tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22216784648602655732012-01-27T15:17:00.038-07:00"We didn't call it 'blogging' in my day. We called it WRITING ON TOILET WALLS."Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-61652266307022796022012-01-27T15:17:00.000-07:002012-01-27T15:17:00.046-07:00

I do not believe I am the only one who thinks the classic Bloody Mary is excessive; who can commit to a pint glass full of tomato juice without gakking?  Like a Bloody Mary but less like a heavy meal, this drink satisfies my occasional longing for the lazy drunkenness of the Big Easy without having to skip eating for the next 24 hours. Cajun Martini Serves 1 2 oz. lemon vodka (make your own--

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-17316261611690212942012-01-20T15:33:00.000-07:002012-01-20T15:33:00.363-07:00

A galette is the French version of an apple pie--simple, free form crust hugging barely-sweetened fresh fruit.  It is light, simple, and incredibly easy if you use pre-made pie crusts (though  Jacques Pepin would cry if he heard that). Quick Apple Galette Serves 6-8 1 refrigerated pie crust, warmed on the counter top ¼ cup raisins ¼ cup golden rum 4 apples, peeled and sliced ¼ inch thick 2

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-15789281920519689522012-01-14T02:47:00.000-07:002012-01-14T02:47:00.574-07:00

This cost me $12. OK, it is juvenile to call a "creperie" a "craperie"--I apologize for that.  But really, this place kind of sucks. You may know of my penchant for French goodies from reading my reviews of Le Central, one of my favorite restaurants in Denver, and Cafe Panache, one of the few edible restaurants in Greeley.  The way I see it (and I'm not in the food industry, just picky),

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-31537487566967872672012-01-06T14:46:00.002-07:002012-01-06T14:46:00.788-07:00

After visiting the Southeast a couple of years back, where all of my meals were tan (French fries, fried catfish, hush puppies..and that was just one meal), my guts were unhappy.  I’m not going to get too graphic, but I was looking for some fiber and some vegetables to make things right, and that is how this recipe was born.  Now I make this filling, comforting dish all the time, but particularly

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-83944462794986696752011-12-30T16:33:00.003-07:002011-12-30T16:33:00.917-07:00

Everyone gets all worked up about New Year's Eve parties, but I really like New Year's Day better.  The neighborhood is silent, thanks to hangovers and football games, and you have license to sleep in, schlep around in your pajamas until afternoon, and eat lots of fatty, starchy foods to sop up the leftover alcohol you poisoned yourself with the night before.  I also really love brunch food,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-44520148264818067362011-12-27T14:20:00.001-07:002011-12-27T14:20:00.450-07:00

I am not weight-obsessed (though I was once accused, behind my back, or looking anorexic by a rather tubby hippie from San Francisco); I just don't want my drinks to make me feel so full and bloated that I cannot eat the hors d'oeuvres at the next table.  There are so many great holiday beers out there, but I feel like the Michelin Man after having one.  Ditto for regular Bloody Marys or anything

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-43430138964443675932011-12-23T07:18:00.001-07:002011-12-23T07:18:00.449-07:00

I have no introduction for this.  I just really like these cookies. And it's never too late to make holday treats, even if it's December 23rd. Cherry Chocolate Shortbread Makes  about 40 cookies 1 cup butter, softened ½  cup sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose four ¼ cup corn starch ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup chopped dried cherries ¼ cup semi sweet mini chocolate chips (or finely

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-41975254587369306702011-12-19T15:58:00.001-07:002011-12-19T15:58:00.062-07:00

My last cookbook review is a departure from the other three--there's steak and chicken all over the place, and the emphasis is on tasty but quick and relaxed cooking styles. I love it, and it has revolutionized the way I host.  (And it's not too late to order for the socialite on your Christmas list.  Yes, I said Christmas.  This is a book with steak recipes in it, after all). Look how much

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-25547171629544363252011-12-16T12:19:00.001-07:002011-12-16T12:19:00.252-07:00

I hate breakfast; I know I need to eat something, but I am always too groggy to decide what it should be.  And I have learned from experience that Chili Cheese Fritoes, at least at my age, will not get you through to lunchtime. I have taken to making and freezing large quantities of muffins so that I don't have to do much thinking in the morning.  This recipe delivers some healthy ingredients (

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-22022413232794978482011-12-12T15:19:00.002-07:002011-12-12T15:19:00.338-07:00

I know, I know--it's another vegetarian cookbook.  But why am I apologizing?--everyone knows vegetables are more interesting than meat.  Consider it my gift to you--healthy eating in the new year.  And it can be your gift to someone who needs it in your family... Celia Brooks Brown: World Vegetarian Classics.  Published by Pavilion Books, 2005. This book was a gift from my sister-in-law, who

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-52458273785117847702011-12-09T17:30:00.001-07:002011-12-09T17:30:00.199-07:00

OK, I realize this is going to make me seem schizophrenic after my last, somewhat unhealthy post with a recipe for potatoes baked in cheese, but I actually don't eat like that every day. I also have to try harder in the winter not to pig out on heavy stuff, as hot food is the main way I keep warm in this drafty old house.  In the summers, it's easy  to keep my dinners light by grazing in my

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-68989888598372094392011-12-05T14:31:00.001-07:002011-12-05T14:31:00.110-07:00

Continuing my December project to share with you the greatest cookbooks in my kitchen, I humbly present to you photographer and cook Heidi Swanson.  You can follow her blog, 101 Cookbooks, to get a better sense of her style.  If you like this (it's what got me hooked), I guarantee you will appreciate her published works, as well. Heidi Swanson: Super Natural Every Day.  Published by Ten Speed

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-44320788023914358912011-12-02T08:54:00.000-07:002011-12-02T08:54:00.462-07:00

This is a little fussy, but it makes a boatload of food and it's totally worth it.  It's salty, it's spicy, and it's full of cheese.  If this crappy weather is what we have to put up with until April, then we've earned this. Green Chili and Potato Gratin Serves 6-8 4 large russet potatoes, scrubbed and sliced ¼-inch thick 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth ½ yellow onion, diced 3 garlic

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-7014332679883760342011-11-28T13:52:00.002-07:002011-11-28T13:52:00.539-07:00

Not sure what to buy your loved ones for Christmas/ Hannukah/ Kwanzaa/ Winter Solistice/ Early President's Day this year?  How about a great cookbook?  I'm not talking about one of those crappy cookbooks with poorly written recipes or boring dishes (so, no Easy Livin' Microwave Cooking, please).  Cookbooks can open a new world of flavor profiles (I learned that smug phrase from watching Top Chef)

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-2926482558144636042011-11-25T08:11:00.000-07:002011-11-25T08:11:00.507-07:00

OK, that title is totally confused; my great-grandmother was Swedish-American, and she made salmon patties for special occasions. (Leave it to Midwesterners to haul out the canned fish for "special occasions".)  What can I say, I get sappy around the holidays.  I have revamped them ever-so-slightly (added some flavoring) to fulfill those nostalgic cravings from which I sometimes suffer, but if I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-37240979994025644272011-11-18T09:13:00.004-07:002011-11-18T09:13:00.376-07:00

I have been slower to catch on to bourbon because it tastes so much like...well, bourbon.  But I'm starting to figure out that fruit juices make almost anything better.  And with the relatives coming over next week, you might as well whip up a batch of something strong to greet them.  Case in point: Bourbon-Orange Smash Serves 8Zest of 1 orange, peeled into strips and thinly sliced 2

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-75392075181336977612011-11-16T13:52:00.003-07:002011-11-16T14:28:56.983-07:00

Insert jazz hands here!  Alright, I took that cutesy title from an article I got paid to write, so don't judge.  But here's the thing: vegetables really get screwed over at Thanksgiving.  At best they are ignored--steamed and tossed with a pat of butter and some salt; at worst, they are abused beyond all recognition (if you're from the Midwest, you know what I'm talking about).  If we spent half

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-38547870829789663892011-11-11T16:02:00.001-07:002011-11-11T16:02:00.139-07:00

I love bread (all carbs, really), and I love beer.  I do not love sitting around near the kitchen for three hours while my bread dough rises, then gets knocked down, then rises again, then...hmpf.  I'm already bored talking about it.  Are you with me?  This stuff is delish and you'll be done in an hour.   Quick Beer Bread 3 cups al-purpose flour1 ½ cups whole wheat flour1 tablespoon

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-10679965763628156902011-11-09T14:22:00.000-07:002011-11-09T14:22:00.514-07:00

I have never really liked turkey--when it's freshly cooked, it tastes like nothing, and the next day, it tastes gamey.  It's stringy, it easily gets dry, and it takes forever to thaw the damn thing out (unless your last name is Trump and you buy one that hasn't been frozen, but who does that?! Occupy Wall Street!)  I don't think I'm alone here, as evidenced by the turkey deep fryer, flavor

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-50387818067892422472011-11-04T14:19:00.001-06:002011-11-04T14:19:00.144-06:00

I love the hyperlink in this blog post's title; I have always loved ramen, and now I can hold my head high when I say that (or at least at medium height).  It's fast and cheap, yes, but ramen also has a light, airy texture when cooked, and there is a distinct wheat-y flavor you just don't quite get in other pastas.  I often turn to ramen when I am impatient and have the munchies late at night,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-48678709664595600872011-10-29T11:35:00.000-06:002011-10-29T11:35:00.410-06:00

I don't really like Halloween--small children are trained to go begging door-to-door for candy.  What kind of holiday is that?  It's lame. I remember when I was in sixth grade (the oldest grade in my elementary school), I was sure we wouldn't have to dress up for Halloween anymore.  Don't get me wrong--I always dressed up with everyone else, but it was merely out of peer pressure and license to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-88215284963372628462011-10-28T07:14:00.000-06:002011-10-28T07:14:00.564-06:00

It is definitely becoming squash and gourd season, so here's a soup that's milder than the link I just sent you to... Mild Winter Squash Soup Serves 64 black peppercorns, plus ½ teaspoon black pepper4 sprigs cilantro, chopped1 cup vegetable or chicken stock2 cups water4 cloves garlic, minced2 cups peeled and diced winter squash3-4 tablespoons soy sauce1 tablespoon cider vinegar Using a mortar

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-68117028806557613472011-10-26T13:26:00.000-06:002011-10-26T13:26:00.288-06:00

Ondo’s Tapas Bar at Cherry Creek Just a half-story beneath the street is a calm, chic haven from the shopping madness that is Cherry Creek.  Its spare, boldly colored décor and flamenco guitar music, while corny-sounding, is rather pleasant, and the wall fountain cleverly disguising the concrete wall that lines the front “patio” is as inviting an eating area as anything I’ve experienced in

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-36186658104506827152011-10-21T21:07:00.000-06:002011-10-21T21:07:00.381-06:00

I actually love cauliflower; as a kid, I loved my Grandma's heavily steamed (disintegrating) cauliflower drowning in butter that she used to serve for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Unlike all the other sides, this one didn't go into one of her fancy crystal serving dishes--she plopped it down on the table in the saucepan where it was cooked.  Maybe she didn't want to bother because she knew what I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-16506247909750067562011-10-19T13:21:00.000-06:002011-10-19T13:21:26.492-06:00

Last Saturday night, I found myself in charming Rapid City looking for a good meal and a generous glass of wine (the wine goes without saying, right?).  Extensive research on Open Table yielded four restaurants in the city, and after a complex equation involving reading reviews and checking time availability (I‘m too old to eat dinner at 9pm, thank you very much, Corn Exchange), I chose

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-61758353558157718422011-10-14T19:52:00.000-06:002011-10-14T19:52:00.098-06:00

What can I say? I love beets!  I know that's not as common as saying, "I love chocolate" or "I love sports" or whatever, but they really are good.  And easy to grow.  Give 'em a try. Russian Beet Salad Serves 4 4 medium beets4 tablespoons olive oil1 garlic clove, smashed and minced1 teaspoon salt1 tablespoon lemon juice2 cups thick plain yogurtfreshly ground black pepper to tastehandful

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-14569326405046129252011-10-11T07:12:00.002-06:002011-10-11T07:12:01.174-06:00

This is part 2 of my Tastemaker charge to work with Peet's Coffee. To try your own with a little financial help, go here. The other Peet’s blend I tried for the Tastemakers program was called Café Solano.  It is also a medium blend and was loosely described as being “bright”.  Compared to Café Domingo, this is a heartier roast better suited to savory dishes.  In fact, it’s nearly perfect with

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-15634384044738019912011-10-07T08:20:00.001-06:002011-10-07T08:20:00.945-06:00

This dish is simple and rich thanks to the magic of your humble oven.  A great way to use up large quantities of cherry tomatoes or those that are no longer at their peak. Roasted Cherry Tomatoes with Pasta Serves 4 2 pints cherry tomatoes, washed and halved4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced½ red onion, dicedOlive oilSalt and crushed red pepper to taste2 teaspoons dried oregano¼ cup, loosely

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-63920937633602139682011-10-04T19:19:00.000-06:002011-10-04T19:19:10.638-06:00

As a Foodbuzz blogger, I am occasionally invited to participate in a program called Tastemakers, in which a sponsoring product will give me free stuff in exchange for a blog post about said product.  I did this recently with Sargento cheese because I like cheese and free things, but as you can see from my post, it was a little awkward for me. But when Peet's Coffee sent me an invitation, I

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-27972543311711360922011-09-30T10:28:00.000-06:002011-09-30T10:28:00.286-06:00

I borrowed the basic crepes recipe from my friend, Tiffini, who uses chick pea flour, giving a nice protein boost to this meal.  Use whatever vegetables you have, and don't be stingy! Savory Crepes Primavera Serves 4 Crepes: 1 cup flour (for a protein kick, use chick pea flour)2/3 cup water1 tablespoon lemon juice¼ cup grated zucchini, drained1 tablespoon minced red onion1 teaspoon dried

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-39378540804680946032011-09-28T09:24:00.000-06:002011-09-28T09:24:00.975-06:00

Well, in light of my recent post siding with Anthony Bourdain, perhaps this title seems a bit hypocritical.  Perhaps it would be better to praise "eating food for food's sake" and "not freaking out every time a new item at the grocery store is labeled a super food".  My thoughts today are about whether or not we can rely on our groceries to stave off cancer, keep us looking like we are 20 forever

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-29980087518060724822011-09-23T20:40:00.000-06:002011-09-23T20:40:00.108-06:00

Did we, as a culture, first learn about those browned, impossibly sweet slithery ropes of onion in French onion soup, that greasy favorite from the '60s?  Well, a trained cook probably knows the answer to that, but I don’t really care.  I love caramelized onions and think they make many things better--nay, totally different--dishes.  And don’t forget, kiddies--onions are a vegetable.  And

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-61854453914848569502011-09-16T21:00:00.000-06:002011-09-16T21:00:03.309-06:00

Last summer I complained about the state of Rocky Mountain corn and the damage it did to my delicate Midwestern palate.  Sadly, no one expressed offense; one person agreed.  So, we know we're getting screwed in the corn department.  I would venture to guess that, unless you live in Iowa, Illinois, or maybe Indiana, you are, too. Here's another trick for making that corn you thought was a good

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-45943735161980105212011-09-11T15:46:00.000-06:002011-09-11T15:46:16.760-06:00

Actually, it is fine.  Sargento cheese is lovely.  I was recently invited to participate in Foodbuzz's Tastemakers program with Sargento Cheese , which involved my having to go out and purchase said brand of cheese.  Not having ever noticed the brand before in my local store, I scoured the deli area filled with blocks of exotic cheeses and found nothing.  I headed over to the more pedestrian “

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-17316760115103478462011-09-09T20:09:00.001-06:002011-09-09T20:09:00.407-06:00

I was in Charlotte, NC for the National Flute Convention (and yes, I suppose that is as dorky as it sounds) and got a chance to check out a little bit of the city.  They have light rail, a pretty comprehensive bus system, and some chi-chi looking restaurants.  Like most cities who cleaned up their acts in the recent past (circa 1995), the old buildings in existence are all scrubbed and surrounded

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-84949360366666236992011-09-02T16:24:00.002-06:002011-09-02T16:24:00.483-06:00

I had some time to kill before flying out of lovely Lambert International Airport not long ago, so I decided to learn something about the respectable, hard-working city of St. Louis.  Now, I only spent a few hours there, so St. Louis fans, feel free to chime in with your suggestions.  What I found is that people like American food and lagers.   Aya Sofia I was looking for something a little

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0Lafayette Square, St Louis, MO, USA38.6162 -90.2157000000000338.61105 -90.22200050000002 38.62135 -90.20939950000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-83928824169095986702011-08-31T15:11:00.001-06:002011-08-31T15:11:00.164-06:00

Sass-mouthed celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is in the news for picking on sweet, down-to-earth little ol' Paula Deen.  He is the edgy, former druggie who brought you such bedtime classics as Kitchen Confidential (in which you learn that, yes, sometimes cooks put pubic hair in your food) and No Reservations, a culinarily adventurous television program in which he sometimes eats anuses. She is

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-72330345463346329492011-08-26T14:13:00.000-06:002011-08-26T14:13:00.162-06:00

This is how they do it at the Greeley Farmer's Market I celebrate my eighth year in Colorado this month, and I can definitely say that I have grown as a diner since coming out West.  It’s hard to remember a time when I didn’t know old women rolling suitcases full of homemade tamales down my street, dried mangoes dusted in chili pepper, and my personal favorite, green chili.  As a Midwestern

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-91337891833091193342011-08-24T12:51:00.000-06:002011-08-24T12:51:31.004-06:00

The creaminess in this sauce comes from goat cheese, which instantly melts into the hot pasta.  Once you've made this ridiculously simple, super-flavorful meal, you’ll never want to fuss with heavy, gloppy Alfredo sauce again! Serves 2 2 cups whole grain rotini pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ yellow onion, sliced into thin half-rings 8 oz. cremini mushrooms, cleaned and roughly chopped 2-3

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-29732561320112308372011-08-19T17:34:00.001-06:002011-08-19T17:34:00.464-06:00

And I do mean sexy...mood lighting, low music, Victorian building with lots of window seats, and most importantly, amazing food.  If I lived in Seattle, I would be as big as a house from eating at Al Boccalino... I can't say enough about how fantastic my experience was here. Beautiful, artfully done food made with fresh ingredients and minimal fuss; knowledgeable, friendly, yet unobtrusive

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com01 Yesler Way, Seattle, WA 98104, USA47.60164169999999 -122.3357735999999817.945071199999987 177.89860140000002 77.25821219999999 -62.57014859999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-15096818884309766002011-08-12T20:04:00.000-06:002011-08-12T20:04:00.211-06:00

I visited Alaska a couple of weeks ago expecting to find all kinds of creative new uses for seafood.  I didn't find any.  What I did find was a whole bunch of smoked salmon and tasty fish and chips.  (BTW, Hangar on the Wharf, while touristy as hell, really does know what they're doing.)  Now I'm back in Colorado, where people have only had access to acceptable fish with which to cook for about a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-7460925147988755822011-08-10T09:47:00.000-06:002011-08-10T09:47:09.416-06:00

Enjoy this funny article ripping restaurants' cumbersome websites to shreds!

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-90066172487847856862011-08-05T15:27:00.000-06:002011-08-05T15:27:01.652-06:00

I love the idea of combining flavorful alcohol with fresh ingredients from the garden, and I wanted to come up with something creative by myself.  It seemed beyond my amateur palate's abilities at first, but once you start experimenting, you figure it out.  This one uses very common household ingredients but seems all fancy and gourmet or whatever.  I've already had two, so shut up. Blueberry

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-58270848661869101062011-07-29T16:01:00.000-06:002011-07-29T16:01:01.367-06:00

I belatedly decided to take someone's advice and visit Empress Seafood Restaurant on West Alameda in Denver.  They have the standard Chinese meal menu, heavy on the seafood, but they also have dim sum, which I enjoy for the food and for the circus. Now, I have heard that the dim sum carts do not always come around in this place (though there is always a dim sum menu, presented much like a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-7562431507003969962011-07-26T15:00:00.001-06:002011-07-26T15:00:02.831-06:00

From the boys at The Sporkful, an enticing new set of reasons to eat ice cream this summer...

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-73271697600210841142011-07-22T14:39:00.000-06:002011-07-22T14:39:00.541-06:00

In my ongoing exploration of foods that won't heat up the kitchen, I would like to present humble couscous: exotic ingredient of the moment circa 1992, this lovely, versatile, and quick-cooking grain has been shoved to the back of the pantry in favor of millet, wheat berries, and other complicated things. But couscous is available everywhere, it is practically cooked as soon as it comes into

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-73269598176696293422011-07-15T15:53:00.001-06:002011-07-15T15:53:00.284-06:00

I love wonton wrappers.  They make short work of so many good snacks, and I like the flavor and consistency they have, too.  You can use them in place of those stupid, fragile noodles to make lasagnas (and exert more control over how huge the thing is), cut them into strips and steam, then fry for crispy noodles, and stuff them with all kinds of things for appetizers or light meals.  I like to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-92081313280539579852011-07-12T15:56:00.000-06:002011-07-12T15:56:56.413-06:00

Does this hat make me look offensively stereotypical enough? I stopped in at the local new place in my neighborhood, Cafe Panache, at 821 10th Street in Greeley. CO.  They've barely been open a week, which means they shouldn't have their act together yet, so I was prepared for things to be a little clumsy while they develop a routine.  But you know what?  I already love the place. Simply put,

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1821 10th St, Greeley, CO 80631, USA40.4225474 -104.6920340000000440.4225384 -104.69203400000004 40.4225564 -104.69203400000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-38658930988511434042011-07-08T15:08:00.001-06:002011-07-08T15:08:00.707-06:00

Ain't it the truth, brother! Funny story--I lived for a summer in southern Germany as a poor musician (as opposed to my current occupation of poor musician in Colorado).  I was young then, and my body metabolized toxins more efficiently. For some reason, tequila was very cheap in the tiny provinces south of Munich, and my friends and I often used it to quiet our growling stomachs in place of

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-70111927836019725972011-07-03T16:53:00.001-06:002011-07-03T16:53:00.480-06:00

I feel badly that I don't post anything about Independence Day, but honestly, I don't know what to write.  It is my birthday, and for many of my birthdays since I turned 14, I have spent the day playing craptastic patriotic music for old people sitting in lawn chairs.  It's just not an overly exciting day for me.  So, as you imagine me toiling in the blazing sun in a sub-par orchestra this 4th of

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-89290788779752408472011-07-01T10:35:00.000-06:002011-07-01T10:35:00.664-06:00

A prolonged winter seems to have burned directly into hot, hot summer weather here on the Front Range, and I can't be bothered cooking anything for dinner.  Instead, the patio in the back yard has become the scene of our nocturnal snacks: wine, cheese, and crusty bread.  I decided to throw these spiced grapes into the mix and discovered that, not only are they delicious, but the extra honey sauce

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-11999557784240245592011-06-25T17:46:00.001-06:002011-06-25T17:46:00.136-06:00

This is an excerpt from a full essay that will be featured on the show Telling Stories on Colorado Public Radio this weekend.  In the Denver area, tune in to 90.1FM; you can also listen ANYWHERE! at cpr.org--choose the news channel, not the classical channel.  The show airs Sunday, June 26 at 2pm and Monday, June 27 at 9pm, MDT. Drowning on a Rooftop: My Short-lived Career in Jazz When I was

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-73794756439956538062011-06-24T09:58:00.000-06:002011-06-24T09:58:00.764-06:00

I do a moderate amount of traveling, and I rarely bother to pack snacks anymore, although it is in my Midwestern blood to carry sandwiches everywhere and generally be a cheapskate.  It's just not worth the frisking at security, and those guards are never attractive.  Never. Here's what I've found so far that's edible.  Feel free to comment and your faves, too! Top picks at DIA (Denver

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-39532420557754418202011-06-23T08:35:00.013-06:002011-06-23T08:35:00.345-06:00

In honor of the Greeley Stampede, which opens Friday, might I present this humble ode to all the nasty little snacks we put into our bodies throughout summer festival season... So, I live in Greeley, Colorado, home of the world’s largest 4th of July rodeo (that’s specific, isn’t it?). It starts this week, and it’s approximately seven blocks from my house. I'm a little bit excited in spite of

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-55464935335865782972011-06-18T03:09:00.000-06:002011-06-18T03:09:00.450-06:00

This is a springy meal if ever there was one.  Try to find those delicate, thin stalks of asparagus to match the delicacy of the eggs. Serves 2 2 cups  jasmine rice 4 eggs 1 lb. asparagus, washed and trimmed 4 scallions, washed and sliced (green and white parts) ¼ cup olive oil Juice of two lemons 2 garlic cloves, minced ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard Salt and black pepper to taste 3

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-26190945658835145122011-06-10T16:15:00.001-06:002011-06-12T13:05:11.569-06:00

Mmmmm....baaaaalls! I love meatballs.  They are tasty, but more importantly, they are also ball-shaped, which is oddly satisfying to me.  I do not love handling ground beef, which is just nas-TAY and bad for you (especially given the lack of oversight exercised in America's slaughterhouses), so I have been experimenting with other ball materials.  Are you enjoying this childish prose? Both

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-2907746179038453562011-06-03T16:10:00.001-06:002011-06-03T16:10:00.240-06:00

Inspired by my need to bring something gluten free with blueberries in it to a book club meeting (it's complicated), I concocted this dish to offset all the sweets on the table.  Be advised, this recipe is gluten free as long as you don't cook the rice in vegetable broth--if you want to get all fancy and do that, then it'll have traces of gluten from the liquid. Fruited Wild Rice Salad 1 cup

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-15989948167102155592011-05-27T22:56:00.009-06:002011-05-27T22:56:00.577-06:00

There is a rash of celebrity sightings in the kitchen these days: it seems that, like environmental do-goodness and politics, celebrities' tastes in food are automatically authoritative and worth sharing.  Of course, this makes sense--why wouldn't I consult a near-anorexic actress about her food choices?   It's like asking for advice on purchasing hair care products from a bald man--it just

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-14603817157325790162011-05-20T11:53:00.000-06:002011-05-20T11:53:15.460-06:00

Well, the Rapture is supposed to be coming, so you'll either be spirited away to eternal peace and happiness by this time tomorrow, or you'll be left here to be devoured by fire or brimstone or something bad. Either way, this seems like a champagne occasion to me.  And if you're still around tomorrow, come on over.  I'll be in the back yard drinking. (PS--Champagne is so fancy-schmancy.  If

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-37542688112132480122011-05-15T09:57:00.000-06:002011-05-15T09:57:16.228-06:00

I went out for dinner the other night, and the food was fine.  It was an Italian place near my house and I could have easily made the dish myself (as is often true with Italian restaurants), but it's still nice to not have dishes to wash now and then, right?  That's worth getting robbed for a glass of wine once in a while, I think.  But the food was not the problem.  They knew how to boil pasta

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-1233835660125327292011-05-05T10:37:00.001-06:002011-05-05T10:39:21.604-06:00

Having never lived in a part of the country with a present Mexican-American population before, I grew up thinking that Cinco de Mayo meant an excuse to drink and perhaps grab dinner at Chi-Chi's Restaurant.  When I moved to Colorado, I thought that surely I would learn a greater appreciation for the cultural heritage of the Mexican people and their bravery in declaring independence.  What it

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-73348888229120546382011-04-29T15:52:00.000-06:002011-04-29T15:52:00.388-06:00

I inherited this bottle of Pad Thai sauce that promised an authentic experience when dumped over rice noodles and vegetables. Meh. It was flavored ketchup, and it did nothing to remind me of Pad Thai. (It was not bad on fries, though.)  It did, however, remind me that making Pad Thai from scratch is not difficult. I will say that, as a white girl using ingredients I pick up at Safeway, this

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-27489016038309820402011-04-22T15:40:00.000-06:002011-04-22T15:40:00.421-06:00

A few weeks ago, I found myself in Fargo for a couple of performances, and much to my surprise, I got a taste of urbanity that I have trouble finding in Denver. HoDo is the Hotel Donaldson in downtown Fargo, a renovated Art Deco building which is home to a 17-room stylish hotel (rooms are each designed around one original work of art by local sculptors, painters, photographers, etc.),  a chic

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-48495856985022127902011-04-15T16:26:00.000-06:002011-04-15T16:26:00.504-06:00

Although most days it is still too cold to sit on my front porch and drink, I do it anyway, because I am so impatient to resume my summer hobby of sitting on my front porch and drinking.  And while I am bundled up from head to toe, mittens and all, I am enjoying drinks that make me think of spring, which helps me ignore the shivering.  All recipes yield one drink, but it would be nice of you to

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-91020291747410945192011-04-08T12:37:00.000-06:002011-04-08T12:37:00.461-06:00

Ostensibly, Red's Dogs and Donuts hearkens back to Greeley's potato-loving past, offering "spudnuts", or doughnuts made with potato flour.  In reality, it's a crazy hot mess of A.D.D. junk food love--doughnuts (most are not spudnuts), "gourmet" hotdogs made with kobe beef (Why bother?  Can anyone explain this?) and all kinds of random toppings like mole sauce with pickled red onions and coleslaw

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-35780076638145610412011-04-02T20:56:00.000-06:002011-04-02T20:56:00.403-06:00

Blue C Sushi can be found in mediocre, overpriced shopping areas throughout suburban Seattle, and it's sickeningly lit with copious neon lights.  Open the doors and you are overwhelmed with insipid, thumping ambient trance music and your eyes will eventually be assaulted by Japanese sports shows projected onto the largest wall in the room (because a widescreen t.v. just isn't enough).  But here's

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-45252884208761261052011-03-25T15:41:00.001-06:002011-03-25T15:41:00.614-06:00

Take that, crumbly sawdust shortbread recipes (I‘m talkin‘ to you, Martha Stewart)!  This one’s the best! Mama Riner’s Oatmeal Shortbread Makes about 5 dozen pieces.   1 cup unsalted butter¾ cup sugar1 ½ cups flour3.4 teaspoon salt1 ½ cup quick oats Preheat oven at 325°F.  Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl.  Gradually add the flour, oats, and salt.  Press into a greased 13x9x2 pan.   Bake

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-9485787781894222002011-03-18T21:15:00.002-06:002011-03-18T21:15:00.153-06:00

Went to Terroir in Longmont the first day of Restaurant Week(s), February 26.  Here was the special menu: First CourseChoice of one:Asparagus soup with citrus mascarpone ravioli and lobster Roasted Hazel Dell mushroom salad with arugula, Haystack chèvre and Meyer lemon vinaigrette Arancini with housemade mozzarella and roasted tomato sauce Sweet potato gnocchi with dried cherries, roasted

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-41096848441127038642011-03-11T21:00:00.000-07:002011-03-11T21:00:00.433-07:00

I like to give props to my Irish roots around St. Pat's time, and I do loves me some boiled potatoes and cabbage, but it can be kinda bland.  And not brimming over with nutrients (because Irish cuisine seems to be cooked to death and then drowned in butter, see). Enter Sauerkraut--I know, it's weird!  But it adds just the right amount of pickle-y zing that Irish food needs, and apparently it's

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-77511931270272730962011-03-04T20:38:00.000-07:002011-03-04T20:38:00.630-07:00

In my line of work, I most often travel alone.  I arrive in a strange city, fumble with an unfamiliar rental car, and do at least some of my eating and sight-seeing alone.  The more gigs I have scheduled for a specific cite, the more alone time I have, because each hosting program assumes someone else is handling me. Surprisingly, the more urban areas that can handle multiple flute recitals in

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-59736552073251069422011-02-26T20:21:00.000-07:002011-02-26T20:21:00.938-07:00

I have never understood the corner bistro phenomenon.  It’s basically a cafeteria with nice lighting and OK food, right?  And even though the food looks pretty good, it’s always a little more dried out, or a little less flavorful, than you expect it to be from the view through the glass case.  So you schlep up to the counter--sometimes with an ACTUAL TRAY!-- and point to things that have been

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-10867014741307241432011-02-24T14:26:00.001-07:002011-02-24T14:27:09.721-07:00

In an effort to promote the Denver area's burgeoning restaurant scene, Visit Denver has taken a page from New York's playbook and created a huge, two-week advertisement for area restaurants.  Participants in Restaurant Week offer a 3-course menu for the fixed price of $52.80 for two, or $26.40 for one person.  Their site is a one-stop shopping center where you can search by cuisine or

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-76821188584928902032011-02-19T20:16:00.000-07:002011-02-19T20:16:00.167-07:00

Think French restaurants are out of your price range?  Let me introduce you to Le Central  in LoDo, Denver.  The food is great, the prices are right, and it’s a charming building in a charming neighborhood (parking kinda sucks during the week, but it’s Denver). Le Central opened in 1981 with the mission of bringing authentic Provençal food to the little people (my wording, not their’s).  They

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-79218789590546551852011-02-12T16:23:00.000-07:002011-02-12T16:23:00.288-07:00

I got back in touch with my Eastern European roots not long ago when I recorded an album of Eastern European flute and piano music.  Of course, for me that means eating.  And you know what?  I remembered that I love beets.  Do you think that's disgusting?  Well, you just don’t know how to appreciate them.  Here are some tips to lovin' the root vegetables that turn your poo blood-red. 1. Don’t

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-34716277267971685512011-02-05T19:43:00.001-07:002011-02-05T19:43:00.766-07:00

One day you might be headed to Greeley, Colorado.  Perhaps your grandmother lives there, or you have an underachieving nephew attending UNC (just kidding, I love you guys!!!), or maybe you are on a field trip studying sadness.  Until recently, your food choices would not encourage you to come back, but last month a fun little shop called RUMI House of Kabob opened at 1116 9th Street.  It’s

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-28382918341949088072011-01-30T19:28:00.002-07:002011-01-30T19:28:00.496-07:00

Have you bought my book yet, damnit?  Well, here's another little taster, but the book is way better! I played for a short time in a regional orchestra in my state.  We would meet once a month for four rehearsals and the concert and collect our paychecks.  Really, it was more than that; the people were extremely nice to work with, the conductor was one of the best I have ever had the pleasure

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-558899700767425682011-01-22T17:13:00.000-07:002011-01-22T17:13:09.900-07:00

Fort Collins is a great place to visit--hiking and whitewater rafting on the edge of town, unique boutiques, some decent clubs with local bands, and great food and beer.  Here are my favorites, if you're looking for somewhere to start: Lucille’s Creole Café: 400 South Meldrum If you’ve been to New Orleans, you’ll get the same classic brunch experience from Lucille’s.  Each Lucille’s location (

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-13356442626143758512011-01-15T21:53:00.001-07:002011-01-15T21:53:01.002-07:00

And with that said, a call for calmness and sanity at the dining room table (I will be doing a ton of crunches to ring in the new year.  Starting in February). Adapted from French Women Don't Get Fat or something like that... Curried Chicken with CucumberServes 4 1 tablespoon unsalted butter1 tablespoon olive oil4 skinless, boneless chicken (or turkey) breasts, cut lengthwise into ½

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-64270690191254885002011-01-08T19:06:00.002-07:002011-01-08T19:06:00.161-07:00

So, what was your New Year’s resolution?  Personally, I think it’s all a stupid game--be a useless slob and generally bad person all year, then sit around hating yourself for it on January 1st, resolve then (and only then) to be a better person in some impossible ways, and repeat.  I have friends who cleverly get around the guilt part of this by resolving to “have more fun” or “drink more” or “

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-74388649091319362452011-01-02T09:43:00.001-07:002011-01-02T09:43:00.770-07:00

BO-RING!  These soups will make it better. More simple things to do with the stuff you didn't finish after your holiday meal... Cheesy baked potato soupServes 4Skip ahead if you have enough leftover mashed potato to use... 2 tablespoons butter1 small yellow onion, chopped2 large garlic cloves, minced4 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped into small cubes (or a combination of russet and

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-52223195711735699602011-01-01T21:26:00.001-07:002011-01-01T21:26:00.119-07:00

Cooking was more fun when it was plastic and no one expected it to be edible. If you have been doing your American duty during this holiday season, you have been chained to the kitchen off and on for a month preparing bland, gamey meats (well, that's how I feel about turkey, anyway), inoffensive hors d'oeuvres for your sensitive work friends, and cooking up huge pots of vegetables and mashed

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-84476996059562688712010-12-30T15:04:00.002-07:002010-12-30T15:04:00.126-07:00

Ever have one of those nights when you’re up too late with friends, you drink too much, then you all pass out on the floor until the dog licks your faces in the morning? With New Year's coming up, I get nostalgic about these things.  I know, it’s much more romantic and charming in your 20s than it is in your—ahem—30s, but it still happens (right? It’s not just me?) and the cure is always the same

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-90042135203518238542010-12-25T09:09:00.000-07:002010-12-25T09:09:33.569-07:00

From now on, you will please refer to me as Queen of the Socialist Tubers and Bringer of the New World Order. Merry Christmas, Everyone!  Even you, Sarah Palin! http://www.slate.com/id/2278621

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-62872004017225675112010-12-23T15:03:00.000-07:002010-12-23T15:03:00.326-07:00

Chain restaurants are bad, right?  We can all agree that Applebee’s, Chili’s, and the like should not be encouraged to keep pushing out mediocre fatty food with our money.  Local is best, but there is this hybrid, the “local chain”, that poses a philosophical problem.  I grew up in Chicago and then moved around the Midwest in college, and it was in Michigan, Iowa, and Indiana that I learned

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com01620 Market St, Denver, CO 80202, USA39.7500519 -104.99761539.7459274 -105.0049105 39.754176400000006 -104.9903195tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-39058738788384362612010-12-17T14:39:00.001-07:002010-12-17T14:39:00.864-07:00

It may not surprise you all that much to learn that I do a fair amount of my grocery shopping at a “natural food store”.  I do, after all, live in Colorado, a state that is just littered with these places; furthermore, since I tend to eat more tahini, tempeh, and other oddities than the average Safeway shopper, it’s my only choice for said items.  I do not delude myself into thinking I’m

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-50818504183023379172010-12-10T14:20:00.000-07:002010-12-10T14:20:00.526-07:00

It's party season!  From now until New Year's Day, when the food hangover finally becomes permanent(ish), your friends will be more willing to come over and help you polish off your infused vodkas than at any other time of the year.  I don't like being tied to the kitchen the entire time my guests are over, so I prefer to make as many things ahead as I can.  Case in point: dips.  Throw some stuff

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-25444437905964748722010-12-03T17:06:00.001-07:002010-12-03T17:06:00.272-07:00

There are a lot of bars in the LoDo neighborhood of Denver, Colorado.  So many that it seemed a crime to not take advantage with my very own, private bar crawl.  Is that OK, or is it sad when it’s just a 36 year old woman and her husband who has the day off from work?   Before we started, we took our Groupon coupon (is that how you’re supposed to say it?) to Mangiamo Pronto! at 1601 17th Street.

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-8159530025573563422010-11-26T02:20:00.001-07:002010-11-26T10:50:11.316-07:00

Let the holiday season commence.  I love the idea of leftovers, but eatin' on the same damn gamey bird for a week after Thanksgiving gets old fast.  However, since spent the six hours cooking it, and the small fortune buying it,  you'd better get the most out of that crap-- here are my suggestions for disguising what you just ate until it's all gone. Soups are probably the most obvious way

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-52021137275261960262010-11-20T15:57:00.000-07:002010-11-20T15:57:00.562-07:00

By now, I should tell you that I am not wasting your time with the inherited sauces in my fridge that really don’t seem to work (but a tip: don’t buy Pad Thai sauce. It’s flavored ketchup. Just make your own from scratch.) One of the gems in my new collection of Asian ingredients is Mae Ploy brand yellow curry paste. I have never seen this in the grocery stores near me, but it’s pretty cheap

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-22983979737584041892010-11-19T15:21:00.000-07:002010-11-19T15:21:55.391-07:00

See my article for Examiner.com about wine pairings for holiday foods...Cocktail Hour Special Edition: Wine recommendations for Thanksgiving - Cheyenne cooking | Examiner.com

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-5171067529492438852010-11-12T16:41:00.001-07:002010-11-12T16:41:00.889-07:00

I found myself in a slightly large town in a very under-populated area and in need of a meal not too long ago.  Now, I’ve been to the steak houses that serve iceberg lettuce in galvanized steel buckets as the only vegetable option; I’ve been to the diners with homemade pie and nothing else on the menu that requires a full set of teeth to eat; I’ve even played it safe a number of times and just

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-3949607371051929922010-11-05T20:45:00.000-06:002010-11-05T20:45:00.523-06:00

I recently visited my parents, who, among many other wonderful traits, have cable t.v. And so, I was of course watching the Food Network’s “Best Things I Ever Ate”, which celebrated Cleveland’s Lopez Southwestern Grill for their crazy, insane-sounding guacamole with bleu cheese, bacon, and sage. And you know what came next . . . here is my non-meat version, and you know, even though it does sound

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-27695344581173756782010-10-29T07:36:00.000-06:002010-10-29T07:36:23.120-06:00

I have been subscribing to Groupon now for about two months, though I generally just watch the deals pass me by; I live about an hour away from the city housing Groupon’s mad deals, so it has to be pretty interesting to be worth the drive.  I did, however, break down and purchase one for an Italian bistro in LoDo, anticipating that we might someday be in the neighborhood for another reason

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-56126270275730076762010-10-23T15:40:00.000-06:002010-10-23T15:40:00.211-06:00

If you have been following the tale of the inherited Asian foods, you are aware of our friends’ move to New Jersey and depositing of various sauces, pastes, and leaves in our refrigerator. I have been experimenting with a lot of raw ingredients I had never before used, like banana leaves, kaffir lime leaves, and ghee. This weekend I turned to the various pre-made sauces and marinades taking up a

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-47428693731670512882010-10-15T14:54:00.001-06:002010-10-15T14:54:00.140-06:00

Please enjoy my humble offering, this excerpt from my new book, Driving a Rental Car in Heels. Like it?  There's more!  Order now!   Monday, June 5, 1995 I need a job.  I am calling this “family-owned and run” carpet store because it does not involve fast food, small children, or getting dirty.  I do not really have that rigid of a list of deal-breakers, but these are all things I generally

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-58970935149245862012010-10-09T03:39:00.000-06:002010-10-09T03:39:00.073-06:00

Tamarind paste, num num! What the heck do you do with this stuff? Our friends gave this to us, along with a whole bundle of other sauces and exotic ingredients, when they moved.  I’ve seen this in Asian and also in Mexican supermarkets in different forms, but I had no idea what purpose it served. It’s a tropical fruit that grows all over India, and its pulp is very sour, acting as a good foil

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-7753751260284606362010-10-07T14:48:00.002-06:002010-10-07T14:48:00.457-06:00

New and available at a discount price* to you, the loyal (or occasional, or first-time) readers of this blog!   My little collection of humorous (I hope) essays, some of which have found their way to this blog, is ready and available through Create Space Press here.  It's 110 pages of pee-in-your-pants fun!   *Enter discount code UJFDNWB2 for $2.00 off when you check out. 

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-32539598028114883722010-10-02T03:54:00.000-06:002010-10-02T03:54:00.351-06:00

Since moving to Colorado, I have become an outdoor person. I now voluntarily spend my free time sporting active wear made from synthetic fabrics and exerting myself in the blazing sun or icy snow. Never in all my torturous years of high school P.E. class would I have guessed it would happen. But let’s face it; the scenery is enough to distract you from a fair amount of discomfort. I have hiked

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-90199634576752416712010-09-24T14:24:00.001-06:002010-09-24T14:24:00.430-06:00

Yes, Lander!  Every time I go I am reminded again of its charm. Of course, I've never been there in the winter... I like Lander's location, nestled into the Rockies about halfway up the state; I like its small-town, friendly atmosphere; and I like the great beer and food.  Oh, and did I mention how cheap everything is? Lander Brewing Company, at 128 Main Street, is always my first stop. It's 

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2221678464860265573.post-13681501450685203012010-09-17T15:27:00.001-06:002010-09-17T15:27:00.394-06:00

In these companion recipes, I learn uses for kaffir lime leaves, fish sauce, unsweetened shredded coconut, and banana leaves, all inherited from our friends when they moved to the East Coast. Research about banana leaves comes from About.com; curry marinade for the fish is adapted from thaifood.about.com. Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Rice (Serves 3-4) Thai Fish Curry in Banana Leaves 3-4

Nicolehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16688689597722288373noreply@blogger.com0