The coming of fall is punctuated by large metal drums and propane jets on nearly every corner. Green chile vendors from New Mexico bring bushels of Hatch chiles to sell. The air is filled with that wonderful eye-nipping fragrance as the roasters turn the crank on metal cages of chiles over wicked flames.
The coming of fall foretells months of cold here in Colorado. There are plenty of ways to keep warm... fireplaces, skiing until you sweat, old fashioned snuggling, and cooking something good with the bushels of Hatch chiles put up in the fall.
It has been a cold winter. Five bushels have dwindled to 3. Batches of green chile stew, enchiladas, chile pot pie, and other delights have kept us from growing weary of cold nights, something to look forward to during dim days.
It's nearly impossible to get tired of green chile dishes. But sometimes there is that little urge for something different; something new. The internet yields few ideas save for new ways of doing the old recipes. And so, my mind wanders.
Green Chile Risotto
4-5 Cups stock (chicken, fish or vegetable as appropriate)
2 tablespoons butter
1 Cup sliced mushrooms
3 shallots, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
6 – 8 roasted anaheim or hatch chiles, finely chopped
14 ounces arborio rice
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 wine glasses dry white wine
2 1/2 ounces butter
3 1/2 ounces freshly grated Parmesan or asiago
Heat stock and leave on stove on low. In a separate pan heat 1 Tbsp butter. Add mushroom and saute until browned. Remove to a bowl. Melt the other Tbsp butter. Add the shallots, garlic and peppers and saute for about 3 minutes.
When the vegetables have softened, add the rice, season with salt and pepper and turn up the heat. Stir constantly until rice is translucent. Add wine and keep stirring.
Once the wine has cooked into the rice, add a ladleful of hot stock and a good pinch of salt. Stir continuously. Turn down the heat to a moderate simmer so the rice doesn't cook too quickly on the outside. Continue adding ladles of stock, stirring and allowing each ladle of liquid to be absorbed completely before adding the next. This will take around 15-25 minutes. Continue adding stock until the rice is soft but with a slight bite.
Remove from the heat and add mushrooms, butter and cheese. Stir gently. Place lid on pan and allow to sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Sunpink
Spring hit Fort Collins this weekend. The snow is gone except in the shadiest of spots. I saw one tiny pile when we ran yesterday. Of course, Winter will return for a few more encores but this weekend was NICE.
Friday night downtown was hopping with college students. We met some friends and checked out a couple bars until closing time. The streets were crowded at 2:30 a.m. with kids looking for cabs and just hanging out. Saturday was gloriously warm even at 4 p.m. when we ran.
Today I sat outside at a friends house playing with their 4 week old puppies. There were 9 boxer pups and Shelby, the mom to cuddle. Shelby is back to her svelte figure and is ignoring the puppies for the most part because she prefers to be petted and played with. She's no longer responsible for their feeding so there is no need for her to be particularly maternal.
There really isn't much outside of a kitchen or garden that smells better than puppy breath. And having a mosty toothless puppy gnaw on your nose or ears is the best therapy you could find even if you don't really need therapy. I sat and laid on a blanket soaking up puppy snuggles and sunshine. I even got the first pinkness in my cheeks for the year since I only put on 10 sunscreen this morning.
Mango curry isn't just for bad days any more. I made a batch tonight with a bit of extra sauce to try freezing it... and some to share with Ken and Colleen. The recipe is perfectly reproducible as written in my earlier post. MMMMmmmm. That and veggie spring rolls made a perfect dinner. Follow that with chocolate pots du creme for Guy's birthday cake...
Friday night downtown was hopping with college students. We met some friends and checked out a couple bars until closing time. The streets were crowded at 2:30 a.m. with kids looking for cabs and just hanging out. Saturday was gloriously warm even at 4 p.m. when we ran.
Today I sat outside at a friends house playing with their 4 week old puppies. There were 9 boxer pups and Shelby, the mom to cuddle. Shelby is back to her svelte figure and is ignoring the puppies for the most part because she prefers to be petted and played with. She's no longer responsible for their feeding so there is no need for her to be particularly maternal.
There really isn't much outside of a kitchen or garden that smells better than puppy breath. And having a mosty toothless puppy gnaw on your nose or ears is the best therapy you could find even if you don't really need therapy. I sat and laid on a blanket soaking up puppy snuggles and sunshine. I even got the first pinkness in my cheeks for the year since I only put on 10 sunscreen this morning.
Mango curry isn't just for bad days any more. I made a batch tonight with a bit of extra sauce to try freezing it... and some to share with Ken and Colleen. The recipe is perfectly reproducible as written in my earlier post. MMMMmmmm. That and veggie spring rolls made a perfect dinner. Follow that with chocolate pots du creme for Guy's birthday cake...
Friday, March 7, 2008
Making it stick
Today I made a contract with myself on www.stickk.com. It’s a contract to work out and train for the next 34 weeks. If I don’t do it, $5 goes to a charity each week. I have a referree and supporters. Sounds like a plan.
I had swimming on my schedule for today, my day off. It was a beautiful day so I was contemplating riding my bike the 6.5 miles to the gym. After making the contract, it sealed the deal. I dug out my bike and appropriate gear. I spent a frustrating half hour not finding my daypack so I borrowed Guy’s. I packed my swimming gear, locks, and the stuff for the post office into the pack.
I set off from our house headed just a bit south to catch the Spring Creek bike trail. This is a fantastic trail that angles across town toward my office. The sun was shining and there was a moderate breeze. Perfect for shorts and a windbreaker.
The trail angles northeast and my gym is southeast. I went a few miles enjoying the trail and was supposed to turn on a southbound trail called the Mason trail. Unfortunately it wasn’t marked as such so I doubled back… twice. I finally found my way to the Mason trail and went south looking for a cross street that would take me past the post office. By the time I hit a cross street, I was well south of the post office. So I headed due east to the gym after about a 50 minute ride… obviously more than 6.5 miles by this route.
The gym is brand-spankin’ new. In fact, they are having their grand opening beginning at midnight tonight (24 h fitness). They put in a 25 m pool that is only 2 lanes wide. No worries though, no one else was there. I had the pool to myself. And, I managed to have a great 50 minute swim. I even swam 150 meters without stopping for the first time. I swam 5 x 50 on the minute. My arms and shoulders are smoked!
Now starving, I got back on the bike to ride home. I took a more direct route with a quick stop at the post office to buy stamps and one at the tiny Asian grocery for thai basil which they didn’t have. The did have seafood shumai so I grabbed a package to steam for lunch. Riding time was 45 minutes. I squeezed in ten minutes of stretching for good measure before cleaning the house and taking a shower.
So for day one, I have fulfilled two of my week’s workouts and gotten 10 points toward the Butt Bustin Challenge. Time for Starvin’ Marvin to go eat again!
I had swimming on my schedule for today, my day off. It was a beautiful day so I was contemplating riding my bike the 6.5 miles to the gym. After making the contract, it sealed the deal. I dug out my bike and appropriate gear. I spent a frustrating half hour not finding my daypack so I borrowed Guy’s. I packed my swimming gear, locks, and the stuff for the post office into the pack.
I set off from our house headed just a bit south to catch the Spring Creek bike trail. This is a fantastic trail that angles across town toward my office. The sun was shining and there was a moderate breeze. Perfect for shorts and a windbreaker.
The trail angles northeast and my gym is southeast. I went a few miles enjoying the trail and was supposed to turn on a southbound trail called the Mason trail. Unfortunately it wasn’t marked as such so I doubled back… twice. I finally found my way to the Mason trail and went south looking for a cross street that would take me past the post office. By the time I hit a cross street, I was well south of the post office. So I headed due east to the gym after about a 50 minute ride… obviously more than 6.5 miles by this route.
The gym is brand-spankin’ new. In fact, they are having their grand opening beginning at midnight tonight (24 h fitness). They put in a 25 m pool that is only 2 lanes wide. No worries though, no one else was there. I had the pool to myself. And, I managed to have a great 50 minute swim. I even swam 150 meters without stopping for the first time. I swam 5 x 50 on the minute. My arms and shoulders are smoked!
Now starving, I got back on the bike to ride home. I took a more direct route with a quick stop at the post office to buy stamps and one at the tiny Asian grocery for thai basil which they didn’t have. The did have seafood shumai so I grabbed a package to steam for lunch. Riding time was 45 minutes. I squeezed in ten minutes of stretching for good measure before cleaning the house and taking a shower.
So for day one, I have fulfilled two of my week’s workouts and gotten 10 points toward the Butt Bustin Challenge. Time for Starvin’ Marvin to go eat again!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Unpacking
The best way to organize a kitchen is to make a huge mess of it while making some yummy food. This technique allows you to rearrange things into a more useful configuration. It is a process. For example, that wine in the bottle by the window would be much more useful in the glass in that cupboard. Once that is accomplished it is more obvious that the wine would be more useable if poured into my mouth… and so on.
After a few spring-like days, Winter returned today. I spent the day inside, mostly, recovering from a whirlwind weekend of parties, slush bumps, hockey, and late nights. Something winterish sounded good to cook while organizing the kitchen. I dug through the freezer and pulled out chiles. The usual Green Chile enchiladas would be good but perhaps also something new…
Tomatoless red chile
Red Chile
1 med onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lb beef chuck roast, trimmed and cubed
Flour, salt, and pepper to dredge
2 qts roasted hot red chiles, cleaned and chopped
2 heaping tsp cumin pdw
2 tsp paprika
¼ t celery salt or 1 tsp celery seed
1 ½ tsp thyme
1 tsp oregano
½ t cinnamon or nutmeg
2 bay leaves
Chicken broth (about 1-2 cups)
1 lb shrimp (optional)
Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Dredge cubed beef in flour, salt, and pepper and brown with onion and garlic. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer approximately ½ hour. Remove ½ of chile mixture including both bay leaves. Puree chiles in pan with wand blender. Add removed chiles and meat. Simmer ½ - 1 hour. Add shrimp if desired and cook through, about 5 minutes.
After a few spring-like days, Winter returned today. I spent the day inside, mostly, recovering from a whirlwind weekend of parties, slush bumps, hockey, and late nights. Something winterish sounded good to cook while organizing the kitchen. I dug through the freezer and pulled out chiles. The usual Green Chile enchiladas would be good but perhaps also something new…
Tomatoless red chile
Red Chile
1 med onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
2 lb beef chuck roast, trimmed and cubed
Flour, salt, and pepper to dredge
2 qts roasted hot red chiles, cleaned and chopped
2 heaping tsp cumin pdw
2 tsp paprika
¼ t celery salt or 1 tsp celery seed
1 ½ tsp thyme
1 tsp oregano
½ t cinnamon or nutmeg
2 bay leaves
Chicken broth (about 1-2 cups)
1 lb shrimp (optional)
Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Dredge cubed beef in flour, salt, and pepper and brown with onion and garlic. Remove from pan and set aside.
Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer approximately ½ hour. Remove ½ of chile mixture including both bay leaves. Puree chiles in pan with wand blender. Add removed chiles and meat. Simmer ½ - 1 hour. Add shrimp if desired and cook through, about 5 minutes.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Change of Scenery
Every day as I move through my daily routine, I am treated to some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable. Besides waking to Guy’s fabulous smile, I get to watch the sunrise on the mountains and the sun setting behind them. On weekends, we usually glide through a winter wonderland up in Summit County.
Most people don’t understand why we might want a change of scenery… but we decided to gather some friends and make a trip to ski in Utah. My brother caught wind of the trip and signed on to search for fresh powder with us.
The group delegated duties for researching lift ticket prices, booking the condo, arranging a rental vehicle, planning and preparing meals, etc. We ended up with a Condo at the Canyons about half way between Salt Lake City and Park City Utah, a large SUV, and of course an excess of food. The condo had a hot tub on the main floor, 3 bedrooms, and a well stocked kitchen. It was also in a great location as a base for skiing many areas.
The first day we went to Alta. Alta is up one of the Cottonwood Canyons. It is known for being steep, rocky, and having deep powder. It is also known for having long traverses to get to the good runs. It was here that Kevin began to earn his nickname, Traverse. He was our guide and would spend the weekend taking us around the mountain to all the best runs. He was terrific at checking in to be sure everyone was getting what they needed without spending too much time over their heads. I appreciated it because I am probably the weakest of the lot in terms of skiing skill and fearlessness. With a little psyching up, I can overcome most of that weakness.
Alta lived up to its reputation. We had nearly white-out conditions all day which meant fresh snow all day long. What we lacked in visibility we made up for by skiing by braille. We got one real break in the vis and immediately Traverse took us through a bowl that was deep with creamy powder. Most of the rest of the time we spent hugging the trees since vis was best in those areas. We even did one steep run that required dropping over a small rock ledge. It tested my courage to get over those rocks… not sure what it is about rocks that are so intimidating.
The second day was Snowbird. Snowbird also boasts steep and deep. Much of it seems less rocky but it has some spectacular cliff bands, glorious trees, and cornices to ramp up the adrenaline. Once again, traverses are part of the terrain negotiation and we did several to get to the good stashes. I had a frustrating morning, feeling ½ a bubble off but by mid-day was back on track. We ran a couple particularly steep runs that really ramped up the fun. And at the end of the day was a cornice drop into a steep run just below the Tram. Being a featherless chicken, I did find a notch to drop though instead of taking the cornice and trying to dodge the rocks below. “Do one thing every day that scares you” is easy when skiing in Utah. And somehow it gets easier as you do.
The last day of skiing we stayed close to the Condo and went to the Canyons. This area ranges pretty far and wide with slightly less steepness but generally ample powder. We toured the area checking out various interesting runs that the patrollers said might have good stashes. Some of them were rich. The patrol said that on a busy day they get about ¼ of the skiiers that a busy Summit County resort gets. As with the other two days, there were essentially no lift lines.
We had scheduled to leave the ski area by 4 at the latest and targeted a 3 p.m. return to the car. At about 2:45 as we rode up one more lift, at about the halfway point we suddenly say lightening which was followed by a long, low-rumbling thunderclap. Yikes! Here we are dangling at treetop height in a metal chair holding metal poles and it’s lightening. Of course, the ski area has to shut down the lifts. So when we reached the top, they made a feeble attempt to direct us to the bottom. The trouble was, it was now snowing and was nearly a white-out . We missed the turn with 99% of the rest of the skiiers and ended up back at the same lift. This area has no way out except to take another lift. Unfortunately, it was nearly ½ hour before the lifts came back online.
On our way again, we enjoyed one last run in the 3 inches of fresh that had fallen in the last hour. We crammed gear into the car, planning to pack at the airport once the snow had melted off, and headed out. Shortly after we hit the highway, we came to a dead stop. We sat on the highway for about 1 hr 40 min as it was shut down about 2 miles ahead. Our time was slipping away fast. We finally got to the airport at 6:24 for our 7 p.m. flight. As the rental car agent did the return we stuffed our bags. Guy was first off the starting line and into the terminal. I followed a few minutes later just as he called to say he was checked in. I ran carrying my bags and skis to the baggage drop off while phoning the others and telling them to run. We cut the security line and peeled off shoes, jackets, etc. for security. On the other side, we grabbed them and ran for the gate without even stopping to put on shoes . When we got to the gate, we took off our ski pants and extra clothing for more comfort on the flight. In the end, our whole crew made it to the flight. It was a wild end to a fabulous trip.
Most people don’t understand why we might want a change of scenery… but we decided to gather some friends and make a trip to ski in Utah. My brother caught wind of the trip and signed on to search for fresh powder with us.
The group delegated duties for researching lift ticket prices, booking the condo, arranging a rental vehicle, planning and preparing meals, etc. We ended up with a Condo at the Canyons about half way between Salt Lake City and Park City Utah, a large SUV, and of course an excess of food. The condo had a hot tub on the main floor, 3 bedrooms, and a well stocked kitchen. It was also in a great location as a base for skiing many areas.
The first day we went to Alta. Alta is up one of the Cottonwood Canyons. It is known for being steep, rocky, and having deep powder. It is also known for having long traverses to get to the good runs. It was here that Kevin began to earn his nickname, Traverse. He was our guide and would spend the weekend taking us around the mountain to all the best runs. He was terrific at checking in to be sure everyone was getting what they needed without spending too much time over their heads. I appreciated it because I am probably the weakest of the lot in terms of skiing skill and fearlessness. With a little psyching up, I can overcome most of that weakness.
Alta lived up to its reputation. We had nearly white-out conditions all day which meant fresh snow all day long. What we lacked in visibility we made up for by skiing by braille. We got one real break in the vis and immediately Traverse took us through a bowl that was deep with creamy powder. Most of the rest of the time we spent hugging the trees since vis was best in those areas. We even did one steep run that required dropping over a small rock ledge. It tested my courage to get over those rocks… not sure what it is about rocks that are so intimidating.
The second day was Snowbird. Snowbird also boasts steep and deep. Much of it seems less rocky but it has some spectacular cliff bands, glorious trees, and cornices to ramp up the adrenaline. Once again, traverses are part of the terrain negotiation and we did several to get to the good stashes. I had a frustrating morning, feeling ½ a bubble off but by mid-day was back on track. We ran a couple particularly steep runs that really ramped up the fun. And at the end of the day was a cornice drop into a steep run just below the Tram. Being a featherless chicken, I did find a notch to drop though instead of taking the cornice and trying to dodge the rocks below. “Do one thing every day that scares you” is easy when skiing in Utah. And somehow it gets easier as you do.
The last day of skiing we stayed close to the Condo and went to the Canyons. This area ranges pretty far and wide with slightly less steepness but generally ample powder. We toured the area checking out various interesting runs that the patrollers said might have good stashes. Some of them were rich. The patrol said that on a busy day they get about ¼ of the skiiers that a busy Summit County resort gets. As with the other two days, there were essentially no lift lines.
We had scheduled to leave the ski area by 4 at the latest and targeted a 3 p.m. return to the car. At about 2:45 as we rode up one more lift, at about the halfway point we suddenly say lightening which was followed by a long, low-rumbling thunderclap. Yikes! Here we are dangling at treetop height in a metal chair holding metal poles and it’s lightening. Of course, the ski area has to shut down the lifts. So when we reached the top, they made a feeble attempt to direct us to the bottom. The trouble was, it was now snowing and was nearly a white-out . We missed the turn with 99% of the rest of the skiiers and ended up back at the same lift. This area has no way out except to take another lift. Unfortunately, it was nearly ½ hour before the lifts came back online.
On our way again, we enjoyed one last run in the 3 inches of fresh that had fallen in the last hour. We crammed gear into the car, planning to pack at the airport once the snow had melted off, and headed out. Shortly after we hit the highway, we came to a dead stop. We sat on the highway for about 1 hr 40 min as it was shut down about 2 miles ahead. Our time was slipping away fast. We finally got to the airport at 6:24 for our 7 p.m. flight. As the rental car agent did the return we stuffed our bags. Guy was first off the starting line and into the terminal. I followed a few minutes later just as he called to say he was checked in. I ran carrying my bags and skis to the baggage drop off while phoning the others and telling them to run. We cut the security line and peeled off shoes, jackets, etc. for security. On the other side, we grabbed them and ran for the gate without even stopping to put on shoes . When we got to the gate, we took off our ski pants and extra clothing for more comfort on the flight. In the end, our whole crew made it to the flight. It was a wild end to a fabulous trip.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Cure for a bad day - Endorfin Rush
Mango Curry Stir Fry
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks lemongrass, sliced
2 t sesame oil
2 t olive oil
2 T yellow curry paste
¼ c thai basil leaves
3 habanero peppers sliced (optional)
1 can coconut milk
1 can Jumex mango nectar
1 mango, diced
Saute Garlic and lemongrass in oil. Add basil, curry, and peppers. Saute 1 minute more. Add coconut milk and mango juice. Reduce by half. Add diced mango. Let simmer while preparing stir fry.
Serve with any combination of vegetables, chicken, shrimp. Once they are stir fried, stir with sauce.
Serve with rice.
If you are really feeling masochistic and needing to use up things in the fridge… here’s a weird pairing for you.
I served this veggie stir fry tonight with seared tuna stead. Along side that was grilled asparagus and habanero poppers. Recipe to follow… think I wanted an endorfun rush?
Habanero or Jalepeno poppers
Cut the stem end off the pepper
Carve out the pith and seeds while keeping the pepper intact
Mix cream cheese and grated cheddar with just enough hot sauce to moisten
Stuff the peppers
Wrap ½ slice of bacon over the pepper to cover the stuffed end
Skewer them together
Grill over medium high heat until bacon is crispy
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 stalks lemongrass, sliced
2 t sesame oil
2 t olive oil
2 T yellow curry paste
¼ c thai basil leaves
3 habanero peppers sliced (optional)
1 can coconut milk
1 can Jumex mango nectar
1 mango, diced
Saute Garlic and lemongrass in oil. Add basil, curry, and peppers. Saute 1 minute more. Add coconut milk and mango juice. Reduce by half. Add diced mango. Let simmer while preparing stir fry.
Serve with any combination of vegetables, chicken, shrimp. Once they are stir fried, stir with sauce.
Serve with rice.
If you are really feeling masochistic and needing to use up things in the fridge… here’s a weird pairing for you.
I served this veggie stir fry tonight with seared tuna stead. Along side that was grilled asparagus and habanero poppers. Recipe to follow… think I wanted an endorfun rush?
Habanero or Jalepeno poppers
Cut the stem end off the pepper
Carve out the pith and seeds while keeping the pepper intact
Mix cream cheese and grated cheddar with just enough hot sauce to moisten
Stuff the peppers
Wrap ½ slice of bacon over the pepper to cover the stuffed end
Skewer them together
Grill over medium high heat until bacon is crispy
This too shall pass
It is ironic that trying to call the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and sitting on hold for ½ hour listening to muzac made me want to pop a bunch of pills. When my cell phone prematurely disconnected the call my thoughts turned more toward jumping off a cliff. In the end, I discovered I can’t do what I needed to do and what I had to do needed to be done through their website…
Next I called to update my National Provider something-or-other number. Another 20 minutes on hold only to find out I can’t make that update either… and what I can do needs to be done online. I love online stuff but when it won’t do what you need, what can you do?
Four updates to the same page of my credentialling application for Poudre Valley Hospital. Three calls to the resort property company to get a live person so I can book an airport shuttle. Two times printing my CME information because in the disorganization of the move I lost it. And a F*cking Partridge in a Pear Tree!
Close to a complete melt down, I took a 20 minute nap and then had an iced decaf mocha. I know that jumping off cliffs isn’t good for my health… so I opted for the next least healthy option.
Tonight I’m going to cook mango coconut curry with habanero peppers and loads of fresh veggies. ON the side will be a tuna steak seared lightly. And then there will be the habanero poppers … the only thing missing will be my Harley to eat the crispy bacon off the outside of the peppers. No doubt Guy can chop it into a breakfast burrito tomorrow morning.
That and cleaning the inside of my car (where it seems I now live), painting my toenails “Dominant Jeans” blue, and organizing my sock drawer has made my day complete.
Next I called to update my National Provider something-or-other number. Another 20 minutes on hold only to find out I can’t make that update either… and what I can do needs to be done online. I love online stuff but when it won’t do what you need, what can you do?
Four updates to the same page of my credentialling application for Poudre Valley Hospital. Three calls to the resort property company to get a live person so I can book an airport shuttle. Two times printing my CME information because in the disorganization of the move I lost it. And a F*cking Partridge in a Pear Tree!
Close to a complete melt down, I took a 20 minute nap and then had an iced decaf mocha. I know that jumping off cliffs isn’t good for my health… so I opted for the next least healthy option.
Tonight I’m going to cook mango coconut curry with habanero peppers and loads of fresh veggies. ON the side will be a tuna steak seared lightly. And then there will be the habanero poppers … the only thing missing will be my Harley to eat the crispy bacon off the outside of the peppers. No doubt Guy can chop it into a breakfast burrito tomorrow morning.
That and cleaning the inside of my car (where it seems I now live), painting my toenails “Dominant Jeans” blue, and organizing my sock drawer has made my day complete.
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