New recipes, June 30, 2013

Beginner's Brisket from Traeger's Everyday Cookbook, and Roasted Baby Squash with Feta and Thyme from Kalyn's Kitchen. The brisket has great flavors, but not as tender as we hoped--it gets a 3. This is really our first effort at smoked brisket--we definitely want to learn to do this better!  The squash gets a 5!

Wine: Victor Hugo Les Mid 2012 Paso Robles Rosé

New recipes, June 29, 2013

We visited the Montanya Rum Distillery in Crested Butte on our ride. Who would have predicted that in Crested Butte? But the rums are excellent and they have a huge collection of carefully crafted recipes. Tonight we had the Breath of God, which is very tasty and gets a 4.

Our main course was the fabulous Scallops alla Caprese from Mario Batali's Italian Grill.  We love it, it still gets a 5.

For dessert, we had Figs with Parmesan and Balsamic (who could resist the first figs of the season) from Local Foods on About.com.  These were nice, we give them a 4.

Wine: Château La Rame Bordeaux 2010

New recipe, June 28, 2013

Pistachio Cranberry Shortbread from Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine May 2013. These are wonderful, we give them a 5!

New recipe, June 27, 2013

Microwave Almond Brittle from the May 2013 Cooking Light. Easy and excellent, be careful to watch the color! We give this a 4.

New recipe, June 26, 2013

Rosewater Shortbread Cookies from the June 2013 Bon Appétit. As made, these are way too dry. The flavors are nice, but we give them a 2. Needs more butter!

New recipe, June 25, 2013

Today's ride was relatively easy, from Carbondale, up the gorgeous Crystal River Valley, and over McClure Pass to Paonia. Only 57 miles! There was a cyclist injured badly in an accident, unfortunately.

Today's new recipe is Lemon Thins (just as good with lime, as we had run out of lemons), from the February 2013 Eating Well. Nice, these get a 3.

New recipe, June 24, 2013

Today's ride took us from Buena Vista to Carbondale, over Independence Pass (12,095 feet), a 91 mile ride. These Brown Butter Pistachio Financiers, from the June 2013 Food and Wine, tasted fabulous! And of necessity, we ate them without the Creme fraiche. We give these a 5!

New recipe, June 23, 2013

Today was the first day of the Bicycle Tour of Colorado. Since we don't have kitchen facilities on the tour, we prepared a new snack for each day. Today's is Beef Jerky from The Traeger Everyday Cookbook. It has a nice natural smoky flavor. We give it a 3--we'd make it a little spicier next time.

New recipe, June 22, 2013

Breakfast Quinoa from the June 2013 Cooking Light. It's nice, we give it a 3.

New recipe, June 21, 2013

Grilled chicken thighs with Southwestern Rub from the July 2013 Cooking Light (it gets a 4!). Served with Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese and Basil, from the same issue, which is excellent and gets a 5!

Wine: Domaine de Gournier Rosé 2012

New recipes, June 20, 2013

Hoisin Grilled Chicken with Soba Noodles, served with Cucumber Peanut Salad from the July 2013 Cooking Light. The chicken gets a 4, the cucumber gets a 3.

Wine: Domaine de la Fouquette Cuvée Rosée d'Aurore 2012

New recipe, June 19, 2013

Mario Batali's Tuna Dice with Mint and Peas from the Denver Post, served with udon. Nice--we give it a 4.

Wine: Apaltagua Carmenere Rosé 2012

New recipe, June 18, 2013

Healthy Fish Tacos with Buttermilk Avocado Purée from the Denver Post. Very tasty--another 4.

Wine: we sampled two this evening--Domaine du Tariquet Rosé de Pressée 2012 and Victor Hugo Les Mis Paso Robles Rosé 2012

New recipe, June 17, 2013

Shrimp and Herb Salad, and Garlic Parmesan Toasts from the July 2013 Cooking Light. Nice, we give these a 3.

Wine: Saint Roch Les Vignes Côtes de Provence 2012 Rose

New recipe, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day, Dad! We had Mark's parents over for dinner today. The new recipe is Fettuccine with Pistachio Mint Pesto and Tomatoes from the July 2013 Cooking Light--a wonderful combination of flavors, we give this a 4! Served with a reprise of the Raspberry and Blue Cheese Salad from the same issue--still a 4. And grilled tenderloin steaks that were wonderful!

Wines: Italo Pietrantonj Cerasuolo D'Abruzzo Rose 2012 with charcuterie to start, and Amethyst Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 with the main dinner

New recipes, June 15, 2013

Spiced Chicken Thighs with Garlicky Rice, served with Raspberry and Blue Cheese Salad, both from the July 2013 Cooking Light. The chicken was nice--gets a 3. The salad was excellent, and gets a 4

Wine: Loosen Brothers Dr L Sparkling Riesling

New recipes, June 14, 2013

From the July 2013 Cooking Light: Steamed Green Beans with Lemon Mint Dressing, which gets a 5. Yum! Served with Roasted Potatoes with Mustard Seeds and Chives from Traeger Grills.com (gets a 4), and a grilled strip steak.

Wine: Gerard Bertrand 2008 Minervois

New recipe, June 13, 2013

The Black Widow, from Bar None Drinks.com. Nice-it gets a 4.

New recipe, June 12, 2013

Bad Girl Martini, from Bar None Drinks.com. Not bad, gets a 3.

New recipe, June 11, 2013

Peach Melon Cooler, from Cowboy Cocktails by Grady Spears and Brigit L Burns. Delicious! This gets a 5!

New recipes, June 10, 2013

BBQ Chicken Pizza with Fresh Mozzarella and Pickled Jalapeños from the Jan/Feb 2013 Cooking Light--yum, gets a 4!

Beverage: Strawberry Ginger Punch from the June 2013 Bon Appétit. This is good, we give it a 3.

New recipes, June 9, 2013

Two news recipes from Traeger's Everyday Cookbook: Barbecued Chicken Thighs, and Broccoli and Cauliflower Medley. Both are great and get 4s!

Wine: The Formula Robert's Shiraz 2006

New recipe, June 8, 2013

We attended Voz y Corazon at the Mental Health Center of Denver, so the new recipe is a cocktail, the Southpaw, from the May 2013 Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine. This gets a 3.

New recipe, June 7, 2013

Pizza with Chicken, Mushroom, Orange Bell Pepper, Gruyere and Parmesan--a Carl Original. Tasty--we give this a 4.

Wine: Poggiotondo Chianti Superiore 2009

New recipe, June 6, 2013

Teriyaki Pork and Pineapple Skewers from Traeger's Everyday Cookbook. We just got a Traeger grill, and it has been fun to learn to cook on. This was great--we give this an enthusiastic 4!

Wine: Zolo Viognier 2008

New recipe, June 5, 2013

With Mark on his way to DC, and Carl returning, the new recipe is a cocktail, the Millenium Manhattan from The Joy of Mixology by Gary Regan. Nice, it gets a 3.

New recipe, June 4, 2013

A breakfast dish today--Spiced Breakfast Quinoa from the April 2013 Eating Well. Nice enough, it gets a 3.

New recipes, June 3, 2013

Grilled Pork Chops with Nectarines from the June 2013 Cooking Light (we used apricots, the nectarines were like hockey picks). Served with Bacon Herb Salad (we skipped the bacon, used a little smoked paprika). Yum--these get 4s.

Wine: Poggiotondo Chianti Superiore 2009

New recipe, June 2, 2013

Spring Pasta with Fava Beans and Peas, from the May 2013 Cooking Light. Tasty! We give it a 4! Want to make it vegetarian? Leave out the bacon, add a little extra olive oil and some smoked sweet paprika!

Wine: Roots Riesling 2009

New recipe, June 1, 2013

We are off to a wedding, so today's new recipe is an appetizer: Microwave Sweet Potato Chips from the May 2013 Cooking Light. These are really tasty, and healthy. Yum, these get a 4!