Friday, April 03, 2009

Denver -- the food

One thing my family likes to do is cook. And bake. And when we're all together, cooking is even more fun. We had a lot of good food while I was there:

Mom's birthday dinner consisted of glazed salmon, brown rice, asparagus, Chinese cabbage salad, and Grandma's popovers.

Her birthday cake was a yellow cake with lemon filling and White Mountain frosting. I contend that people that don't like cake have never had good cake. We're a from-scratch cake family, and I loooooove cake. (I didn't even get a picture of Denise's cake, which was German chocolate, also my traditional birthday cake.)

One night we went to Senor Burritos, a family favorite.

Mom and Denise and I all had the smothered shredded beef/bean burrito. Delish.

Grandma and Grandpa had the single enchilada. Is that what it takes to weigh 114 pounds? (for real)

One day I made Hannah's miracle bread, so they could all see how unbelievably fast and easy it is. It wasn't my best batch (it was a little dry), but they were all impressed nonetheless.

Grandma had the brilliant idea of buying a Rubbermaid container (with cute green handles, no less!) and storing a 25-pound bag of bread flour from Costco in it. She and Denise each have one and keep them in the garage, filling their indoor canisters as needed. Also, they now only buy bread flour. I'm totally doing this.

Denise made this delicious pasta dish (from Weight Watchers), along with homemade breadsticks. I loved the pasta and I know my family is going to go crazy for the breadsticks.

Grandma and I made this incredible rosemary artisanal bread from a recipe my aunt Linda sent us. It's one of those that you stir together, no kneading required, and then it rises for 12-18 hours. It bakes in a cast iron dutch oven and is just as good as any bread I've ever had in France.
Now I have to buy a cast iron dutch oven!

I just had to take a picture of my grandma's measuring cups. I love the rounded shape of these KitchenAid cups and I have a set of orange ones. But the aqua, green and brown line-up just makes me happy.

This is by no means inclusive. On my last night there, Grandma cooked pork chops, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli, bread, and berry cobbler, despite being sick. What the?

I'll be posting the bread, breadsticks, and pasta recipes on my recipe blog, as well as a new one that Grandma gave me for Triple Caramel Cake!

A common sight: Uncle Mark doing the dishes. Good man.

Oh, and here's something cool: I found out that Grandma has a weekly appointment with some young friends from her ward -- they come to her house and she teaches them how to bake something new! Isn't that brilliant? They get to learn from her prodigious baking talents and enjoy her company, and she gets to benefit from the friendship of young women! I think I shall mention it to my R.S. president...

19 comments:

wende said...

that photo of the measuring cups is so pleasing. i was smiling about the old school tupperware measuring cup in the flour bin, my mom had a bright orange set when i was a kid. and i love the flour bin idea, prying it out of the stupid white food storage buckets is a miserable drag.

i love that food is linked so strongly with our families and traditions. it's the thing we all have in common, although, i wish my family were as skilled at cooking as yours! what a great legacy to pass down.

Anonymous said...

I love that you started the recap off right, with the food!

It all looks pretty divine, I love cooking with my family!

Triple caramel cake sounds pretty fantastic.

Rebekah said...

what's the deal with people not loving cake? i love cake, it is the perfect food.

that mexican food...wow. that is exactly what a mexican dinner should look like: covered in sauce and cheese and everything running all over the plate.

it amazes me how proficient so many grandmothers are at knocking out not just singular dishes, but entire meals as if it weren't that big of a deal. i can make one good main dish, but pork chops (not easy!) two vegetables, bread, AND a cobbler?! somewhere along the line this ability was not transferred to the subsequent generations.

patsy said...

I woke up to snow, a good inch & thought about going back to bed--- but then checked my blog & LOOK MIchelle update!!!!! You have no idea how happy this has made me :)

what a wonderful trip- I can't wait to try some of the recipes.

Your family is wonderful. The first thing I thought when seeing your mom painting was... she's all dressed up? that woman is amazing- all the women in your family are amazing- wow I'm speechless

ps. your boys look so much like your dad- cute

shannon said...

This is my kind of post!--Devoted to food!--

Lime and aqua are two colors that make me happy as well...

I love that you were able to spend such quality time with your family--especially your Grandma--

the bread that you two made together sounds delicious! And it was made in a cast iron dutch oven?-- The image of you two cooking together is seems like a Norman Rockwell picture in my mind...

Barb said...

What a heritage of cooking you have! No wonder your food blog is so amazing.

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Michelle, I just got caught up on your Denver trip...you have such a wonderful way of documenting and photographing. I just love the stories that you preserve. What a great read. Thank you.

Jill said...

It's too cruel to see all this gorgeous food and not be able to try it! I love it that you're all so talented in the kitchen and that it's something you enjoy so much.

I need new measuring cups. I think I'm still using the same, boring stainless steel measuring cups I got for my wedding. What's up with that?

The men in your family would be very wise to be quick to do the dishes if it helped keep the talented, cooking & baking women happy.

Kim Sue said...

there is just so much goodness, I don't know what to say, except thanks for sharing it all right down to those 3 sets of super cute measuring cups.

Denise said...

I love this post, and I was there to experience it all! Thanks for such a great wrap-up, it was fun to relive again as I'm really facing my Back to Reality week tomorrow.

And yes, Mark is good to do the dishes as often as he does.

j said...

i love it!! and i've been spending time wondering if i will use 25 pounds of flour in less than the time it would take for it to spoil...

and how lucky are those yw to have your grandmother teach them?!?!? amazing.

Tasha said...

Yum all around!

I love the idea of the weekly appointment. I am going to have to see if we can get that going for my grandma.

Melinda said...

Those are some amazing looking dishes you all made. HOw fun to all be in the kitchen together cooking. That would be an absolute favorite of mine.

Miranda said...

That's me! That's me! I'm one of the friends from the ward! Okay you already knew that but I still wanted to comment.

Robyn said...

Your family has many talents but there is no question that good food is one of them! I wish I could learn how to bake from your Grandma. Those meals sound delicious. Hope she's doing better now.

Anonymous said...

Your pics always make me hungry!

Natasha said...

The baking appointment idea warms my heart, as does the sight of all those measuring cups and that heavenly asparagus!

Robin said...

Man....I am still full from dinner, but this post is making me all sorts of hungry! Your family = incredible with the cooking genes, seriously.

And Senor Burritos?? YUM! I haven't been there in a long time, will have to make it a point next time I'm out there!

Robin said...

Man....I am still full from dinner, but this post is making me all sorts of hungry! Your family = incredible with the cooking genes, seriously.

And Senor Burritos?? YUM! I haven't been there in a long time, will have to make it a point next time I'm out there!

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