Santa Fe, Part 1

We've never been to Santa Fe during chile roasting season, so CA made travel arrangements to spend 3 nights there, in conjunction with our wedding anniversary.

This is the Guadeloupe Inn on Agua Fria, near the old railroad yards and Tomasita's Restaurant--a perennial favorite.

Soon after we arrived, we walked a very short distance to Tomasita's. As always, the food, drinks, and sopapillas do not disappoint. A great start. We get a bit more gourmet as the days go on.

Breakfast our first morning is at Cafe Pascal, on the corner of Gallisteo and Water Streets. Breakfast here, and any meal, is a treat. And, for the first time since my first visit @1995, we are seated at the community table. My sister JA and I absolutely enjoyed our dinner that first trip/first night in Santa Fe. We exchanged travel stories and restaurant recommendations with our delightful dinner companions that long-ago night. CA and I have an equally great experience at breakfast, and the food is excellent.

Just walking around near the Plaza...

Our lovely cheese monger in Fort Collins recommended this cheese shop, The Cheese Monger. A really beautiful experience. Such talent; selection.

Walking to Tomasita's the first night, we passed Raaga, an Indian restaurant. For our second dinner, we sought recommendations--the obvious choice was the highly recommended restaurant. Raaga. Paddy Rawal's Indian menu intrigued us, and our waiter helped these neophytes make selections. The wine, too was perfect--light and bright.

Spinach Chaat. I'm going to try to make this very soon.

Tandoori Chicken.

Dessert. Rasmalai (sweet farmer's cheese dumplings).

St. Francis Cathedral. The Magic Hour; Le Heure Bleu.

Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeehouse on Galisteo Street, near the Plaza.

Eduardo Teodoro Valdez. Giving us Santa Fe history and tips on the best way of roasting green chiles. (Spray water on chiles occasionally, while roasting.)

From Sprouts, Santa Fe. Señor Valdez recommended these tamales.

Just a random view over the rooftops; panoramic beauty. The Jemez Mountains, probably. These compromise the southernmost tip of the Rockies. Could instead be the Sangre de Cristo Range.

New Recipes

This is not a totally new recipe. A co-worker from S-K days passed this one on from her culinary-trained daughter. Spinach and Strawberry Salad, with Poppy-Seed Dressing. 

Spinach-Strawberries-Toasted Almonds; I've added Avocado-Sweet Onion-Grilled Chicken. 

We loved the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (with Blueberries) at The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm here in Fort Collins. Found a perfect recipe on the classycooking.com website. 

Photo via classy cooking.com

We did a take 2 today 🎬🎬, but with Toasted Almonds-Strawberries-Bananas. Absolutely divine. 

This next one is my creation. Mix one-jar of Dickenson's Lemon Curd with 7-oz 

container of Fage 2% Greek Yogurt. Layer with Graham Cracker Streusel (GC crust recipe; crumbled). Top with a dollop of Whipped Cream. 

Making this today. Probably will add a crumble of Feta Cheese to the White Balsamic Glaze. We'll use julienned Basil from our terrace herb garden, rather than Mint. Will be equally as good. Might even use Basil and Mint. 

Last Friday-Saturday we used a NYTFood recipe for bagels. 

Our results were quite good for the first attempt. Need to work on shapes. Have ordered a biscuit cutter through Anazon to help with that. 

Fun Kids Summer 2016

Summer Wanes

Since somewhere near the end of July, online bloggers and Instagrammers have been eluding to Autumn, Fall, fallen leaves, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Come on! 

August is like the Sunday of Summer. 

Mellow into it; quit disappearing the best part of Summer. Cooler nights. Hazey mornings. Voluptuous blossoms. Sweet corn. Vine-ripened tomatoes. We're doing our part here in Northern Colorado. 

Tortellini salad. TDF. Smoked Gouda-garden tomatoes-red onion-tortellini-pepperoni-basil-lite mustard vinaigrette. 

Panzanella. Perfection. Late summer in a bowl. 

We're focused on good health and mostly-healthy eating. Workouts 3x a week, eating fresh food at home most days, restorative sleep, family time. Walking to restaurants, church, health club, shopping. It's truly a pleasure.

We've slowed down on the variety of travel in exchange for our tiny, rental flat here in Fort Collins. So many great family times. Being here has made the small moments important. Days and moments to cherish. 

Mary, Mary how does your garden grow?

Well, our Illinois garden is thriving by all reports. We have someone watering and watching. Here, we've just begun. D+M brought my hanging pots with them on Friday.

So far, I've used basil for Caprese Salad and a bit of dill in the Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps. Planning a favorite Tortellini Salad for later in the week.

We've been enjoying the Fort Collins Farmers Markets--Old Town and the Drake Road. Today I stumbled upon the Harmony Road Sunday Market but my errands were in another direction. 

Well have our first overnight guests this weekend. Exciting for us. Our daughter and husband, J+M, are coming from Omaha with the Fun Kids. We've been gathering ideas for small adventures and meals. There's just too little time. Patience. 

So, besides calorie counting and seriously working out... I'm in a circuit training class. (Insert belly laughs.) By mistake. I actually went in-person to register for a Monday morning stretch yoga class. The first session was both confusing and scary for me.

At one point early on I explained to the Trainer that because of back issues I only speed walk and practice Yoga. He said, "Well then Marielle why did you sign-up for this class?" As I was sleep-deprived and confused, I just looked at him. He proceeded to teach me how to use each piece of equipment. I was still thinking Yoga was somehow involved... So, when he indicated that everyone would return to the mat room in about one minute I piped-up, "Oh! For a cool-down time." 

He and I weren't on a different page, we were reading entirely different books! And, mine was in a foreign language. I decided to stay in the class--8:30am Monday and Wednesday. 

I also walk on the indoor track 2x a week and I did find a more-challenging than planned Yoga class.