Cooking in the Great Outdoors!

Outdoor Adventure! 

This month, I'm heading out on a journey I've wanted to take for quite some time. I'll be escaping on a week-long mule trip in the Thorofare Wilderness area of Wyoming.  I'm really looking forward to the beautiful scenery, wildlife, and unspoiled atmosphere this part of the country has to offer.  

In honor of my upcoming stint far from the world of cell phones, email, and modern conveniences, I'm passing on a favorite recipe, meant to be cooked under the stars, and over the campfire! 

 

Campfire Chicken and Potato Parcels

Ingredients (Makes 4 packets)

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - diced
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 medium red bell peppers, chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 cups favorite barbeque sauce

 

Directions:

• Make four foil packets: using 1-foot squares of heavy duty aluminum foil: fold square in half and smooth flat. Seal each of the narrow ends by folding over each edge three times to make a 1/4-inch border, smoothing flat after every fold. You should now have a foil packet that is open on one long side. Repeat to form four packets.

• In a bowl or resealable plastic bag, combine the potatoes, chicken cubes, red peppers, onion, celery, and barbeque sauce; mix well. Evenly divide the mixture among the foil packets. Roll up the open end of the packets to seal.

• Place packets on a grill over the coals of a fire. Cook until the potatoes are tender and the chicken is fully cooked, about 25 minutes, depending on the intensity of the heat.

 

Baked Tomatoes with

This month, I've decided to post a great recipe from my assistant, Kirsten.

Each morning, Kirsten and I get down to business and discuss the day's tasks in the world of Real Estate. But when we have a few spare minutes, we always enjoy "talking food", as we share a love of cooking and entertaining with family and good friends.  We frequently exchange recipes and ideas, and hope you will enjoy our latest "share". 

Baked Tomatoes with Quinoa, Corn and Green Chiles

These tomatoes are stuffed full with super healthy quinoa, sweet fresh corn, poblano chiles, and lots of shredded cheese. Fresh lime juice adds a burst of citrus freshness. It's a delicious side or meatless main.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 poblano chiles
• 2 cups fresh corn kernels (about 4 ears)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 6 large ripe tomatoes (about 4 pounds)
• 4 ounces colby-Jack cheese, shredded (about 1 cup packed) 

 * Preheat oven to 350°.
* Cut tops off tomatoes; set aside. Carefully scoop out tomato pulp, leaving shells intact. Drain pulp through a sieve over a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract liquid. Reserve 1 1/4 cups liquid, and discard remaining liquid. Sprinkle tomatoes with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Invert tomatoes on a wire rack; let stand 30 minutes. Dry insides of tomatoes with a paper towel.
* Place quinoa in a fine sieve, and place sieve in a large bowl. Cover quinoa with water. Using your hands, rub the grains together for 30 seconds; rinse and drain. Repeat the procedure twice. Drain well. Combine reserved tomato liquid, quinoa, 1/4 cup water, and the remaining salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; fluff with a fork. Add quinoa mixture to corn mixture; toss well.

* Cut the chiles in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place chile halves, skin side up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil on high 8 minutes or until blackened. Remove from oven, place in a paper bag; close tightly. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel chiles and coarsely chop.
*Place corn and onion into a frying pan on medium-high heat, cook 10 minutes.
* In a large bowl, add corn mixture and chopped chiles, stir in oregano, oil, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cumin, and black pepper.
* Spoon about 3/4 cup corn mixture into each tomato. Divide cheese evenly among tomatoes. Place tomatoes and tops, if desired, on a jelly-roll pan. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven. 

Loveland area things to do...

Looking for fun ways to get the family out and about this summer? 

 Check out this wonderful Summer Activity Guide! 

summeractivityguide.com

• Denver Area
• Colorado Springs Area
• Fort Collins/Boulder Areas
• Denver's Botanic Garden Concert Series
• Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
• Red Rocks Amphitheatre
• Shakespeare Festival in Boulder
• The Colorado Music Festival at Chautauqua
• Hudson Gardens in Littleton

• Colorado Rockies Baseball
• Colorado Rapids Soccer
• Colorado Springs Sky Sox Baseball
• Team USA Olympics
• America's Pro Cycling Challenge Race (Colorado)
• Denver Browns Baseball Club, Semi-Pro Baseball Team in Denver, CO

• Denver Area Event Calendar
• Colorado Springs Area Event Calendar
• Fort Collins Area Event Calendar
• Boulder Area Event Calendar
• Longmont Area Event Calendar
• Botanic Garden Event Calendar
• Denver Zoo Event Calendar
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Event Calendar
• Colorado Arts & Entertainment
• Lyons Area Event Calendar
• Douglas County Fair Grounds and Event Center Calendar
• Parker Events Calendar
• Elbert County Events Calendar
• Parker Days
• Greeley Stampede
• Cheyenne Frontier Days
• Elizabeth Stampede Pro Rodeo
• High Country Rodeo in Winter Park
• Everything Fun in Longmont
• Evergreen Rodeo
• Evergreen Fine Arts Festival
• Evergreen Summerfest
• Denver Cycling Event
• Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
• The Louisville Downtown Street Faire
• Art in Historic Downtown Louisville

• Golf
• Hiking and Climbing
• Boating and Rafting
• Fishing
• Colorado Cycling Events
• Denver Cycling Event
• RV Camping
• Tent Camping
• Colorado State Parks
• Colorado National Parks
• Colorado National Forests
• Colorado Cycling Event

Remember to bookmark this page.

Aunt Dixie's Casserole

This recipe was contributed by a client who recently moved here to Loveland from my home state of Minnesota. Enjoy!

Aunt Dixie's Chicken Casserole

INGREDIENTS

2 chicken breasts

4 long celery sticks

1 medium onion

3 Tbsp black pepper

1 large can cream of chicken soup

½ large soup can whole milk

½ large soup can green taco sauce

1 lb sharp cheddar cheese

1 small can green chilis

1 package flour tortillas (12)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place chicken breasts, chopped celery, onion, and pepper in large pot of water and cover.  Boil gently until chicken loses its pink color.  Cool the chicken, de-bone, and cut into medium-size chunks.

Mix soup, milk, and green taco sauce until smooth. Chop green chilis, grate cheese, and cut flour tortillas into one inch pieces.  (This can be done while chicken is cooking or cooling.)

In a large casserole dish, layer ingredients as follows:

 Soup mixture (just enough to cover the bottom)

 Chopped green chilies (a small handful)

 Chicken (about one large handful)

  Tortilla pieces

  Grated cheese (about 2 handfuls)

Make 3 or 4 layers, making sure cheese is the last layer on top.  Try to estimate how much of each to use in each layer so that you have 3 or 4 complete layers.  You probably will only use about 8 tortillas from the package of 12.

Marinate casserole overnight (very important!)

Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.  Remove foil and increase heat to 400 to melt and harden the cheese on top. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Serve with sour cream, green taco sauce, and green Tabasco sauce if desired.  To “kick it up a notch,” mix chopped jalapeno peppers half and half with green chilis when layering.

Spring Home Maintenance Checklist from US Inspect

CHFA Financing Assistance no longer just for first time buyers!

 CHFA Financing has made some interesting changes!

I attended a continuing education  class this month to learn the latest rules and regulations for the current CHFA (Colorado Home Finance Authority, I think) program. The class was great. I am so glad I attended. Here are some highlights as I understand them:

* First-time homebuyers and non first-time homebuyers are eligible.
* No mortgage insurance (PMI)
* Fixed rate 30 year loans
* Income limits
* Down Payment assistance
* Possible tax credit

Of course, I will want you to hear about the program from a lender who is in the program but I was really pleased at the changes. Especially the fact that it is no longer for first time buyers only. 

Please call or email me and we can discuss it further. 

A Winter Walk

A Winter Walk

I live in the old part of Loveland, and I take a walk every day – even when my sidewalks and streets are icy and snow packed. If you are a walker, you know the challenge.  I think a winter walk on icy streets is a great analogy to life.

You have to decide on your route.  Where will there be the longest stretches of good dry street.  Don’t even think about not walking that day because once you get started it goes pretty good even on a bad day.  You have to look ahead, of course; but don’t look too far ahead.  If you keep moving, the bad spot you noticed up ahead looks less formidable as you get closer.  Sure enough, when you get there you find some little dry spots that you couldn’t see from a distance.  Pick your way through and away you go again.

Isn’t it funny how much this mirrors life?

Give me a call and

Let’s Talk Real Estate

970-215-1776