“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald
Since our High Country temps are playing in the 80’s this week, ‘crisp’ doesn’t come to mind. Despite that, it’s time to turn the page. ‘Crisp’ will soon arrive, followed closely by flurries of the white variety. Count on it. That’s why I suggest making Salade de Chèvre Chaud this Fall. You’ll find this warm goat cheese salad, a French classic, on the menu in most bistros. Not going to Paris this year? “Je suis désolée.” The recipe’s below…..très simple.
It’s been a gorgeous and, per usual, frenetic Aspen summer with too many what-to-do-today choices. For me personally this summer has also been bittersweet. My brother and only sibling, Buck, passed away unexpectedly in early July. His Memorial service was in Denver and we will return to Iowa in late September for his interment next to our Mom and Dad.
Buck, a complicated man who led a big life, left a legacy that fills his sister with pride. Please let me tell you about him. After graduating from FSU, he and his wife, Janie, moved to Denver to open Hutchison-Western, the western division of Hutchison, Inc., a company my Dad founded in Manchester. Baseball had been his passion. As a junior in college he signed with the Cleveland Indians and played in the Minors until an injury forced him to quit. Having saved his bonus, he used that to start and build a company into the successful agricultural product manufacturing and distribution company it is today, employing over 150 employees in seven states, with manufacturing plants located in three.
Buck was also a philanthropist, a soft touch to be sure, passionately supporting youth education and the Western way of life. At his Memorial service in Denver, I’d never seen a room filled with so many men wearing cowboy hats. Because Janie had asked that everyone wear name tags and mine said, “I’m Buck’s sister,” I think I met all of ‘those cowboy hats’ after the service! Everyone showed up.
His wife, Janie, is brave and courageous. His two sons, Blake and Heath, have worked at his side for 20-some years. When I asked Blake if he could step up and take over, he seemed surprised I would even ask. I think he already had.”I’ve got this, Aunt Mary. No worries.” RIP, Buck.
Salade de Chèvre Chaud as envisioned by Lori Lynn, TASTE with the EYES blog
Salade de Chèvre Chaud is a classic French salad that lets warm goat cheese medallions shine. It starts with a bed of mixed greens and herbs topped with cucumbers and radishes for added texture, flavor and color. Medallions of fresh tangy goat cheese are coated with panko breadcrumbs and fried in oil to a golden crunchy exterior and creamy interior. The dressing is a classic Dijon vinaigrette.
The Salade de Chèvre Chaud can be served with two or three medallions for a main course or with a smaller salad and one medallion as a starter course. A crusty baguette is always welcomed on the side.
INGREDIENTS
Start with a mix of various fresh greens and herbs. Any variety of Greens such as Red Leaf Lettuce, Green Leaf Lettuce, Red Oak, Green Oak, Red Chard, Green Chard, Lolla Rosa, Spinach, Arugula, Beet Greens, Butter Lettuce, Radicchio, Kale, and Red Mustard Greens work. Herbs such as Chives, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Tarragon orChervil are a nice touch.
Toss greens and herbs with vinaigrette before placing in shallow bowls. Arrange sliced cucumber and sliced radish in the greens. Place 2 or 3 warm goat cheese medallions on top.
Dijon Vinaigrette
1/2 c. good tasting olive oil 2 T. high-quality red wine vinegar 4 t. dijon mustard 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 T. shallot, minced 1/4 t. fine sea salt several grinds black pepper Place all ingredients in a jar. Shake well. Make the dressing a couple hours ahead of serving time to give the flavors time to meld. Shake occasionally then shake well before tossing the salad. (Adapted from Jacques Pépin)
Goat Cheese Medallions
1 fresh goat cheese log 1 egg, beaten 1 Cup of Panko breadcrumbs, seasoned with coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper Avocado or Olive Oil Fine sea salt
Form goat cheese into medallions and refrigerate. Dip chilled goat cheese medallions in a beaten egg. Then press the cheese into panko breadcrumbs to coat on both sides. Fry in avocado or olive oil over medium heat, turning once. When the breadcrumbs are golden, transfer cheese to a paper towel. Season lightly with fine sea salt while warm.
Top each bowl of tossed greens with 2 or 3 warm medallions. Serve immediately.
Last Monday I was at the Maroon Bells watching as tourists disembarked from the shuttle bus that brought them the 8 miles from Aspen Highlands to the magnificent Bells. More than 300,000 visitors come to be awed by our 14,000-ft. towering peaks every summer.
A little boy, maybe 7 or 8, walked over to me and said very seriously, “I would like to see a moose.”
“You may see a moose today,” I replied while pointing out the grazing area along the Scenic Trail where sometimes Mama Moose and her baby hang out. “If you do see a moose, what are you going to do? Are you going to move closer? Will you try to take a selfie?”
“No,” he shook his head resolutely, promising not to do either. I continued with our Q&A which I could see he was liking. Just as I was into ‘Be alert,’ ‘Stay a football field away’ and ‘Moose know you’re there whether they look at you or not,‘ Dad shows up, turning our Q&A into a father and son duet.
I don’t know whether during their day at the Bells, this little guy found his moose or spotted the Mama Red Fox and her 4 kits or did a stare-down with mule deer or heard the whistles, screams, and tooth chatter of Yellow-bellied marmots or found the beaver lodge at Maroon Lake, but I am hoping it will always remain an unforgettable childhood memory for him.
BROCCOLI WALNUT SALAD with APPLES, PEARS and DRIED FRUIT
Desperate for a tasty summer salad option to replace all the tried-and-true’s in your back pocket? Here’s a tasty recipe with oodles of variations by Julia, a Colorado food blogger. We served this at a special birthday party with Cathy O’Connell’s Crab Cakes, Dorie Greenspan’s So-Good Miso Corn https://slyrooster.com/so-good-miso-corn/ and Dorie Greenspan’s Marie Helene’s Apple Cake. https://food52.com/recipes/82496-apple-cake-from-dorie-greenspan
6 Cups Broccoli florets, chopped into small bites 1 apple, cored and diced or sliced 1 firm pear, cored and diced 1/4 Cup red onion, chopped 1 Cup toasted walnuts, pecans or nuts you prefer 1 Cup or Combination of dried cranberries, golden or regular raisins, craisins, dried cherries and blueberries
Creamy Dressing:
1/2 Cup Greek yogurt 1/2 Cup olive oil Mayo, 2 Tbsp Lemon juice 1/3 Cup Honey, softened or warmed up 1/4 tsp salt
PREPARATION:
Gather all your salad components in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, whip up your dressing ingredients until perfectly blended. Introduce half of your dressing to your salad, giving it a toss to coat everything.
Chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour to let the flavors meld together
When you’re ready to serve, reinvigorate your salad with the remaining dressing. (I think Less is More and saved some Creamy Dressing as dip for veggies the next day.)
JULIA’S VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Cauliflower – Want to mix things up? Replace half of the broccoli with an equal amount of cauliflower. Nuts – Use pecans, peanuts, walnuts, pine nuts, or pistachios instead of cashews. Dried fruit – Replace dried cranberries with dried cherries or blueberries, figs, dates or dried blueberries. Fresh Fruit – Go just with apples or just with pears. Salad dressing – You can lighten up the dressing by replacing some of the mayo or sour cream with kefir or Greek yogurt.
Sending Love and Appreciation to Leslie Friemuth, who loves this Valley as much as I do, for generously sharing some of her wildlife pictures.
It was a balmy April evening, my three-month visit to Washington DC about to end, when I went to the Kennedy Center. Although I’d taken an extensive Center tour in March, this was a live, evening performance with the National Symphony Orchestra performing Fauré’s Requiem & Mozart’s “Paris Symphony.”
At intermission I stood by the aisle and watched people roam, mix and chat. As the crowd dispersed, walking back down the aisle looking for their seats, I spotted Bob Woodward. You know, that Bob Woodward. Journalist. Watergate. PulitzerPrizes(2). No, dear Readers, I didn’t embarrass myself. I just savored the moment.
So when you ask what is one of the best things I saw and experienced during my three months in DC, that would be my answer…..Bob Woodward.
As I mentioned in my last blog post (March 6th), during my time in DC I lived in nearby Bethesda. On most mornings I walked the three blocks from my condo to catch the Metro. Thirty minutes later I stepped off the Metro, climbed 3 sets of stairs and was at the National Mall, a two-mile stretch of green space spreading from the Capitol Building to the Lincoln Memorial. It is home to and nearby some of the city’s most famous monuments, memorials and museums. I visited most of them.
What would become one of my favorite visits was to the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, two buildings but one museum and now officially named the National Museum of Asian Art. Whether you’re interested in Asian art or not, the Freer Gallery is worth visiting if only to see “Harmony in Blue and Gold: The Peacock Room” a spectacular work of interior decorative art. Created by James McNeill Whistler between 1876-1877, he painted the paneled room in a unified palette of blue-greens with over-glazing and metallic gold leaf. When visiting, quietly sit in the bedazzling room and be mesmerized by its beauty.
Karaoke, never done it. But given the opportunity as happened at Planet Word, the world’s first interactive, voice-activated museum of words and language, I stepped up to have my moment with Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline.” My time at the mike was short. When you have three sets of teenagers waiting their turn and you’re the adult in the room, it’s time to move on. (See photo below.) Planet Word, imagined, created and partially-funded by CEO Ann Bucksbaum Friedman, is a private, non-government museum that opened its doors in 2020. When Lisa Wilkinson, an Aspen friend, mentioned she’d be in DC and wanted to visit ‘that new museum about words,’ we made a date.
Planet Word is located in the historic, newly renovated Franklin School, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark. While its mission is to stay “focused on sharing the power, fun, and beauty of language with the world,” it’s a heck of a lift to equate grammar, syntax, and semantics with merrymaking. But Planet Word is ‘an imaginative magnet, attracting all of us, regardless of age, to its linguistic wonderland.’ Truth.
Throughout the summer, if you indulge me, I plan to share some of my most memorable times during my DC winter. I always realized spending 3 months in our nation’s capital city would be a gift. After being home, having time for deep breaths and reflections, I’m understanding at this point in my life it’s become more an opportunity.
My most enlightening experience was at a week-long program entitled “Inside American Diplomacy with the Foreign Service.” The FS, its 16,000 highly educated professionals scattered to more than 200 worldwide locations, serves as our eyes and ears on the ground. Established in May 24,1924 by Congress and a part of the State Department, they are celebrating their 100th-year Anniversary.
One of our field trips was to Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy. Directed by former Yemen Ambassador Barbara Bodine, one of its missions is to train future Foreign Service candidates to go out into the world and, well, “diplomat.” It’s called diplomatic statecraft.
Ambassador Bodine, whose career was spent primarily in Southwest Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, was Ambassador to Kuwait for 137 days during the Gulf War. One of the first female ambassadors to Middle Eastern countries, she was then appointed to Yemen. Her career was not without controversy (the USS Cole bombing aftermath) nor without peril (her plane was once hijacked, by an Iraqi Hussein supporter, mid-flight and diverted to the Djibouti before being released.)
My favorite speaker from my winter in DC, she spoke of her life, her career and the various jobs, responsibilities and opportunities she’s been given. Quite impressive.
JOY the BAKER’S STRAWBERRY OAT CRUMBLE PIE Adapted from: Joy the Baker
Made with fresh strawberries and a buttery oat crumble topping!
1 9-inch pie
INGREDIENTS
CRUST:
Make your favorite homemade pie crust or pick up a store-bought pie crust from your favorite grocery. Roll your pastry dough into a 13-inch round. Lift the 13-inch round from the floured surface and center in a deep 9-inch round pie dish. Place in the fridge.
STRAWBERRY FILLING:
6 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced in half (if the strawberries are large, cut them in thirds or fourths) 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar 1/4 cup instant tapioca large pinch of salt 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice heaping 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional) large pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
OAT CRUMBLE:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup old-fashioned oats 1/2 cup granulated sugar large pinch of salt 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small chunks
INSTRUCTIONS:
To make the strawberry pie filling toss together strawberries, sugars, tapioca, salt, lemon juice, ground ginger and nutmeg. Toss until all of the tapioca is dispersed throughout the strawberries and let rest for at least 10 minutes. The strawberries will begin to produce juice and the tapioca will begin to soften slightly.
To make the oat crumble, whisk together flour, oats, sugar, and salt. Add the cold butter chunks and, using your fingers, work the butter into the flour mixture. Quickly break the butter down into the mixture until well incorporated. Some butter bits will be the size of peas and smaller.
Toss 1/4 cup of oat filling into the strawberry filling and stir to combine. Spoon strawberry filling and its juice into the pie dish.
Spread crumble topping over the strawberry filling in an even layer. Trim the pie crust to about 1-inch larger than the pie dish, fold the crust under (tucking it inside the pie dish a bit) and crimp with your fingers.
To finish, place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Allow the pie to rest in the refrigerator while the oven preheats.
Place pie on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F and bake the pie for 30-35 minutes more, or until the crust is golden and the strawberry filling is bubbling. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving – 4 hours or so will help the pie cool and set.
NOTE: I used 1/4 cup LESS of granulated sugar for the filling. I baked my pie 10 minutes longer. So begin checking your pie after 30-35 minutes. It may not be done.
Served best with whipped cream but vanilla ice cream comes in a close second. Wrap tightly and store leftovers, if there are any, in the fridge.
Six weeks and halfway through my deep dive into visiting Washington D.C’s cultural, historical, and artistic treasures, the stars and stripes are still flying, the cherry blossom florets about to burst and I am still standing.
While our capital is known for its magnificent monuments, excellently curated museums and the occasional political scandal, one of the town’s hottest ticket is the International Spy Museum. Before you jest, just know my Code Name is Earthquake. I am somewhat successful with codebreaking but possess limited surveillance skills. The museum’s popularity after recently moving into its $162 million new digs with its 1,000 artifacts enhanced with the razzle dazzle of videos and interpretive copy, skyrocketed.
Then along comes the martini, shaken-not-stirred guy. Bond. James Bond. The first day I was in DC, I grabbed a Metro and found my wandering way to the National Mall. Although I’d never heard of the Spy Museum, the hubbub, crowd and classic cars caught my eye. The museum was pulling together an exhibition of iconic vehicles used on-screen by 007, his many allies and adversaries. Bond In Motion is a celebration of six decades of 17 iconic 007 vehicles, props, scale models and clips from the films alongside motorcycles, submarines, and more from the Q Branch garage. It opened last week and will run through April 2025.
I went to opening day. Full disclosure, I’ve never seen a Bond movie. However the exhibit is stunning, the museum spectacular and, unable to see it all, worth a return visit next week when my code name will still be Earthquake.
ME, MYSELF and MUSEUMS
In addition to the Smithsonian Institution with 17 of its museums located in D.C., more than 200 museums, historic homes, small art museums and headquarters of patriotic organizations are contained throughout the DC area.
Although it will be impossible to see it all, I rely on the many available policemen and Metro officers for help and advice. Witness the Circulator, a bus with a route on the National Mall going to 14 museums and 13 monuments over and over again. Early into my visit I asked a bus driver for directions. Having no riders, he offered to take me which he did but not before giving me a full on tour with his spiel to include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and nine other monuments..
RIDING the RAILS, MONOCACY and KRISTIN HANNAH
My French Fridays friend, Betsy Pollack-Benjamin and I visited Monocacy National Battlefield with its exceptional Civil War Museum. The crucial Battle of Monocracy delayed Confederate forces sent to capture the Nation’s Capital and ultimately forced them to withdraw to Virginia.
I spent a long weekend in Durham with my granddaughter, Emma, who is a grad student in Duke’s School of Medicine. To get there I took my first Amtrak trip from D.C.’s Union Station and thought it was fine.
Of the 10 things AI suggests I do while visiting a grandchild in graduate school, we did eight. 1)Explore the campus; 2)Sample local cuisine; 3)Stroll through the city; 4)Visit nearby attractions; 5)Share stories/ memories; 6)Help with errands (Hello, Hokas!); 7)Take photos; 8)Enjoy quality time/catching up.
We didn’t 1) Attend a research presentation; 2)Attend a graduation-related event.
At Emma’s book store I picked up The Women by Kristin Hannah to read while traveling back to D.C. I’ve only read guide books this winter. It is beautifully written, more historical reality than fiction. I also lived but lost during the Vietnam era. Thanks to Kristin Hannah for highlighting those brave nurses who saved lives to bring more of our guys home.
For the past twelve years of my wanting a respite from Aspen’s high-alpine and occasionally bone-chilling winter climate, I’ve escaped for four months to warmer winter destinations.
This winter I’m in Washington DC, renting a one-bedroom condo in nearby Bethesda. While DC doesn’t promise Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine and hangs between a humid 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, it’s immersed with cultural and historical charm. Flying, as I did, during the weekend of January’s major snowstorm, there were issues. Instead of flying non-stop from Denver to DC, I was re-booked to Orlando with the Disney World crowd.
Miraculously, in my two days of travel with cancellations, delays, packed airports and horrible weather, I only witnessed good behavior. United was doing its best. Its customers weren’t complaining. When United personnel kept apologizing because of the extra time needed to de-ice planes, I was not the only one who said, “Take all the time you need.”
My landlord had recommended using a small, locally-owned shuttle service to meet me at Dulles. Landing in a strange city, after dark, at 9 pm, 4-5 hours late, was not a good look! But I had kept in touch with my shuttle service driver throughout the day and could only hope this meet-up would work. As I walked out of the airport, having collected my bags, voila, there he was. It was snowing, the roads were slick and our drive took twice as long, an hour, to get to Bethesda. But the house was lit up, Erika, my landlord, walked out to meet us and Gerald, as relieved as I was to be there safely, carried my bags to the door. The End
LIFE in BETHESDA
Although I’ve been in Bethesda for two weeks, I haven’t visited DC yet. Next week I plan to visit the International Spy Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Women in the Arts and weather permitting, walk to the Vietnam Memorial and other outside statues and monuments. There are 21 Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo.
During my first five to six days here, the weather was brutal. In between snowstorms, I had lunch at Jose Andres’ “Spanish Diner” with Betsy, my French Fridays with Dorie colleague, shopped at Trader Joe’s, purchased my Metro SmartTrip card, registered for a library card and joined Home Chef Meal Delivery Service, a top meal kit delivery service.
A meal service??? These services are reputed to be time-saving options for an over-scheduled public and are more than a 5 billion dollar business. Since I’ve always been curious about them, this is a opportune time for me to sign up and easy to cancel.
For those of you unfamiliar with how these services work, I make three meal choices every week. Once a week Home Chef delivers three meal. Each choice, packaged with all the measured ingredients, takes about 30 minutes to prepare. For me, whose cupboards really are bare, this is an opportunity to choose, prepare, make and eat a variety of meals I normally wouldn’t. This first week I’ve already prepared Souvlaki-style Chicken Breast (delicious) with Crema and Arugula Feta Salad. (pictured above). Today I’m looking forward to pulling together Turkey Meatballs and Lemon Crema with Garlicky Spinach Orzo and will finish off my first box early next week with Creamy Pesto Chicken Flautas and Tomato and Green Onion Salsa. I always have leftovers.
Below is my own recipe for Chimichurri Dry Rub. A favor, please? Make this meal.
CHIMICHURRI DRY RUB, The Spice Train
INGREDIENTS:
4 teaspoons dried parsley ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes ½ teaspoon dried oregano ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon dried lemon zest (see notes) ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Makes 2 TBS.
Pat, dry and rub 2 6 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast with the Chimichurri Dry Rub and a pinch of salt and pepper. Place on medium non-stick pan over medium heat and add 2 tsp. olive oil. Add chicken to the hot pan, SEASONED SIDE DOWN. Cook until browned, about 6-7 minutes PER SIDE. Remove from burner, transfer chicken to the plate and tent with foil. While chicken continues to cook under the foil, make the rest of your meal.
This recipe works with 5-6oz. sirloin steaks as well.
CREMA, Recipe by Lisa Bryan, Downshiftology
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces sour cream 1 lime or lemon, zested and juiced 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 teaspoon Salt
Combine and mix together until creamy. Use immediately or tightly cover and put in refrigerator overnight. It will thicken overnight.
Recently I was invited to a dinner party. There would be eight. I asked the hostess what I could bring. “Oh,” she said casually, “just bring a simple dessert.”
With the holiday season in high octane I decided my s-i-m-p-l-e indulgent contribution would be a CHERRY DUMP CAKE. What can be easier than dumping three to five ingredients in a 9×13” cake dish, baking it for 50-60 minutes and topping it with a slab of ice cream before serving. Apparently this recipe was in community and church cookbooks beginning in the 1960s. The official name came from a Duncan Hines recipe published in 1980 but I remember making this in the late Sixties, probably picked up from a dessert my Mom made for bridge club..
During this sugary and candy-coated season if you hit the holiday wall or want to detour from traditional seasonal treats, surprise your guests or family with a Dump Cake. Need to entertain kids or grandchildren? What sounds more fun than baking a Dump Cake. Or, during the cocktail hour at an adult party, put the non-cooking guests in charge. If they can dump, they can pull this dessert together, bake it during dinner and add a slab of ice cream before serving. Voilà. That is kinda joy-to-the-world merrymaking.
As I write this, another “modest” Dump of the white variety is forecast in the mountains on Christmas Eve. It’s been a beautiful fall season followed by some glorious snowfalls to kick off the skiing season. I’ll be spending the winter living in Bethesda and exploring/working in DC. My bags are packed, my condo emptied and ‘free of me’ for the next four months. There is nothing simple about doing that and every year I vow it’s my last! In the past ten years I’ve wintered in Paris, London, Maui, San Diego, Cambria and Las Vegas and loved each destination and experience. I am admittedly apprehensive about this year’s choice, a ‘we’ll see’ four months I’ll share with all of you.
CHERRY DUMP CAKE
With just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, dessert doesn’t get easier than this Cherry Dump Cake. Serve with some vanilla ice cream for a quick but crazy-delicious treat. Need variety? The Internet is overwhelmed with variations to the basic recipe. Fun Fact: Both Comstock (available in the South and East Coast) and Wilderness (available in the Midwest and Pacific Coast) pie-filling products are owned by Duncan Hines.
Serves 12
INGREDIENTS
2 cans cherry pie filling or any filling of your choice (21 ounces each)
1/3 cup maraschino cherry juice, the juice amount in a 6oz jar of cherries (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract (optional)
1 box yellow cake mix (I used Duncan Hines but any yellow or white mix will work.)
3/4 to 1 cup butter, melted and cooled
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray.
Pour the cherry pie filling into the baking dish.
Add the maraschino cherry juice and vanilla or almond extract. Stir to combine and smooth out the filling into an even layer. DO NOT STIR THE INGREDIENTS AGAIN.
Sprinkle the cake mix evenly over the filling.
Pour the melted butter over the top. Try to saturate as much of the cake mix as possible. DO NOT STIR.
Bake for 50-60 minutes until golden brown on top and bubbly.
Let sit for 15 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.