ESTES PARK, COLORADO

We just moved to Colorado earlier this year, so we explore our new state every chance we get. There is SO much to see and do here, it blows my mind! We just got back from Estes Park, CO, where we had a fantastic 4th (and 5th) of July. My Parents were here for a long weekend; after a Rockies game, a quick jaunt to the Royal Gorge, a trip up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park, and a 2-hour drive home which turned into about a 4-hour steep, mountainous (terrifying for me personally!) drive (thanks Husband), I feel like we have seen about half of gorgeous Colorado now! 

 { Downtown Estes Park }

 {The Stanley Hotel ~ Stephen King wrote "The Shining" here. 

Coolest hotel ever by the way! }

 { Dream Lake was our reward for a 2.2 mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park }

{ Waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park }

 { Shops at Downtown Estes Park }

 { Still plenty of snow at ~12,000 feet, up near the Continental Divide }

 { Elk at Rocky Mountain National Park }

SPAGHETTI POMODORO

SPAGHETTI POMODORO

serves 4

photo & recipe via Diva Eats World

All I have to say about this pasta dish is...Y-U-M! Such an easy and quick recipe to make, and so much flavor!

1 pound imported spaghetti (used regular ol' spaghetti)

3 pints fresh cherry or grape tomatoes, cut lengthwise

3 cloves of garlic, sliced in half lengthwise (I minced mine)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

6 basil leaves (more to garnish)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Put the water on for the pasta.

Put olive oil in warm pan; add garlic and crushed red pepper. Brown the garlic, be careful not to burn it but do get it nice and golden; add the tomatoes. Be careful it will splatter due to the moisture of the tomatoes. Add the basil leaves, salt and pepper. Cook the sauce on medium-high until the tomatoes start to break down. At this point, use the back of a fork or even a potato masher and crush the tomatoes slightly.

While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to box. Drain the pasta and put it in the pan with the sauce. Mix until all the noodles are covered. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with fresh chopped basil.

BLUEBERRY POUND CAKE

BLUEBERRY POUND CAKE

photo & recipe via Vegetable Matter

1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2  tsp salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/4 cup flour for blueberries
1/4 cup sugar for the pan
butter for greasing pan
10" tube pan or bundt pan

Preheat oven to 325°.  Grease pan and dust well with 1/4 cup sugar.

Combine 2 3/4 cup flour with baking powder and salt.

Dredge blueberries with the 1/4 cup flour and mix well to coat.  We use fresh blueberries, but frozen work well too.  

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs one at a time.  Mix well each time.  Add vanilla and mix well.

Slowly add dry to butter mixture. When fully incorporated, fold in blueberries.  Batter will be very thick so some of the blueberries may get mashed up in the process.  

Bake until golden brown on top and cooked through, 75 minutes in our oven.  It's okay to have a bit of a moist, "sad" streak in middle of the cake when you remove from oven.

Cool, then dust with powdered sugar.  Serve at room temperature or toasted with some lemon curd or blueberry preserves on the side.

Store well-wrapped at room temperature.

BANANA CUPCAKES

BANANA CUPCAKES

photo and recipe via Bakerella

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 large ripe banana (or almost 1 cup)
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake tray with 12 baking cups.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Cream butter and sugar in a mixer for about four minutes. Add banana and mix until combined. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until combined. Add the flour in three additions alternating with milk in two additions. Scrape down the sides with each addition. 

Bake for about 12-15 minutes or until done. *I  made mini cupcakes (made about 40) and baked them for ten minutes at 350 degrees.

Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
Buttercup yellow icing color (optional)

Cream butter and cream cheese in mixer until thoroughly combined. Add vanilla. Then add sugar in small batches until combined and creamy. Add a small amount of buttercup yellow icing color to frosting and mix. *I made half a batch of the frosting and it was more than enough for my 40 mini cupcakes.

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN

Well, if I have learned anything about living in Colorado, it must be, to ALWAYS have your tennis shoes (and a jacket) on hand! Coming home from the Evergreen Rodeo, we decided to stop at Lookout Mountain, which overlooks Golden, CO (home of Coors beer...woohoo...Coors shout-out). At 7,581 feet, the views are phenomenal! 

Lookout Mountain is also home to Buffalo Bill's gravesite and the Boettcher Mansion (summer home of Denver entrepreneur, Charles Boettcher, built in 1917).

Oh yes, I have learned one other thing...I may be the biggest worrier of all time. Pretty much anywhere we stop, Drew hears a lecture similar to this (Soph is so crazy, we just hold her!): 

"Drew, no running or silliness. Are you listening to me? Drew, seriously now, you are thousands of feet up. Please don't give your Mother a heart attack. Hold my hand Drew. I mean it Drew. Okay, be careful." 

Oh, my poor, worried heart...but if it wasn't the mountains, it would be something else! ;-)

WREATHS

I am not sure my "crafty side" exists, but I like to think I am capable of a few, simple DIY projects. These wreath ideas are certainly tempting me to venture into the world of craftiness. They look easy enough right?

Images via The Painted Hive (starburst twig wreath), Fudge Ripple (peppermint wreath),  Etsy (rag wreath), Good Housekeeping (ornament wreath), Just A Girl (pinecone wreath), See Kate Sew (acorn wreath)

TEACHER'S GIFT

This post is really late, or really early depending how you look at it. But this idea was too cute not to show off! Unfortunately I am not as creative as I think I am, so I copied the idea from here. Think mine looks pretty good though...if I do say so myself. 

I used a reasonably priced cylinder glass vase, 48 #2 pencils (thought that was plenty but I could have used a few more), and a couple bouquets of sunflowers and held them in place with three rubber bands. And wahla, a beautiful gift for a special teacher!

JUST PUT IT IN A JAR

Filling jars with various lovelies seems to be all the rage this summer. Here are some super clever ideas I have seen on the blogs lately...

Putting ice cream in jars and keeping them on ice would be a really cute and time-saving idea when throwing a summer party.

If "cuteness" is the theme of your party, these little drinking jars would be perfect! They come with a hole in the lids, perfect for those ever-popular striped straws.

Have I run out of ideas for using jars you ask? Oh no! How about a gorgeous, simple flower arrangement.

Cheesecake in a jar...yes, please! Cake, cupcakes, you name it, you can pretty much serve it in a jar. Pretty cute! 

Photos via Pen'nPaperflowers, Acme Party Box Company, Tabitha Emma, and My Baking Addiction

FRUITY PEANUT BUTTER YOGURT DIP

Time to start figuring out what to do with the kiddos for the summer?!? Of course I would begin with food! This scrumptious little treat is easy, nutritious (mostly?), and fun for the kids. Sophie will eat anything if she can dip it in something!

FRUITY PEANUT BUTTER YOGURT DIP

photo & recipe adapted from The Wannabe Chef

1/2 cup fruit-flavored yogurt* (I used French Vanilla)
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Fruit, veggies, pretzels (be creative) for dipping

*To customize the flavor, use 6 tablespoons of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of any fruit jam.

DENVER ZOO

Ranked as one of the most popular zoos in the United States, the Denver Zoo's 80 acres is home to nearly 4,000 animals. Located in Denver's historic City Park (compared to Central Park in New York), its inhabitants include endangered species such as the Western lowland gorillas, okapis and Amur leopards (thought to be extinct in the wild).

Zoos, museums, amusement parks, professional sporting events, theatres, the list goes on and on. We LOVE Colorado!!!! 

THE CLASSICS

If anyone is looking for gift ideas, these would be such a timeless, thoughtful gift for anyone (including myself--not so subtle hint). Penguin Classics is responsible for these little beauties...just look at those gorgeous, pattern-stamped, linen covers! Nook shmook! You will not want to tuck a single one of these classics away. Wuthering Heights, Sense and Sensibility, and Great Expectations are calling my name. And of course we should probably read them too! Love these!
photo via design*sponge

MY CHILDHOOD HOME...ELM SPRINGS

I wanted to share a few photos of my family home--Elm Springs--in Missouri, where we just spent a long Easter weekend. And I have to say, for the first time, I looked forward to coming back to my new home (in Colorado) as much as I enjoy going to my childhood home. 

Elm Springs is a "Federal" style plantation home, built in 1840, by General David Thomson. This home has been in our family for almost 50 years. So needless to say, Elm Springs holds a rich history for my family as well as the many others that lived there prior to us. 

My Mother has done extensive work to both the inside and outside. I won't bore you with the details, but let me just say...the way it looked in the 70's compared to the way it looks now...wow!

Just an old barn you say? Not to me! This barn used to house my adorable, yet ornery, pony...Rusty Dusty! My first love. I spent hours and hours on that pony and I loved every single minute of it. Horseback riding has been a passion of mine since age 3 or 4. I can still picture him looking out that little window...

Little known fact about the Dow home. This tree, that seems to go up and up for miles is the largest hedge tree in Missouri, and yes we have a plaque to prove it! {haha} You can't see the base of it, but I believe (should have verified this with my Parents) it is approximately 30 feet around!  It sits right in front of our home and has split nearly in half over the years and we REALLY hope it never falls!!!

My Father is a an "avid" collector of various automobiles (new and very old) and this is one of those little gems that has gone to rest in pasture. I love the patina of this old Chevy.

Apparently I am somewhat obsessed with taking photos of the sky lately? This is a photo of the back ell of the home. My Parents have threatened to sell a few times (this house is big and requires a lot of work!) and each time, my Sister and I shiver with fear at the thought! We LOVE it here, our kids LOVE it here and it is our sanctuary. It is where we go to experience peace (and quiet when the Grandparents watch the kiddos), and where we "play" outside, and where we feel safest. Home sweet home...

FRUIT SALSA WITH BAKED CINNAMON CHIPS

• FRUIT SALSA WITH BAKED CINNAMON CHIPS
• via All Recipes

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced
• 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced
• 8 ounces raspberries
• 1 pound strawberries
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor
•  
• 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas
• Butter flavored cooking spray
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

via FFFFOUND!

SO CUTE AND SO WRONG!?!

Peeps S'mores
photo & recipe via Eclectic Recipes

Peeps
Graham Crackers
Hershey's Chocolate Squares

Place Peeps and Hershey's Chocolate squares on graham crackers. Zap in the microwave until soft (or place under a broiler). Place graham cracker square on top.

What a clever idea...and a great way to get rid of all those Peeps!

OH THAT MARTHA!

Martha Stewart and her staff always come up with the cutest ideas and I am loving this one! Fill your egg cups with mini bouquets and place them on a cake stand tier. What a great centerpiece!
photo via Martha Stewart

ON THE TRAIL AGAIN

{ WATERTON CANYON } 

HAPPY GRILLED CHEESE MONTH!

Jalapeño Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich

recipe & photo via Becky Bakes

• 2 jalapeno peppers, cut in half lengthwise and seeded
• 2 slices sourdough bread
• 1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup jack and cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon tortilla chips, crumbled 

Place the peppers on a baking sheet with the cut side down. Broil on the top rack for 8-14 minutes until the peppers are blackened. Place in a ziplock bag and seal. Let cool until you can handle them, about 20 minutes. Remove the skins from the peppers. They should “pinch” off easily. Assemble the sandwich and grill 2-3 minutes per side. Feast!

A LITTLE SWEET, A LITTLE SOUR

Sweet & Sour Chicken Meatballs

photo & recipe via Naturally Ella

2 slices bread

1/2 medium onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 tablespoon sunflower oil (I couldn't bring myself to spend $7.99, so I used olive oil)

1 pound ground chicken

1/4 cup fresh parsley (1 tablespoon dry)

1 egg

1 (8 ounce) can pineapple pieces, drained (set juice aside for sauce)

Sauce

1 cup ketchup

1/4 cup natural sugar (I used granulated sugar)

1/4 cup pineapple juice

1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Pinch cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a small skillet, heat sunflower oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook until onions are transparent (about 3 to 4 minutes). Set aside to cool slightly.

Using a food processor, turn bread into crumbs (or shred with your hands). In a large bowl, combine meatball ingredients (everything except pineapples); stir until everything is mixed thoroughly. Shape into 12 meatballs (I had about 17 and it barely filled a 9x13 pan). Sprinkle pineapple pieces over meatballs.

In a small bowl, whisk together ingredients for sauce, adjusting sugar and pineapple juice for desired sweetness. Once ready, cover meatballs in sauce. Bake for 23-25 minutes (took me about 30) until meatballs are cooked all the way through. Delicioso!!!

COOLEST RECIPE SITE EVER!

Creative people never cease to amaze me! This super adorable website--They Cook & Draw--accepts recipes/illustrations from artists all over the world. What a feast for your eyes...and tummy!

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Colorado!!! I have so much to say and so many photos to post, but I am going to start out slow-ly. Our new neighborhood is called Roxborough Park and it really does feel like we are living in a park (it could be for all I know?)! We are nestled in the foothills of the Rockies with spectacular views every way you turn, with giant red rock formations scattered throughout.

There are herds of mule deer and golden foxes roaming around everywhere...and rumor has it we also have mountain lion and bear dens up on the hill. Oh my! And the trails, wow the trails are everywhere; you can bike, hike or walk on miles of trails. (If only I could get used to the eleveation--5751 feet--and not feel like I was dying every time I went for a walk!) Also here is the Arrowhead Golf Club, which is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful golf courses in the US.

I look forward to waking up each morning just so I can stare out the window at my view. The homes in our neighborhood are all different (what a concept) and built into the landscape to look as natural as possible. It is phenomenal, what else can I say! The following photos were taken at our playground...I may never leave this place.

You can see the Denver skyline (squint hard) in between the giant red rocks. Must buy telephoto lens!

Sophie enjoying the playground equipment, all of which had a perfectly weathered and worn look.

View of our neighborhood, with the golf course in between it and the park. I wish you all could see it in person...truly breathtaking.