in her first chapter she started talking about Tea & Sympathy. The restaurant and author of my beloved scone recipe!