Wrap up: Simple Cooking

During our 3 weeks in Aspen (we leave Sunday), I've been paying a lot of attention to the contrast between elaborate restaurant meals and simple, more healthful home cooking -- as I've mentioned. When we arrived, I set myself a challenge: to cook without many condiments, spices, and extra ingredients; that is, I've been trying to buy only plain, unprocessed foods that are intended to be eaten at one or two meals. I'm avoiding a lot of food that normally remains on the shelf or in the refrigerator and would go to waste when I leave. Even peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches or hot dogs with crisp rolls and mustard qualify for my simple fare. <br /> <br />Here are a few things I've done. One night, I flavored pan-fried lamb sirloin with strips of red pepper, and served it with mustard, a few tomato wedges and sprigs of cilantro, and a side of steamed broccoli.<div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FHnv_eivz11mvz-i9yz-w6QDqEh8yix02U2JhnjqiRoxU07lrTi3IWoO4pMopAhGmDq_ZZn43FpTTy3roRfYfps4xJhV4nqgmIKQRFa8MQ0M4oEvp7dMz4BhPhvMkg8uaU2a97Z17SZl/s1600/simple7134.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624116918366239682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8FHnv_eivz11mvz-i9yz-w6QDqEh8yix02U2JhnjqiRoxU07lrTi3IWoO4pMopAhGmDq_ZZn43FpTTy3roRfYfps4xJhV4nqgmIKQRFa8MQ0M4oEvp7dMz4BhPhvMkg8uaU2a97Z17SZl/s400/simple7134.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a>For dessert we ate fruit: cut-up cantaloupe, and strawberries. The cantaloupe was unadorned, but I glazed the berries with a mixture of 1/3 cup apricot jam (initially destined for PB&J) and 2 tablespoons of my wonderful wine vinegar made from Italian Pinot Grigio. I heated the glaze in a pyrex cup in the microwave so that it would melt together and be able to coat the strawberries. Sugar would be easier -- but bulk items like sugar or flour weren't on my very short list of pantry staples.</div><div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue-qjfqp8CYGgkItwifIlqU-h_vQ1Bf_BjDIzhlJe2R4xnn4dTZNxl1A9wgkl7xii85sySYKFaHOlWzynZbVa_n1YrHpDksWcY7uPWVvJWjW0w2S-Ui6P3sRleaRWLG8M8DPNlAYm6n0F/s1600/simple7136.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624116923101834834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhue-qjfqp8CYGgkItwifIlqU-h_vQ1Bf_BjDIzhlJe2R4xnn4dTZNxl1A9wgkl7xii85sySYKFaHOlWzynZbVa_n1YrHpDksWcY7uPWVvJWjW0w2S-Ui6P3sRleaRWLG8M8DPNlAYm6n0F/s400/simple7136.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a>Another day, I made meatballs with sweet-sour sauce from some moderately low-fat ground beef. <div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM4vm_su7QMin22M82hl1JDYQB9nI2oFjlP1YX5uULtARd7A_shcqkv6E1EQp6mQvnqWvZ_Nm_w3maD4uy-rYszu5ssMdEDL8D-CNwr0tFeXTTLT7gLaeGcxQyki2YFnVa9RvC5KeqCAD/s1600/simple7218.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624120086113315490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYM4vm_su7QMin22M82hl1JDYQB9nI2oFjlP1YX5uULtARd7A_shcqkv6E1EQp6mQvnqWvZ_Nm_w3maD4uy-rYszu5ssMdEDL8D-CNwr0tFeXTTLT7gLaeGcxQyki2YFnVa9RvC5KeqCAD/s400/simple7218.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><meta charset="utf-8">To make the meatball mixture, I had no flour or prepared bread crumbs, but I crushed a few AkMak sesame crackers to serve that purpose. Besides fixing the texture, this gave the meat balls a bit of sesame flavor. Other ingredients: an egg, some chopped onion, and of course my Spanish smoked paprika and Trader Joe's salt, the two trusty spices I brought with me. The meatball mixture also had a tablespoon or two of the sweet-sour sauce I made. In this: a can of prepared organic tomato sauce, a drizzle of my wonderful vinegar, a shake of salt and paprika, and 2 purloined packets of brown sugar from a cafe (yes, that's cheating, I know, but I did buy a cup of coffee). I sauteed the meatballs in a bit of olive oil and added the sauce, which I'd heated in the microwave. Garnish again: tomato and fresh cilantro. On the side: fresh pineapple chunks also from the supermarket.</div><div> <br />Not all restaurant cooking is that much different, though it frequently has considerably more added fat and salt. Here is an admittedly delicious restaurant salad at Mezzaluna restaurant that wasn't that much more complex than my concoctions:<div> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCGo02w0A5Z9uNMc0mjFDv75y560cKjMEmKyBRGWn-ICiWU3H4HG75aZ9Abd2tsbJiliIkRcknbHvqhkVSDBOkH1ZYfaF7I6SpiYzD5jkkCEbRBeisw31gqjO0ScZBjOmJMSC399imfFs/s1600/simple7202.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624116919414838130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCGo02w0A5Z9uNMc0mjFDv75y560cKjMEmKyBRGWn-ICiWU3H4HG75aZ9Abd2tsbJiliIkRcknbHvqhkVSDBOkH1ZYfaF7I6SpiYzD5jkkCEbRBeisw31gqjO0ScZBjOmJMSC399imfFs/s400/simple7202.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a></div></div><div> <br /></div><div><meta charset="utf-8">The restaurant salad did contain quite a few more ingredients than most of my productions. The price was also a lot higher than cooking at home -- the overwhelming cost of restaurant meals is another motivating factor here in Aspen more than most places. </div></div>

Wrap up: Simple Cooking

During our 3 weeks in Aspen (we leave Sunday), I've been paying a lot of attention to the contrast between elaborate restaurant meals an...

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Aspen Restaurants Again

Last night we celebrated Elaine's birthday at a restaurant called "Elevation." It was excellent. Seating was in a courtyard above the actual restaurant, which seems to be in a basement. The food was excellent, and so was the service. The first course, charcutrie, was house-made and wonderful:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5882414772/" title="elaine&larry7318 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="elaine&larry7318" height="478" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5882414772_1631ecb53c_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br /><br />One of our main courses:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5881854747/" title="elaine&larry7316 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="elaine&larry7316" height="480" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6020/5881854747_271a74c75c_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br /><br />Elaine's dessert with a birthday sparkler:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5882415004/" title="elaine&larry7322 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="elaine&larry7322" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5319/5882415004_0319c652cd_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br /><br />Click on any of these to see the flickr set with more photos.

Aspen Restaurants Again

Last night we celebrated Elaine's birthday at a restaurant called "Elevation." It was excellent. Seating was in a courtyard ab...

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Eating Out in Aspen

The restaurants in Aspen are all very good. Some are famous, and some are known for their famous clients. I've already described how we also like quietly eating simpler things in our condo -- tuna and vegetable salad, chicken strips, seared lamb chops with broccoli, and always cereal for breakfast. <br /><br />The first time we ate out, we tried a very nice but unremarkable Mexican restaurant called Palapa, which didn't seem very photogenic. I'd be surprised if it's frequented by the Aspen elite either, but one never knows around here.<br /><br />Last weekend, we bicycled to the very quirky Woody Creek Tavern, around 6 miles down the extraordinary Rio Grand Trail. Woody Creek Tavern is known for home-style food in an eccentric atmosphere. The walls are entirely covered with trinkets, photos, notes from customers, and posters -- such as one of their most famous customer, the late Hunter Thompson, who ran for sheriff in 1970.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864672776/" title="aspenrestaurants14 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants14" height="180" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/5864672776_690908b95c_m.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864634842/" title="aspenrestaurants 11 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants 11" height="180" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5271/5864634842_957894975c_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />We also ate dinner one night at the famous Ajax Tavern at the foot of the Gondola which carries skiers in winter and hikers in summer. I suspect that celebrities do come here but I'm not much good at spotting them. Ajax Tavern's green gazpacho was delicious.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864631748/" title="aspenrestaurants 6 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants 6" height="180" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5107/5864631748_8a227e755e_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />Here's the Ajax Tavern kitchen/staging area:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864078481/" title="aspenrestaurants 5 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants 5" height="375" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/5864078481_49e5778639.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br />The Ajax Tavern has a lot of trendy dishes, such as truffle-oil-flavored french fries and reimagined ice cream bars:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864078385/" title="aspenrestaurants 3 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants 3" height="180" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/5864078385_1b4fb3810c_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /><br />For lunch one day, right near our condo, I tried Mezzaluna, a small cafe with a very nice patio and very appealing menu. I love the way the trees cast shadows on the big cafe awnings. My salad was very good, and I hope to go back and try their pizza.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12003515@N05/5864631532/" title="aspenrestaurants 2 by mesander2000, on Flickr"><img alt="aspenrestaurants 2" height="480" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5279/5864631532_355a8d958e_z.jpg" width="640"></a><br /><br />For access to the entire Flickr photo set -- lots more photos of each place -- click on any photo here.

Eating Out in Aspen

The restaurants in Aspen are all very good. Some are famous, and some are known for their famous clients. I've already described how we ...

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The Picnic Game from Louise

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2kOnDyXSc9VXV4l3g321nPDd8jXP8irbfJS8Df31szP_IlhrxO1wphLBJYZEePrnMFcbqXoGCMU1WxYFDpcgBVg9dficxSeARR4wIEcFGwdTg27-hae7Mwr5VBsg0VSNjFfiCOhK6fgn/s1600/PicnicGame2011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619573889644827186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2kOnDyXSc9VXV4l3g321nPDd8jXP8irbfJS8Df31szP_IlhrxO1wphLBJYZEePrnMFcbqXoGCMU1WxYFDpcgBVg9dficxSeARR4wIEcFGwdTg27-hae7Mwr5VBsg0VSNjFfiCOhK6fgn/s400/PicnicGame2011.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 325px;" /></a><br />Louise at the blog <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/">Months of Edible Celebrations</a> is <a href="http://monthsofediblecelebrations.blogspot.com/2011/06/its-international-picnic-day-time-to.html">hosting a picnic</a>!! She just announced this game today, inviting bloggers to celebrate by bringing a full alphabet of picnic treats. Louise assigned me the letter A: I'm "baking" for the picnic even though my reality right now is a condo in Aspen, Colorado, where I have no pantry supplies whatsoever. I'm looking forward to getting home in a few weeks, and baking in my own kitchen where I keep flour, baking powder, and where I have many baking dishes!<br /><br />Well, I'm going on this virtual fantasy picnic, and I'm bringing:<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-size:180%;" ><br />A -- APRICOT COBBLER<br /></span></span><br />Other bloggers will be bringing foods <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">from <span style="font-weight: bold;">B</span> to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Z</span></span>.<br /><br />Here is a photo and recipe:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAH-30A-XK-yfTuiBgT7bf2Hsi3spvpP_O7V0UD3TukFKaNz-D926L49DBuQCIUte6bCs1H6yJFCb_P3a6QK2KvUawxVCAPxyIizHd-vZ1mFl633zKBoQBqivnacWkahTPwCuEI52Zzj/s1600-h/peachcobbler.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240022911491573362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXAH-30A-XK-yfTuiBgT7bf2Hsi3spvpP_O7V0UD3TukFKaNz-D926L49DBuQCIUte6bCs1H6yJFCb_P3a6QK2KvUawxVCAPxyIizHd-vZ1mFl633zKBoQBqivnacWkahTPwCuEI52Zzj/s400/peachcobbler.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Apricot (or Peach) Cobbler</span></span><br />Preheat oven to 400 F.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Make the filling first:</span><br />1 1/2 lb ripe apricots or 9 to 10 ripe peaches<br />1/2 cup sugar<br />1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (2 for peaches)<br />1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon or lime juice<br />3/4 teaspoon almond extract<br /><br />Cut apricots in quarters. (Or peel the peaches and cut in 6-8 slices each). Toss all the ingredients together in a 9-inch round or square glass or ceramic baking dish. Let stand until juicy, about 30 minutes or as long as it takes to make the topping.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For topping:</span><br />3/4 cup all-purpose flour<br />3/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/4 teaspoon baking soda<br />1/4 teaspoon salt<br />1 teaspoon sugar mixed in<br />2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into bits<br />1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk OR 1/2 c. milk plus a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar<br />2 or more teaspoons of cinnamon-sugar for sprinkling.<br /><br />Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar in a bowl. Blend in the butter with your fingertips or a knife until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in the buttermilk with a fork just until combined. Do not overmix.<br /><br />Drop rounded tablespoons of dough on top of the filling; leave spaces in between the blobs to allow topping to expand. Sprinkle with remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon-sugar.<br /><br />Bake cobbler in 400 degree oven until fruit is tender and topping is golden, about 30 minutes. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes, and serve warm with ice cream.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">APRICOT CAKE</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67U8Js4gbl_WudBKbD3VLjF6S_2g2jYxYn4bDzHxPNsmQPUIXwj4tU2wXY_T2rByn8PiNJnKq6XtcIzLdiVGHYwyGPh3Zv08ME3Yq2PpZidlIQycxiaQSC4RoeX6nEyEZ_mbjsW1lAci2/s1600-h/cake.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237003500832075730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67U8Js4gbl_WudBKbD3VLjF6S_2g2jYxYn4bDzHxPNsmQPUIXwj4tU2wXY_T2rByn8PiNJnKq6XtcIzLdiVGHYwyGPh3Zv08ME3Yq2PpZidlIQycxiaQSC4RoeX6nEyEZ_mbjsW1lAci2/s400/cake.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>While I'm thinking about apricots and what I could do with them -- another good picnic dish with apricots would be a traditional Polish fruit cake. Similar recipes appear in many traditional Eastern European cuisines -- I always knew it as a Jewish tradition before friends gave me a Polish cookbook a couple of years ago.<br /><br />I include a scan of the cake recipe, with my notes on how to make the depicted cake:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-v3TiApuPAclV2UZJRDOo1qYdP2-n0j_g8OKBJFSU7YBY2F3OJnbAupUMEr2pWirJ92xhXmzBttY31HwYHaVtB3TldXjwM8IMU-oOKOqaLUuxsEkXTDkuXnlj1bo85uwmW8xVI9rEqAg/s1600-h/cake.recipe.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237014415579031810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit-v3TiApuPAclV2UZJRDOo1qYdP2-n0j_g8OKBJFSU7YBY2F3OJnbAupUMEr2pWirJ92xhXmzBttY31HwYHaVtB3TldXjwM8IMU-oOKOqaLUuxsEkXTDkuXnlj1bo85uwmW8xVI9rEqAg/s400/cake.recipe.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Click on this copy of the cake recipe with my notes to see a full-sized version.

The Picnic Game from Louise

Louise at the blog Months of Edible Celebrations is hosting a picnic !! She just announced this game today, inviting bloggers to celebrate ...

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Even Simpler

Continuing to report on how I cook in condo with good cooking equipent, but starting with a completely empty pantry and frige -- last night, I made the least-demanding dish there could be: scrambled eggs with red peppers, mushrooms, and chopped cilantro, seasoned only with salt. On the side: a salad and some French bread. As I've mentioned, the oil and vinegar for the salad are the basics that I always get for a temporary kitchen. Instead of mustard I used some Colorado goat cheese -- a very nice cheese that I've not seen outside the state.

Even Simpler

Continuing to report on how I cook in condo with good cooking equipent, but starting with a completely empty pantry and frige -- last night,...

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Water

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7-HCibAaTqYYvS0yfr2G6RsDXB9psRxhYuuOQJZKDZSoYgD3yrImuon8ceHNKS8b7XJpToSUZNAS3lWCmlVXnrkH3QW75rKVlda7Tp2ynOU0gtlIAsArMHjuWfY6i51vbttKGcqj__nJ/s1600/water6964.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618969719960713874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7-HCibAaTqYYvS0yfr2G6RsDXB9psRxhYuuOQJZKDZSoYgD3yrImuon8ceHNKS8b7XJpToSUZNAS3lWCmlVXnrkH3QW75rKVlda7Tp2ynOU0gtlIAsArMHjuWfY6i51vbttKGcqj__nJ/s400/water6964.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a><br />As I walked around the streets near our condo, I noticed this Fiji water being delivered to the Aspen Food and Wine Classic. Several drums of it stood under a huge semi-truck -- one of many delivering supplies to the big tents in several locations. All over Aspen, I see preparations for this event, which is happening this weekend. I'm not a food professional: no one would pay the $1200 admission fee for me to attend. So I'm outside the big tents.<br /><br />Fiji water in Aspen: this is apppaallling!!!! Think of the energy this big truck expended bringing the water up to the Rocky Mountains, and the energy expended bringing the water by boat from Fiji. I know the owners of Fiji Water are really good at promotion, and sometimes questioned about its ethics; but really, how did they sell this...<br /><br />Aspen has the most delicious pure water I've ever tasted running out of the taps. It wells up in fountains in the streets:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvcNz7jkEeV47SirlWl2t-IWJNFw4uturOmf98v50TzWGtU46EnJmO3xgPuS0Eq0Ca-Ua5v1-BMbDAF1VGK4T1ZWrIRwJ05sGsUT2yreEBYTYed4fX_flkAsjWt9qjxFXb_nMOr7tP2PB/s1600/water6970.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618969719280020546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvcNz7jkEeV47SirlWl2t-IWJNFw4uturOmf98v50TzWGtU46EnJmO3xgPuS0Eq0Ca-Ua5v1-BMbDAF1VGK4T1ZWrIRwJ05sGsUT2yreEBYTYed4fX_flkAsjWt9qjxFXb_nMOr7tP2PB/s400/water6970.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYGMXeJvzNN6_EC4oqLRxC48PNAP7eZ_5CNzP-2Eu_urVmLFxSHBQXhMkusyi3wvksj9zONahgqvSLYOkFtfUuI5QvWMOhe-SwqpM-p2wdCkF0ZVsTT2V1y1OJRpF91cwikrynVJIO_Cq/s1600/water6971.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618969714482293026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYGMXeJvzNN6_EC4oqLRxC48PNAP7eZ_5CNzP-2Eu_urVmLFxSHBQXhMkusyi3wvksj9zONahgqvSLYOkFtfUuI5QvWMOhe-SwqpM-p2wdCkF0ZVsTT2V1y1OJRpF91cwikrynVJIO_Cq/s400/water6971.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />All around us are high mountains, and the snow is melting and pouring down in little rushing trickles, rivulets and bigger streams. I'm sure it's purified a bit before going into the city water system, but probably needs very little.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfKQE49f2LBIrMEFub7xj9Hs9cwzJUIQ0W4kVONT6HBxThyphenhyphen26UMIYyNPfnJ-sGgMdg9rlMJS47ME6OBTwlKPbYCCZL6-t5_QSViRRQYo-DWhlf6pLVSfU7Jf4FcNmJB1xYZ7QK8UyW1st/s1600/water7018.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618969712644672594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKfKQE49f2LBIrMEFub7xj9Hs9cwzJUIQ0W4kVONT6HBxThyphenhyphen26UMIYyNPfnJ-sGgMdg9rlMJS47ME6OBTwlKPbYCCZL6-t5_QSViRRQYo-DWhlf6pLVSfU7Jf4FcNmJB1xYZ7QK8UyW1st/s400/water7018.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" /></a><br />Thursday morning we took a long hike to the Maroon Bells, where water was running through the meadows and coursing through the little mountain lakes. Water everywhere -- and somehow they are bringing it from Fiji. Maybe it's emblematic of the type of thing that's going on at the Food and Wine Classic, but I'll never know.

Water

As I walked around the streets near our condo, I noticed this Fiji water being delivered to the Aspen Food and Wine Classic. Several drums o...

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Cooking with basic ingredients

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptIbxvlD2TBDM977aabG63p2ovGhnb8NINQ9RBCcH2BeXD5wIKP8FmGvq-27MFQxkjUwcuS7zX9XD0nbFnvN4XxMCNUFikZckHkr6PgA-XqiRF7XF5kxpkY2o1Y1F1d0RlQcffOaZxGqd/s1600/basicfood6976.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966945618833746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptIbxvlD2TBDM977aabG63p2ovGhnb8NINQ9RBCcH2BeXD5wIKP8FmGvq-27MFQxkjUwcuS7zX9XD0nbFnvN4XxMCNUFikZckHkr6PgA-XqiRF7XF5kxpkY2o1Y1F1d0RlQcffOaZxGqd/s400/basicfood6976.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" /></a><br />Last night I cooked two dishes: baked chicken with Spanish smoked paprika (I brought it with me from Santa Barbara) and Gratin Dauphinoise, my favorite potato dish. I learned this Alpine dish when I was in Grenoble, France, so it's appropriate to make it here in the Rocky Mountains, I think. Also, it requires no special condiments or spices. It's made of sliced potatoes, a chopped shallot (could be onion or garlic), milk (I discovered long ago that it's good with skim milk though the authentic version uses cream), real gruere cheese, and butter. I heat the milk with a bit of salt and pour it over the vegetables, cheese, and butter, which are layered in the baking dish. After baking it for an hour at 300, I turned it up to 425 and put the chicken in the oven. That's it: very basic.<br /><br />So far, here are the only condiments I have:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-wQ2aAZyouVtE_pUGD1mcAnB05NXYFAWqTTVolkey878vivoamTIxM8CAAYkD25EgPG7AeqDEEHWZupwRdUFFWkPfBvida6o2kl37m2Vt0vZBVyDigsNEJCNv8_5tS8SVEGZxvKu40Cc/s1600/basicfood6961.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966951257868498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8-wQ2aAZyouVtE_pUGD1mcAnB05NXYFAWqTTVolkey878vivoamTIxM8CAAYkD25EgPG7AeqDEEHWZupwRdUFFWkPfBvida6o2kl37m2Vt0vZBVyDigsNEJCNv8_5tS8SVEGZxvKu40Cc/s400/basicfood6961.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 301px;" /></a>Mayonnaise, olive oil, white wine viengar, Dijon mustard. And you can see my temporary kitchen.

Cooking with basic ingredients

Last night I cooked two dishes: baked chicken with Spanish smoked paprika (I brought it with me from Santa Barbara) and Gratin Dauphinoise, ...

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