So the first of my Culinary School quarters is now over. I am not sure how I feel about it. Statisically I did OK, I guess. I earned 3 As and 4 Bs. The most annoying part is that all 4 of the Bs were high 80s, like 87% or higher. I know i could have easily pulled in As in all 7 classes, had I time to sleep and study. But as I pointed out in the last chapter there wasn... Read More

I know what you were thinking (shame on you) This blog is about maple syrup production in the U.P. of Michigan. I have been working on this pictorial for years now and finally used this season’s gathering as a time to finish it. The following is a step by step process of how we gather and process our maple tree sap. Enjoy:

Welcome to our farm

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Catering is traditionally slow in the month of March here on the western slope of Colorado. So it is this time when changes can be made and also this time when I have the time to make a few changes. The old six eye I rescued when we moved into the kitchen is not really a great appliance. Although we made plenty of money on the old unit, I purchased an older Garland... Read More

Happy Spring Readers!
Colorado is know for it bright sunny days. Most years we average 340 days of sunshine. Yesterday was one of those rare days we not only didn’t see the sun, we got more that 2 inches of rain. It was WONDERFUL! The plants and tree are almost singing today.

I have mentioned before that I help out part-time at a small farm. Frank,... Read More

So it happened that the third Saturday of March is St. Patrick’s Day. Since my Saturday to volunteer chef services at Grand Junction’s Grand Valley Catholic Outreach Soup Kitchen is always the third Saturday, I will be doing St. Paddy’s day.

A surprise when I get into the kitchen at the normal 7... Read More

The Week That Was

Sometimes you get so busy that you hardly have time to look back and see where you’ve been. And then, in the odd time that you do look back, you can amaze yourself at the amount that you’ve accomplished and you marvel that you’re still standing and plugging away. Last week was sort of like that, although I was by no means ... Read More

The John James Chancey Game Preserve

My husband’s life long dream was to have a farm that doubled as a hunting camp. He has spent much of his life enjoying the hospitality of others hunting, fishing, eating, and sharing good times. His dream was to create this... Read More

So it got warm today, not as warm as you nice climate folks, but pretty nice. So after helping my daughter pack and getting her on the way to college again, I just had to be outside. I know many of the regular readers will find it hard to beleive I like being outside. Well with my wife and son visiting my MIL back east, I get bored. I make myself busy wandering ar... Read More

Since my daughter is back from visiting her grandmother in New Hampshire and I took my wife and son to the airport for their week visiting New Hampshire this morning. We needed to make something for dinner. I think it was berndy that indicated lamb should be on the menu in one of his posts!

So I got out and slacked what was labeled as a lamb rib rack. Howeve... Read More

Don’t rush out to your nearest Safeway or put an order in to Sysco. That oft lamented piece of meat is not here yet but sooner than later it will be, possibly by years end. This, the maximum assault on the organic front by science and ranchers will not go unchallenged.

Cloning is the production of a life form from the original without going through the s... Read More