New recipes, August 31, 2014

We had dinner with our friend Martin Moran, who has arrived in town to perform his play "All the Rage" at the Curious Theatre. We shared Hanger Steak with Shallots and Jeursalem Artichokes from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. Absent sunchokes in the markets, we used rutabaga. It gets a 4. Served with Charred Broccoli with Orange Browned Butter from the September 2014 Cooking Light. This was nice-- a bit too much orange, perhaps--it gets a 3.

Wine: Poggiotondo Chianti Superiore 2009--a good match.

New recipe, August 30, 2014

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Pepe Osaka's Fish Taco and Tequila Bar in Winter Park. So our new recipe is Edna's Lunchbox, an improbable cocktail from the September 2014 Food and Wine. Somehow, orange juice, light beer and amaretto come together surprisingly well. We give it a 4.

New recipe, August 29, 2014

We had a lovely dinner with Rich, Tim, Mark and JD. Our contribution is a cocktail, the Celery Tonic, from the September 2014 Bon Appetit. This us really tasty and balanced. We give this a 4.

New recipe, August 28, 2014

Celery Soup from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. This is rich and tasty. I'd like to see more dill flavor, maybe less dairy fat. Quite good, but I think it could be better and healthier. It gets a 4.

No wine: Rugbrod Julebryg Style Dark Rye Ale from The Brewery. Yum!

New recipe, August 27, 2014

Thai Celery Salad with Peanuts from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. Tasty! We give it a 4. Served with bison sausage.

Wine: Huia Marlborough Dry Riesling 2010

New recipes, August 26, 2014

Zucchini Patties, and Roasted Red Pepper Labneh, both from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. The patties are shallow fried, and oh so tasty. The Labneh is also very good, and they work together beautifully. We give both a 4.

Wine: Love Drink Rosé 2013

New recipe, August 25, 2014

Green Bean and Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. Nice dressing, but it didn't stay on the beans well. We give it a 3.

Served with a pan grilled flank steak.

Wine: Vila Bonarda Reserva 2009

New recipe, August 24, 2014

The new recipe is the Strozzapetti with Mushrooms and Ricotta from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. Fabulous, this gets a 5! Served with the Watermelon Gazpacho with Feta Crema from the August 2014 Bon Appétit, still a 5!

Wine: Wild Thing Rendezvous Rosé 2013

New recipe, August 23, 2014

We belatedly celebrated Dwight Davidson's birthday today. The new recipe is the Tequila-Watermelon Refresco from the June 2014 Cooking Light. As made we give it a 3, but with a dash of simple syrup it is a 4! Be sure to taste it, and don't be shy to sweeten it a little to bring it into balance--this will surely vary with your watermelon. Served with the Isaan-Inspired Larb from the same issue, and the Top Secret Chocolate Mousse for dessert-both still 5s!

New recipe, August 22, 3013

Pasta with Pesto Shrimp and Cured Ham from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. Nice, it gets a 4. Served with cherry tomato salad.

Wine: Rosanna Rosé Zweigelt

New recipe, August 21, 2014

A new cocktail--Trouble in Paradise from the September 2014 Bon Appétit. This is excellent, sweet, savory and spicey all at once.

It gets a 5!

New recipes, August 20, 2014

Lemon Pepper Flank Steak Tacos and Cabbage and Mango Slaw (we used peaches), both from the September 2014 Cooking Light. Very tasty! We give these a 4.

New recipe, August 19, 2014

Blueberry Mint Frozen Gimlet from the July 2014 Cooking Light. A nice summertime idea. We found it pleasant and give it a 3.

New recipe, August 18, 2014

Another from the August 2014 Bon Appétit: Watermelon Gazpacho with Feta Crema. This is excellent! Make it! We give it a 5!

Served with grilled flank steak with Berbere rub, and another zucchini from the garden.

Wine: Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne Rosé 2013-a nice match!

New recipe, August 17, 2014

This is from the August 2014 Bon Appétit: Vietnamese Pork Chops with Pickled Watermelon. Really delicious--we give it a 4. A bit more Sriracha in the marinade would be nice.

Wine: Small Gully The Formula 2006 Robert's Shiraz--not the best match, but a good wine. Wondering if we should have gone with something like a Riesling

New recipe, August 16, 2014

We had a lovely dinner with Ron and Beth Eller. Our contribution was this dessert, Whipped Berry Pudding from the July/August 2014 Eating Well. Very tasty--we give it a 4. We might cut back a bit on the sugar.

New recipe, August 14, 2013

Broccoli Pancetta and Parmesan Frittata, from the September 2014 Cooking Light. Pleasant, not highly memorable--we give this a 3. Served with sautéed zucchini from the garden.

Wine: Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé 2013

New recipe, August 13, 2014

Curried Maple Mustard Chicken Breasts from the August 2014 Food and Wine. I think this would be just as good with 1/3 of the sauce, and it would be healthier! It is very tasty--we give it a 4.
Served within sautéed zucchini from the garden, with dill.

Wine: Les Mis Paso Robles Rosé 2013

New recipe, August 12, 2014

It was a travel day for Carl, and a late one for Mark. So the new recipe is a cocktail. Memorial Union Old Fashioned from the August 2014 Food and Wine. And yes, it is an old fashioned, but a nice variation. It gets a 4.

New recipe, August 11, 2014

Tomato Onion and Roasted Lemon Salad from the August 2014 Bon Appétit. Spectacular, we give this a 5!! Served with a roasted chicken.

Wine: Yalumba Sangiovese Rosé 2013

New recipes, August 10, 2014

Isaan Inspired Larb from the June 2014 Cooking Light--this was a delight, we give it a 5! Dessert was Roasted Mission Figs with Honey from Epicurious--also nice, it gets a 4.

Wine: Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne Rosé 2013

New recipes, August 9, 2014

We had dinner tonight with Mark and Julie Clark!! Three from the August 2014 Bon Appétit, all by Yotam Ottolenghi:
Za'Atar Roast Chicken with Green Tahini Sauce, Haricots Verts and Freekeh with Minty Tahini Dressing; and Strawberry Pomegranate and Rose Petal Mess. We've made the chicken before, but not the tahini sauce--they get a 4. The salad gets a 4. The berries are a total 5!

Wine: Yalumba Sangiovese Rosé 2013--nice match

New recipe, August 8, 2014

We spent the evening at the annual Sculpture in the Park show in Loveland. So the new recipe is The Bay Rum from Amy Stewart's The Drunken Botanist. Delicious--it gets a 4.

Another new recipe, August 7, 2014

The Red Lion Hybrid, from Amy Stewart's The Drunken Botanist. Delicious, even more so because we used mandarins from our tree. We give this a 5.

New recipes, August 6. 2014

Grilled Breaf with Eggplant and Basil from the August 2014 Bon Appétit, and Grilled Okra and Hot Peppers from the July/August 2014 Eating Well. Both are great! We give the okra a 5, and the eggplant a 4. Served with roast pork loin.

Wine: Wild Thing 2013 Rendezvous Rosé

New recipe, August 5, 2014

Corn and Zucchini Salad with Feta from the August 2014 Bon Appetit. The zucchini, from our garden, was the size of a 5 year old's thigh, but it was still tender and delicious! We give this a 4. Served with rotisserie chicken breast.

Wine: Crios Rosé of Malbec 2013

New recipe, August 4, 2014

Today's new recipe is the Royal Tannenbaum from Amy Stewart's The Drunken Botanist. Let me say that plain Zirbenz (stone pine liqueur) is too strong a flavor, but pair it up with gin and wow! We give this a 4.

New recipes, August 3, 2014

Agh! Forgot to take a picture! The new recipes were Chicken Breast brined in Buttermilk Brine from the July/August 2014 Eating Well. This was delicious! It gets a 4. It was served with the Basil Mint Sauce from the same issue--this is a Charmoula and gets a 5!
Also served with roasted carrots and a green salad.

Wine: Mâcon Charnay Franclieu Récolte 2011--a nice match.

New recipes, August 2, 2014

Both from the July/August 2014 Eating Well: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Fried Capers, which gets a 4, and Escarole and Turkey Sausage Pizza--this had nice flavors, it got slightly overcooked. We give it a 3.

Wine: Gérard Bertrand 2008 Minervois--a nice match.

New Recipe, August 1, 2014

Happy Colorado Day! Today's new recipe is the Grilled Corn, Chicken and Bell Pepper Salad from the August 2014 Cooking Light. Very tasty, we give it a 4!

Wine: Huia Marlborough Dry Riesling 2010. A very nice wine. The recipe does have jalapeño, but the corn and onion give it an overall sweetness, so the acidity of the wine wasn't quite in balance with the dish.