COLORADO'S HIDDEN SECRETS

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Peach Napoleon

This is one of my favorite recipes for fresh peaches.

Peach Napoleon

1 8 oz container of Mascarpone Cheese
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1-2 teaspoons half and half
wafer thin sugar cookies
fresh slices peaches
cinnamon for garnish

Mix together Mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla and half and half until smooth. Start with 1 teaspoon half and half and add more until the mixture can easily be spread.

To assemble follow the directions below:

Small amount of Mascarpone cheese mixture on a plate, top with
One cookie, top with
Mascarpone cheese mixture, top with
Sliced peaches

Repeat and repeat.
Top with chopped peaches.

Dust with cinnamon.

Then take a picture! LOL

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Colorado Wine Country

In my last post I wrote about the wonderful fruit orchards in Palisade. Also in Palisade are vineyards and wineries. The fertile land in the area is perfect for growing grapes. There are now twenty-one wineries located on the Fruit and Wine Byway. It makes a perfect and relaxing day to cruise from one winery to the next for tasting and self guided vineyard tours.
#coloradowineries, #coloradovineyards, #coloradowine, #coloradograpes

Harry enjoying a glass of wine at Wine Country Inn

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Palisade Orchards

We spent the weekend in Palisade, Colorado enjoying the fruit orchards on Colorado's picturesque Western Slope. The elevation is 4800 feet with close proximity to the Colorado River. The combination of water from the river, high elevation, high altitude sunlight and the cool nights produces lucious fruit that is shipped all over the country.

One of my favorite places is Z's Orchard. They are a family run operation that has been in business for over 40 years. They have dazzling zinnia and sunflower fields which surround their orchard with 17 varieties of peaches. They also have plum, apple, pear, cherry and apricot trees, and a raspberry patch. They have over 7,500 peach trees alone. Z's also makes, homemade preserves and pickles in their commercial kitchen.

Kendra and Ken of the Z's family drive from Palisade to Telluride every Saturday during the summer months to set up a farmers market…about a 2 ½ hour drive. We are so thankful for them as gardening is a chore when you live at our elevation of 8750’. Take a look at Z's website www.zsorchard.com.

I mostly grow my own herbs. I planted two tomato plants in pots this summer, both with a short maturity time. I also planted one jalapeno plant. Early on I had a few red tomatoes and a few peppers that were well on their way to a normal size. Then along came chipmunks and squirrels and they stole all of my tomatoes and peppers. It has taken another 45 days for the tomatoes and peppers to regrow. Now I have the 3 pots clustered together and covered with netting to keep the pests away…..so far so good, but we had our first frost last week on August 28^th! Our growing season was so short this year. We had the last frost June 15^th – that is only a 74 day growing season. With the weather changing, I suspect I will be making something out of green tomatoes.

Check out the photos below of Z's Orchard's their lovely, quaint store and flower fields.

Oh, by the way - I bought a case of peaches, so stay tuned for peach recipes over the next few days.

#palisadecolorado, #coloradopeaches, #coloradotomatos, #sunflowerfields, #westernslope, #telluridecolorado

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Z's Orchard

The Store Front

The flower field

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Tomatoes and Tomato Tart

I love tomato season. This year most of the tomatoes in Southwestern Colorado were affected by blight. One of our local farms has a "u-pick" tomato patch, but not this year due to the shortage. I am sure I am paying top dollar for the tomatoes that I buy from the farmers....but who cares. I just give the hard working farmers money and they give me tomatoes.They are so delicious this time of the year.

I remember going to my grandparents farm in Southern Louisiana when I was a kid and learning to appreciate a good garden grown tomato as opposed to a grocery store tomato. All the difference in the world! My Grandpa (we called him Pa) grew Better Boy tomatoes and I still think that variety is the best around. We had plates and plates of sliced fresh tomatoes with every meal. My Grandma (we called her Mama Sadie) also taught me how to can tomatoes. I will blog about canning another time.

Tomatoes Ripening in a Window With a View

Tomato Tart

I don't have an actual recipe for the tart, but this is how I made it.

Roll out one sheet of Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry that has been thawed according to package directions. Crimp the edges and prick the pastry with a fork.

Spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard over the uncooked pastry. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Add a layer of fresh sliced tomatoes and chopped fresh basil, top with shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and capers. Salt and Pepper to taste. Bake at 375 degreees for approximately 20 minutes until golden brown.

We are having this tonight with a grilled steak. Yum!!

@pepperidgefarm @Dijonmustard @tomatotart

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Farm to Table

I love going to the farmers market on Saturday morning to purchase all the fresh vegetables that I can find. Today, I was inspired to make a crudite platter. The colors are beautiful and flavors unlike anything one can find in a grocery store. I served the veges with a simple ranch dressing....the platter was empty in just a few minutes. #farmtotable, #crudite

Crudite Platter

Lupine

Wild Lupine Along My Driveway

Sunday, August 10, 2014

A Day At Alta Lakes

Last Sunday we spent the day at Alta Lakes with good friends Mike and Kelly. It is a short drive from home but at a much higher altitude. The wild flowers were gorgeous, the hiking was wonderful, the cooked-outside-lunch was perfect......the fishing was weak! Enjoy the photos.