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Memorial Day is the gateway to summer. It signals the time to haul out the grills, dust off the picnic baskets and fill the camp stove propane tanks for outdoor cooking. One’s home takes on an additional ‘room’ with the deck, porch or yard providing the opportunity for dining al fresco! As with any group [...]
When we go out for ‘ice cream’ in the summer it has become a complete learning experience. Gone are the days of merely going to an ‘ice cream parlor’; these days one needs to be versant in the international equivalents of our all American warm weather treat. Excluding Dippin’ Dots and snow cones there are [...]
All lettuce is not created equal. I’m going to completely ‘out’ my mother as an example, as she represents most lettuce-eaters, including me before having a CSA in a local farm. A couple summers ago we were getting together at her house to have a meal. She shared the menu which had no vegetables [...]
I’ve been waiting patiently to share a fabulous summer salad I fell head over heels for on a recent trip to Las Vegas: Summer Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad with White Balsamic Dressing. The time finally feels right with the past five weeks of clockwork snow storms behind us and our temperatures bypassing spring and heading [...]
When I received a review copy of Noodlemania 50 Playful Pasta Recipes, chock full of simple dishes for kids, I handed the book over to my children immediately. All I needed was a quick thumb through to appreciate the full whimsy of the quirky, cute cookbook geared toward kids and packed with recipes kids can [...]
I’ve always said I’m not a ‘Mommy Blogger’ but rather a mom who blogs. I’ve been pretty low key about being a mom, not mentioning it at all for the first year of blogging really wanting my voice to be heard as a writer and not a mom. Having said that, raising a family has [...]
Mother’s Day is my favorite day of the entire year, hands down. Even more than my birthday. It’s like Hallmark handed me an ‘off duty’ pass and everyone knows it. Last year each of my children wanted to cook something for me. My son, the youngest, Googled ‘gluten free food kids can cook themselves’ to [...]
Ordinarily when I attend a dinner that I know I’ll be sharing on my blog, I research first so I’m prepared. This was not the case last week when heading to Denver for ‘Gather: a Spontaneous Intimate Dinner’ at the Denver Botanic Gardens featuring locally-heralded chef, Daniel Asher, from the hot spots Root Down and [...]
It’s a mistaken fact that Cinco de Mayo (‘the fifth of May’) signifies Mexican Indepence Day. Not so. On May 5, 1862 at the battle of Puebla, Mexico overpowered the French army who were considered the worldwide dominating army of the time. To commemorate this event the Mexican-Americans living in the American West called for [...]
I remember the exact moment I fell in love with Mexican food. I was in third grade and we’d just moved to a city in Northern Colorado. We’d moved every few years prior due to jobs or the pursuit of educational degrees on the part of my parents. I had no idea when landing in [...]
I cannot think of a cuisine in the United States that has a more broad appeal than Mexican food. Granted my locality lends itself to an abundance of good Mexican food with influence from the Southwest as well. I think for me discovering my love for the spicy, earthy flavors so young it’s my ‘go [...]
With Cinco de Mayo approaching this weekend, all eyes are on the coveted Margarita! However not everyone chooses to imbibe and mixing it up with a favorite non-alcoholic drink from Mexico is a sure win: Agua Fresca. Literally translated to be ‘fresh water’, Agua Fresca is an indigenous drink of Mexico which blends fresh fruits, [...]
When driving through Colorado Springs, usually en route to Santa Fe or Taos, I’ve thought I really should spend a weekend there knowing it has much exploration to offer. It is a gorgeous setting nestled in the bosom of 14,000 foot Pikes Peak. As work the wiles of serendipity, my family and I were invited [...]
From time to time I’ve shared gardening insight about tips on growing food. I’m a lifetime gardener but have adopted a produce growing method over the past few years leaving me sure I’ll never go back to traditional row gardening; Square Foot Gardening. Square foot gardening is a high density gardening approach which divides garden [...]
I will admit I cannot resist a novel fruit or vegetable. I love the abundance of color at this time of year and sampling traditional produce in eye-catching colors. I believe the vibrancy of their hue perks up interest in eating vegetables which might otherwise be dismissed. There are many vegetables I prefer to eat [...]
Have you ever heard of ‘Magic Cake’? Chances are if you are not a food blogger you haven’t. And probably uttered a little gasp of enchantment when reading the name. If you ARE a food blogger, you will be rolling your eyes and saying ‘her too?!’ I’d venture to say it’s a Cake-Gone-Viral on social [...]
There is absolutely nothing intuitive about Artichokes; how to pick them, cook them and certainly not how to eat them. Being a large member of the thistle family it’s a wonder in the culinary history of mankind that their off-putting exterior was ever penetrated to discover the soft, delicious meat of the underside of their [...]
In my last post I shared an Edible Flower Springtime Tea Party. As I write there are 12 inches of new snow surrounding my house with more on the way! I’ll rely on these photos and recipes to remind me it IS spring, though springtime in the Rockies is ‘fickle’ to say the least! It’s [...]
When was the last time you had a Tea Party? With cookies, cakes, tea, friends (big or small but not just stuffed animal friends)? I don’t know when I did either. Time to change that. The onset of spring breathes new life into everything and for me my creativity abounds searching for outlets. I’m not [...]
I don’t know about you but by the time Friday night rolls around I want simple food; easy to prepare, flavorful and quick. I don’t know if I’ve ever met anyone who does not (a) like Mexican food, or (b) does not find Nachos the food embodiment of relaxation and fun. It’s a communal dish [...]
I was born in Hawaii; Honolulu precisely. For any who have been there I was born in Queen’s hospital, a large, eye-catching bubble gum pink building where my mother recalls seeing black panthers stalk the hallways as she was left alone on a mysterious medication to await my arrival. I’ve been back to Hawaii many [...]
I find it so fascinating when the weather changes how our taste for what we want to eat does as well. It’s almost a digital switch. We’ve been enjoying balmy spring temps (visited by a day of cold rain and snow here and there) for the past two weeks. Lighter, brighter foods are naturally appearing [...]
When I originally started Boulder Locavore it was expressly to share great ‘finds’. I’m a bit of a resource-a-holic, finding stumbling into a great, unexpected resource nothing less than thrilling. I’ve been chomping at the bit to share my latest discovery as I’m sure you’ll want to know about it too! When I started my [...]You just finished reading 'Colorado Crafted' Limited Edi
I can always tell ‘spring has sprung’ by the infusion of bright colors and vibrant flavors that begin to appear in food markets. The early greens are often bitter and attention-grabbing apparently by design. After long winters full of a small number of root vegetables to tide one over, the snarky greens of first spring [...]You just finished reading White Asparagus Arugula Spring
Easter to most is the gateway to spring, the rebirth of the seasonal cycles starting anew. I see it in a bit different light. It’s the final stop on a candy-laden trip that begins at Halloween, makes a long stop over Christmas with a layover at Valentine’s Day, pulling into the final station at Easter. [...]You just finished reading Gourmet Easter Candy Bark & Marich Confecti
It’s Spring Break season which presents a welcome travel opportunity on the way to full blown summer vacations. As exciting as getaways sound, they always present complexity for gluten-free travelers. Determining where dining will be ‘safe’ or navigating stops for car travel can be daunting and even overwhelming for those needing to dodge gluten (a [...]You just finished reading 5
Spring has sprung (or is trying to in Colorado). Spring breaks are underway and Easter is barreling down on us like a freight train. For some reason this year it seems early and is very precariously poised at the end of Spring Break for us. What that does for me is make it even more [...]You just finished reading 25 Fabulous Gluten-Free Easter Recipes! Consider leaving a commen
I love dyeing Easter Eggs but always feel faced with a dilemma about using them when the egg hunting fun is through. It turns out in my family I may be the only one who actually likes Deviled Eggs. I think there is an association with the traditional ho-hum version (which I for the record [...]You just finished reading Huevos Diablo {Devil Eggs}! Consider leaving a comment!
As Easter approaches and menu planning begins, I find myself seeking fresh, spring vegetables to weave into our midday meal plan. Ham is our usual protein centerpiece, glazed with something citrusy and bright, hinting at the lighter seasonal flavors. Our day is usually fully of egg hunting (most always indoors due to our unpredictable snow [...]You just finished reading Roasted Ba
It was about 3.4 nanoseconds after cutting into the Hidden Heart Cake recipe I created for Valentine’s Day that I began to think about an iteration for Easter. It seemed such a perfect holiday for sneaking away an unexpected egg where one would not think to look; in the middle of a cake! We all [...]You just finished reading Hidden Rainbow Easter Egg Cake! Consider leaving a comm
For years I was more than satisfied to dye hard-boiled eggs for Easter with the traditional kit. Mixing water and vinegar and wondering which pellet was really which color until immersing them in liquid to watch the miraculous foaming of what looked to be brown into lemon yellow. Two years ago I got a wild [...]You just finished reading Stained Glass {Bleeding Tissue} Easter Eggs!
Good or bad, my children’s birthdays are within 10 days of each other. Fellow moms will already have begun to translate this information through the project management function of birthday planning; gift ideas, gift procurement, additional gift ideas to provide desperate relatives without inspiration, birthday activities, and birthday food. This is heightened for me since [...]Yo
Last year before Easter I stumbled upon these perfect blue eggs. Hard coated chocolate with caramel in the middle; but I did not even care about that part. I’d never seen a confection in this hue. A gorgeous matte, mottled deep sky blue. I had to have them and bought them for family Easter baskets. [...]You just finished reading Chocolate Bird's Nest Cupcakes {gluten-free} & Pa
Since I was a child I’ve loved St. Patrick’s Day. Being unaware of the religious origins it was all about the whimsy of leprechauns, pots of gold and other unexpected folly of the day; claiming that one’s undergarments were green when forgetting to wear the pinch-avoiding color visibly. Having Irish heritage woven in my extended [...]You just finished reading Authentic Irish Colc
I get bored very easily. I always need to mix things up a bit or begin to feel like a trail horse. As much as I love food, to cook when I have time and innovation, cooking on the weekday schedule often feels like being on a manic game show with a gun at my [...]Continue reading Muffin Tin Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes!
Over the President’s Day weekend we took a trip to Disneyland (California) to celebrate a special family birthday. We were excited for full immersion into the ‘happiest place on earth’, a break from winter’s chill and to focus exclusively on having fun. We were not in the park long before we realized ‘excitement’ was not [...]Continue reading Cinnamon-Sugar Gluten Free Churros & D
I’m feeling incredibly sheepish. This is a blog post that was never intended to be. I’m not the visionary behind the original melt-your-heart whimsy of these cupcakes (and sadly do not know who is). I searched the internet about 5 years ago when my elder child became obsessed with owls (directly preceding the nationwide obsession [...]Continue reading Gluten-Free Owl Cupcakes!
By this time in the winter I feel dehydrated and sparked by flavors that seem to signal the coming of spring. We still have a few months of winter before us in Colorado, which can take many forms from dry, cold temps to manic teasing days varying from ‘get your sleeveless Easter dress picked out’ [...]Continue reading Grapefruit-Lemongrass-Lime Infused Gin and a Gin & Tonic cockt
When offered the chance to preview ‘The Modern-Day Pioneer: Simple Living in the 21st Century’ by Charlotte Denholtz, my heart skipped a beat. In the deepest recesses of my mind I yearn to live in this manner daily; gathering eggs from my own backyard chickens, growing my own food, baking from scratch. I of course [...]Continue reading Sour Cream Butter Cake, DIY Burn Ointment &
A few weeks ago I shared my joy and plight over a gargantuan shipment of fresh citrus sent to us from a Floridian relation. I would never complain about freshly harvested, locally-grown fruit arriving at my doorstep in the mid of our dry, parched Colorado winter. In this case however a mistake at the orchard [...]Continue reading Creamy Coconut Tangelo Rice Pudding!
Do you ever find yourself in a menu rut? Or feeling on a busy day that you want to make a healthy meal but don’t have the energy to pull it all together? Me too. During the week I want to prepare easy, nutritious meals that have great flavor but I usually don’t plan very [...]Continue reading Simple Suppers: Pear Marmalade Glazed Ham Steaks! Enter to win a {$400+ value}: Le Creu
A little known fact about Colorado is that it has become a hotbed of fantastic, inspired cuisine. Farm-to-Table, chefs working with local winemakers, artisan food crafters partnering with restaurants to put out exciting, innovative food. There is a newfound electricity in the dining scene; an abundance of interesting, quality ingredients and creative vision galore. All [...]Cont
Holidays beg to be marked by special food and Valentine’s Day is no different. There are the gold standards of chocolate, champagne, anything heart shaped, pink or red. I’ve certainly shared my fair share of all of those in the past few weeks however when thinking about a special dish to share today my mind [...]Continue reading Golden Plum Glazed Cornish Game Hens {recipe} & Val
I don’t know the actual statistics for Valentine’s Day champagne sales but I’d wager they are a close second to New Year’s Eve. Though I have no complaint about presenting the bubbly by itself, I think there is more to be had for the day of love. Sparkling Pink Sangria. The idea popped to mind [...]Continue reading Sparkling Pink Sangria! Enter to win a copy of Chef Hubert Kell
I refuse to believe I left my heart in San Francisco. This city and I have a long, entwined history providing my devotion to be more like a life-long, unending love affair rather than a mere dalliance leaving one longing for what will never be again. My first introduction to San Francisco was as a [...]Continue reading 48 Hours in San Francisco & Chef Hubert Keller's 'Souvenirs' Gi
Can you keep a secret? I love upscale food, food with panache, but do you know what I love even more? Upscale food that can be made lickety-split. Like in less than an hour. This recipe for Pink Peppercorn Sherry Cream Chicken? 30 minutes, baby. Shhhhh. No one has to know. When I first learned [...]Continue reading Pink Peppercorn Sherry Cream Chicken!
I love celebrating the flavors of the season both in their natural form but in ways that keeps them around a bit longer too. I personally love experimenting with infusing in liquor because it does not expire quickly. I often use vodka, which has been cultivated to be neutral in flavor and color in most [...]Continue reading DIY Tangelo-Cardamom Vodka & a Valentine's Cocktail!! '
Having always been a strong proponent of ‘Backwards Day’ as a means to feature the delectable breakfast choices so often shortchanged at the hands of a busy work or school day, I was thrilled at the chance to review the new cookbook Breakfast for Dinner. Lunch and dinner fare are often casually inner changed without [...]Continue reading Bacon Jam {recipe} & 'Breakfast for Dinner'
Love is meant to be shared as are great resources. One of my favorite spots to find unique, one-of-a-kind, artisan items is Etsy.com. Etsy is an online marketplace where artisans of all sorts, craftspeople and resellers congregate with unique shops from which to browse and buy special and handcrafted items. Over time I’ve built a [...]Continue reading Bacon-Chipotle-Espresso Tru
I don’t like wasting things especially something as delicious as the cherry-flavored pound cake I made for the Hidden Heart Valentine’s Pound Cake in my most recent blog post. After cutting out the brilliant fuchsia hearts for the middle of the pound cake I found myself with a heap of scrap pound cake on my [...]Continue reading Cherry Pound Cake Bread Pudding!
