prep.time. 24.24.24.

Kelsey and I started our prep work this past Friday.  We made our way to a gigantic Whole Foods in Boulder.  Our proposal to Foodbuzz, focused on creating a local menu during the winter in Colorado.  We thought it might spark some attention because most people would not really think there was much to be found locally in CO in the winter.  We couldn’t believe how much was out there! 

Whole Foods is a huge supporter of local goods, which is so nice to see.  There were piles of local potatoes.

We snagged a large red tater for our soup!

Local onions were easy to come by as well.

I never realized that all of these herbs are Colorado grown!  I was really excited to see that.

There is plenty of local honey to be found as well.  We snagged some orange blossom honey that was part of desert!

We took a shopping break and walked the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder.  It was so much fun to have Kelsey in Colorado!

We were up late on Friday getting as much done as we could.  We got our palette cleansing dish finished and a few other things.  We woke up bright + early to go to the famers market that is about 1.5 miles from where I live :)  It runs all winter long! 

Upon entering we were greeted by Ms. Chicken!  Hilarious.

Plenty of potatoes + onions

We snagged one of these guys.  I love how locally grown, in season foods, look gorgeous.  You can totally taste the difference in locally grown foods haven’t been on a truck/plane/etc. for weeks after being harvested.

Adorable honey jars.  They had all different types.  I love these short squatty masons jars!

I can’t even begin to describe how amazing this bread is.  You don’t really taste much mint but the white chocolate makes the bread melt.in.your.mouth.  It has the consistency of a brioche or challah loaf.  We picked one of these up for part of dessert.  I had a hard time not consuming all of it when I was prepping dessert. mmmmm

These loaves were about 18” in diameter.  Ridiculous!

Kelsey + I bought a goat!  Well, not really, but to buy this goat cheese you actually have to buy a share of their farm.  Something about them using raw milk and in order to do that you have to be a shareholder with their farm.  Basically you buy a share for $10 and that gets you your first jar of cheese.

We totally bought into the club.  It was the most amazing goat cheese I have ever had.

Proud members!

drool.

I love the size + color variation of local eggs.  That’s how they should be!! 

Local squash is plentiful right now.  We wanted to do something fun with the squash family. 

The squash was ooozing with moisture.

We wanted to make something simple but delicious.  Garlic baked butternut squash sounded like a fabulous plan.

l.o.v.e. the color

The “melt in your mouth” bread! Ahhhh

Local cabbage?  You better believe it!

Colorado spaghetti squash – It was Kelsey’s first time having this delicious veggie + she loved it!

Thee most amazingly fresh, local milk.  I can’t even describe how creamy this is.

This went into THREE of our recipes! 

Horizon is based out of Boulder, CO!  This guy counts as local too!

The orange blossom honey.  It smelled UHmazing.

Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs.

Any guesses????  Honey Vanilla Icecream with local honey, milk + cream. 

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Because TWO bloggers are better than one : Local Bites from a Colorado Winter 

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MENU – dinner.for.TEN

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first.bite.

Beer + Cheddar Soup

• 4T unsalted butter
• 1/4c local shallot, fine chopped
• 1c carrot, chopped
• 1c celery, chopped
• 1c local red onion, chopped
• 2 local red potatoes, cubed
• 2 bay leaves
• 4T local fresh thyme, chopped
• 6T local all-purpose flour
• 2c chicken broth
• 3t dry yellow mustard
• 2c local dark beer
• 2c local whole milk
• 4c local cheddar
• s+p

Process

1. Melt butter over medium heat, in a large soup pot.
2. Add shallot and cook 3-5min until translucent.
3. Add carrot, celery, onion, bay leaf, thyme, salt and pepper and stir to coat with butter.
4. Cook until celery and onion are translucent, 5-8 minutes.
5. Stir in flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until flour lightly browns.
6. Stir in dry mustard.
7. Add chicken stock and stir until liquid begins to thicken, ~1 minute.
8. Add beer and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes.
9. Add milk and bring back to a simmer.
10. Continue simmering until vegetables are tender, ~5 minutes longer.
11. Take the soup from the heat and stir in cheddar, ~1/2 cup at a time, allowing the hot soup to melt the cheese.
12. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
13. Garnish with fresh thyme and serve immediately.

Beer Bread

• 3 local cups organic all-purpose flour
• 1T granulated sugar
• 1t salt
• 1T baking powder [check your expiration date!!]
• 2 local garlic cloves, crushed, or 1t garlic powder
• 2t dried dill
• 1t dried oregano
• 1T local fresh rosemary
• 1T local fresh thyme
• 12oz local beer

Process

1. Heat oven to 375°.
2. Combine all ingredients [except beer] and combine in a large mixing bowl.
3. Slowly stir in beer and mix just until combined. Batter will be thick.
4. Pour + spread into a greased 8-inch loaf pan.
5. Bake about 45min, until golden brown + a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes.
7. Remove from the pan and cool 10 more minutes.
8. Serve warm!

[We wanted an herbed beer bread, however this recipe is completely adaptable.  When using fresh herbs use 1T and when dry herbs use 1-2t]

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second.bite.

Lamb Lollipops

• 10 local lamb lollipops
• s+p
• 1/2c + 2T olive oil
• 3T local garlic, minced
• 1/3c apple cider vinegar
• 2T local rosemary, chopped

Process

1. In a baking dish add lamb and season with s+p.
2. Add marinade turn lamb and set aside for 20min-1hr.
3. Grill over medium-high heat – 2min - rotate 180* – cook 2 more min – Flip lamb – 2min – rotate 180* – cook 2min

Butternut Squash

• 2T fresh parsley, minced
• 2T olive oil
• 2 local garlic cloves, minced
• 1t salt
• 1/2t pepper
• 1/3c parmesan [save until the end]
• 1” pieces of local squash [medium size squash]

Process

1. Combine ingredients + toss with squash.
2. Bake uncovered in 2qt ungreased casserole dish @400* 35-55min, until tender.
3. Sprinkle with cheese at the end and broil for 2-4min, or top each serving with the freshly shaved cheese.

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third.bite.         

Lemon Apple Palette Cleanser

• 1 large local tart apple, chopped [~1 1/3c]
• 3 cups water
• 1/2c sucanat
• 1/4c fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 cup apple brandy

Process

1. Over medium heat, in a saucepan, bring the apple, water, + sucanat to a simmer.
2. Cook for 15min with the heat slightly lowered, until the apples are very tender.
3. Remove + cool to room temp [the freezer helps!]
4. Add lemon juice, zest, + apple brandy.
5. Puree until smooth.
6. Chill for until very cold [in fridge or freezer]
7. Run in an ice cream maker until frozen. 
8. Pour in airtight container + freeze.

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fourth.bite. 

Brisket

• 2-3 local garlic cloves, minced
• 2T ketchup
• 1T apple cider vinegar
• 2t brown sugar
• 1/2t salt
• 1 1/2 local onions, thinly sliced

Process

1. place onions in bottom of crock
2. place brisket in fat side up
3. sprinkle garlic on top
4. rub other ingredients into meat
5. add enough water to coat bottom
6. cook on low 8-10hrs

Kelsey’s Purple Slaw

• Small head of local purple cabbage, chopped 
• 1/4 local red onion, diced
• 2 T safflower oil mayo
• 2 T apple cider vinegar
• 1 T balsamic vinegar
• S+P to taste

Process

1. Combine ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Taste and season accordingly.
3. Refrigerate and serve cold.

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fifth.bite.

Ashley’s Meatballs with Baked Spaghetti Squash + Local Marinara

• 1.25lbs local buffalo
• 1 local egg, beaten
• ~3T water
• 2T chopped fresh parsley
• 3 local garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3c. local fine chopped onion
• 1/2c. breadcrumbs
• 2T olive oil
• 2t local chopped rosemary
• 2t dried basil

Process

1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Combine all ingredients and mix until well incorporated.
3. Roll walnut sized meatballs [about 36] and bake in a mini muffin pan [or just a baking sheet] for about 20min, flipping once.

Spaghetti Squash

Process

1. Preheat oven to 375*
2. Cut local squash in half, spray/coat lightly with olive oil, s+p.
3. Bake for ~45 until tender.
4. Cool for 20+ min until you can easily handle it.
5. Scrape squash strands out with a fork.

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sixth.bite.

Honey Vanilla Ice Cream

• 2 vanilla beans
• 2c. local heavy cream
• 1c. local whole milk
• 1/2c local aromatic honey [orange blossom]

Process

1. scrape seeds out of the beans with a small spoon
2. place seeds + pods in a large saucepan
3. add cream, milk, + honey, stirring occasionally, until tiny bubbles form around edges, ~3-4min
4. remove from heat, steep covered for 1hr
5. cover, refrigerate until completely cooled [very important!]
6. remove pods + stir to blend
7. put in the ice cream maker ~25min
8. freeze in an airtight container

Apple Bread Pudding

• 4c. soft local bread cubes [challah, brioche, etc]
• 2c. peeled, local sliced apples
• 1c. sucanat
• 1 3/4c. local milk
• 1/4c. butter
• 1-2t. cinnamon
• 2t. vanilla
• 2 local eggs beaten

Process

1. set oven to 350*
2. In a 7x11 baking dish, combine bread + apples
3. in a saucepan add sucanat, milk + butter on low heat until melted
4. pour over bread + apples
5. whisk cinnamon, vanilla, and eggs together
6. pour egg mixture over top and stir a few times to combine
7. cook 40-50min until set

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the.end.

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The next post will be complete with full documentation of the night and an explanation of the proposal we sent to Foodbuzz.  As the night progressed we made a few changes because nothing ever goes 100% as planned.  Stay tuned!  :)

orange + green

No oatmeal, 2 days in a row, I feel lost!  ;)  I went out to breakfast today with Melissa, Jake, her mom, my mom + Jenna.  We were meeting at 10am, so I had to scarf something ahead of time.

pnutty smear on a bananer

While eating my banana, I was admiring my favorite Christmas ornaments on the tree.  My dad and I put it up Monday night.  Kind of last minute, but at least it’s up.  I told him to wait til I was home :)

There is a set of fruit ornaments, and they have been a long time fav. of mine!

Flying Santa.

The ornament I made the other night with the whole family on it!  Even all of the pets.  There are 14 names on this thing!!

I made this one too!

Snoooooze. Okay, sorry, time for breakfast.

Jake was of course 100% cute the whole time we were there.  He even scarfed a little pancake.    

Melissa + Jake, adorable!

I am glad I ordered the “mini” omelet.  This thing was not mini!!  I got a spinach/portabella/tomato/cheese omelet and it was delicious!  We went to a place called Scrambler Marie’s.  Very yummy!  I ate the omelet, most of the potatoes, some of the toast and was hungry about an hour later :(  This was realllly tasty though! 

Jenna ate all of her waffle, which looked awesome.

Jakey + me!!!

momma [the newest lover of kale!!] + jake [would you look at that face!]

Lunch was orange + green.  Salad with Annie’s balsamic [yum!!], leftover butternut squash pasta, sprouts, cucumber, and 1 clementine. 

This is super delish.

See? Very orange + green!

What’s next you ask??  My yearly puppy chow day!  No not dog food..I’m sure you’ve seen the crispix + chocolate + pnuts + pnut butter + powdered sugar before.  I think it is called Sweet Minglers or Puppy Chow.

We made 3 big batches [recipe coming] and AJ + Jenna helped a ton.

In a giant ziploc after being tossed around with the powdered sugar.

Got that all packaged up and cleaned up.  What’s next you ask?  Cookie mix-in-a-jar of course!  I have never made this before but have seen it given as gifts, and I just love the idea.  I looked up recipes on allrecipes.com and found one with great reviews and I liked the mix of ingredients.  There are SO many to choose from on that site.

Here is the one I went by. 

What is a hair dryer doing in a kitchen???

There were annoying labels on the mason jars and did you know that a little heat from a hair dryer peals those pesky labels right off!?  Try it out sometime.  I usually have it on high heat for about 10sec and then it peels right off.  Careful because sometimes the object gets hot quick!  So much better than using goo gone.  Also make sure you sanitize/sterilize the jars + the lids/seals.  I found these jars [pint size] for about $2.99 at Michaels.  The best way to sterilize them is putting them in your dishwasher on the “sterilize” setting.  If you don’t have that option you can boil them and let them completely dry as well.

Why is there a turkey baster in the jar!?  Well, to help pack down the ingredients.  I got the wide-mouth jars and went back and forth using my hand and the baster to really pack down the ingredients.

I like to make messes :)

Alllll done.  I’m giving these out for a few gifts to friends while I’m home…for only 1 more day :(  Sad to leave the fam, but I’m totally missing the hubs!!!!

I decided not to add nuts because not everyone likes nuts in cookies.  I added a mix of chocolate chips and “sun drops” [kinda like m+m’s from WF bulk bins] and a little sprinkling of cinnamon on top.

Can you smell a cookie-mix-in-a-jar photo shoot?

Obviously :)

I made a batch too, to test them out.  Man, were they good and so easy. There was no mixer involved, no creaming the butter + sugar, and you don’t even have to wait for the butter to soften…you actually melt it!  They had a great chunky consistency from the oats.  I added less sugar in the batch I made.  Instead of 1/2c of each white + brown, I took it down to 1/3c of each.  They were definitely sweet enough and I would probably only do 1/4c of each next time. 

However, as a gift, I put the suggested 1/2c of each in the jar.  I’m a little sensitive to sugar in sweets and like it toned down quite a bit more.

The blue ribbon was for Hanukkah and the red + green label obviously Christmas.

My cousin Renee came over to hang out for a bit.  She was my maid-of-honor in my wedding.  It was great seeing her, even though it was only for a little bit.  She was on her way to work out and didn’t really want to have her photo taken, but I told her I would make her out of focus in the photo and she liked that idea.

Even though she’s blurry, you can tell she’s gorgeous :)     

Dinnnner time.  I had 2 squashes to cook that I got last week.  Butternut + Acorn

Baked in the oven @375 for about 35min.  I tossed the acorn with olive oil, s+p.  The butternut got hit with some olive oil, ground cinnamon, and a sprinkling of brown sugar.  I put the acorn squash on lettuce with some of the Annie’s dressing and a little mozz. cheese.  I really loved the warm squash on the cold lettuce.  It was awesome!

Again with the orange + green!

I ate the butternut squash alone.  nom nom nom

Squash is filling!!!  I was stuffed after this.  Then we went to my aunt + uncles house again and I stuffed my face with Christmas cookies.  Not to mention snacking on puppy chow while I was making it, and eating one of the “cookie jar” cookies.  rehehehe ;)

Butternut squash, before cooking.

After. 

Such a fun day!!  I have a massage appt. tomorrow [yes yes yessss] and a few friends to quickly say hi + bye too and then packing [trying to fit gifts] and visiting with the fam.  I’m out bright and early xmas eve morning!

Off to dreamland….

~Ashley

oat stacks

Hi blog peeps!  I posted twice yesterday, to try and catch up with half of what I did on Sunday.  I still have all of the Hanukkah party photos [from Sunday] for this post + today’s action.  Why am I always so so so bizzy when I’m home!?

Rewind. Sunday night.  Dinner. Our house.

Tons of deli meats from a Jewish Deli + bread + salad + potato pancakes [latkes]

I wasn’t feeling meat so I made a portabella burger + topped it with herbed goat cheese + roasted peppers. Mmm… I may or may not have gotten ragged on for eating ALL veggies…and taking non-stop photos. :) All in good fun though!

Notice the plates.  They are some sort of recycled, eco friendly, plates.  Good job mom :) 

I also had 1/2 of a latke with the best latke topper EVER….applesauce!!!  It looks like a small portion but they were about 5-6” in diameter.  Twas’ deelish.

Aunt Sherie + AJ

Sher + Jenna

I made pArTaY martinis and had NO clue what I was doing…hehehe

Choco Mint Martini:

• Bailey’s Irish Creme [original or mint]
• Vanilla vodka
• Rumplemintz – peppermint schnopps [unless you use bailey’s mint, then you might not need this]
• splash of cream    

1. I grabbed a martini shaker and “shit in” [technical term when not formally measuring…I swear it is…my grandma told me, hehehe] 1:1 on the Bailey’s + Vodka.  Then added about 1/2 as much schnopps.  The splash of cream was added to each drink.

I thought they were o.k. The flavor was good, but it was just too rich + thick for me.  I also dusted the rims with cocoa powder.

Crazy pile o’ gifts. [point n’ shooooot time]

My mom got all the kids safety light sticks.  This thing is actually pretty sweet.  It has a flashlight on one end, a whistle on the other, it lights up red, and you can also have it flash red.  She told me I can use it if I’m stuck in the snow in CO ;) Silly!

I think this was my favorite gift this year.  Thanks mom!!!  She had to go to 5 different Targets to find it.  Oh, it’s a xmas tree ornament…which is hilarious that I got it on Hanukkah.  We always used to joke and say the Christmas tree was actually a Hanukkah bush.  We’re weird!

Come to think of it…my bro got me some pretty sweet gifts as well.  He got me “the spices of india” from World Market, which came in a sweet box aaaaand he got me a sea salt sampler, which you will soon see photographed.  Honestly though, I was more excited to give gifts to everyone than receive.  I’m sure that sounds cheesy but I put a lot of thought into the gifts I give…and love watching people open them! :) 

This year I finally made our wedding photo album and gave copies to my parents, g’rents, and aunt + uncle. They loved it!!!  

How strange is it that all the women [except Jenna] had on almost the same color sweater with big buttons?  I thought it was pretty hilarious.  I walked downstairs in the morning with it on and looked at my mom with almost the same sweater on, just with long sleeves…I’m like, how did this happen??  Then later my grandma and aunt too!?  How weird!

Jenners + me :)

Dessert!  Awesome, delicious cookie!!  This is called “Air Kichel.”  They “ch” is pronounced with a really throaty noise…are you familiar with this?  Like the bread, “Challah.”  It is a super light Jewish cookie that normally isn’t twisted with the fruit inside.  It is normally square with a big pocket of air inside and a crispy thin shell with large chunks of sugar stuck on top.  They are one of my favorite cookies ever!!  This was a new spin on them…twisted with apricot inside.  They were good, but didn’t stay as crisp.  I like the originals more.  mmmmm brownie + peppermint icecream

MONDAY: 

I called AJ + Jenna to see if they wanted me to make them breakfast.  Their answer = YES.  I said I would make them oatmeal with any toppings, oatmeal pancakes, or scrambled eggs + toast.  They chose #3.  I wanted pancakes so I made those as well.

Oatmeal pancakes for 2:  These were pretty good…I would make them again.  They are definitely not a light + fluffy pancake, but nice and dense and definitely fill you up!

• 3/4c. quick oats
• 1/4c. oat bran
• 1/4c. flour
• 1/2T sucanat [or brown sugar]
• 1 egg
• 1c. vanilla almond milk
• 1t cinnamon
• 1t vanilla
• 1/2tsp baking soda
• dash o’ salt

1. Whisk wet ingredients together.  Stir in dry, until just combined.  Let sit ~15min. 
2. Pour + flip as you prefer.  You might find that you need to add more liquid, it depends how thick you want them.  I added an extra 2T once I started cooking them.

AJ loved clementines!

I found this hilarious plate in the cupboard.  My brother made it when he was 5.  LOVE.IT.

Oat.Stacks.

No, I did not eat all of these.  My mom had 1, AJ + Jenna had the 2 babies and 2 medium sized, and I had 2 large [bout 5” diam"].  They were super filling!

Oatmeal banana samich, with a little butta’ + syrup.

OSU mug of coffee!!  I made it way too strong.  I hate that about a new bag of coffee.  I got a little sample pouch of coffee from World Market.  It was something like: caramel, toffee, vanilla?  IT was yummy but I couldn’t drink more than 1/3 of the mug!

I didn’t realize until looking at the photos, that I made a face with the plate + pancakes.  The eyes + eyebrows on the plate and the butter nose and banana smile.  hehehe

I did get some meat in today!!  I actually really like pastrami…mom made me a sandwich to go when we ran errands on rye bread with a litttle swiss.  mmmm + a juicy pear

This tree was in Anthropolgie, the coolest store ever.  I have never actually gone in that store, can you believe it!?  It was soooooooooo hard to walk out empty handed.  I didn’t even look at the clothes, either!  All of the plates, little bowls, measuring sets, tons of CUUUUTE stuff.  A total “me” store.  A great store to find gifts for your girlfriends too!    

So, anywho…this tree was made with paper and plastic bottles.

i.want.this.book.

Monday night dinner was with mom + dad.  It was super simple and so delicious.  This bottle of sauce caught my eye at World Market.  I think I have seen it at WF as well.  It was $5.99 which is more than I normally like to spend on sauce, but it sounded awesome and I am a sucker for good packaging.  [loved the label]

Also made oven roasted brussel sprouts and my mom made the salad.  I put the sauce on yummy whole wheat shells from WF.

I give the sauce a 8.5/10.  It was seriously so so good, however I would have liked a little more squashy flavor.  It actually tasted like roasted red peppers more than squash.  You could still taste the squash though.  It was super creamy, but not full of fat and would taste fabulous on roasted veggies.  The ingredient list only had a few things on it too.  Spending a little more on store bought sauce really makes a difference!

I forgot that one of the errands today was going to Trader Joes with my mom.  I haven’t been in a TJ’s in over 3 months.   Colorado has some great stores, but still nothing exactly like TJ’s.  I didn’t really realize how much I missed it, until I went to one again.  I got as many things as I thought I could fit in my suitcase.  I am most excited for the pumpkin butter and dk. chocolate covered pomegranates. 

Dessert was over at my Uncle’s house.  5 of us split this medium sized caramel apple.  Much better than my caramel apple disaster in October, hehehe. 

This, plus another slice of apple…and who am I kidding…I ate the whole cupcake!

Off for another action packed day tomorrow.  Going to breakfast with Melissa, her son Jake and her mom, along with my mom and Jenna.  Yes this is Melissa from Colorado.  We went to high school together and live about 2min from each other at home in Ohio :)