some colorado lovin’
Recipe: mexico city style roasted corn with chipotle mayonnaise
I just got back from a lovely dinner at Mizuna in Denver. I rarely get down to Denver (to be honest, I avoid the city – I’m a country mouse), but 1) I’ve been hearing about this restaurant for seven years 2) we were meeting with a super fun couple and 3) there was a hand off of goods. More on the goods in a second… I’m so glad we finally went to Mizuna because everything about it was terrific – the food, the wine, the service. Here are two of my favorite plates from tonight:
hamachi crudo with edamame and shishito peppers
lobster mac & cheese
Now what exactly was handed off, you ask? I brought three jars of Chinese hot chili sauces to my friend, Ellen, and she gave me a delivery of her delectable salt caramels. Why salt caramels?
Well, I needed them for a couple of care packages… for you!
This isn’t a sponsored any such thing, this is me saying thank you for being a wonderful, supportive, funny, kind, and friendly readership. I love my regular and irregular commenters as much as those who de-lurk to say hi as much as the folks who are too shy to comment, but send really touching emails to me directly. You know who you are – you’re all awesome! So I have put together a little bit of Colorado in two care packages to give away to two of my awesome saucesome readers. The packages will include:
helliemae’s salt caramels
a bag of whole bean coffee from boxcar coffee roasters
frasca‘s red pepper jelly from cured
a boulder county farmers market tote bag
a t-shirt of your choice from either salto coffee works or tin shed sports
That’s not all! I’m also tucking in a jar of organic Colorado peach jam and a jar of organic Colorado tomato jam, both from my kitchen.
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY!
1) Introduce yourself to the rest of us by sharing one interesting fact about YOU in the comments section of this post.
2) One comment per person, please.
3) Entries will be accepted through Friday, September 28, 2012.
4) The care packages will ship worldwide.
5) Two winners will be selected at random by Kaweah.
6) Winners will be announced on Monday, October 1, 2012.
Good luck!
Sometimes you find the best food in the darnedest places. For instance, when I was in Portland, Maine last month, everyone was telling me to eat lobster, lobster, and more lobster. Sleep on lobster, bathe in lobster. Lobster lobster lobster! The first night, we started at El Rayo Taqueria and then moved on to Cantina El Rayo next door. There was no lobster on our menu. But wait – someone casually set a plate of roasted corn covered in cotija cheese in front of us early on in the meal. The cobs were cut up into 2-inch wide nibbles and everyone politely sampled the corn. Joy was sitting across from me and later into the evening I saw her reach for a second one which totally made me feel okay about grabbing a second! We were pretty hooked on that corn.
nice, healthy ears of corn
give them a soak in cold water
My neighbors seated to my right were Margaret Hathaway and Karl Schatz of Ten Apple Farm. They wrote and photographed this brilliant book (among others!) that I received upon my arrival in Maine titled Portland, Maine Chef’s Table which is a collection of recipes from the best chefs around Portland. IT INCLUDES THE RECIPE FOR THIS FABULOUS CORN. When Karl and Margaret told me, I smiled and did a happy dance (Gangnam style) in my head.
chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, mayonnaise, garlic, cilantro, lime zest and juice
chopped, juiced, zested
As soon as my package of goodies from Maine arrived in the post, I opened the book and went straight to the recipe. The ingredients are relatively easy to source and corn is still in season although at the tail end. Get on this now.
purée the peppers, sauce, garlic, cilantro, zest, and lime juice together
stir the purée into the mayonnaise
chipotle mayonnaise
The chipotle mayonnaise lends spicy, smokey, tangy, and creamy notes to the sweet, almost nutty roasted corn. It does require a little planning though, because you have to soak the corn in water for an hour, then roast it in the oven for 45 minutes, then grill another 20 minutes. But the resulting deliciousness is completely worth the wait.
roasted corn
peel the silk and husks off, but leave the stem intact
brush with vegetable oil
grill until lightly charred
While the corn was on the grill, I grated the cotija cheese onto a large plate (for ease of rolling the ears). Once the corn was charred to my liking (light char – don’t burn it to a crisp!), I took the ears off the grill and brushed them with the chipotle mayonnaise. Then each ear takes a roll in the grated cheese. Do yourself a favor and don’t let the ear sit in the cheese while you answer a phone call or take the dog for a walk. The hot/warm corn will melt the cheese and then you’ll have a giant blob of cheese stuck to the corn.
grate some cotija cheese
slather the chipotle mayonnaise on the corn
roll in cheese
ooooh yeah
Pass these bad boys around quickly as they are best consumed hot. If you stack them (like I did in the photos) some of the contact surfaces will peel the cheese off one cob and stick to another. As far as I’m concerned, it’s all good.
and you’re ready for the party!
serve hot
Mexico City Style Roasted Corn with Chipotle Mayonnaise
[print recipe]
from Portland, Maine Chef’s Table by Margaret Hathaway, recipe from Chef Cheryl Lewis of El Rayo Taqueria
12 ears of corn, husks on
canola oil
1-2 cups chipotle mayonnaise (see below)
6-8 oz cotija cheese, grated
chipotle mayonnaise
1 tbsp garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
1/2 oz. fresh cilantro, chopped
3/4 tsp Boyajian lime oil or 2 tsps lime zest (I did the zest route)
2 tbsps fresh squeezed lime juice
2 cups mayonnaise
salt to taste
Make the chipotle mayonnaise: Place all of the ingredients except the mayonnaise in a food processor or blender. Blend until smooth (if you halve the recipe, it gets hard to blend everything because there isn’t enough for the blades to get purchase). Fold the purée into the mayonnaise until completely stirred in. Add salt to taste (I didn’t add any).
Prepare the corn: Place the corn with husks on, in a bucket or deep pot or sink full of cold water. Let them soak for an hour. If the corn floats (it’s gonna float), keep it submerged by placing a heavy bowl or other heavy thing on top of the corn. A few minutes before the corn is done soaking, preheat your oven to 400°F. Drain the corn (husks still on) and place them in a roasting pan. Roast the corn for 45 minutes and remove from the oven. Let the corn cool until you can handle it. Peel away the husks and silk, but leave the stalk base intact as a sort of handle. If you are preparing this ahead of time, you can stop now and refrigerate the corn until you are ready to proceed. Otherwise – onward! Brush a light layer of canola oil over each ear of corn and set the ears on a hot grill, turning every few minutes until they are lightly charred on all sides (how much time varies with the strength of your grill’s heat). Working while the corn is still hot, brush a generous amount of chipotle mayonnaise over each ear and then roll the corn in the grated cheese. Serve immediately. Serves 12, unless someone fancies a second!
September 19th, 2012 at 1:23 am
Hi Jen,
Thanks for doing this giveaway.
I love canning and I canned over 80 jars of stuff this summer. You inspired me to get my ass in gear and get to the tomatoes, which contributed to almost a third of that formidable sounding number of jars :-)
September 19th, 2012 at 1:29 am
Hi! I enjoy reading your little tidbits about Kaweah since I also have a matching black lab named Kasper! It’s a little bittersweet being able to relate the stories of Kaweah getting older and getting more tired. I retired jogging with Kasper more than a year ago because it was hurting my shoulder to hold his leash lagging behind me. Another interesting fact (since that one is technically not about me), during my undergrad days I took pilot lessons for a year! Very rare to see a Chinese girl in the air =)
September 19th, 2012 at 1:36 am
Hi Jen,
I am one of the lurkers who don’t often comment. Anyways, a fact about me is that I am a huge hockey fan, even though it’s hard to be a fan right now with the lockout. Go Avs!
I really enjoy your blog, thanks in part to all your recipes, but also the restaurants you like because I can check them out being from the area! =]
September 19th, 2012 at 1:56 am
Also a lurker! Thanks not only for your greatrecipes but also you quick responsiveness the couple times i have commented! As someone who grew up eating Asian food at home and American food at school, I can put just about ANYTHING down my gullet…at least once.
September 19th, 2012 at 2:02 am
Hi Jen!
I haven’t commented too many times on your blog, but I read it regularly. It’s awesome to learn more about Chinese cooking, and I love looking at your photos! A fact about me is that I work as a cook, I’m especially interested in pastry, and my dream is to move to London and open my own restaurant.
September 19th, 2012 at 3:03 am
Hello Jen,
thank you for your posts – and giveaways! I have read and loved every single post on this page, but I don’t usually comment. The one thing you may or may not know about me is that I am very much into dog training. I have passed a beginners obedience test last Saturday with my miniature schnauzer! :-)
September 19th, 2012 at 3:15 am
Hi Jen
I’m a fellow lurker who along with many others love to read your blog. We’ve just started our spring here in NZ and it’s a joy to watch the trees changing into their new greenery. Only interesting thing I can think of is that my husband and I are going to grow our tomato plants over an archway this year (henceforth to be known as the TOMARCH) as last years plants grew to about 4 mtrs and didn’t stop fruiting for ages. I also discovered the joys of green tomato chutney – many jars stashed away in the pantry now.
Take care and keep blogging – you’re such an inspiration in so many ways.
Melanie
September 19th, 2012 at 3:34 am
My name is Memoria James, but I’m entering in this contest for my mother who lives in Oklahoma, while I live in southern Italy (Reggio Calabria).
I love the photos of the elote. Wow! I miss having access to queso cotija, but I still love living in this country!
September 19th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Hi Jen, I comment every once in a while but don’t ever miss a post!!! I love your pictures as much as I love the recipes. One thing about me that those close to me know is that I sing constantly when I am home….Oh do I love to sing! Can I sing and hold a tune….unfortunately no, but I sound good to me!!!!!
September 19th, 2012 at 4:31 am
Hello Jen, as always, love your post and fotos! I am German and living at your continent, just slightly down below in Brazil!
I`ll try your corn at my next BBQ, just have to find another type of cheese, which will be challenging here…
September 19th, 2012 at 5:01 am
Hi Jen & everyone..I tend to blank when I need to think of an interesting thing about myself, so I asked my son. He said that I should tell you that just yesterday, Glace Artisan Ice Cream here in KC chose a flavor I submitted, along with 2 other people’s submissions, to be featured at their shop this weekend. AND my inspiration for rice pudding with rosewater, cardamom & pistachio ice cream came from a rice pudding recipe you posted here on URB.
September 19th, 2012 at 5:08 am
Hi Jen and fellow lurkers/commenters! I stumbled upon this blog in the last few months before I moved away from Boulder, and now it has become on of my regulars! One thing about me is that I had a black lab just Kaweah’s age/size who is now thousands of miles away, living with my ex. Seeing all the beautiful pictures of Kaweah makes me think of my beloved Lita and all of the wonderful memories I have of her! Thank you for that Jen! Unfortunately, Lita is sick and is undergoing radiation for cancer. Because I know many of you have pets that you love dearly, please consider getting pet insurance for them now. No one should have to weigh money matters against the health and happiness of their furry family members.
September 19th, 2012 at 5:47 am
Hi Jen – That is great! I enjoy this blog very much for the beautiful pictures, recipes, and reminders about the night sky. Your blog is very unique. I will also look here for restaurant recommendations when I visit Boulder.
Take care!
September 19th, 2012 at 6:09 am
Hi Jen,
Thank you so much for all of the hard work you put into your blog. It’s one of my favourites and I always save it until I can relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy it. Fact: I am both a coffee addict and a coffee snob. I love, and need, good coffee everyday.
Cheers!
September 19th, 2012 at 6:47 am
Hi Jen,
I am a lurker and have followed you for a long time. I still make your amazing carrot cake. It’s my go to recipe and will never make any other carrot cake, ever! I love your photos and think you are just amazing.
September 19th, 2012 at 7:34 am
Hi everyone! I’m Sara and my fact is that I am a super super happy camper right now because I just started a doctoral program at Johns Hopkins in history! Everyone on the faculty is super nice and I am nerding out hardcore. ;)
September 19th, 2012 at 7:42 am
As a academic thinking of trying something else professionally, I am intrigued by your switch & thankful for it. I love reading your blog posts and drooling over the pictures. I love snow sports so I am excited about living vicariously through you once again this winter!
September 19th, 2012 at 7:42 am
occassional commentor, and long-time reader Joanne here — interesting about me? I love taking pictures, but have been intimidated into only using “point & shoot” cameras…. but I’m just about to buy a “real” camera, and have signed up for classes so I learn how to best utilize all the functions. Scared & excited at the same time. Some day, I’ll understand the photo-lingo you mention… Thanks
September 19th, 2012 at 7:43 am
I’ve never canned but so admire those who do. Luka (my Kaweah) and I are embracing Colorado and learning about it’s beauty, your blog is a great representation and we hope we win the drawing!
September 19th, 2012 at 7:44 am
Hi Jen,
I’m reading your blog from France, and I’m a big fan of both your recipes and your pictures.
Like you I like to cook, to eat good things and take pictures.
Tank you for your writtings !
September 19th, 2012 at 7:55 am
I’m one of those lurkers/not-previously-commenters. I am a Colorado girl at heart, but am currently getting my Ph.D. in Central New York. Your blog makes me yearn for Colorado landscapes, restaurants and foods like no other. An interesting tidbit about my life these days is that I study the evolution of reproductive traits using beetles that have red and green glowing sperm – so collecting data looks like gazing at twinkling Christmas lights!
September 19th, 2012 at 7:59 am
Love your blog!!! So want to make and eat this corn. Now. But it’s only 7am here in Portland, OR.
Interesting fact…I once met Muhamid Ali in a shopping mall in Louisville, KY. I am not making this up.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:01 am
I love your blog…and photos! I am just starting a photography class today and so excited about it. My dream is to be able to take amazing photos consistently, not just when I get lucky ;) Your carrot cake recipe is my absolute favorite, by the way!!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:09 am
The Sergeant and I got engaged after my birthday dinner at Mizuna! Love the place. And most of the other Frank Bonanno restaurants in town.
Interesting fact about me: I took a pig-deconstruction class at Bonanno’s Luca d’Italia, around the corner from Mizuna. Oink!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:10 am
It’s not an “interesting fact” about me BUT i really really need to get some of this corn, soon!! We had a very bad year of corn in southern Ontario, Canada (not enough rain)and i am severely corn defficient! feel my pain? hubby and i LOVE fresh corn so this was not a good thing. your post makes me want to “cave” and buy some imported ears today. yummy yum yum!
thanx for sharing part of your world with us! LOVE your website!
Ellen
September 19th, 2012 at 8:18 am
Hi Jen, thanks for hosting such a generous giveaway!
Something about me… in my last year of college, I have decided to not sign up for the meal plan; instead, I am learning to cook for myself! Your recipes have been such an inspiration!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:27 am
Hi Jen,
I think I’ve commented on here a few times – I love this blog; you are inspiration to me! Also, I need to make some of that corn for a kind of “say goodbye to summer” meal…
Interesting fact about me…I just put a firepit with small boulders in my backyard, and am thrilled about the onset of autumn, so it will get some serious use! I live in the woods, outside of Atlanta, and we have serious mosquitoes here, but once the night temperature dips below 60, they go away. Time to give the boulders some lovin’. Ditto for the knitting, and the raking, I guess.
I’ve been enjoying your Kaweah posts. I have a 14 year old standard poodle (2 actually – one is 6) and she is aging gracefully. I can relate to your taking shorter hikes to indulge the old dog’s need to get out and enjoy it all.
Have a great day!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Hi Jen, thanks for a lovely and thoughtful giveaway! I’m a lurker who’s quite the amateur cook but derives inspiration from blogs like yours. Not sure if it’s interesting, but the fact about me that I’m sharing is that I’m intimidated by cooking but not by baking, even though I love eating meals much more than baked goods. It’s a quandary!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:36 am
Love love love your blog-the photos are so inspiring (especially to someone just getting a feel for her dSLR camera)! One of my favorite things to photograph are my two dachshunds…I have hundreds of pictures of them-they are just too cute, all the time.
Cheers,
Christine
September 19th, 2012 at 8:43 am
Your blog inspires me. I have a really boring IT job that leaves my creative side wanting for more. So I took to the kitchen. The interesting part is that I taught myself to bake and have become the go to guy for desert amongst my friends.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:43 am
I have to confess to lurking as well. As for an interesting fact about me? I lived up in the Arctic Circle for 6 months and experienced both 24-hour darkness and 24-hour daylight. I really enjoy your recipes! I took your strawberry sorbet one and used it to make popsicles. They were a huge hit!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:44 am
Jen,
I love, love your blog – your food and photos are always so delectable, but your personal stories are the best. I feel like I have been invited into your home. Interesting fact about me: I cannot plan meals. I try every week but by the time I get home I NEVER want to cook what I have planned. Mostly because I read blogs like yours and get sidetracked by all the yummy things I have to TRY RIGHT NOW. Thanks, Jen. You’re an inspiration.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:58 am
I just moved again, and I managed to cook with only a fork and a butter knife for 3 weeks because I couldn’t decide on which set of knives to buy.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:09 am
I want to drink that chipotle mayo. WOW it looks good.
Interesting fact? I keep a live webcam feed of an alpaca farm up on my second screen at work almost all day. WEIRD, but so damn soothing and relaxing.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:14 am
Kaweah, come here. Who’s a sweet pup? Who’s a darling doggy? Attagirl!
I’ve been to Antarctica. That’s it, that’s the list. Kaweah willing, I’ll be enjoying some Helliemae’s caramels and peach jam along with the usual quiet enjoyment of your pictures and recipes.
XOXO
September 19th, 2012 at 9:14 am
I love your blog for the stories, photos and recipes, not necessarily in that order. An interesting fact about me: While I like to go for day hikes, I have never been camping (overnight or longer) in my life. It just wasn’t something my family did when I was a child so I never took it up as an adult.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:23 am
This giveaway looks awesome. One interesting fact about me: This summer was the first time I started canning in earnest, and it was fun, hot and tiring! I only canned tomatoes this year (including tomato jam and ketchup) but am looking forward to expanding our enterprise next summer!
September 19th, 2012 at 9:30 am
Thanks for putting together such a great blog. I definitely come here for recipe inspiration as well as virtual travel. Interesting fact – I’m named after a Jim Henson character (although not technically a muppet – she was live action alongside Kermit). Melora was the princess in his late 60s version of the Frog Prince. 36 years and I’ve yet to meet another one.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Hi Joy!! This is Olivia. I recently started Crossfit, and I am addicted! It’s super challenging and intense! I also love to cook and bake. I love awesome products to cook with. I love great food! The products you are giving away sound amazing and I would love to try them! :) Thanks for the opportunity to win!
September 19th, 2012 at 9:38 am
Another lurker here but the chance to win jam from your very kitchen was enough to get me out of the shadows. Something about me would be that growing up I used to camp with my family in the New Hampshire mountains. Breakfast would be a bowl of fresh picked blueberries in cold milk. It is still a breakfast favorite of mine.
You butternut squash pasta sauce is my absolute favorite in the winter.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hi Jen,
Love your blog especially the wonderful pictures ! :)
I live in Colorado too and NEAR boulder ! :)
I make peach Jam with my best bud every year and this year, your jam inspired me to add Ginger in my jam. Also I got the peaches from the Morton farms. :D
Thanks for the giveaway.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hello! I guess I am also one of those silent readers . . . love the blog; esp. the beautiful shots of the mountains and dog :) I have lived on a dusty beautiful island in the Pacific for almost ten years and use your blog to help convince my husband that one day we should live somewhere with snow and trees!
September 19th, 2012 at 9:54 am
I’m off to the grocery store and farmer’s market today, so I’m hoping to find the ingredients to make this corn!
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now but comment only every so often. My name is Andrea and I’m a food blogger as well. I just moved to Colorado (Fort Collins) last month. I’m brand new to the area and in fact this is the first time I’ve even been to Colorado. My husband and I were looking for a change of pace and wanted some mountain views and now we’re here! :)
September 19th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Hi Jen… I’m Erin. I’m a lurker, infrequent commenter and fellow Cornell alum. I live in Atlanta where I’m an attorney but also a yoga teacher. I know, confusing, right? Anyway, I love like every single thing about your blog – the photography, the food porn, the delicious recipes, and of course the commentary. :)
September 19th, 2012 at 9:57 am
Hi, Jen! Also normally a lurker and fanatic reader of your blog. I applaud everything you put your hand to. Fun fact: I sometimes scroll through your archive and reread the post about meatballs sandwiches and their inherent structural instability. I then snort coffee out my nose from laughing.
September 19th, 2012 at 10:04 am
Hi Jen! I’m a lurker and would love to win some of your canned goodies since I have no patience for canning. I know you can knit, so my fun fact is that I’m a beginning knitwear designer! It’s my “sideline career” since I do have a full-time job (but in the yarn industry, so that dovetails nicely) and a lot of fun!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:29 am
Hello Jen! I am from Tennessee, and I love your blog. It’s hard to say why I am unique I guess what comes to mind is that I used cross stitching to quit smoking. It was something I had never done before and it kept my hands busy so I could not smoke. Now I am hooked.
September 19th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Well, I have no interesting facts, as I am not an interesting person. However, I am adopting two kittens. They were born @ Buckley’s Homestead Store this past Monday.
September 19th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Hi Jen,
I am a graduate student currently in Boston and I love reading your blog mainly because you lead the kind of life that I can only fantasize of having! I especially love looking at your photography of nature (and that series you did on lightning recently – wow) and thanks for sharing so many great recipes. I have a tiny kitchen with limited tools so I’ve only attempted a few of them. As I am Asian, I love when you cook up some of your Asian favorites too! Food is definitely one of the things I miss a lot about home.
September 19th, 2012 at 10:55 am
Hi Jen, This is an awesome giveaway! I’ve never had a salted caramel before much less a spiced one. You inspire me to try new things all the time!
Something interesting about me…. uhm. Well, I love long walks on sandy beaches in the moonlight, I love flowers and romantic candelit dinners because well, let’s face it, everyone looks great in candlelight. Wait, this isn’t the dating website?
Ha!
Seriously, newbie canner here, loving the journey, not loving the mistakes I’ve made but learning SO much as I go. And it’s AMAZING how it can go forward. Now my friends are talking about canning. The revolution as begun!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:56 am
I moonlight as a Judy Garland impersonator for children’s parties. I have gone through 5 pairs of ruby slippers to date.
September 19th, 2012 at 11:00 am
My name is Sheryl and I have known Jen for more years than I can count! Jen once spent a summer in Michigan. I started canning two summers ago. We had a huge garden this year and I’m now tired of canning and I would be happy to sample some of your efforts! Love reading your blog and keeping up with you, Jen!
September 19th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Another long-time lurker here. I love your blog! Thank you for your enthusiasm delivered the way you do too. My interesting fact is I grew up in the Arctic. Not the ‘in the treeline’ sort of Arctic, but kind without trees that people usually – and very mistakenly – associate with penguins.
September 19th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Hi Jen! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and forcing my co-workers to drool over pictures with me haha. Actually, you’ve made me appreciate the snow even more. I guess an interesting fact about me…my friends regularly tell me they refuse to check my facebook unless they have food at hand, since I’m always posting pictures of what I’m eating – nothing as wonderful as yours, of course, but I do love me my noms [:
September 19th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Hi Jen,
I, too, am a lurker who adores your blog. I look forward to each new recipe in much the same way I look forward to my summer vacations here in Vermont. I’m a preschool teacher and, toward the middle of February, introduce my class of four-year olds to “Tea Time” once a week (complete with cloth napkins, fragile tea cups and tea pots, and, of course, tea savories and sweets). Your recipe for alfajores macarons was a big hit with my young tea drinkers. Thank you!
September 19th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Needless to say, that corn looks wonderful! I must get my hands on more fresh corn before the harvest runs out. :) Something about me…well, I’m crazy enough to be starting my own business (on top of writing my foodblog), teaching online classes in law school app essaywriting. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
September 19th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
I’m almost hesitant to enter, because I’m going to be in Boulder in a couple weeks! I can’t wait, and I’ve made most of my food choices based on your recommendations. (I’ll shoot you an email in the next week or so to see what you think of my specific plans.) I’ve decided that Boulder is the perfect place for my husband and I to visit together, because I love food and like hiking, and he loves hiking and likes food – and Boulder has topnotch options for both.
September 19th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
I am de-lurking to say I love your blog and your amazing photography. Your pictures of food and scenery alike are beautiful! My favorite recipe so far is for the lara bars but you have also inspired me to try canning.
September 19th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
What an awesome giveaway! I love your blog and especially your photographs. Fun fact about me is that I’m almost 30 and I don’t have a driver’s license! I’ve lived in NYC my whole life so it never seemed pressing….
September 19th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Hi Jen! I just love your food, your family and your photos. It’s like having an awesome friend in Colorado who has snazzy recipes to boot! And your family gives me warm fuzzies and gives me reminders that home cooked food links us to memories you just don’t get anywhere else. I love crafts, am trying to learn enough to love cooking, and thanks to you, I have an eye out for canning supplies (but not yet enough bravado to actually try it myself!). Thanks for sharing all your goodness with us!
September 19th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
This might actually be might first comment on your blog – I’m not sure if I’ve commented before or not – but I read your blog – love your stories, love your photos and I love the recipes you share. My sister jokingly calls me a foodie – because I’m always sharing recipes and I’m always looking for new ideas and new recipes for food that looks good – I’m watching a friends 6 year old this week while his parents are on vacation – and I’ve even been showing him recipes – and telling him that “first you eat with your eyes” – he helped me make a beautiful pizza a couple of days ago – who knows what seeds I’ve planted in him …
:whistling: :Whistling: Kaweah … come here … come on Kaweah – I’ve got a special treat for you … good boy! That’s right … pick me please!
Doreen
September 19th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
Hi Jen,
I come from Chinese roots and love your recipes because I can now make my childhood favorites at home. My grandmother passed away two years ago and I always wished I had taken notes when she cooked! Yours certainly come close. Noodle girls unite!
September 19th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
hi, I am Maddy. my token interesting fact is: I met Fidel Castro in Cuba when I was 12, on a choir tour!
September 19th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
Another lurker here, Jen. Now you know that you have lots of readers who hope you continue to find joy in this blog for a long, long time! I live in Louisville (Colorado), and if you haven’t been to Louisville to check out our town (ranked #1 on Money magazine’s Best Place to Live several years), you should make it a point to come visit. We are only 10 minutes from Boulder! It’s just like a scene out of a Norman Rockwell painting. In the summer, we have Friday night Street Faires with great live music. In the winter, we have a nice little outdoor ice skating rink right by the railroad tracks and the library. And, there are great restaurants all around downtown – really, we’re turning into a little bit of a destination for people from Denver and Boulder! I’m sure you will be glad you visited. And thanks again for your blog.
September 19th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Longtime lurker… I started reading when I came across your recipe for steamed dumplings. Whenever I see a new post from you I’m so excited. :) My interesting thing is that I’m currently studying polymer chemistry in grad school and trying to develop scaffolds for liver tissue formation. (So I love your science references.)
September 19th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Hi Jen,
Another lurker coming out of the woodwork! I absolutely love this blog, especially your star trail/astronomy images. As a home cook with a degree in astrophysics, this blog is really the best of all worlds for me. The amazing and reliable recipes don’t hurt either!
September 19th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
The most interesting thing about me is that I just finished up months of chemo & radiation – & I’m still standing!
That corn looks incredible!!!! Luckily I have everything I need to make this awesome sounding side dish.
PS – Your pictures are absolutely stunning & I must confess to using some of them for my screen savers. I check your site every day for new pictures. Especially fond of this pictures from your hikes. Beautiful country showcased by extraordinary photography.
September 19th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Hi Jen,
Thank you for the beautiful photography of both food and nature. My interesting thing is that I am working on making from scratch, and compiling, as many delicious variations on hummus as I can think of – e.g. caramelized onions hummus, or beet hummus.
Katya
September 19th, 2012 at 2:28 pm
One interesting fact – hmmmmm I’m moving to Colorado as soon as this house sells! Thank you for the giveaway – but do you think that corn will travel well to New York?
September 19th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Lurker here… hi to Jen and everyone. Fun factoid is that I birthed a baby 3 months ago, it’s still sinking in! He amazes me! I’m on a serious cooking/baking hiatus as I figure out work/baby balance, and this is my favorite site for inspiration :)
September 19th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Hmm that corn looks amazingly delicious! Thanks for this nice giveaway, you chose some really great products. I am a lurker from Switzerland. I adore your pictures, your writing, your recipes…and your dog of course! :)
Something interesting about me is that I speak 5 languages. It is quite common here but not so common in the States from what I understand…
September 19th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Mmmm – that’s my thought on your goodie bag. Fun fact: I love spending long periods in the middle of nowhere (without a shower in sight), but I’ve discovered that the only thing I need to feel clean is brushed teeth and short clipped nails. How easy! :)
September 19th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
I’m not very interesting, but I do have some interesting friends. One of my friends is married to a real life rock star! yikes!
I love your blog, I read every post, but don’t always comment…
xxoo,
RMW
September 19th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
Well, I know where I’m eating the next time I get down to Portland! Loved, LOVED your Maine pictures. I’m lucky to live here, that’s for certain.
Fun fact: I went to Frozen Dead Guy days last year! Right in ol’ Ned!
September 19th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
What a fabulous giveaway! I was out of town all summer for work, so I didn’t get to make any preserves this year and will have to eke out the winter with what I’ve got left from last year. I spent a month working in Denver once, and only made it to Boulder once (to eat Ethiopian food and see the Yonder Mountain String Band). I don’t know if this is interesting of not, but the reason I dislike certain foods is almost always the texture and not the taste. Mushrooms, I’m looking at you. On the other hand, I like oddly textured foods like tapioca and natto.
September 19th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
I found your blog looking for corn recipes on Tastespotting! I love esquites and I will be making this recipe with 3 frehs ears of corn I got in my CSA this week.
My interesting fact is that I’m an anthropologist and I have lived in Mexico and eaten many ears of corn much like these from street vendors!
September 19th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
Hehe, something interesting that’s sort of about me is that the first time I met you, two years ago at IFBC, I was totally starstruck… and even more so when you treated me like an old friend! I adore you so much for that. ^_^
Hm, and just for good measure, another interesting fact… I can wiggle my ears independently of each other. :D
September 19th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Another long-time lurker coming to the surface.
I found this blog several years ago, when a friend linked to the chocolate chip espresso shortbread recipe, and have been reading ever since. I’ve also been making the shortbread ever since. Other people have said it better, but I love all your work, Jen. The photos, the recipes, the writing, the appearances by Jeremy and Kaweah… Thank you for sharing so much of yourself and the things you love with us.
My fun fact is that, several years ago, a friend and I wrote a musical about cheese. The protagonist was a cheese who gets rejected by the cheese community for getting mold. In the process, we decided how all the different food groups in the refrigerator dealt with the inevitability of being eaten: the cheeses created a religion centered around the refrigerator light, the vegetables partied, the condiments focused on social climbing between door shelves, the dairy products created a bureaucracy with the eggs as secretaries, and the leftovers had a sort of hippie-commune thing going on. The end result was pretty awful, but it was so much fun to write.
September 19th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
Mostly lurker, although I’ve commented once or twice ages ago.
Fun Fact– From ages 18-21 I worked travelling across the country installing multi-million dollar Audio Systems for Theaters and Opera Houses! I’ve still got my hardhat and the pictures to prove it. My desk job will forever feel boring in comparison.
September 19th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Hi Jen, I’m Caitlyn, a native Mainer. I loved reading your posts about our state- I’ve lived here for thirty years now and I still love it here! A fun fact about me is that I gave birth to my two children (ages 5 and 1) here at home underwater in a birthing tub!
September 19th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I just finished my BA in secondary education with an emphasis in English while raising my 4 children alone. I am on a health kick and love my raw milk. I have learned to make my own Greek yogurt, sour cream, cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and kefir.
I cannot wait to try this yummy looking corn substituting the mayonnaise for my homemade sour cream. I think my children will enjoy!
September 19th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
I guess the most interesting thing about me is that I just graduated from grad school with a masters in education after having worked as a chef for 16 years. Sort of the opposite career trajectory but I’m super excited about it! Now I can cook for fun!
September 19th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Hi Jen,
Delurking to say hello and to tell you how much I love reading your blog and oogling at all your pretty pictures. As for the bit about myself, I’m an avid reader of historical fiction and love to cook Vietnamese food.
September 19th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Interesting fact about me—
I grew up in Mr. Roger’s actual neighborhood. And now I live in Alaska. We have the natural beauty of CO without the amazing food options.
September 19th, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Hi Jen,
Long time lurker here, I love reading your blog and looking at your pictures. I’m saving my pennies to buy a few of your Crested Butte pics for my husband as a special gift. I too live in the Colorado high country and appreciate all that this state has to offer. Interesting fact, I have my own blog that I stopped updating but think about updating almost every day. I just need to get commited again!
September 19th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I grew up never knowing how to cook. Once I met my husband and had control over his kitchen, I started to love to cook….mostly baking things :)
September 19th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
I guess I feel a little better about being a lurker, since it seems there are so many of us outing ourselves here. Interesting fact about me…hmmmm…I live in Silicon Valley in a bungalow-style home that my husband and I just finished building. I lived in CO for a short time when I was a kid (6-8 years old), and loved it. I still miss the snow, but my husband says that’s just because I never had to drive in it!
September 19th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Hi there,
I’m looking forward to trying this corn out! It looks soooo yummy. Grilled corn is the best, but oh my this is gonna be even better! Fun fact about muah…while out grocery shopping I am constantly getting shocked by produce! It happened yet again today when I reached for a bunch of green onions. They zapped me but good. I have no idea why this happens.
September 19th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Hi Jen,
I’m Thienbao, I’m a Colorado native who just moved away a few months ago for school (physics graduate school), but miss Colorado terribly. I guess that is a fact about me, but an interesting one is that since moving away, I have been learning to really cook for the first time, which I really love. So sometimes it feels like I’m learning more about food than physics.
Thanks for the blog and pictures of home. :)
September 19th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Interesting fact about me: My very favorite food in the world is Chinese dumplings. Love them boiled, steamed, pan-fried — you name it! I ate them so much when I was pregnant with my kids, I am convinced that the love of dumplings has passed to them, in vitro.
Your recipe and photos of your Chinese dumplings were, in fact, what first brought me to your blog. I thought to myself, anyone who can take that much care with dumplings knows what she’s talking about. And I’ve fallen in love with your blog ever since. Great blog!
September 19th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
I’ve been reading for a little over a year now. I’ve taken so much inspiration from you!
I am a retired home birth midwife turned actor and choreographer!
September 19th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
I am Eileen and the mother of three boys. I am having my fourth boy on Monday! One interesting fact is that my second son is 9 and the youngest farmer in the history of the Boulder County Farmer’s Market!
September 19th, 2012 at 5:53 pm
I also read but don’t comment much. I moved from Singapore to Seattle 10 years ago, away from my family. Naturally being Chinese I love food, and miss my mom’s cooking dearly. Anyway, love your blog, especially your food photography – you always capture gorgeous light!
September 19th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Hi Jen,
Thanks for putting this beautiful collection of Colorado goodness together to gift to us! I came for the recipes, connected with the photography (former art major and photography lover here) and with the snippets of science (I’m an informal science educator at a science museum in SF, come visit!), but was ultimately hooked by Kaweah, who is a dead ringer for Kelli, another black lab who was our family dog growing up. She joined our family when I was 3 and almost made it through my freshman year of college (nearly 17 yrs!) and I still miss her over 6 yrs later! Scratch her ears for me?!
September 19th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
I’m another lurker. I grew up in Boulder….even graduated from BHS. I now live in Northern VA. If memory serves I think you grew up here – maybe in the Virginia Beach area? Anyway, I’d love to swap places with you! Thanks for all the great photography and recipes and stories.
September 19th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
I’m living in Mongolia for a couple of months and still getting inspired by your beautiful photos and recipes. I’m struggling to find corn here though :). Thanks for putting so much thought and hard work into your blog, it makes reading and cooking from it a total pleasure.
September 19th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Hi Jen, Thanks for the great blog. One interesting thing about me is that I live on remote nature preserve with my husband (the program manager) and dog (the assistant program manager, I guess). Not a hunting preserve, mind you. It’s all about about conservation here. It’s pretty awesome.
September 19th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
i love to sing out loud, even when people are listening!!!!!
September 19th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Hi Jen-
My name is Abbey and I am the lucky Lab that lives at Caribou Ranch Open Space (although I don’t get to hike on the trails). My mom is the ranger you see around town from time to time. She really likes your blog and it has inspired her to try some new and exciting recipes. She’d love to start a food blog, but there already is a fantastic one featuring a cute black lab.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Great giveaway! Your blog has been such an inspiration ask have pushed myself to be more creative and honed my kitchen skills. I started a school garden army children’s school this year and have picked them over 120 lbs of tomatoes already! Last year I initiated a salad bar and we are now purchasing local beef for the students. We are well in our way to a successful Farm to School program. Thanks for the chance!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:27 pm
Long time lurker as well! I love your recipes and photos. Fun fact: I plan on taking a trip with the Himalayan Health Exchange as a medical student next year to provide health care to remote villages in the Himalayas.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
Fun fact: I’m an organic chemist and I think one of my favorite posts was geeking out over the lavender lemonade color change
September 19th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
I check your blog almost everyday!!
Fun fact: I’m near sighted in one eye and far sighted in the other….
Thanks!!
September 19th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Hi! I’ve been reading this blog for several years now. My job has me traveling all over the world. I was just in CO this past week.
September 19th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
I mostly lurk on your blog, but I have left comments in the past. I took up figure skating as an adult around 20 years ago. People assume that you have a child that skates, but nope, I’m the skater.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Hello! I’m a vegetarian who just got a job at a burger joint. Oh and my friends and I live by your Scallion Pancake recipe. TOO DELICIOUS!
Natalie
September 19th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
I’ve been a lurker for many years, and have enjoyed every one of your posts. (My friends thank you for your fabulous Chinese dumplings post!) It’s so cool that you’re doing a lot of canning this year! My hobby is baking levain-based breads (play with parasites at work during the day, play with yeast and bacteria at night).
September 19th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Hi Jen – I’m an avid and DAILY reader of your wonderful blog. I check it daily, it’s a must. I don’t know how to express in words what your blog means to me, so please PLEASE keep it up!
Fun fact about me: I am a City Clerk for a city in Arkansas. I am running for election this year and consider my work an honor, a privilege and some of the best work I have ever done in my life, besides raising my kids. I am into photography and food and art – so naturally am attracted and thrive on your blog. Much love to you.
September 19th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
I have left a few comments here and there. I am very inspired by your photography and delicious looking recipes. I moved to CO (Boulder) a year ago, and have followed your Boulder sandwich reviews very closely. I’m curious if you like breakfast sandwiches and where you think the best one in Boulder is? It’s hard for me to not make an egg sandwich every morning!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:07 pm
Hi!
I’ve never left a comment before, but this is too good to pass up! I stumbled upon your blog about six months ago, read it obsessively, and have made about 15 of your recipes–and not one has disappointed me! So, thank you. I even showed your photographs of the solar eclipse to my third grade students, who were duly impressed! An interesting fact about me is: I grew up in small-town WY but ended up living in Burma for five years of my life. Thank you for your wonderfully inspiring blog. I truly love it!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:27 pm
lurker #????! love your blog & the photography. an interesting fact about me is that i used to live in a tiny town in australia called largs and there were only about 50 kids in my school, k-6!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Hello from Berkeley, CA!
I’m currently a student at Berkeley, doing my undergraduate in, what I hope to be, an Economics/Molecular Cell Biology double. I’m originally from Portland, OR though (I pay that expensive out of state tuition…). I love your blog though!! Over the summer while I volunteered at a dermatology lab, I would read through all your posts, admire the food, and wonder at the amazing photos!
September 19th, 2012 at 10:45 pm
I have never commented… I am a chronic lurker! I am married to a tattoo artist who I met in San Francisco. During the day I work in a vector borne disease lab and study biology. At night I pack lunches, give baths and run around with my two young daughters and our twelve hens. The first night I read your blog, I stayed up and made Chinese Tea eggs for my oldest daughter’s lunch. She was so impressed! She begs me for them each week!
Thank you for your recipes and your words!
-Briana
September 19th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
P.S. I am trying to convince my husband that there are places where nature and culture collide (paradise?) using your blog as evidence!
September 19th, 2012 at 11:12 pm
With 114 Nibbles and counting, this will be no small feat to win. Have you told Ms Kaweah how handsome my dog Duke is? Perhaps that will sway her opinion.
:-)
My interesting bit of news is that I write a food blog, and it was largely inspired by discovering your blog! You gave me inspiration for what it could be and I’ve so enjoyed making many of your recipes.
Thank you!
September 19th, 2012 at 11:15 pm
Hi there!
Such a great giveaway idea – homemade canned goods sound awesome. You are my go to blog for new recipes – your cream scones are a staple in these parts.
I’m an avid crafter and am planning to start my first Etsy shop as soon as I decide on a name!
Thanks for creating and maintaining such a nice little oasis online!
September 19th, 2012 at 11:43 pm
I’m a lurker, but I’ve had your blog bookmarked for years and I’ve tried many of your recipes: falafel, jook, korean bbq burgers, etc.
I like pandas.
September 19th, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Hi Jen,
I’m a guilty lurker and shy poster. :-)
Thank you for the give away it definitely made me come out of my shell.
Hmmm…So I’m pretty boring….LOL but I guess the one fact people are surprised about is that I am a second degree black belt in Chinese Martial Arts.
September 20th, 2012 at 12:26 am
I love to teach myself new things. Next up, canning tomatoes.
Amy
September 20th, 2012 at 12:54 am
I was raised on the Coast of North Carolina and we would have corn to eat all summer! We would grill it. Boil it. Bake it. It was also cooked in the oyster and seafood roast. All fresh from the fields! Yum!
September 20th, 2012 at 1:47 am
I love cooking and finding new recipes on all the blogs
September 20th, 2012 at 2:50 am
Hi Jen!
A warm greetings from Malaysia!
Have been following your blog for quite some time and definately i’m a guilty lurker, today is the 1st time i post on your blog…finally!
Well i was borned and raised in the island of food paradise named Penang and i love cooking so so much!
My grandma is a Peranakan a.k.a Baba & Nyonya, she inspired my mom a lot in her cooking and so as me. I was amazed by your photos when i discovered your blog and you have pumped in some new inspiration in my cooking too. Keep up the good work, Jen!
September 20th, 2012 at 2:54 am
Hi Jen,
My name is Juan and I have never comment before as I am from Madrid (Spain) and my English is not very good, so this is my first time. Sorry for the mistakes. I have been reading your webpage for the last 2 years and I canned, baked, cooked… near every single recipe published. I love the candied orange peels, the carrot cake, falafel, tom kah kai (our favorite), samosas….. and in a few days the roasted corn, even it’s quite difficult to find some ingredients here in Spain. I also love your photos. I’m jealous because Colorado countryside and the hikings with the dog. I truly love your blog.
You are invited to visit us in Spain whenever you like and enjoy a real paella or churros.
September 20th, 2012 at 3:05 am
Hi Jen,
As I awake here in Miami early with my warm cup of coffee, I enjoy reading what is new for you in your part of the world. It has become quite the ritual for me as early morning quiet is a welcome thing for me with 4 kids; all girls ages 6-12. I stumbled on your blog while looking for empanadas (and no I haven’t tried to freeze them yet as we eat them right away) and I have been hooked ever since. You and I seem to enjoy the same things and I somehow live vicariously through you. Miami is a great city, but being a girl from the Midwest myself, I miss the seasons, the fresh homegrown vegetables and of course the scenery. So somehow your blog seems to take me back “home” where the sunrise is glorious and the smell of fresh baked bread or cookies fills the house.
I think its great that you are such a giving person and I think it pretty amazing that you are giving away some pretty cool stuff to your followers. The way I see it as I sit here waiting for the sunrise with my cup of coffee, you give something to me with each and every blog.
Thank you,
Lisa
September 20th, 2012 at 3:30 am
Ohh baby! I am sitting here finalising financial bleurgh for work at home in the evening. HELL?! Yes, without question. The solution to making it through – a snappy Australian riesling and doors open smelling the first jasmine of spring down here in the Southern Hemisphere. Just had some left-overs for dinner – Crank’s Leek Croustade all fancied up with asparagus, roast pumpkin and broad beans. The final sweetener was looking at this recipe and feeling totally hyped for the pending summer crop of corn. I am going to make Chipotle Mayonaisse tonight with the coriander and lemons going crazy in my garden and put it on whatever, everything over the next few days.
Thanks milady!!
September 20th, 2012 at 3:48 am
Hi Jen!
I’ve been enjoying your blog for a year and a half or so and I’m always inspired by your fun banter and photography. I’m the produce manager/wrangler at Lucky’s Market in Boulder and invite you to pop in and check out our market sometime. There are some really cool things happening here. I’m a long-time “produce guy” and am super in to local,working with my local growers/relationships and bringing the best, in-season and interesting fruit and veggies to our shoppers. Oh! ..and I always have very nice baby bok choy ( i remember you commenting once that you had a hard time finding it other than in Asian markets!). We also have a very passionate career butcher and a freshly remodeled meat and seafood dept not to mention a bakery/creamery opening in late October. I always look forward to seeing your blog entries arrive in my email. Thanks for your wonderful work/play!
Chris
September 20th, 2012 at 5:00 am
I’m a midwesterner,follower of Jesus Christ, bbq’er, won my first brisket catagory 2 weeks ago, my son took 2nd place for his ribs and we are both hooked. looking forward to many more bbq contests…….:-) love your site and the recipes……and love Colorado for my camping vacations.
September 20th, 2012 at 5:35 am
I’m a gardener & canner: 51 (and still going) quarts of tomatoes (organic from my garden), 10 pints of Salsa, 24 quarts of green beans from my two little rows of KY Wonders, 6 pints and 2 pint and a half of breakfast beans for my husband (British style beans for beans on toast for my anglophile hubby), 16 half-pints of apricot jam made from my friend Rebecca’s gorgeous apricot tree’s bounty. Also an overworked media consultant and a blogger with no time to blog.
I give extra produce to the homeless shelters and food pantries… something I encourage all gardeners to do. It’s not a political issue, regardless of what some say. It’s a humanitarian issue. No one should go to bed hungry and everyone deserves some great produce on their plate. It’s my quiet little cause.
September 20th, 2012 at 6:07 am
I’m a regular here, check in every few days. Love your photos, recipes, stories and mostly attitude. Interesting fact? Hmmm. I used to work construction and was an iron worker. Yep, I come in at almost 5 feet tall and it’s amazing how easy it is to out work some guys. Very empowering job, helped me realize I can do anything if I really want it. I used to tell the guys that finishing concrete is kind of like icing a cake. :) Rock on!
September 20th, 2012 at 6:23 am
I’ve been reading, without comment, for about three years. Your website is a visual delight and I am constantly tantalized by your recipes. Thank you for doing what you are doing. As a former inhabitant of the Pacific Northwest, I love the descriptions and pictures of your forays into the spendiferous wilds. About me: I’m about to turn 55 and still have an awe for the simplest things. Man and mother nature constantly amaze me with their fine, complex and prodigious offerings. Daily I find myself appreciating the veins in a leaf or the stick-um on an envelope or the combination of spices and oils in a dish I am fortunate to put a fork to.
September 20th, 2012 at 6:24 am
Hi Jen, thanks for posting this great corn recipe. As a child, corn was the only vegetable I would eat. Then I grow up and find out that corn is a grain. Corn is still my favorite food and I will be attempting this recipe for Mexico City Style Roasted Corn. Thanks for all your posts. Anna
September 20th, 2012 at 6:42 am
Stumbled upon your blog recently and am one of those who pins more than comments. :) I love blogs that incorporate a sense of the blogger’s location since it gives an insider look at what the city is known for and how food fits into that scene. I went to New Orleans a few days after Hurricane Isaac and while there I discovered that one of the bloggers I follow lives in the city. She posted a map color coding the areas that didn’t have power, priceless information that I wouldn’t have known was available. Helped us navigate our precious time in the city. So thank you (and other bloggersl for writing!
September 20th, 2012 at 6:43 am
Hello! It’s such a timely recipe, because the interesting fact about me is that corn on the cob is my obsession! My family teases me that I can eat it for dessert. Love your recipes and photos, Jen. Really beautiful.
September 20th, 2012 at 6:54 am
Hi Jen,
If you’d like, we can make a trade for your tomato jam. I just finished putting up some Michigan raspberry jam! Love everything about your blog. You inspire me.
September 20th, 2012 at 7:03 am
Kaweah! Come here, girlie and pick me: my breath smells like bacon!
Love, love, love this blog. The recipes are great, photos are gorgeous and I pin almost daily from here. Favorite recipe is the dog biscuits, our Jerry “the” Springer Spaniel loves them.
September 20th, 2012 at 7:04 am
I found ur blog looking for rasberry mousse bombs, and found that I love everything you make! I’m a cheeseaholic. I love ur pictures too!
September 20th, 2012 at 7:07 am
Hi Jen! I’m another silent lurker who’s been reading and enjoying your blog for years! Interesting fact, I’m currently in college and I transferred schools to go from studying physics to illustration. I love how your blog combines science and art! Thanks for being such an inspiration!
September 20th, 2012 at 7:51 am
My daughter and I are trying to start our own cake business.
September 20th, 2012 at 7:56 am
I am one lucky Mexican guy, grew up eating corn on the cob mexican style. I would not like it any other way! My whole family loves it. Thanks to the lord for Mexican food! YUMMY! lol.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:02 am
I would love to have your homemade items! I pour cement into large buckets; then unmold them & carve different things, flowers, lizzards, scenes into or out of them with a wood hammer and cold chisel, for porches and patio gifts. I also collect balls of all sorts; plastic, rubber, doggie play balls, and balls for cats, jacks set balls, marbles, metal balls, paper balls, rubber band balls, especially odd-balls, unique balls, and even bought 3 blue Ball jars at an estate sale, to put some of my collected balls in, just because they were blue Ball(s) jars.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:20 am
What a nice group of friends!
Interesting fact? Even though I am a grandma, I have completed two marathons for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:25 am
Your recent post about Maine, with all the delightful pictures on the boat is my favorite post of all time. Before that post I had never even really consider the existence of Maine, now I really want to visit. I get very excited to see your email in my inbox.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:38 am
I love this way of cooking corn. Was first exposed to this style at Cafe Habana in nyc. Dogs make the best friends and so I enjoy hearing about Kaweah. I have a facebook profile for my terrier, I admit it!
September 20th, 2012 at 8:52 am
I guess i am a quiet lurker. i love to cook…the family loves to cook….we love to gather and eat great meals…love cooking for family and friends…love cooking WITH the grandkids…love to eat. cant wait to try this corn recipe…it sounds wonderful.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Hi Jen,
I stumbled across your blog a few years ago and have been hooked since. I love your science-loving tone and beautiful photos of the natural world! and, of course!, the food! Interesting fact about me: I study climate change and the Canadian arctic, up here in Alberta and this summer, I travelled to Ellesmere Island to work and got to see a herd of muskoxen! I also love to hike, bike and ski in the mountains, so I love seeing your photos of your Rockies.
Thanks for writing your awesome awesome blog! I will keep reading for years to come I hope!
Jill
September 20th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Thanks so much for your blog! I recently stumbled upon it because I’m new to your neck of the woods. You’ve helped so much from great local eateries, yummy recipes, eye candy, to where to source ingredients and adapting to cooking at high altitudes. Thank you!!! btw, to the lady who had trouble finding cotija in Italy: I had trouble finding it while living semi-rural Pennsylvania. My local cheese monger recommended ricotta saltada as a substitute. She then started ordering cotija and queso fresco for me!
September 20th, 2012 at 9:04 am
I am a person who loves learning! The more I read the more I enjoy life! I’m from the Caribbean and grew up with all-things-organic. My husband and I enjoy gardening; and every year our garden is huge and we delight in the abundance of its produce. (Nothing like it!) I’ve been preserving food for many years and never tire of it (in fact I look forward to it every year!!!) and am overjoyed to see the interest in it now. I REALLY enjoy your blog. My husband and I used to live in CO and did much pack-packing there.
September 20th, 2012 at 9:36 am
I signed up to receive your blog some time back because of its name and have so enjoyed your sumptuous offerings, stunning photographs, and tidbits about local goings on, as it turns out that coincidentially we live in the same neck of the woods (Ha! I just noticed someone else used that phrase 2 comments ago…). As for me, big news is that I’m away in Nov to Marrakech for one of Boulderite Peggy Markel’s cooking school adventures. Can’t wait to find out what Ras El Hanout really is?!
September 20th, 2012 at 10:18 am
Hello, all! I stumbled on this blog just today and got hooked instantly: everything I needed it here: recepies I have been searching for a long time, pictures and readers comments…Love it! Fact about me: I am a “dancing cook” :) Can’t live without dancing and cooking…
September 20th, 2012 at 10:23 am
My husband and I love fish and aquariums. Right now we have a 30 gallon tank, a 75 gallon tank and a 265 gallon tank set up in the house. We sold the 120 gallon tank we we made the last move.
September 20th, 2012 at 10:25 am
I’ve been a reader for uears now – (4, 5, maybe more? ) – and you’ve still got new and exciting recipes every few days. We’ve met a few times a couple years ago when I first moved back to Boulder from the Seattle area. Unique thing about me is being a Boulder native – there’s not as many as you’d think around here (though we love all the folks who come from elsewhere – what an interesting mix of people here, no?). Love all the Asian recipes and tips for getting ingredients at POM and other Asian grocery stores.
September 20th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Hi, I am Jamie. I have been reading your blog for a few months now that I am retired and living in Costa Rica. I am always on the lookout for great recipes that I can adapt to the ingredients that I can find here. I love to travel and am always up for an adventure or two.
September 20th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Hi! So I’m one of those lurkers who is usually too shy to ever comment – but I love your blog and have been gazing at your pictures and using your lovely recipes for about 3 years now!
Something about me – I spend 6 months studying and traveling in New Zealand (with a quick jaunt to Australia) last year, and now I can’t stop thinking of when I can go back!
September 20th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Hi Jen
I love your blog. You are one of the top blogs I check on a near daily/weekly basis.
Something about me? Ehhhh….Hm… While I learned gymnastics in my younger years, I wish I knew about acrobatics even sooner….
I love cooking on the side and yours is one of the many blogs that aspires me.
September 20th, 2012 at 11:43 am
Hi Jen! I’m an infrequent commenter – usually I’m telling you how delicious everything looks and that I want to pat Kaweah on the head.
About me? I’m an Italian Lithuanian American girl who LOVES cooking Asian food – specifically Thai and Vietnamese, but I also love, love, love when you publish Chinese recipes! The spicy scallops are big hits in my house (we like them with asparagus when in season! So good!)
Thanks! and please give K. lots of head pats from me.
September 20th, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Hi, my name is Vera and I live in Orlando, Florida. Something interesting about me is that I’m the first and only student from the University of South Carolina to appear on College Jeopardy! Also, I love food!
September 20th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Hi~
Long time lurker here. I love your blog and love hearing about Kaweah:) I convert recipes for people into gluten free, human-grade dog treats. Also, my husband has made many of your chilli and sushi recipes and they are wonderful!
September 20th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
i feel like you already give so much with your recipes and photography! such an inspiration :) hmm, interesting fact… well, the most exciting thing that happened to me recently was winning best of show (preserves) at our local farmers market last weekend for my own tomato jam!! would love to try your version and compare :)
September 20th, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Hello,
Another long-time lurker for the photography as much as the food :) I love the complex recipes as much as the simple ones but I find the Asian recipes the most fascinating. Interesting fact about me..um..I have lived on 4 continents. 3 to go!
September 20th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
Hola Jen!
My name is Paige, and I am a nutrition major at Penn State.
I love your blog–it is very inspirational to me as a young, budding foodie who wants to one day move to Boulder!
An interesting fact about me is that I am going to Costa Rica over spring break to work on a sustainable farm! Can’t wait.
Thanks for the giveaway.
September 20th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
That corn looks amazing. Unfortunately, I recently got braces, and corn on the cob is one of the hardest things to eat! :( I’ll be looking forward to next summer when I can really enjoy this recipe!
Something interesting about me… I’ve been slowly falling in love with bikes & biking and have recently joined my school’s cycling team!
September 20th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
WOW, lots of comments! Love this blog, and you. Don’t enter me….I never win anything.
September 20th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
I am an avid reader of your blog! I love the recipes and the restaurant photos. I am also blown away by some of your photos, even if they are not food!
I have been cooking since I was six and run a small catering company. Over 55 years later and I am still in love with food and its preparation!
September 20th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Jen
I love reading userealbutter because I grew up in Allendpark and went to CU; but now I live in Central America. Your nature photos and tales of local life remind me of home! I love to cook too!
September 20th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Hi!! Long time lurker here as well…. Seems you have quite a few of them!! One thing to know about me that most do not – I used to work in catering services at the American Embassy in Moscow when I was in my early 20’s… A fascinating place before the iron curtain fell…
September 20th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Oh, the corn looks good, as does the peach cake. I had a pineapple-upside down cake for my birthday last year. I love your blog, the photos, food, astronomy + hiking stories, and of course, Kaweah. I made your spinach enchiladas a while back and they were amazingly addictive. I’m not much for spinach, but I ate a ton (and subsequently was sick of it, but what can you do?). The dough was easy, but I undercooked mine a bit so a little too “gummy”.
Fact about me is… I love programming! CS-crazy, always writing fun programs for myself. :)
September 20th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
Hi Jen!
I shook Bill Clinton’s hand once, and his Secret Service guys had to ask me to sit down, because I kept taking pictures of his breakfast. We were at Nora’s Fish Creek Cafe in Wilson, WY, which has the awesomest breakfast in the Tetons!
Love your blog, love your dog, and I love me some Chinese food. Thanks for sharing your recipes!5
September 20th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Hi – Another long-time lurker here…. Love many of the same things mentioned above. About me… love to cook and feed people like my Mom, I’m an arts administrator with the local arts agency here in Brevard County, Florida – Kennedy Space Center, etc – and I played Mrs. Claus in my 2nd grade school play (totally random factoid).
September 20th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
An interesting fact about me is that my favorite food is chocolate ice cream (but really chocolate anything), and my least favorite is probably okra.
September 20th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
Hi, Jen! I hate (HATE!) mingling in group settings. I cower in the corner and my face turns bright red! Attractive, right?
September 20th, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Hi Jen, I have used your recipes on more than one occasion and I especially like the Chinese ones. An interesting fact about me is that my family is from New Mexico so I understand your passion for green chiles and the cuisine from that area. I feel a connection to the state even though I have never lived there.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
Thank you for the giveaway. The only fact I can think of is that I’m the only person I know that hates eggs and peaches. I think peaches taste fuzzy.
September 20th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
De-lurker as well. One random fact is that i’m scared of stickers, have been my entire life.
September 20th, 2012 at 10:09 pm
I am a quiet lurking, reading your blog and thinking to myself that I should comment, but I don’t…wanting to say something, but I don’t.
My interesting fact is I just moved from Colorado this last April… :(
September 20th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Another long time, usually lurking, fan of URB. Thanks for sharing a taste of Colorado. Can’t think of much interesting about myself. I went back to school in my 30s. I walk 5 miles a day. I have made a 14-layer cake.
September 21st, 2012 at 12:20 am
I love your blog, Jen, and look forward to every new post. I want to try just about everything you cook and I love your photos. Some day I hope to be able to photograph lightning and the moon as you do. I live in California but wish I were in a place like yours, surrounded by so much wildlife and beauty. I also wish I had a friend like you to cook and forage with, but this blog will have to do as a substitute.
September 21st, 2012 at 2:23 am
Hi Jen! i am a new reader all the way from Borneo and i super love your recipes! Especially the asian recipes! i truly fell inlove with your chinese sweet peanut soup recipe ^^v the flavour brings back so much of my childhood memories :))
September 21st, 2012 at 2:36 am
My middle name is Sunshine- yeah for hippy parents!
I live in MN now and wouldn’t change that for anything- EXCEPT CO! I just love having 4 distinct seasons.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:46 am
Hi Jen, I am another lurker that you have managed to lure out of the shadows. I have been a regular reader of your blog ever since I discovered it 6 months ago, but I have never commented. I find your blog inspiring in many ways: your photography is fantastic, as a keen outdoors person myself I enjoy the photos and stories of your outings in the Colorado mountains, and your blog encourages me to try out new recipes. Keep up the good work!
A little bit about me, I am a geologist/environmental scientist, married to a physicist, grew up in (the country) ‘Nederland’, but now live in beautiful and remote Arctic Norway ;-)
September 21st, 2012 at 8:13 am
Hallo Jen,
I’m from Germany and quite new to your blog but already love it (I absolutely have to try the peach upside down cake!) :)
A few month ago I gave myself a start and started cooking regularly again. It didn’t take long and I got totally hooked on it and started buying new books and searching the internet for interesting food blogs (also thinking about setting up one myself). That’s how I found yours and instantly subscribed to it. So for my new cooking passion it would be awesome to get your terrific food package. I swear here and now, should I win it, I will absolutely start a german food blog and write about what I did with the food I won.
But you asked to share an interesting fact about oneself. I thought about it and here it is: When I eat (or even smell!) mandarins, oranges (or any other citrus fruits) I start to sweat below my eyes on the cheekbones… It’s kind of funny, because I can tell someone eating an orange in the room without seeing and before even smelling it :) Don’t know anyone else who’s “suffering” from that.
Keep on blogging!
Tschüß
Eva
September 21st, 2012 at 9:24 am
A little something about myself… I came across your blog when looking for recipes and instructions for making Chinese dumplings and I have been hooked ever since! As a recent transplant from Colorado to Louisiana, I appreciate still being able to connect to the Colorado love for healthy, conscientious food.
September 21st, 2012 at 9:41 am
Hi!
Just found your blog through a link at “The Way the Cookie Crumbles” blog. I love the layout and the content so far. A factoid about me is that I did the largest bungee jump in New Zealand while on vacation. Called the Nevis Bungee it is 134m (~400 ft), it was one of the highlights of my trip. If you’re a thrill seeker and ever in Queenstown, I highly recommend it.
September 21st, 2012 at 10:14 am
I’ve been an avid follower of your wonderful blog for a few months now and am so glad I found it! Although, I do not comment, I’ve passed your site on to all my friends; I love it so much! You’re awesome.
Anyway, on to me! :) I am a nonprofit grant administrator by day and avid baker by night! I have a small cheesecake and cake business on the side, which is my real passion and I do hope to open my own business within the next 3 years! Here’s hoping you can come visit my store and review my cheesecake in person. :)
September 21st, 2012 at 11:42 am
Hi there, I’m another infrequent poster, usually only if I have a question about a recipe.
My interesting tidbit is that I just got married. We have a nice little house with a medium-sized garden that didn’t get started until late, so now we have hundreds of green tomatoes. I love to cook and have been having fun experimenting with my hubby on new dishes!
Thank you for all the amount of you that you share with us.
September 21st, 2012 at 12:17 pm
not really interesting ….
i’m just starting over at 51 with nothing and struggling a bit – ok more than a bit – w/ where to go from this new space and how to rebuild anything if at all possible. my two dogs do their best to make sure i have at least a little grounding every day. that does tend to happen when one has to walk them and feed them (partially made in the apartment).
as one is older i do especially love hearing about your pup and how she is doing.
September 21st, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Hi! I post very rarely because I usually think that others have better things to say than I would :) I am statistician/programmer by day and a crazy cook on the weekends and weeknights…crazy because I cook like my grandma, winging different recipes and using up everything that shows up in my way. However, on the weekends I cook “by the book” or “by the website” and those are my fancy recipes ;) and most of them come from URB. because of you I can now cook a decent Asian inspired plate of noodles~thank you!
I love your little girl and reading about her…I have my own sweet little boxer boy that is now battling old age and lots of tumors :( not fun but he is my warrior!
I also love your pictures, and I dream that one day I can move up to the mountains and have a similar life style.. thank you for the giveaway!
September 21st, 2012 at 12:51 pm
I stumbled into your blog a few months ago (not via stumbleupon, but via a link at another blog, maybe one of your comments). I’m in Fort Collins and love it when I find someone else blogging from Colorado. Maybe, being relatively new (compared to people who’ve been reading a lot longer), I don’t deserve this thank-you gift, but I still wanted to say “Hi!” and marvel at how good that corn looks. I grew up in Maine, and our family used to roast corn similarly (soak it in water, then steam within layers of wet newspaper placed on a grate over a fire), but didn’t do that delicious-looking coating. I want to try that while we still have good corn around!
A fact about me (you already have a couple, so you’re going to get more): we used to have a black lab, too. Two, actually. When we first married and moved out here, we were given “Kilo,” who was amazing. My husband, an airplane mechanic, took him to work (he loved to chase rabbits). He was so excited, yet not rowdy or rough, when we brought home our first-born, and was a great family dog. More recently we had “Kohl,” who seemed to be more neurotic, but always eager-to-please, and very competitive when it comes to chasing balls or sticks. Poor Kohl had to be put down last year, but we still have 3 other dogs in the household these days.
I’m 54, mom to 3 grown kids (all CSU grads like their father and me), and grandmother to a sweet almost-2-year-old boy. <3
September 21st, 2012 at 1:03 pm
I don’t feel like my life is very interesting these days, so perhaps thats it? The drama has been minimized. My life is calm. And I’m ok with that!
September 21st, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Well hi there! I got turned on to reading your blog by my mom, who kept sending me these drool-inducing posts from your blog, so i finally had to go look for myself!
What is unique about me? I’m a poet who lives in San Francisco (okay, not THAT unique), BUT, I also happen to be sailing the arctic circle next summer on a tall ship with a group of artists and scientists! I also have a birthmark that somewhat resembles Japan or the the boot of Italy… depending on what angle you look at it from. And according to my mom, I was left by gypsies on the doorstep, in a basket, as a baby.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg… but you asked for one thing, so there ya go!
Enjoying your blog!
-Laura
September 21st, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I have loved your site for years and come to it almost as a meditation. It’s truly the most beautiful and, at the same time, down to earth places to visit on the web.
Jeanne
September 21st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
I love your blog! I am posting this from Paris where I am on my honeymoon – my husband and I just moved to London for the year from Canada. Thanks for sharing your recipes and life. I always love reading.
September 21st, 2012 at 3:29 pm
I worked as a baker at an American research station in Antarctica during the most recent boreal summer season, and in January my colleagues and I elected to bake a “white trash”-themed brunch. I was in charge of pop-tarts, among other things. When I asked the internet for a recipe to guide my way, it led me to Smitten Kitchen, and the excellent Deb’s reading list led me in turn to this website. Much as I love improvisation and clever shortcuts in the kitchen, the mantra “use real butter” struck a chord, and I’ve enjoyed Jen’s writing, recipes, and photos immensely.
In solidarity,
Amelia
September 21st, 2012 at 3:42 pm
You are so sweet to have this giveaway! I am a terrible commenter though, but I love your blog. One interesting thing about me is that we are raising our own pigs this year.
September 21st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
Hi Jen!
I periodically comment, but I always read you blog — such lovely photos and amazing recipes.
Interesting thing about me: i fell in love with cooking during law school. Low on money and interested in eating healthy, the best solution was cooking my meals myself. Your red beans and rice was my gateway drug to meals that can easily be heated up throughout the week.
September 21st, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Hi,
This is my first time here. I Found your site/blog while hunting awesome recipes on pinterest. I’m a nursing student. Love the recipes I’m seeing here & would love to win a Colorado care package.
Thanks!
September 21st, 2012 at 5:31 pm
I am also one of the lurkers! The photos are beautiful, but the yummy recipes keep me coming back for more. My fun fact is that I recently weathered my first hurricane here in New Orleans! Luckily Isaac was kind to my neighborhood.
September 21st, 2012 at 6:18 pm
I lurk but I’m a loyal follower….here and on Twitter.
Your photographs are amazing
I can parallel park like it’s my job
September 21st, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Hi – I love your blog and have been following it for years, having stumbled upon it looking for a recipe for scallion pancakes. One fact about me is that I have run 4 marathons.
September 21st, 2012 at 7:41 pm
I’m Jess. When I was 29, I worked as a news reporter on Mackinac Island, Michigan, a tiny little tourist island. I spent a summer riding my bike around the island, digging up whatever “news” I could find and getting propositioned by rich old men and drunk tourists. One of the best summers of my life.
September 21st, 2012 at 7:44 pm
holy moly, that is a lot of comments! My name is amanda, I found your blog via a college friend Jackie, who writes southernfriedgoodness. I guess one fact about me would be that I am a librarian and grad student – so those tote bags are perfect. You know, librarians LOVE tote bags. Its a cliche, but it’s true. Keep up the good work!
AMANDA
September 21st, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Let’s see… I made my own salsa for the first time this summer. It is 390986 times better than the stuff at the store. I wish I had more tomatoes! (ps, thanks for the giveaway, now back to lurking!)
September 21st, 2012 at 8:58 pm
When I stayed at my Grandma’s as a child she served myself and my sister all the fresh ears of corn we could eat for dinner one night. Wonderful Memory!
September 21st, 2012 at 9:13 pm
I don’t think I’m a very interesting person but I’ll try. I actually never cooked a meal in my life until I went to college. I baked, but never cooked savory food. Even though I loved eating, cooking was never something I had to do and then when I went away from my family to the opposite side of the country (from West Coast to East Coast), I ended up food poisoning myself for about two years as I bumbled my way through foodblogs and trying to recreate the food of home. But eventually, I got the hang of it and stopped getting sick from my cooking. But to this day, I remain a better baker than a savory cook.
September 21st, 2012 at 9:20 pm
I would also be a lurker, but I visit here several times a week…i live in vancouver, bc, and have had a double lung transplant…while i was sick waiting for my transplant, my passion for food really shone through and got me through those dark days…thanks! :)
September 21st, 2012 at 9:40 pm
I’m a “ghost” reader most of the times, but I’ve been reading your blog for a little over ten months now. I found you through google when I was looking up your rice cake recipe and read almost all of your recipes since then ahaha. Fact about me… I learned how to make my grandmother’s Game Peppers over the summer. Our family calls them that because she stuffs these hot green pepper halves with homemade fish paste but after they’re cooked and ready to eat, no one has any idea which ones are spicy ahaha.
September 21st, 2012 at 9:42 pm
Hi Jen,
I’m and avid knitter who loves to cook and bake. I love your blog and I’ve tried many of your recipes! Thanks so much for sharing!
We also have a black lab named Cookie and she is 5 years old. My husband and I always gush over your pictures of Kaweah since she looks so much like Cookie. :)
September 21st, 2012 at 10:57 pm
I’m a faithful reader but rarely post–I’m too intimidated I think. I love to cook but lately my health hasn’t allowed me to do much at all (darn chronic health issues!). I’m hoping this will end soon and I can get back into the kitchen again.
I was born in CO and drool over your photos–in fact, since heat and humidity affect my health, my family and I have been discussing the possibility of moving out towards that way.
September 21st, 2012 at 11:31 pm
Jennifer,
Shades of Gold we had never seen or imagined!!!
I hope you remember me. My wife and I stopped and spoke with you as you were taking pictures of the Aspens on the way to Cottonwood Pass, last Thursday, 10 days early this year-our good fortune. Your suggestion to go on to the Pass was well heeded.
Fun fact: We recently bought 10 acres of pasture, pond, and an old, to be renovated house in the Kansas City area. Since we will be doing the majority of the work ourselves, your recipes and a hearty appetite will be a good mix.
Regards,
David & Vickie Phillips
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:18 am
Hi, I’ve been reading for a long time, mostly from our farm in France where I try to do my bit for agricultural diversity by growing and saving heritage seed varieties and plants.
I love the landscape pictures and the family snippets here, it’s what keeps me coming back. Good luck for the future.
September 22nd, 2012 at 2:32 am
Something interesting? I used to sell insurance (and cars) but that’s boring. How about that at the unripe young age of 52 I have decided to go back to school (culinary school) and plan on opening my own catering company? Is that interesting? Yeah, thought not.
September 22nd, 2012 at 3:41 am
Another lurker here. I think I’ve been reading your blog for going on two years and never noted, but always enjoyed reading immensly. I’m a biochemistry PhD student at day time and a reader/gamer/photographer/cook at night time. I live in Germany in a tiny, tiny one room apartment by a lake and train tracks, but there’s chocolate here at any time. I marvel at all the wonderful Asian recipes you post and your canning enthusiasm this year, can’t wait to finish my PhD, move out of this tiny place and actually get to cook in a real kitchen, with a big stove and oven. I currently microwave-bake all my cakes and it’s always an adventure. My boyfriend loves to snowboard and ski and I forward him all your posts with skiing pictures.
September 22nd, 2012 at 4:35 am
Hello! I’ve been a steady reader of your blog for years and it started from your photography. I wasn’t into food then but after continually seeing all this amazing food (including recipes from my Asian background), I succumbed to my stomache and now I’m a hobby cook/baker and photographer.
An interesting fact about me is that I can attract dogs a mile away to my right hip. No matter how big or small or well behaved, for some reason they ALL must put their nose on my outer right hip. I’ve had tiny shitzus spend 5 minutes straight trying to jump to get that spot. And I’ve had an airport police dog whine pitifully with big eyes and refuse to remove his nose from me. That was nerve wracking till they figured out that the was ‘scenting’ me and not bombs or drugs.
September 22nd, 2012 at 5:38 am
Another lurker here. I love your photos, and the simple and clean layout of your blog.
An interesting fact about me is that I always want to eat noodle soups. All kind of noodle soups! It’s my ultimate comfort food and I crave for it all the time.
September 22nd, 2012 at 6:51 am
Hi Jen–I love this blog, but I don’t comment very much. Fact: My fiance and I plan to move to Colorado when we retire…but, we’re 29. So, I am trying to convince him to consider doing it while we can actually hike up those mountains.
September 22nd, 2012 at 7:05 am
Hi, Jen! I’ve been reading your blog for a couple years now – I love your recipes, the photos, and the way your commentary always makes me smile. I’m a graduate student (starting my fifth year now!) and I love to cook and bake (great therapy). Some of your recipes have made great birthday desserts for my labmates – they’re always a hit.
September 22nd, 2012 at 7:26 am
Hi Jen
I love your website. It’s so inspiring to me.
I have not bought a fruit or vegetable at a supermarket in two years and I love using your website to find recipes to use some of the excess!
Thanks for your hard work!
Sophia
September 22nd, 2012 at 7:35 am
I look forward to your recipes and photos. Thanks for going what you do so well.
Ellen’s caramels AND boxcar coffee?? Ok, in 5th grade I met Vanilla Ice. I was in FL, walking along the marina near where my cousin lived. We saw this dude doing the runner (dance, not exercise) on top of a yacht. Later he walked down to the pier with his entourage. His manager did all of the talking and said VI was “testing” the yacht for purchase. Ha.
September 22nd, 2012 at 7:58 am
I live in New Orleans and since we have such an abundance of amazing local ingredients I often come to your website for help with ideas of how to prepare them. I love watching you prepare a dish through your photographs- they make even the most mundane of dishes seem mouthwatering. Keep it up!
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:20 am
I love your blog! Thank you for sharing your photos, recipes, and stories. I love to bake and cook, but haven’t been brave enough to can yet. You and other food bloggers are inspiring me to try soon.
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:31 am
I’ve been a lurker since 2008, and this is my first comment! I love your photography and just made your hunan black bean tofu last week. I am a graduate student in Madison, WI and reading your blog confirms my suspicion that I need to organize my life to live in Colorado :)
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:39 am
I love your pictures. I love your stories. We are FB friends!
秋天快乐！
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:20 am
Hi. I’ve been a long time lurker too. I’m not sure how I ended up here, but I’m fairly certain that it had something to do with searching out other careers while I was finished up my PhD in Virology. You actually inspired me to learn how to use my camera.
September 22nd, 2012 at 9:28 am
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and every post makes me so happy! As for a fun fact- I’m a college student who lives in a veggie co-op with 17 other students. We make communal dinners 5 nights a week, and I’m working my way through your recipes!
September 22nd, 2012 at 10:05 am
Hey Jen! It has been quite a while since I sent you an email! I have been so busy recently, I am currently going to Johnson & Wales University to get my bachelor’s degree in Baking and Pastry Arts. As busy as I have been getting though, I never hesitate to come here and see what you are up to, and look in the archives for wonderful things to create :-) I’ll be in touch soon, if there is anything in New England that you need found and shipped to you, don’t hesitate to ask!
September 22nd, 2012 at 10:18 am
Hello Jen,
Recent visitor to your beautiful site. I live in MT but have backpacked all over CO for the last 25 years. I need to visit again soon.
September 22nd, 2012 at 10:19 am
Love your blog and all its tasty contents! Fun fact is today my pals and I are holding a canning marathon. We’re doing 120lbs of tomatos, dilly beans, mexican taco pickles, pickled beets, peach and plum syrup. Whew!
September 22nd, 2012 at 10:28 am
love all your posts – your photos are amazing! did you take classes or self-taught? i also have a dog -his name’s monty and is currently the undisputed king/baby of the household. he will soon by dethroned by the human baby due in january, so especially love all the dog-related recipe posts. i’ll have to bake them before the baby comes so he doesn’t feel too neglected!
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
Hi Jen,
Your blog is delightful. I have tried many of your fantastic recipes. I am however a ‘lurker’ and a bit shy; hence, this is my first post. I especially enjoy your post on Kaweah, as I have two ‘children’ myself, Leonard and Lola, they are extremely spunky schnauzers. One interesting fact… I am a twin, however my sister and I are complete opposites (artsy v. business-oriented, liberal vs. conservative, the list goes on and on). Needless to say, family dinners are always quite interesting.
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
Hi Jen,
I stumbled upon your food blog when looking up recipes to use my new bamboo steamer and wanted to try dumplings.
I work as an animator and whenever things get too tedious or my hands get sore I browse your blog for yummy new things to try out. My husband loves it.
I really love your dog too. My black lab, Penny, passed away a few months ago and I love seeing others who enjoy a dog’s wonderful company.
I guess I”m not a lurker anymore, ha. :)
Anyways, thanks for your wonderful blog.
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
Ever since I stumbled upon your website, it has become my bible for Chinese cooking. As an American born Chinese, I didn’t really learn how to make Chinese food from my parents so ended up searching the web for help. Please Please keep do what your doing as it inspires me each week to try something new.
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Hi Everyone,
My name is Joy and I am a mother of 3 bouncing babies! I have been in love with food since I was a little girl! I would watch food tv and spend my chore money on food so i could expiriment. I stumbled across this blog looking for a cuban pork recipe! And I just love elote so i had to read about the corn! I love all the beautiful pictures, they are very inspiring.
Stay Blessed and blessing others with your work!
September 22nd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I love Mexican-style corn! We do it whenever we buy less-than-stellar corn, and sometimes just for the change!
I saw your next post — we just got back from a trip to the Silverton area, and could not believe the stunning fall colors. If you’re still out there, and have the time, Red Mountain pass is full peak on the Ouray side of things.
Hoping to get to Kebler pass this weekend (if we can deal with the masses of leaf-peepers) to watch the full harvest moon, and pick up some late fall produce in Paonia.
I de-lurked a few posts back, but I also wanted to comment on how bittersweet it is to me to read of Kaweah (never can figure out how to pronounce her name) — our old, beloved dog passed away a couple of years ago, and I relate so well to all your posts on the joys and sorrows of taking care of our aging friends.
September 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Hi Jen!
I comment very rarely but wanted to say hi! I love your food and photography – keep up the awesome work!
Fun fact for me: I love to run! I am a mama of 2 and a marathoner with a PR of 3:27. (hoping to improve on that soon!!)
Because I run, that means I get to enjoy even more of the delicious food on this planet! :) It’s a win-win!
September 22nd, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Mmmm! Delicious. Interesting fact: I used to eat corn raw off the cob @ my grandpa’s farm. It was so juicy & sweet! Thanks for the giveaway.
September 22nd, 2012 at 6:09 pm
I love this blog. Such beautiful pictures and so perfect at inspiring me to play in my kitchen, when its been a hard week of coding and otherwise computers and typing.
Maybe a year and a half ago I got back into playing my piano. It had been some time, and since I’m just playing for me these days, I mostly only play Debussy and Chopin. ’cause apparently when left to my own devices, late 19th century French is how I roll.
September 22nd, 2012 at 6:48 pm
hello! im a new follower of this blog. it’s so pretty and the recipes are amazing! i love to bake and make jam.
September 22nd, 2012 at 6:49 pm
oh my, what an amazing giveaway! i love to play soccer!
September 22nd, 2012 at 7:53 pm
Hi Jen! My name is Jennifer too and I have to admit that I am a lurker. I am Chinese-American and I am always looking for authentic Chinese/Asian recipes written in English of food I ate while growing up. I love to read your blog and see your beautiful photography!
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Hi Jen, I am heading out to Colorado next week, and have bookmarked your list of favorite Boulder restaurants to check out. So thanks for that, but mostly, thanks for writing the post about how canning isn’t as hard as you thought it would be. It was the trigger that got me to try it finally, and I now have a closet full of goodness.
September 22nd, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Hi!
I’m typically a lurker. :-) An interesting fact about me is that I’ve lived in 2 states (CA and VA) as well as two countries (USA and Qatar)! I’ve been reading you for a long time…love your no nonsense style and your photos are beautiful!
I’ve been to Colorado once, with very fond memories.
September 22nd, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Fun fact?
I am not political in the least bit, but ran for city council once, more as a social experiment, to see how many people would vote for me with no campaigning.
I came in 3 out of 5. I feel bad for the other guys..
Thanks for the recipe with the corn with chipotle mayo/cheese. Think I might try it with canned corn, seems similar to something I had, served off the con.
Thanks much!!
September 22nd, 2012 at 11:00 pm
Hi!
I read your blog often but have never commented before now! Maybe I’ll start to more…
I loved this post because Maine is a place that’s very close to my heart! Great city (Portland, that is) and recipe!
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:37 am
Hi! I guess I am what you would call a ‘lurker’, although that sounds a tad sinister. :-/ Thank you for your beautiful blog. The recipes & the photography are inspiring & refreshing. I am also a photographer, and a late bloomer when it comes to cooking. I am a typical child of the 60’s & 70’s, raised on tv dinners, canned vegetables & La Choy Chow Mein ( I had a n instant flash of understanding when I read the introduction to Molly Katzen’s ‘Moosewood Cookbook’) I stumbled upon your blog this past spring when I was laid up w/a badly broken foot…moving a television. (Don’t ask. I broke my wrist once while screwing in a lightbulb.) I had no choice but to pass my time watching cooking shows on PBS, reading cookbooks & magazines, & trawling the internet for information & inspiration. Please don’t hate me because I have a cat. He is black too, so maybe you could just think of him as a small puppy…. all the best & thanks again!
September 23rd, 2012 at 3:26 am
This is amazing and it makes me laugh because I have turned into a serious lurker since I started reading more of my favs on my iPhone (messaging tends to be taken over by autocorrect). You know how to do a giveaway m’dear.
Giveaway aside: THANK YOU for giving me the perfect recipe for the 8 ears of corn we grew. Yes, 8. This will be an incredible treat since cotija and I go waaaaaay back to 6 weeks I spent in Mexico an entire lifetime ago. The flavor of that cheese just takes me back to amazing homemade salsas and plentiful guacamole and limes. Thanks for the middle of the night drool. ;)
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:24 am
My name is Emily and my thumbs are double jointed. :)
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:08 am
Hey there Jen,
An interesting fact about me? I am a trained puppy-massager. Yes, there is such a thing. :)
Bebe
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:31 am
I’m am a huge lover of all animals (melon eating gopher in my garden will attest to that) and all things sweet, much to the dismay of my hips.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:35 am
Have been reading here for years and especially love your translations of the recipes from Chez Pim into actual measurements. :-)
I’m on a mission to visit every province and territory in Canada. Only Newfoundland and Nunavut ,EFT to go.
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:40 am
My name is Laura, and I am a lurker. (Why does this sound like the beginning of an AA meeting???) *t’s so nice of you to sponsor this giveaway. What a great way to get the lurkers to step out of the shadows! I guess you could say that an interesting fact about myself is that I am a gastric bypass patient, and pretty allergic to the chemicals that are put into our food supply, so I am always looking for new, delicious recipes that are made from scratch. I first found your blog while looking for a potsticker recipe, and since that time, I have enjoyed your recipes, (especially the one that showed how to can tomatoes). I love to cook. I mean LOVE. If I did’t have a daytime job, I would be in the kitchen all day cooking, canning, baking and creating.
Thank you for sharing your life with us all. I don’t know how you are able to find the time to keep up such a quality blog with all the hiking, traveling and cooking, but you definitely make it look fun! I love the photo you posted of your parents. My first thought was how very happy they look together. All of your photos are breathtaking, (even the photos of the food), and I love the way that you show step-by-step photos along with the instructions.
As a fellow dog lover, all I can say about Kaweah is, “WHAT A CUTIE!!!” It will be interesting to see how Kaweah’s winner selection process works. (Post pics please!)
Laura
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:47 am
Hi! I love your site! I like to use your recipes when I cook for my boyfriend, who’s a professional chef. We always try and out do each other when we take turns cooking dinner at home. I think your recipes give me an edge since the Chinese ones remind him of his mom’s home cooking. :-) Thanks for all the great recipes!
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:55 am
I mostly read and don’t comment, but your blog is very inspiring. I have been tempted to start my own food blog, or rather to make the first step and get a nice camera and take a photography class. An interesting fact about me would be my love of old school Italian food (especially handmade pastas) and natural European wines. And I have a big lumbering fool of a dog. Thank you for taking the time to post all your amazing recipes.
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:36 am
Lurker and sometimes poster. Deep dark secret….I was a gogo girl in a small town in southern Illinois in 1974. Now your pupster has to pick me!
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:58 am
Lurker and Kaweah-lover here. I speak Samoan.
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 am
Hey. Another lurker here, but I read every post. A fact about me is that I’m pretty shy, but I love to dance (belly dance and hoop dance) and sing, and I’m willing to do both in public.
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:23 am
I’ve admired your blog over here in Helsinki, Finland ever since I googled “orangette” and found the perfect step-by-step instructions on userealbutter.com! Thank you for the wonderful humor, photos, and fantastic recipes you share with all of us. Fun fact: I was the “fastest blueberry picker” back in the day – it was my first job ever & I picked berries for 4 summers, topping out at 18 flats in one day. Good times. I still love blueberries, though what we get over here are the smaller, bluer cousin: bilberries.
September 23rd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Hi Jen (and Kaweah and Jeremy),
I’ve been following you for…could it be 2 years already? Love your photos and food. I am an avid backpacker, and I just did my first solo trip this year. If you have any interesting recipes for spicing up couscous, send them along (I’m always looking for something new to do with it on my trips). Your pictures make me think I need to plan a trip in CO and WY soon. So much to see!
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
What a nice little giveaway. Interesting about me… My dream would be to own a small farm where I grew my own produce and used it for a food truck but that’s a lot of work for one person!!
September 23rd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
I love youe blog – And have made many of your recipes. One intresting thing about me. I love slow food cooking.
September 23rd, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Thanks for doing such a fun giveaway! My sister and I enjoy your recipes so much. Something not many people know about me is that I highly enjoy peanut butter microwave mug cake for one. Delicious, yet atrocious, right?! I know….you should try it sometime.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 pm
Hi! I vacationed this summer for about two weeks in Veracruz, Mexico. One of my favorite aspects of travel is exploring street food. Years ago I visited Mexico, but for some reason I was fixated on tamales and didn’t have a single ear of elote or cup of squite. This time, I just couldn’t stop snacking on those flavorful streetside corn on the cobs (elote). Even though I live near several Mexican groceries here in the US, I haven’t been able to find the same brand of dried chile they used to sprinkle on with the cheese. Thank you for posting this recipe! It captures all the essential flavors that make Mexican corn on the cob such a homey but exotic treat.
September 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
I’ve always hated introductions, but here it goes! I grew up 30 miles from the Chesapeake Bay, but never went out on the beautiful waters until after meeting my husband in 2006. Now I live less than a mile from the bay. I own a sailboat and try to go out sailing at least twice a month during the nice weather months (sadly that will end soon…)! Thanks for the fun giveaway! -Beth
September 23rd, 2012 at 6:59 pm
One interesting thing about me.. I am a carb junkie!
September 23rd, 2012 at 7:20 pm
another lurker here… :) LOVE your blog; i always enjoy your writing and photographs, not to mention the recipes. your blog is one of my favorites, and i just subscribed to it by email yesterday, though i’ve been following your posts through facebook for a while now. anywho, an interesting fact about me: i work for different farmers/vendors at three of our local farmer’s markets and hope to maybe have my very own stand at one them next year, selling made-from-scratch seasonings, condiments, sauces, etc. :)
September 23rd, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Hi Jen,
I love love love your blog! Your photos are amaaaazinv and I wished I lived in Colorado. I’ve lurked a long time but never commented.
Fun fact – I love to cook and two summers ago decided to make all of the hor d’oevres for a friend’s wedding reception for eighty people. I realized that this was probably a little over my head a little too late. Lol. But I ended up making your lychee panna cotta in these beautiful stemmed wine glasses and they were a big hit!
September 23rd, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Hi Jen! Another lurker here, we may be too shy to comment but we appreciate everything you do!
One fact about me… I can do the splits, but you would NEVER guess from the looks of me (I look like I have the flexibility of a wooden stick and I’ve never done anything remotely gymnastics-y). You ask for interesting, I give you random and mildly amusing? ;)
September 23rd, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Hi Jen,
I just found your web site. I am sure I will be back, everything I have looked at makes me want to cook! An interesting fact. I have been learning sign language and I love it! I volunteer at a local deaf pre-school. Thanks for all your great inspiration.
September 24th, 2012 at 12:17 am
Hi there!
i love your blog and could (and have) spent hours looking through entry after entry drooling over all the photos. Interesting fact: google image-ing food is my biggest weakness, my top sites on my macbook are all food blogs.
Thanks!!!
September 24th, 2012 at 7:07 am
I had a 20 year professional cooking career that had me working many interesting places in Colorado and Alaska. One of the most memorable was cooking for an environmental cleanup crew of 20 in a Wales Alaska tent camp. Wales Alaska has been an inhabited village for about ten thousand years. One day I climbed the mountain behind our camp to get a better view of Russia across the Bering Strait. While up on the mountain I stumbled across the burial grounds of the village with skeletons laid out with rusted remnants of rifles and other possessions. I knew it was best to get out of there quickly and cut across the mountain. I ended up in an ancient whale lookout shelter overlooking the Bering Sea about 500 feet up the mountain from the water. Sitting there for a while I could imagine how a native of the village must have felt looking out on the Bearing Sea hoping to spot a whale and scramble the whale boats. It was a clear day, and the view was magnificent. If I live to be a hundred I’ll never forget that day.
September 24th, 2012 at 7:15 am
Hi Jen,
I’m a lurker on pretty much all the blogs I read, but URB is one of my favorites! I’m an editor, knitter, and grad student (except Madelinetosh merino light or Proust? not a difficult choice), and love your recipes and Kaweah pictures. We have a black lab/some kind of hound mix rescue puppy, and your peanut butter doggie treats are on my list for baking now that it’s cooling off. Thanks for keeping up such a great blog!
September 24th, 2012 at 7:31 am
My name is Valerie and I am still learning to cook but I love to try new things. Your blog is fantastic, one of the best that I read. This is the first time I’ve commented. I actually think your receipes look awesome, but look too hard for me. I might try one sometime though! I love to go to auctions and buy cheap furniture and garden–even though I’m a terrible gardener. Hey, practice makes perfect, right?
September 24th, 2012 at 9:37 am
AHH this is so cool! I had been a “lurker” for a few months, before I decided to come out of hiding and leave comments :)
my name is megan (obviously), and what drew me to your site (besides the awesome photos) was the clever name. boo to shortening and non-real ingredients ;) ONE interesting fact? mmm..i am an analytical/NMR chemist by day, but love to cook and bake by night.(sorry, that’s kind of two). your site is a great resource that introduces new ideas and techniques to me!!!! thanks for the great posts.
a note on the recipe: i wish i had a grill..it looks awesome! i love cotija cheese.
September 24th, 2012 at 9:50 am
Hi Jen! I’m a huge fan of your writing, your brilliant photos, and of course your recipes. The Colorado Care package has tempted me out of Lurkdom, lol. Who could resist? I don’t know if it’s “interesting” or not, but I’ve lost 34 pounds since January. I feel great! Woohoo! Hellimae’s would be a great reward : )
Oh, like Jeremy, my husband is from New Mexico. We love your green chile posts. And your Napa/Sonoma posts. And your meteor photos. Oh and your lightning photos! Well, ALL of your posts and photos!! Thank you so much for sharing with all of us.
Happy Belated Birthday! And puppy kisses for Kaweah, mwah!
September 24th, 2012 at 1:36 pm
What a wonderful, beautiful set of readers you have, Jen! I came here looking for some Fall colors (feeling a little homesick, can you imagine?) and found so much joy. Miss you all!
September 24th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
The main reason I follow your blog is because your photography is amazing! :)
One unique thing about me… I have 4 brothers and 3 sisters. I suppose that’s not the most interesting thing in the world, but it will have to do. :)
September 24th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
I’ve been around for a while with a few comments here and there. I love your stories about science and your gorgeous photos. What I find most touching is how you treasure and remember your loved ones who have passed on. A friend of mine recently died from leukemia and it reminded me again of how you documented your journey through cancer. I’m a law student in San Francisco and I blog/news/magazine/literature junkie
September 24th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Something about me… daughter of two committed organic gardeners, farmers, and canners… now the 48 year old mother of two grown kids who continually impress me with their culinary knowledge and healthy lifestyles. Proud Grandma of a one year old who I’m introducing to every wonderful thing there is to grow and eat! Oh, and did I mention I’m finishing my college degree and plan to make a complete 180 in my career path by the time I’m 50? Never too late!
Jen, I love your blog, your photography, and your culinary largesse. But before I go, I must say that my amazingly handsome Aussie mix Nash would love to have a trail date (cool weather only for him too!) in the mountains above Boulder with the lovely Miss Kaweah. He’s 6 but loves older women. <3
September 24th, 2012 at 2:40 pm
i am a baker, a pie baker. i make sweet and savory hand pies and sell them at the farmer’s markets here in jefferson county washington. i use seasonal and local ingredients and have been inspired by your recipies and photography and sandwich cronicles. you have unknowingly helped my new business to be a sucess! thanks for all you do!
September 24th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Hi Jen!
I started reading your blog last year, and now I’m hooked! I love reading all your posts and have made it a personal goal to go through your entire archive. Being Chinese-American I always love your posts about Asian food or your family (my favorite? your post about how to eat dim sum like a Chinese person), but I find it atrocious that you cheat at steaming fish. You need to try some steamed tilapia(my family likes) or mystery river fish(I like) that is served with lots of fish soy sauce! By the way, I’m only a junior in high school living in suburban midwest. Fun fact:I do Chinese folk dancing and I play a traditional Chinese instrument (the guzheng).
September 24th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Hello from a fellow Jen!
Your blog is the best… great recipes, beautiful pictures, entertaining writing. My daughter and I like to browse your lists of recipes and pick out something different to make as often as we can. Our favorites so far are shrimp toast and celery soda! Intersting fact about me? Hmmm….I aspire to be an old woman who gardens and cans all year long. I’ve got a long way to go yet. But a work in progress is better than no work at all!
September 24th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Hi Jen –
I love your blog for its beautiful photography, delicious and sometimes ambitious recipes, and kaweah.
Fun fact about me: I have to eat my corn on the cob row by row. I don’t dig right into it in big bites…(its one of the weird OCD things about me.)
Keep up the great blog!
September 24th, 2012 at 7:27 pm
Hi Jen
I’m a new follower of this blog and the interesting part is that I was lucky enough to meet and sail on Penobscot Bay out of Rockland Maine with Jennifer. She is as lovely in person as she is reflected in her writing and photography.
September 24th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
Hi Jen!
I don’t think I’ve ever posted on your blog or sent you an email – but I have read every post and tried several of your recipes. I also click on most of the links to your friends sites, and have found so many fabulous places! I have a pretty darn cool cousin named Luke, and he married a girl named Nichole, one of the most incredible people around who also makes the best kim chi ever… anyway, she first told me about your blog and swears we’ve met at one of her famous Diwali tamale parties :) I’m also the sappiest dog lover, so I don’t just come for the recipes and stories! Thanks for creating such a great space.
September 24th, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Hello Jen,
Thank you for all of the wonderful posts. I think yours is one of my favorite websites to read because it combines two of my absolute most favorite things: food and the wilderness. Your Colorado looks absolutely gorgeous (I’ve only visited a few times awhile ago) and gives me hope that if I have to leave my current home (the Bay Area), there is somewhere with similar combinations of my favorite things. I also absolutely love your occasional California posts: it gives my husband and I great idea of restaurants and hikes that we can’t miss here!
Enjoy the rest of your vibrant fall colors,
Erin
September 25th, 2012 at 1:50 am
Hi Jen!
Another long time lurker here. Interesting fact about me is that my stomach is anthropomorphic! My boyfriend and I literally talk about my tummy as if it were another person to deal with.
“Is tummy hungry?” my boyfriend asks anxiously as he picks me up late, around dinner time.
“Nope” I say as I see his anxious gaze turn into relief.
“Phew…dodged that bullet!” he probably thinks, because when I’m hungry, tummy can be a tyrant of sorts. :p
Lastly, probably an iteration of what many many others have posted, but really great blog and great pictures! I always look forward to reading it because it brings well packaged morsels of Colorado, food, doggie, and hiking, all things I enjoy (or wish to enjoy in the case of Colorado). Thanks! :)
September 25th, 2012 at 3:59 am
Hi Jen,
I love the photos and write ups! An interesting fact about myself would be that I love baking yet I am currently stuck in the Singapore education system that never seems to end, but I’m working towards my dream of opening my own bakery one day!
September 25th, 2012 at 7:29 am
Hello everyone! I’m Emmy, I’m from Portland, OR, and I work as a baker. My hand has personally piped about 1500 macarons this week…well, actually 3000, because the cookie has two sides! I’m also a college student studying economics and math, two things that my family has exactly zero interest in. I love your blog because of the gorgeous photography and especially for the Asian-inspired recipes, as I am half Chinese but never learned how to cook Chinese food.
September 25th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Hi Jen!
So your photos of Colorado are amazing. If ever I were to move from Arkansas, Colorado would be my first choice. I went to Telluride this summer, and can’t wait to go back this winter. I love, love to cook for my friends, and I often try out your recipes (I like to try the Chinese dishes). Oh, and I love butter!
Jake
September 25th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Fun fact: I am 24 and have lived in NY for most of my life, but this past weekend was the first time I’ve ever been apple picking! :)
September 25th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Hi Jen,
This is actually my first visit to your blog. I came here via Pinterest, where I saw (and have been waiting to make) the one-ingredient “ice cream.” An interesting fact about me is that I’ve just started participating in a skills collective, which is a group inspired by a gift-economy mentality, where everyone shares things they know or are interested in. Another is that I’ve lived in more than 30 homes in my life, none longer than 6 years, so far anyway.
September 25th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Jen!
Thanks for having such an awesome webpage :) I follow your recommendations for eating out in Boulder when I am up visiting. An interesting fact about me…I have three Border Collies (ages 11, 9 and 6) who are all fairly spoiled, although they would say they don’t get to go hiking quite as much as they would like. Cheers
September 25th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
yet another lurker…
I found your blog a while back when searching for matcha cookies recipes, and has been lurking since. If I don’t have to squeeze out the next day’s lunch and dinner in 20 minutes every day, I would really love to try all your recipes. =)
Here’s something interesting (or so I hope) about me: my name. Two letters for my first name, two more for my last name. Plus, they rhyme!
September 25th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
what a great giveaway. interesting fact for me – I came to Colorado intending to stay for the summer, but met my (now)husband and loved him and the state and decided to stay. now i can’t imagine leaving.
September 25th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
YUM this corn looks absolutely irresistible. For my fun fact: I disassembled and ate Maryland blue crab for the first time in my life this week!
September 25th, 2012 at 6:00 pm
Hi!
I love this site! I am a stay at home mom who loves to cook. I am pregnant right now and have been craving pickles, thank you for that delicious pickle recipe they were so yummy!
September 25th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
I am an engineer and computer scientist. Home cook and basketmaker.
September 25th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
I’m a single mom of two teenagers and two 14 yo labs, handle catering and sales for a local restaurant, just recently looked through a telescope for the first time (didn’t want to lose the magic but it was still there!) and love pipe organs.
September 25th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Hi Jen! I’m probably lurker #1000 here…but anyway I’m from Asheville. Love your blog.
Fun fact…my fiance and I give our dog a talking voice to make the other one feel guilty. True story. It works out to our dog’s advantage since he gets more lovin’ now that he has a voice.
September 25th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Interesting about me? I can put my feet behind my head! Maybe the 3 hours of yoga a day has something to do with it….
September 25th, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I’ve made a salad version of this corn and now I REALLY need to try the real thing. I’m dying over how beautiful the pictures are.
Random thing about me…the guy I married has same last name as me so I didn’t have to change a thing on paperwork after we were hitched.
September 25th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
Hello, I came across your blog very recently and love all your photos of scenery and have tried a few of your recipes which have been delicious! Interesting thing about me… I am allergic to beef, lamb, chicken and duck, but turkey’s ok!
September 26th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Hi, love to read your blog and try the recipes – never failed me :-) My favorite – chocolade stout cake. Nobody ever guessed the secret ingredient.
About me – I love cooking, baking, reading sci-fi books and our irish wolfhounds ( we are just picking our new puppy this weekend :-) )
September 26th, 2012 at 6:26 am
I’m a pianist, and I teach piano to little kids (and bigger kids, and adults) 6 days a week. My favorite composer is Dmitri Shostakovich, whose birthday anniversary was yesterday! I have yet to try one of your recipes, but I keep coming back to your blog for the awesome photography, which has put Colorado on a list of must-visit places for me!
September 26th, 2012 at 8:20 am
My go-to whenever I am sick is dried scallop congee.
September 26th, 2012 at 8:48 am
This is my first time on your blog. Love it! Will be returning again and again!
About me- I am in the process of restoring a 73 Super Beetle!
September 26th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Love your blog and yes, I am a lurker that rarely comments. Also, my first language is Spanish and I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I married my husband without my parents (he met my brother and two best friends, ha!) meeting him due to travel/visa issues. They’re all meeting at our first year anniversary in December in the DR. Yeah. That’s me. XOXO!
September 26th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Hey Jen
Penny from Rollinsville and Pagosa. One interesting thing that I love is wolves and wolf rehabilitation. I will be volunteering down here at Wolfwood…now that I live close by. Have heard how great the fall has been at home this year…..sorry I missed it! It is starting to get pretty down here…
The givaway is awesome!
September 26th, 2012 at 10:57 am
Jen, that is some good looking Mexican corn. you have convinced me that I gotta try it, so keeping my finger crossed that Munson’s will still have some when I get back. I’m baking your baklava today. when I googled “authentic baklava recipe” I chose yours, you seem to have the sensibility about sweetness level for dessert as I do. I’ll let you know how it turns out. in fact, I’ll probably write a post for my blog, the process was tedious, messy but rewarding even before baking it, as you well know. about me? I’m a Boulder chef and culinary instructor, temporarily sidelined by cancer. But this week, I’m in the North Fork Valley with my malamute Hana and we’re cooking on farms. It’s nice to be well enough to work hard enough to get exhausted! of course, that wouldn’t even faze you a bit! you are one EverReady bunny!
September 26th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Hi Jen, thank you for this group meet! Thank you too for all the time, energy, lovliness and aesthetic WOW you put into your beloved blog. I am a Jr. High Art Teacher is my interesting fact and I “escape” on the weekends through the pages of URB!
September 26th, 2012 at 11:45 am
Hi Jen,
I just wanted to give a big shout out to your blog from Beijing. You have fans worldwide! :) It’s Thursday morning 1:54am in Beijing, and I couldn’t sleep, came to your blog for calorie free eye candies and general inspiration.
Interesting fact about me -> I studied biology thinking I wanted to become a vet but after graduating, decided to pursue my two passions : food and music. I want to start a food media business in China (first baby step- music blog launching next month)
Say hi to Kaweah for me!
TJ-
September 26th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Hi Jen,
Your blog always inspires me. Thank you so much for sharing your stories and recipes! My interesting fact is that I’m a baker who enjoys teaching my dog new tricks while wanting to become a florist. I miss him dearly since he’s currently with my family for a bit.
September 26th, 2012 at 3:50 pm
Hi!
I’m delurking to enter to win these amazing eatables and wearables. A fact about me… I’ve launched my own biotech company! Never thought I’d do it, but I didn’t think about that part too much and just forged ahead. It’s a little crazy, but in a good way.
Keep the great recipes and photos coming! I love them all, despite the latter giving me a raging case of sushi envy. ;)
September 26th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Hi, I love your blog, since I just moved to Colorado last year and love seeing references to places in Boulder and Denver! Fun fact about me: while I’m working towards a career in government, I would be happy doing nothing but cooking and baking for the rest of my life!
September 26th, 2012 at 11:40 pm
This is such a fantastic giveaway. I lived and was born in CO and I miss it! One interesting fact is I’m studying to become a Master Sommelier (one of only 190 in the whole world) and I love wine and food pairings. Ive done a couple based on the recipes u post! So good! There are so many of your fans who’ve posted! So great, but I want to win!
September 27th, 2012 at 12:04 am
Hi!
I’m a french girl who lived in Germany, then Canada, before reluctantly moving back to France because my boyfriend was happier there… and I love it!
I’m not really interesting or surprising… I have a few quirks, such as: losing everything since I live with my partner (I once found my glasses, after 3 days of frantic searching, in the lettuce drawer of my fridge!), and saying a word for another (“duvet” for “leggings” or “subway” for “elevator”… go figure!).
September 27th, 2012 at 12:57 am
Hi Jen,
I almost feel guilty entering the contest since I live in Boulder County but the prize consists of such great stuff. I am usually busy with canning and food swapping but lately have started to promote the International Film series at CU-Boulder and create a volunteer group for it. Later, I will throw myself into fundraising for them to purchase a Digital Cinema Package system for them. Otherwise, the will no longer be able to screen current movies in the future.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:27 am
I love your blog and the care package goods look really well-chosen. A fact about me is that I am writing a young adult novel based on the premise that time is based on a spiral and is not linear, as everyone now accepts it is.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:06 am
Hiya! So, I love your blog and all your amazing photos of the “Crusty Butt” as we call it. My husband and I got married up there 5 yrs ago, it is such a magical and special place. Do you remember the breakfast at the Princess? We loved their baked eggs and homemade waffles……anyway, fact about me is that I won’t feed my dogs anything that isn’t good enough for me to eat.
Keep up the great work, you are truly gifted.
Courtney
September 27th, 2012 at 3:26 am
Hi, Jen!
Love your blog, the recipes and pictures all look fantastic and you have such a witty and fun personality that comes through in your posts. I don’t cook as much as I’d like to, as I’m still in school, but I’m planning on making a trip to 26 Beach when I’m in LA later this month after seeing your California roll burger recipe!
A fact about me: I’ve been on a fairly regimented eating plan for the last month or so, but it allows me one day off per week, and I usually come to your blog to find recipes (mainly sweets) to make for that day. On the list right now is peach upside-down cake, blackberry ice cream, and lime cheesecake with blackberry sauce. Yummmm.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:57 am
Hi Jen,
Am a lurker and a once in awhile commenter. Love your photos and how your blog reads – very spunky, always feel like you are explaining things to me personally. What I love is when I make the recipes – I always remember the stories that go with them…love that!
An interesting fact about me – love gardening & raising plants that attract birds and bees to come and hang out – hummingbirds built a nest on my patio and 2 hummers were born…yay!
Thank you for the thoughtful giveaway collection :))
September 27th, 2012 at 3:58 am
Hi! I love reading your blog – the pictures are so beautiful and remind me of the year I spent in Colorado. Interesting thing about me….I MISS Colorado! One of the most memorable things I’ve ever done in my life was to hike from Aspen to Crested Butte via Maroon pass. Such great memories. Would love to do it again someday.
September 27th, 2012 at 5:01 am
I live on a small island in a warm sea,& recently got a laptop & am all over the place. Enjoy hearing u talk about ur interests. stay warm!!!and I’ll feel the snow thru ur chit-chat, thx
September 27th, 2012 at 6:03 am
I adore your blog, it helped me learn to appreciate Colorado when I moved here a few years ago. I was terribly homesick for the water and grey skies of the Pacific Northwest, still am, but it has tempered.
Interesting fact, all my life I’ve had at least two dogs at a time, always one small and one big. Right now I only have a small dog and little does my husband know we are in the market for a big one!
September 27th, 2012 at 6:50 am
Hi!
You have inspired me to start learning more about homesteading!
One interesting fact about me: my Birthday is tomorrow!
Thanks for all of your wonderful work!
September 27th, 2012 at 6:58 am
I love reading your blog! I also live in Colorado, but in the DRY, dry plains. I appreciate your words on YOUR Colorado region! Fact about me: I am a budding homesteader and raw milk dairy farmer.
September 27th, 2012 at 6:59 am
Hi Jen
I am a reader from Malaysia, yes we are an ocean apart. I stumbled across your blog 3 years back when I was searching for carrot cake recipe and guess what? I have been coming back almost everyday to see what you have for us here. I am an engineer who loves cooking but I am a lousy baker. I have a 8 month old baby boy. I loves both the big man and little man in my house. I wish I could get your care package, they are so tempting!
Thanks!
September 27th, 2012 at 7:11 am
Hi, Jen! I only just discovered your blog, and as a displaced Coloradoan now living in Ohio, your posts and photos make me mega-homesick. The Boulder Farmers’ Market!! Aspens turning yellow! Be still, my heart!
Like you, I started canning this summer, sourcing my produce from Amish farms in my area. Thus far: 28 pints of diced tomatoes, plum jam with cardamom, blackberry jam with sage, peach jam with rosemary. Though Ohio peaches can’t compare to Palisade ones!
September 27th, 2012 at 7:29 am
I grew up part of my childhood in Ouray and am coming home for a visit for the first time in 8 years in July! I can’t wait. Thanks for being inspiration, and for keeping my mental picture of the place I love so much FRESH. :)
September 27th, 2012 at 7:40 am
Hello!
I guess you could say I’m an uber lurker because I’ve been following this blog for over three years but have never had the courage to comment!
Okay, so my fun fact, I’ll just talk about how I got into cooking and this blog. It was actually the recipe for Chinese Potstickers and Dumplings that led me to this site and which got me interested in cooking. I was never really into cooking, but I had been reading an autobiography of a Chinese dancer living during Mao’s reign, and he justkept talking about dumplings – so I decided I had to make some. I searched for a recipe and found this site. The next day I spent probably 5 hours chopping, making dough, and assembling them into perfect purse shapes. My husband arrived home and was absolutely dumbfounded, but when I finally presented a plate full of dumplings we were both pretty happy. And that recipe, still one of my favorites, is what got me into cooking.
Anyway, thanks for this blog!
September 27th, 2012 at 7:51 am
I love testing recipes, then tweaking them to suit my family. I like to recreate dishes I’ve eaten in my travels too.
September 27th, 2012 at 7:53 am
Hello,
Thanks for the beautiful pictures and recipes! I am a New Yorker married to a Denverite, living in Manhattan. Would love to get the great Colorado care package for him. We stumbled across your blog quite some time ago and have been using your wonderful recipes ever since. Love to hear all about your adventures, as well!
Interesting fact: Just ordered Hatch green chiles from NM and had them shipped to NYC to make my husband some REAL green chile!
Thanks again for your hard work
September 27th, 2012 at 8:00 am
I suppose I’m a lurker, too. Fun fact: there are 42 jars of salsa under my bed (I canned 100lbs of tomatoes over Labor Day weekend).
September 27th, 2012 at 8:05 am
Hi,
I am a student but have been reading your blog for years, first from Seattle and now from Williamstown. I look forward to your recipes, of course, but my favorite posts are the ones about travel- I think the best way to get to know a place is through food and flora, both of which appear here in abundance. Thanks for all the good reading and eating!
Piper
September 27th, 2012 at 8:07 am
Love your recipes. Fun fact about my family – our friends introduced us to free range chickens. We only have 4 but they are the highlight of the day. Funniest animals I’ve ever seen. They run to you like you are their entire reason for living. What a joy and they give us great tasting eggs.
September 27th, 2012 at 8:07 am
Hi Jen, I am a lurker from the lovely island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. I have a vegetarian husband who I love cooking for… I must confess that I have “borrowed” a few of your recipes which were a big hit. Can you believe that your recipes and photos thrilled me so much that I am reading all your archives…I’m at August 12th 2008.
One interesting fact about me …. hhhmmm I LOVE to eat… especially fruits
September 27th, 2012 at 8:13 am
Yup, I’m definetly a lurker. Unique fact about me, closed on my first house last week and really looking forward the months of beautifying it ahead! Always enjoy reading your blog and salavating over your pictures!
September 27th, 2012 at 8:50 am
Hi Jen, Guilty as charged! I’m yet another lurker! I am also a devoted reader and have delightedly read (and cooked, and dreamed and imagined) your posts as a way to help me better know and love my new state of Colorado. My family moved to Boulder a year and a half ago and it’s been life saving! We LOVE it here. I’m the biological mother to two teenage boys and the temporary mother to a 16 year old German exchange student who GASP, CHOKE, doesn’t eat vegetables. We’re working on him! He calls me “salad lady” and it’s NOT an endearment. Another interesting fact- I’m currently in a mini war with my home owners association about my unfortunate choice to use my front yard for a vegetable and flower garden! My golden doodle Daisy would love Kaweah! Thanks for everything!!!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:10 am
What a fun way to do a giveaway! Something fun about me (food-related) might be that I love blueberries and this summer I finally tried my hand at jam and made a blueberry lavender rhubarb jam– it came out great. Besides that I’m living the grad student life in Boston and dreaming about a real garden of my own. The thing I like best about your blog is how much it makes me want to move to Colorado!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:35 am
Greetings Jen & URB! I have been obsessed with grilling the past year ever since I got a komando style grill (big green egg). I have been looking for ways to grill the unusual and these are my top three unique things to grill in 2012:
3/ Peas! Out of the pod and on to the grill
2/ Rice.. a cake of rice with egg & sourdough starter to help bind it together. What a wonderful flavor the grill gives it
1/ French Toast! There is something about the radiant heat that makes grilling french toast wonderful. It makes sausage cooking easy as well.
Thanks for the contest! P-
September 27th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Can’t resist the possibility of Helliemae’s caramels! I’m a former Boulderite, and I get my fix of the things I miss about CO from your gorgeous posts. I grew my first small-space urban tomatoes this year–nowhere near enough to can (barely enough for a couple of salads), but a happy start!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:53 am
Hi there, I have just found your blog today through Tony Schober who does coachcalorie.com through your Blueberry Muffin Larabar recipe!
I’m Adrienne, a 24 year old married to a man in the US. Army, we’re currently stationed in Ansbach, Germany. :) We love it here in Germany!
I will probably go through your whole bloggggg!! haha. Anyway, my husband is originally from Colorado and would love to have a little piece of it around these parts! Great give away!! :D
September 27th, 2012 at 10:08 am
Hi there, I’m Diane and I moved to Paris six months ago to live with my amazing gentleman friend. Random interesting thing: my dream is to quit my boring office job and just start volunteering at the boulangerie down the street!
September 27th, 2012 at 10:11 am
I’m a lurker – and a big fan of both your photography and your recipes. Your blog is a joy. I live and work in Manhattan, and your photos are a daily breath of fresh, mountain air.
A fact about me – During a x-country road trip, I drove through the Colorado mountains one night in September, in the first snow-storm of the year, with a broken (read: open) sunroof. We opened it in Utah and couldn’t get it closed until we made it to the dealership in Denver. It was an adventure!
September 27th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Hi, I’m Stef – my favorite movie is Jaws!
September 27th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Hi Jen, I love you blog. Especially love the pictures of Colorado where I spent my summers growing up since I have a large number of my mothers family living there. Now my sister lives there as well. I too live in a beautiful place, Mendocino County in Northern California. I still get to Colorado to visit my sis. One thing about me is that I had a Heart Transplant a year ago and that I love every day. This week I a spend time with my two youngest Granddaughters in Mendocino.8Z83
September 27th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Hi Jen – I’ve commented a few times before and love your blog. I’m in Virginia. An interesting fact about me is that both of my fraternal grandparents are adopted. I like to joke around and say that I could be a real-life princess or empress since we don’t know our family’s roots.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:05 am
Hi there, Jen. I’m a former Colorado resident, and your blog helps with the homesickness! Another random fact about me: I lived in Scotland for several years, and now that I’m back in the U.S., I can’t get rid of a few little pieces of Scottish idiom in my speech. I’m sure I sound naff with my very Donna Reed American accent, but I can’t help it.
September 27th, 2012 at 11:09 am
HI All- Im Shelby from Hawaii, I have deep Colorado roots, family in Denver and a brother who is a Mines alum. This is such a cool giveaway, I am envious of your aspens! :)
September 27th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Yo Jen!
I adore your blog. My name is Kim, and I just moved back to Boulder after several months living in New England. It’s soooooo good to be back!
September 27th, 2012 at 11:15 am
Hi Jen! I’m Steph and I’ve been a lurker for a loooong time! My favorite season is fall because i love everything pumpkin and the changing leaves!
September 27th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I’m pretty darn funny…..
September 27th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
I love all things food and travel. I’ve been fortunate enough to get a good bit of traveling in, but I always get the travel itch again and usually pretty quickly. I can’t wait for my next getaway…and for the local food I can devour!
September 27th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
Hi Jen,
Long time lurker, first time poster, I’ve been following your blog for a while now and love all your beautiful photos, both of food and nature! So great to see many familiar Chinese recipes as well, I will definitely have to try them out. My fiance and I are a fellow engineer/astrophysicist pair, him being the astrophysicist and me being the engineer, of the biomedical variety. In training I suppose, we’re both working our way through grad school… so, I very much appreciate all your nerdy comments, keep em coming!
-Ann
September 27th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
I’m another long time lurker (Surprise!).
All your lovely photos make me so nostalgic for the mountains, and I love your recipes (I recently made the Tomato Jam, which I now put on EVERYTHING)!
A little about myself…Well I’m a master’s student in vocal performance (Opera) at USC Thornton School of Music. I love to cook and bake, especially because I get delicious food for less money. ;)
I used to live near Yosemite, and living in LA makes me sorely miss the change of seasons (which doesn’t seem to exist here) so looking at your pictures of the first colors of autumn really brought a smile to my face.
PS: Kaweah is absolutely adorable. <3
September 27th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
My son Gabe, just moved back from CO. I had a chance to visit him and loved it. Interesting fact: He was hit by a boat at the age of 16 and though he was initially pulled from the water not breathing, he survived after two months of critical care at a Level I Trauma Center and Children’s Hospital.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
Hi I’m Kathryn and my interesting fact is that I’m a college student who does catering out of my dorm kitchen.
September 27th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Hey Jen- I recently just came across your blog and love it! I’m seriously impressed with how often you post, and each one is so detailed and wonderful! One interesting fact about me is that I quit my first job out of college randomly to spend 6 months backpacking Europe with my boyfriend. It was the best thing I ever did! I was exposed to so many different cultures and people, past and present; the whole trip was life changing. Now we are planning/saving for another six month trip to Japan, China, and India sometime in the next two years. Anyways, keep up the great work! I have my fingers crossed about getting some canned tomatoes straight from your kitchen! – Shawn
September 27th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
This is a really fun giveaway! Thanks! I lived in China and miss the food!
September 27th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
My interesting fact: I bought a motorcycle at the age of 17 and hid it from my Mom for 5 years, until I finally sold it. To this day, she still has no idea.
September 27th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Hello! Kathy here from West Virginia and I love to create recipes! I have a created several! I stumbled upon your site and i absolutely love it! Thank you so much for being here for me to find!
September 27th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
Hi! Andrea from Seattle. I’m a cancer survivor!
September 27th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Hi, I’m Bekah. I spent every summer from the time I was 8 until I was 20 in Colorado. It is my favorite place on earth (aside from Vietnam, where my children were born). This summer I was able to take my husband and three children back and it was just as amazing as I remember it.
I love your blog!
September 27th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
My name is Brendan from Metro Detroit, Michigan. I work in banking, but I wish I could go back in time to go into the culinary arts. I guess my wife will just have to enjoy my passion for cooking!
September 27th, 2012 at 5:12 pm
Hi- Love your blog, look forward to reading it whenever I see another post from you has arrived :)
We have 4 all black pets- 3 cats and one Labrador mix. One of the ladies at our vet’s office laughs about it whenever we go in. The funny thing is, it didn’t occur to us that it’s particularly weird, the animals mostly came to us…..
September 27th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Hi! I found your blog by following links on Chinese cooking. Initially inspired by your Chinese recipes, but kept reading because of the beautiful photography and images of Colorado. I live in the Silicon Valley and although i’m only 1 generation removed from China, I can’t cook more than one or two Chinese dishes to save my life.
September 27th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Hi hi! I love your blog and nature photos….also when you wax on poetically about sandwich drippings…nom!
Interesting fact: mornings are my bliss, just as the sun rises, birds are chirping, the city is just waking up. I hop on my bike and take in the morning. Also, i can eat an entire jar of homemade preserved sour cherries. without blinking.
September 27th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
Hi – I’m currently eating my hamburger while drooling over your pictures of food. My fact: I have a sick obsession with dark chocolate!
September 27th, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Hi – Heather here. One interesting fact would be that I hold the family record for hanging a spoon on my nose during dinner (which of course includes eating!).
Love the blog and photography – truly inspiring!
September 27th, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Everytime I get a message from you, I search with anticipation the jouyful ride I am about to embark on. I totally immerse myself in a blast of two of my senses – visual and taste, can taste the food you are featuring, can enjoy being outdoors with you – majestic mountains. Living at sea level in California, my outdoor activitites are far different (after all, my collection of beach glass is currently on exhibit at our local Art and History Museum -all 300+ pounds of it). Thanks for sharing your love for food and nature with all of us. Our local farmers’ marhets supply us with healthy beautiful freh produce, I am fortunate to have 5 of them close by. Favorite smell from my fall kitchen – Bosc pear chutnet – blissfull.!!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:20 pm
Hi! I’m definitely one of those lurkers I’m Melody and for the longest time, I’ve wanted to get my scuba license…finally…after years of thinking about it, I finally got it! I love your recipes and pictures!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:47 pm
hi, I have been reading your blog for a few years and love it. I have a love of Texas BBQ and west LA sushi. Your photos are inspiring!
September 27th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Hi! I’m Erikka, from the US. I’ve been reading your blog for a while but this is the first time i’ve ever commented :D Anyways, an interesting fact about me…. hmmmm… my favorite animal is a hippopotamus! Hahah
September 27th, 2012 at 10:37 pm
Hi Jen,
I’ve been following your blog since early 2012 and as of earlier this month have read through all the archives. Love your down-to-earth style.
As for one fact about me, I’m a math major at MIT, but my true passion is music and art. I’ve been making all sorts of 3D creations since I was very young (currently I’m enamored by geometric beadwork and crochet), and I play piano and guitar a lot too.
September 27th, 2012 at 10:59 pm
first, can i just say how awesome you are? i love that you understand that some of us really are just too shy to comment regularly, if at all, and that you know we’re here. i’m pretty boring and it took me a while to think of something.. my background is animal care and dog training, and i used to work for a guide dog school in NJ. many service dog schools rely on donated or purchased dogs to train and place with people who need them, but this particular school breeds their own guide dogs and i worked at the campus that houses the breeding adults and puppies (yep– a maternity ward and nursery for puppies!). at any given time we had somewhere around 70 breeding adults (give or take, and since then they’ve downsized drastically); the random, interesting (and somewhat unexplainable) part is that i could name the geneologies of every one of those dogs up to and including their grandparents, and i could tell you how they were related. this applied to current dogs, some dogs that were retired from the program and already gone to their forever homes, and occasionally even extended beyond three generations. i haven’t worked there in four years and i can still name a lot of them. my coworkers found this to be simultaneously useful, cool, and freakish. if only i could apply such skills of memorization to all things in life perhaps i could have gone to vet school after all!
thank you for the contest! i miss colorado constantly and your care package is such a great idea!
September 27th, 2012 at 11:35 pm
Thanks for maintaining this window on your world. I’m inspired each time I visit. An interesting fact about me: I enjoy making fine chocolates, and have done so for more than 25 years. This summer I picked cherries and put them up in brandy and sugar. They are now ready to use for my first-ever foray into making chocolate covered cherries.
September 28th, 2012 at 12:03 am
Never commented before but we have been enjoying your recipes immensely, I must have made your smashed potatoes 50 times :)
September 28th, 2012 at 1:31 am
Hi :) I’m Gül from Istanbul/Turkey. I love your blog, it inspires me during my long & grey office hours. And the interesting thing about me might be that I once sailed from Turkey to England and back spending almost two months sailing in the Atlantic ocean :) I love a good adventure and I’m crazy for baking!
September 28th, 2012 at 5:10 am
Hi, I love your blog and never thought that I would dream about moving to Colorado until I saw all the beautiful pictures that you’ve posted. I always loved the beach before that.
September 28th, 2012 at 7:56 am
Hi! I’m a fan but have never commented, I love your blog. I grew up in a home where my stepmom made “the meal of the month”. In other words, she wasn’t a big cook and I never learned. ;) So, living in San Francisco and watching PBS cooking shows in the weekends, I started teaching myself in my late 20’s and now it’s something I LOVE! My greatest cooking accomplishment has been getting my very picky son and husband to eat zucchini.
September 28th, 2012 at 8:04 am
I’ve lurked around here for about two years now, so I figured it was time to comment, finally. I’m from Norway, but I have lived in New York for two years. At a Cuban restaurant there, called Cafe Habana, they sell the most amazing grilled corn. Very similar to these ones. An interesting fact about me: I’m currently working towards my PhD in Food Science, studying the potential health effects of cheese.
Thanks for all the great recipes and photos!
September 28th, 2012 at 8:14 am
I recently found your blog and I love your recipes. I have a Golden Retriever, named Cooper, who sheds constantly. No matter how much I vacuum it seems my clothing always has dog hair on it. At least we’re both blondes. :)
September 28th, 2012 at 8:17 am
I met you 2 years ago at the Food and Light seminar you put on in lovely downtown Boulder. Such a great 2-day workshop, learned lots and became more confident behind the camera. About ready for another one (hint, hint) to move to the next level.
Interesting factoid about me? I keep chickens and bees in my backyard. Not unique, but interesting! :-)
September 28th, 2012 at 8:18 am
When I think about the only other time I’ve commented, I feel like a creeper because I recognized the dishes that the Peking Duck was being served on because that restaurant is my absolute favorite for pd. ^///^ Anyyyways. I love everything about this and what drew me to your site was your love for absolutely everything that you do. About me….I thought I would be going to a UC all my life and then one day changed my mind and left for an aviation university where I’ve learned how to fly.
September 28th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Hi Jen! I was recently introduced to your blog from a friend of mine, and I just wanted to say that I am so inspired by your recipes! I’ll definitely be back here often for more kitchen/cooking inspiration. Let’s see – about me… I didn’t always have an immense love for cooking… it wasn’t until I met my husband 7 years ago and he inspired me to get off my cereal/veggie burger kick (i.e. eating cereal or veggie burgers for practically every meal – yikes!!). Slowly but surely he introduced me to all types of food and ignited my love for cooking, and I feel so thankful for that. AND thankful for people like you who continue to inspire me with new recipe ideas!! Thank you for all that you do, and I have already bookmarked this blog as a favorite :-). Hope this finds you well!
September 28th, 2012 at 8:36 am
Hi there! I’m one of the shy ones, I’ll admit it. But I love your blog super hard. I’m a Denver girl (city mouse, here!), but I spend a lot of time hiking and backpacking in the high country. I dream of someday having goats and chickens and bees. I’m a Rolfer (yeah, I know, weird) and my office is actually around the corner from Mizuna. Love that place! Anyways, great blog and great giveaway idea! Thanks so much!
September 28th, 2012 at 9:03 am
Hi, I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and love it! You post great photos and great recipes. I made the Lara bars for my husband to take when he was attending an academic conference and he loved them. I also love the photos of Colorado, since we moved to rural middle of nowhere Texas last year and I’m originally from Bishop CA in the eastern sierras I have to enjoy the mountains vicariously through your photographs.
September 28th, 2012 at 9:14 am
I’m a lurker but I love your photos and recipes. I have a pet chinchilla named Oscar who is actually a girl, but who we thought was a boy for the first year and a half, which is why we just kept the name but switched pronouns.
September 28th, 2012 at 9:23 am
lurker here.
I’m a grad student studying theology, a potter, a knitter, single mom to an awesome kid with special needs, and I regularly check in to see your beautiful photos which always help me to see God in the world that is suffering. Thanks for that.
This summer I helped build a wood kiln.
xoxo
September 28th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Hi, I’m Nichole! I love canning, putting up food, learning new techniques for preservation, new foods to forage and new foods to grow. I can’t wait until I have a farmhouse, garden & orchard of my own :)
September 28th, 2012 at 10:34 am
interesting(?) fact: my hair is currently pink to match my ultimate team jersey.
out of all the blogs i read, yours is the only one i’ve ever commented on. when i try to convince friends/family to come to colorado i send them to your photo blog.
and i love to eat- so your photos of food are also awesome and inspiring.
i went to that geeky school in pasadena that you went to (did you know harold mcgee went there too?).
September 28th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Hi Jen! I always loved reading your blog because I could always eat twice; with my eyes through your photography and in reality by trying your recipes. When I cook I try to follow the recipe to the dot and I have a 8/10 success rate, but when my mom cooks, she does her “thang” and never really follows the exact recipe, but it still turns out awesome!
September 28th, 2012 at 11:03 am
hello! am a lurker who loves your photography and as a result, would love to visit colorado one day. interesting fact: travel to a different state to get my haircut
September 28th, 2012 at 11:37 am
I’m vision, and I love your blog! In fact, we’ve met before because I sold you a pizza stone at a store here in Boulder! I didn’t want to creep you out by saying anything though. Cheers!
September 28th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
An on-again off-again lurker here!
I made a huge move from California to Maryland as a teenager three years ago! Since then I’ve traversed at least seven of the surrounding states, gotten used to the sweltering summertime heat, and moved into a tiny, cozy apartment with my girlfriend. :)
September 28th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
Mmm… Those look tasty :)
I thought a couch would be boring so I bought a bouncy castle for the living room instead.
September 28th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
HI! Butter told me to enter. :)
Interesting? We homeschool our 3 kiddos.
September 28th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I never would have found this giveaway if not for Butter. I never would have found Butter if not for her and myself bringing hand grown or foraged items to the same Boulder restaurants. I never would have been taking speciality home grown items to restaurants if they weren’t so appreciative of my efforts. I never would have even thought about delivering such items to restaurants if I hadn’t worked in them for 40 years.
I was The Oldest Waiter in Boulder for fifteen years before I recently retired. And now, thanks to Butter, I have a whole new life in food.
September 28th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
What a great selection of goodies! I just took a candy making class for the first time and I am hooked. Can’t wait to explore and use my creativity.
September 28th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
I love your blog and I love visiting my sister and her family in Boulder. I put on hiking boots for the first time at age 46 and running shoes at 56. I never realized how much I love being outdoors.
September 28th, 2012 at 2:56 pm
hello, i am nichole. something that others may find interesting about me is that i grew up on a 500-acre dairy farm and my folks still live there and continue to grow farm livestock crops in their fields.
September 28th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@alfred, you and i worked at the boulder chophouse together in 2003ish (?) and i still have the porcelain bowl you gifted to many of us that christmas. i am glad to hear that you are in such good company as Butter’s and that you continue to enjoy life with such joyful enthusiasm–this and your lovely pottery still stand out in my mind.
September 28th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Love your blog! I am from LA,California. Love to cook/bake for my family!
September 28th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Well, I’m entering because you said to. ;) Hmm, interesting thing about me is that recently I took up cycling again at 35. It’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time, even if I fell almost every day since I bought my bike. ;) That is all. Love you, Jen!!
September 28th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Usually, my interesting tidbit is that I have a food blog, but in this company that’s probably more common than not. How about this? I currently live about a quarter mile from where I grew up, in the beautiful town of Pasadena. I know this is common in some circles, but I returned to Pasadena after years in Connecticut, NYC and Hollywood, and it’s not common in mine. Though on a side note, o e of the kids in my daughter’s Kindergarten class is the son of someone I went to elementary, middle and high school with in Pasadena and to college with in Connecticut. And no, it’s not the same school that we went to.
September 28th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
I’m a quilter
September 28th, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Hello Jen! I was looking for some cooking ideas and found your site about 3 and half yrs ago. You had a moving tribute to your sister -which I still look forward to each year. I’m a cook and photographer wannabe, so I really enjoy your site. I am from where the land is flat, the closest water is a murky river, it’s humid, even in the winter time and Elvis called my hometown, home. I travel to CO at least twice a year for skiing and summer fun. Your recipes help me step out of my comfort zone. Your pictures make me feel I’m in Colorado even when I’m not. Thanks for sharing your site!
September 28th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
I’m a lifelong New Englander who’s been to Colorado only once–too many years ago–and I really enjoy watching the seasons through your photos.
September 28th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Hi Jen,
I feel cold when it’s 70 degrees F. I couldn’t live where you’re at :) That said, I like reading your blog very much! You’ve got such a keen enjoyment for life, it makes me smile.
Have a great Friday!
Jasmine