trail builders

Melinda McWilliams – Community Gardener Blazing Trails

Tom Meehan: 47 Years Of Selfless Service And Saving Lives

NORWOOD, Colo. — In southwestern Colorado’s high desert country, atop Wright’s Mesa at 7,000+ feet in San Miguel County, the small town of Norwood offers sweeping vistas of the nearby San Juan Mountains. This community, where dedication and humility define its volunteer firefighters, saw one remarkable individual quietly step away this year after nearly five…

Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake – For My Valentines

Valentine’s Day will always be special because it marks the birth of my Virginia. Since she doesn’t like chocolate, I made a Raspberry Almond Coffee Cake as her Valentine’s treat this year. While she’s far away in Michigan, John and I will enjoy it, and the remainder will be delivered to the Norwood Fire Department….

Taste the Simple Pleasures of Finnish Salmon Soup – Lohikeitto

Paired with year-round outdoor swimming and the steady heat of a wood-fired sauna, lohikeitto—traditional Finnish salmon soup—is central to the Finnish way of life. If Finland is out of reach, let your imagination do the traveling. Picture yourself on the deck of an old wooden schooner, gently rocking in Helsinki harbor. Steam rises from a…

From the Tube to the Palace – The Essential Sausage Roll

Sausage Roll, Colo.—Inspired by the techniques of Darren McGrady—former chef to Queen Elizabeth II—the sausage roll is a masterclass in English comfort. Whether served as a “stick-to-the-ribs” snack or a refined appetizer, sausage rolls bridge the gap between the working-class street food of 19th-century London and the elegance of a contemporary royal buffet. Everybody loves…

Christmas Pudding – Prepare Now, Enjoy Later

Inspired by Mrs. Cratchit’s flaming pudding in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? Don’t worry if you missed “Stir-Up Sunday.” You can still prepare your Christmas pudding even a week in advance. This allows it to steam, cool, and soak up brandy, making it perfect for Christmas Day. Regularly adding brandy keeps it moist and flavorful. After…

Lady M’s Cherished Green Tomato Chutney Direct from the Ancient Kitchens at Finlaystone Estate

Lady M’s Green Tomato Chutney—Summer has gracefully transitioned into fall, with plenty of rain, no deep freeze so far, and the tomatoes in my garden, although no longer ripening, are abundant. And what’s more, the local apples are ripe. I know of only one recipe that can transform these plentiful harvests into something extraordinary: Lady…

French Chicken Livers – Inexpensive, Inviting and Delicious, But Yes!

Lower Your Food Bill and Increase Your Likes with French Chicken Livers French Chicken Livers—Last week I was at the farmer’s market in our small town in Western Colorado and I chanced upon a pound of frozen, organic chicken livers, straight from a local farm. I purchased them and then this morning I decided I…

Blackiston’s Quail Scotch Eggs – Rising to the Challenge of These Tiny Culinary Bastions

My mother-in-law gave me two dozen quail eggs as we left her Boulder home after our summer sojourn to the Front Range. She graciously tucked a pair of quail egg scissors into the classy gift bag as well. “A beautiful present for a cook!” I exalted. I had never before handled quail egg scissors, nor…

Quark Cheesecake – Win the County Fair with a Cafe Sabarsky Cake

Whether you visit the exquisite Gustav Klimt painting, The Woman in Gold at the Neue Galerie, in New York City, or not, you must try the Austrian cuisine downstairs at the Cafe Sabarsky, whose schnitzel, goulash and cakes are as finely wrought as any artworks in the building. Quark cheesecake, with a no-bake filling is…