Colorado

Hey 19! Joy, Friendship and Future, All in a Few Frames

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ Leave a comment
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Just getting started: our kids are colorful, but the “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” sign is brown…hmmmm…

Hey there, Glover Gardens followers, you might or might not know that this week, I’ve had the distinct privilege and pleasure of being in Southwest Colorado with three 19-year-olds from the University of Texas.  One of them is my son, known in the blog as “our last millennial” or the “Jazz Composition Major at UT”.

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Our last millennial, the jazz musician

Our “last millennial” wanted to visit  our Colorado cabin, Little House in the Rockies, with his two (amazing, marvelous, smart, pretty and nice) friends, but didn’t know the inner workings of our tiny cabin, so – presto! – I got an invitation to come with them.  I’ve been joking that I’m here because of a lot of C-words…car, chauffeur, cooking, cleaning, cash…but that’s not really the case. In fact, when I sprung the C-word theory on them, they chimed in with “charming, charisma, character, creative, culinary, courageous” … (although it might have been me that contributed a couple of those).

Anyway, it has been a marvelous week! They’ve gone off on their own (at my urging) to many nature-rich locales, such as Jefferson Lake, Pike National Forest, Tarryall Reservoir, Buena Vista and Leadville.  And I was with them at the breath-taking Royal Gorge, muscle-aching McCullough Gulch hike, and fun-making Breckenridge Main Street and gondola.

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At Royal Gorge, all full of life and cajoled by me NOT TO BACK UP!
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Before the big hike just south of Breckenridge

One thing I forgot to mention is that these kids, these 19-year-old future leaders, are very, very close.  They love each other, “warts and all” (not that I saw any warts). They are generous with each other while at the same time holding themselves and each other accountable. I only caught bits and snatches of their deep conversations (and wouldn’t dream of actually eavesdropping because that might pre-empt any future travels with this trio), but I am confident that they will be friends for the rest of their lives.

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Looking to the future together, friends forever

Here are a few more photos to illustrate our week, all taken atop Boreas Pass on an old Colorado and Souther train caboose, with apologies to my friends who have already perused my Facebook photo album, entitled:

Hey 19! – Colorado Road Trip

My lovely week with three 19-year-olds from the University of Texas who might one day rule the world (or at least make it more interesting, safe, entertaining and livable!). An added bonus is the amazing natural beauty of Colorado.

 

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Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook

Simple Pleasures: Cline Ranch State Wildlife Area in Como, CO

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ 2 Comments

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Cline Ranch State Wildlife Area is located on Highway 285 in South Park, a few miles north of Como. It features three miles of upper Tarryall Creek for fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing.

We visited during our trip to Little House in the Rockies over the weekend, and fell in love.

We spent more than an hour in 12 degree (Fahrenheit) weather exploring the frozen tundra, which is dotted with vibrant native grasses even in the dead of winter, and taking in the awesome majesty of Tarryall Creek.  The video below is 17 seconds of pure wonder, the sights and sounds of an indomitable creek that flows beneath the frozen surface. (Hover over the video for the Play button.)

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For more of the Little House in the Rockies / Colorado series, click here.

And you can learn more about the Cline Ranch State Wildlife Area here.

 

Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook

Canadian Bacon, Provolone and Mushroom Panini

~ Kim of Glover Gardens ~ 6 Comments
Panini Time!
A previous panini

We love to make paninis when we visit Little House in the Rockies in Central Colorado.  There’s something about eating a hearty sandwich by the fire while looking out the window at a snowy forest – it’s comforting food in an even more comforting setting.

The latest is a throw-together panini that turned out great!  Canadian bacon, provolone, mushrooms and fresh basil on ciabatta buns rocks!  Here are some loose instructions; this is a recipe that is wonderful in its inexactness.  If you don’t have a panini press (or two), just make this sandwich like a grilled cheese, turning it to cook each side.

Canadian Bacon, Provolone and Mushroom Panini (Makes 6)

Ingredients

  • 6 ciabatta buns
  • 12 Canadian bacon slices
  • 6 slices provolone cheese
  • 2/3 cup of sliced mushrooms
  • approximately 1/4 cup Italian dressing
  • 1/2 bunch of fresh basil, roughly chopped or torn
  • freshly ground pepper
  • small amount of olive oil in a bowl (to brush on the buns)
  • Dijon mustard and dill pickles (optional, for serving)

Cooking Instructions

Toss the mushrooms in a small bowl with just enough Italian dressing to coat them. Open the ciabatta buns and lay them out on a cutting board, then arrange mushrooms on the bottom half of each bun. Top with a generous amount of the torn basil, then with freshly ground pepper.  Next, add the provolone, one slice for each sandwich, folding the slices so that they don’t hang over the sides of the buns.  Follow with two slices of Canadian bacon for each sandwich, then add the bun tops.  Turn the paninis over and brush lightly with olive oil on the bottom.

Heat the panini press to medium and add the sandwiches, olive oil side down, then brush the tops with more olive oil.  Close the press carefully, press down, and cook until the inside of the paninis are done and the ciabatta buns are nicely toasted.  Serve with Dijon mustard or other condiments, as desired.

Canadian Bacon, Provolone and Mushroom Paninis
Assembling the ingredients makes everything go faster
Panini with Mushrooms and Basil
Start with the mushrooms and basil; we left the mushrooms off of a couple paninis because one of our party is not in love with them
Panini with Canadian Bacon
Arrange the provolone and then the Canadian bacon atop the mushrooms and basil
Paninis in Presses
About ten minutes in the panini press results in a wonderful sandwich

Paninis Done

Note:  these panini presses are Sunbeam, and while they’re fine for a little cabin in the Rockies, we prefer the one we have at home.  It gets a workout every Wednesday when the Grill-Meister makes dinner, AKA Sandwich Wednesday.  Read all about it in the posts below, which also provide a couple of recipes and panini cookbook recommendations.

Ham and Sharp Cheddar Panini on Jalapeño Cheese Bread
Hearty Ham and Sharp Cheddar Panini on Jalapeño-Cheese Bread

Happy paninis!

 

Copyright 2017, Glover Gardens Cookbook