The Fritz, Salida Colorado

Small Plates, Great Big Flavor

Don’t read that wrong, The Fritz in Salida, Colorado has options of all sizes, but they are known for their deliciously tempting variety of small plates on the menu. Literally every person we spoke to in town recommended The Fritz as a place to enjoy heart and tummy warming favorites and each had a personal favorite small plate to recommend. So our approach to the menu was to give as many as we could a try and I confess we were successful and left more than satisfied.

The Fritz in Salida Colorado near Monarch MountainWe hit the Fritz after a long day of skiing at nearby Monarch Mountain and with embarrassingly noisy stomachs. Options like Tuna Sashimi & Poached Prawn’s which are served with crispy onion, pineapple Ponzu sauce, and jalapeño jam were instantly eye catching. Our first pick, this dish was a cool treat for the palate, refreshing and light with a nice spicy heat giving each bite contrast and depth.

The Fritz near Monarch Mountain in Salida ColoradoPick 2: Brussel sprouts tantalizingly prepared with an orange reduction, walnuts, parmesan, and brown butter. On a cold winter night this is comfort food at its best. I am always a sucker for the warm richness of butter on my vegetables, but the addition of the orange reduction, the sharp flavor of the parmesan, and the crunch of the walnuts took this dish to the next level. It also came highly recommended by our ski instructor.

Pick 3: As suggested by our awesome waitress the Grilled Romaine with dates, pears, Manchego cheese, and finished with a creamy avocado dressing. I nearly stabbed my dining partner with a fork to get the last bite. A mix between a cooked greens and a fresh salad, this is a unique approach I have not had before and thoroughly enjoyed. Plus anything with dates! Which brings me to our next selection and which comes neck and neck with the grilled romaine as my favorite…

Pick 4: Bacon Wrapped Dates! Stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese, hazelnuts, and red wine gastrique this could have been sweet enough to serve as our dessert, but the cheese and other flavors tempered the sugary date to perfection. I can not recommend this highly enough.

To close our meal at The Fritz we had the tough decision of one more small plate or pie… when I saw the baked Portobello Ravioli with marinara and basil pesto dropped off at our neighbors table and they raved about it the decision was made. Hot melty cheese, the portobello flavor of the ravioli filling, and the bite of the pesto is something I would enjoy any evening.

When you find yourself in Salida make sure to drop in at The Fritz for a relaxed atmosphere and some divine food. I definitely had the energy to hit the slopes again the next day after refueling here.

Find out more on their website – TheFritzSalida.com

Or on Social Media – FacebookInstagram

 

Think You’re Not a Chef? You Can Prepare Gourmet Meals at Home – We Promise!

You don’t have to be a good cook to make great meals. The thought of coming up with your own recipe might boggle your mind, and you might be confused about what some of the fancy kitchen gadgets you see on cooking shows are even for, but even you can create delicious, gourmet meals that your family will love and that will impress your guests. 

Here are the easy things you can do to prepare your own gourmet meals at home:

Start with the Best Ingredients

You’ll elevate your cakes with gourmet vanilla syrup. You’ll create mouth-watering roasts with high-quality, grass-fed beef. You’ll actually love vegetables again with organic asparagus grown in season and artisanal cheese. Just choosing the highest-quality ingredients that you can get will make your food taste amazing.

Don’t limit yourself to what’s at your local grocery store. Shop at the farmer’s market, find small specialty shops in your area or order online. If you aren’t sure what makes ingredients good, do a little research online or get to know your grocers and ask them a lot of questions. Knowledge is power, and the more knowledge you have about the ingredients you use, the more powerful you will be in selecting the best ones and in creating delicious dishes.

Get a Few Basic Tools

Besides the ingredients you use, the tools you use will have a big impact on the quality of your meals. You need the best basics to get started: A high-quality knife set, cookware set, and baking materials. A few notable choices include a stand mixer, a culinary torch, and a thermometer. If you really want to get fancy and throw down some big cheddar, you can upgrade your oven, as well. 

Know that you can work miracles with utensils you find at the dollar store, but having high-quality tools at your disposal will make your work easier. You aren’t Gordon Ramsay, so you can’t expect to get top results with little more than your skill and innovation. You need the help, so get it in the form of great kitchen tools.

Find Great Recipes

Most recipes that you will find on popular websites are designed for mass audiences. They are typically for meals that are easy to cook and that will be ready quickly. These are not the kind of recipes you want to use if you want to make gourmet meals that will elevate your everyday menu. Instead, you should search for gourmet recipes provided by reputable chefs.

Know that you will most likely need to pay for access to these recipes. You may be able to get a subscription for online access, or you may have to buy a hard copy of a cookbook. Just do your research first to make sure you are getting recipes that are truly gourmet and that have been created and vetted by experienced and celebrated chefs.

Follow Directions to the Letter

You aren’t Julia Child yet, so don’t try to be. You should not be trying to experiment while you are in the kitchen — at least not until you master the basics. If you want to cook a gourmet meal successfully and you don’t have the formal training to do it, you need to let the recipes created by the professionals guide you. That means that you need to follow the directions to the letter. If the recipe says to sift the flour first, do it and don’t just dump the flour in straight from the bag. If the recipe says to marinate the meat for two hours, leave it for exactly two hours. Don’t try to rush the process, and don’t let it sit for too long.

You may not have disastrous results if you cut a few corners or make a few changes to the recipe, but any success you have will be luck. You’ll be able to improvise once you’ve gained some experience and have a lot of successes under your belt.

Follow these simple tips, and you’ll soon be creating meals that your guests will think you had prepared by a gourmet chef. You don’t need culinary training — you just need to have the right tools and the right recipes, and you need to follow directions.

5 Best Brands of Cottage Cheese

 

Cottage cheese is one of the healthiest and most delicious ways to get lots of calcium. It can be added to recipes for extra texture and flavor or it can be eaten on its own. There are lots of cottage cheese brands to choose from, which can make it a bit difficult sometimes to know which one to purchase. We have five great cottage cheese brands you should consider buying. 

Lactaid 1% Milkfat Low Fat Cottage Cheese

For people who want a low-fat option that retains all of the flavor and texture of regular cottage cheese, this one is the one to purchase. It is lactose-free, so it is also the perfect choice for people who are lactose-intolerant. It is considered to be one of the best cottage cheese options for people watching their weight, as well, since it provides all of the nutritional value of regular cottage cheese with half the calories. It is the perfect choice for lasagna and for eating with fruits, and its light tangy taste works very well with sweet options like jam or honey. Some people even eat it alone, like yogurt! You should not have to worry about your waistline when eating cottage cheese, and this brand allows you to truly enjoy the taste without guilt.

Breakstone’s

Breakstone’s is one of the most delicious brands of cottage cheese and one that you can easily find in most supermarkets. It is made with whole milk, giving it a rich, creamy texture and with a good balance of sweet and sour. Cottage cheese can provide all manner of nutritional benefits, and one that is made with whole milk, like this one, can be a good choice for added healthy fat and calcium. This brand also has uniform curds, so the texture is even and great for adding it to baked goods.

Horizon Organic Cottage Cheese

One of the best things about this brand of cottage cheese is the size of its curds. They are large, pebble-like, but soft and entirely delicious. It may look different than other options, but it has a wonderfully rich taste, with a perfect salt balance. It has a bit of a tangy edge that pairs well with fruits or honey. Do not be intimidated by the large curds: this is a cottage cheese that is soft and delicious. It can add great texture to any dish without overwhelming your taste-buds.

Friendship 2% Low Fat Large Curd Cottage Cheese

Another low-fat option that can be an excellent choice, especially if you like large curds, is this one. With only 2% fat, it can help you stay in shape without giving up a rich flavor. It has an excellent salt balance, though you should keep in mind that it is a bit drier than the other options we have mentioned. The first flavorful spoon will make you forget it is low fat. Add it to pasta dishes or eat it with crackers for a great snack.

 

Mountain House Cottage Cheese

This is another low-fat option that is made from skim milk. It lacks nothing in flavor, while staying low in calories. It has a perfectly balanced level of salt and tangy qualities, so that you can add it to a wide variety of foods. This one does require that you add water to prepare it, so keep that in mind if you prefer an option that is ready to serve. Because of this, however, this brand of cottage cheese tends to last a bit longer than other brands, which can be helpful. It is a bit more expensive than the other options, but it is well worth it.

Conclusion

These five brands above are the best options when purchasing cottage cheese. Just because you choose low fat does not mean that it has to be low in flavor, and many of the above options bring all of that great taste without the worry of high fat or high caloric content. Whether you want to add it to dishes like lasagna, or just eat it with fruit and crackers, cottage cheese can be a highly beneficial food to add to your diet.

Looking for New Snacks? Look No Further

Looking for some new snacks for lunchboxes, take alongs, and movie nights?

From new versions of the classic Welch’s Fruit Snacks and roll ups, to oatmeal on the go, ice cream bites and more, the below snacks are easily available for purchase at major grocery stores and perfect for switching things up and easy to take with you or snack on the couch.

  • Welch’s Fruit Rolls deliver the same quality consumers love in Welch’s Fruit Snacks in a NEW format. Featuring fruit as its first ingredient, the Fruit Rolls are gluten free, preservative free and available in three mouthwatering flavors. (Available nationwide)
  • Go Organically Fruit Snacks are USDA-certified organic, made with real fruit, GMO-free, gluten-free and preservative-free. Even better, these tasty and smart snacks are only 70 calories for each individual pack. (Available at Shoprite, Stop & Shop, Giants and more)
  • Munk Pack’s ready-to-eat Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes, packed with whole grains and fruit bites, are perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go! Available in five delicious flavors, including Apple Quinoa Cinnamon, Maple Pear Quinoa, and more, they are gluten-free, non GMO, vegan and high in fiber.(Available at Target, Whole Foods and more)
  • My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream is a carefully crafted snack made with a scoop of premium ice cream wrapped in delectably soft dough. The new 6-pack boxes are available in seven flavor varieties and each ball of My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream is only 110 calories each! (Available at Gristedes, ShopRite, Costco, Kroger, Safeway and more)​

Healthy Food You and The Family Will Love

Looking for healthy food you and the entire family will love? These fun finds will keep everyone happy, and taste as good as they are good for you- which isn’t easy!

We have been fans of noosa yoghurt for a while now, and were excited that they have introduced both new flavors and new combination yoghurt/topping combinations, which are delightful.  These mix-in-style yoghurts are called noosa mates, and pairs the creamy noosa whole milk yoghurt we already enjoyed so much with delicious, high-quality toppings like crunchy granolas, roasted nuts, pretzels and premium chocolate. Just pull off the top, flip the “mix in” side into the yoghurt, and stir.  It’s very satisfying and satiating- not to mention it just tastes great.  They have also added apple and pumpkin flavors to their growing line. 

Available nationwide in many groceries and super stores in single packs, four packs, and larger sized 24 0z containers, prices vary.  Visit https://www.noosayoghurt.com for varieties and to find a store.

With the Super Bowl right around the corner, you will need some great snacks on hand. What’s a tailgating party without chips and dips? Heluva Good! is perfect for your favorite dippables or to be used in a recipe for game day (or any day). It’s the perfect take along when you get invited to a party as well- there is never anyone who will turn town a friend who brings snacks to the festivities. Available in French Onion, Bacon Horseradish, Buttermilk Ranch, and Jalapeno Cheddar, there is a flavor everyone will enjoy.  You can find fun recipes and creations to try out on their website as well- there is a potato skin concoction that looks amazing (and I’m going to try it for the big game day)- take a look and see what tickles your fancy. Visit http://heluvagood.com for info, where to buy, food ideas, and more, then head to your local supermarket to pick some up and try some for yourself.

Need to wash it all down? Honest Tea, a brand that has been around for a while and is known for both it’s great taste and it’s quality ingredients as well as it’s ethical business practices, has introduced a new flavor. Honest Tea’s Pomegranate Blue Herbal Tea is now available, and it’s not to be missed for tea fans.  Made with organic pomegranate, grape and blueberries blended with Hibiscus Tea—when they are in season. They only use organic and fair-trade ingredients, making Honest Tea a refreshing mix of delicious and integrity. Honestly. Available for $1.99 in stores nationwide. 

Looking for a little something sweet to wrap up your day? For a bit of indulgence, have you tried the latest from GODIVA? One of their recent offerings was the delightful Pumpkin Spice Truffle Flight  these luscious Pumpkin Spice Truffles are the perfect way to end any long day, or as a treat after a meal. They are really cute as well- GODIVA’s Foil-Wrapped Pumpkin Spice Truffles feature five delightful truffles made with pumpkin ganache inside a milk chocolate shell, and the foil looks like a little pumpkin, stem and all. An adorable gift for anyone, or just something sweet to treat yourself and your loved ones. Of course, with Valentines Day coming up, the boxes of chocolate are great options (for anytime of year, really) and come in tons of varieties and sizes. Classic heart shaped boxes, adorable gift sets that pair gourmet chocolates with sweet stuffed animals, the traditional gold Godiva boxes we all wait for longingly, truffles only -you name it, it’s available- AND can be delivered by the special day if you hurry and order soon. Or find a store near you- visit http://www.godiva.com to find one and for options.

Emmy’s Organics Coconut Cookies – Vegan Friendly

Instead of battling the dreaded sugar rush, how about trying a healthier cookie?

Made with premium all-natural ingredients like fair trade cocoa powder, Emmy’s Organics coconut cookies are a delicious better-for-you bite that kids and parents will enjoy.  They are perfect for packing in lunchboxes as well.

Available in flavors like Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Bean and more, Emmy’s are certified USDA organicgluten-freevegannon-GMOsoy-free and paleo-friendly. Plus, each serving contains 6g sugar or less- can’t shake a stick at that.

The cookies themselves are sightly bigger then a quarter, so they are pretty small, and they texture is very much…coconutty? Maybe not a word as such, but it’s descriptive. They are flaky and have the feel of semi-baked cookies, almost cookie-dough-ish.  They are not like “regular” cookies as such, there is definitely no crunch involved. That’s not to say you won’t enjoy them or they aren’t good- just different for the average cookie.

These cookies are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Soy-Free, Grain-Free- the facility processes tree nuts, seeds & peanuts. Some are also nut free, all but the peanut butter, I believe.

Check them out in a store near you or at https://emmysorganics.com .

Healthy Humane Menu Plus a Giveaway!

With all of the garbage that is put in our food today, it is important to be conscientious about where your food is coming from. Not only that – but where your meat is raised is a BIG deal. By buying welfare-certified animal products, or more plant-based products, you send a strong message to food companies that you care about the treatment of farm animals. Most of the nearly 9 billion animals raised for meat, milk, and eggs in the US are suffering in inhumane factory farms. I know – it is disgusting and sad to even think about it. But where DOES your meat come from?

A normal medium size family spends hundreds of dollars each month on things like chicken, beef, and sausage. As consumers, most of us do not realize just how powerful we are. As a group, we have the power to make something a success or even push to have something inhumane pulled from the shelves. But it takes us as one collective to actually get it done.

ASPCA Healthy and Humane

It is time to put a STOP to these inhuman conditions and we, as consumers, can fully harness the power of our collective purchases and demand better lives for farm animals with the Shop With Your Heart initiative launched by the ASPCA. This initiative gives consumers the resources to recognize, locate and demand meaningfully welfare-certified meat, eggs and dairy products as well as plant-based alternatives.

Here are five simple ways to become a more aware and welfare-conscious consumer when shopping for your family’s groceries.

  1. Eat Seasonally – Eating foods in season means that you’re able to buy from a more local economy and avoid having your food ship from other countries. This means fresher foods picked at peak ripeness too!
  2. Shop Locally – CSA’s and local farmers’ markets help support local, often smaller scale, farmers, and ranchers who are producing outside of the traditional factory-farm system. If you aren’t sure where to start, visit your local farmers’ market and start asking some question – this guide will get you started.
  3. Conquer Labeling Confusion – Marketers create confusion with their flashy labels and clever catch-phrases. But unfortunately, sometimes they care more about finances than transparency. Words like “natural” or “humane” often don’t have any oversight to actually tell you as a consumer anything concrete. However, some phrases and labels do have regulations associated with their use, and that’s what you can start to look for as a savvy shopper. Here’s a guide to labeling to get you started.
  4. Be Careful to Minimize Waste – One of the ways we can treat the animals used for food respectfully and humanely is by making the most of the food we purchase. Purchase only what you know you’ll use and serve the right sized portions to avoid wasting what your family buys.
  5. Look for Certifications That Mean Something – Unlike marketing gimmicks, there are certain certifications and awards that have true meaning. For example the USDA Organic label shows that the produce grown (or fed to the animal) didn’t use banned pesticides. Others include Animal Welfare Approved or Certified Humane

See The Good Groceries Guide for more information about how our shopping habits impact the lives of those around us – animals included.

WILL YOU TAKE THE PLEDGE?

Take the pledge to be a more welfare-conscious shopper: aspca.org/shopwithyourheart. Everyone who signs the pledge also gains access to an exclusive Shop With Your Heart Grocery List, including welfare-certified and widely available plant-based brands.

ASPCA Healthy and Humane

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

To fully harness the power of our collective purchases and demand better lives for farm animals, the Shop With Your Heart initiative gives consumers the resources to recognize, locate and demand meaningfully welfare-certified meat, eggs and dairy products as well as plant-based alternatives.

SHARE YOUR BUYING POWER!

Post a photo of yourself on your social media channels or use one of the resources here to show your friends, family and co-workers you are a part of the movement with sample language like:  “Join the movement with me and pledge to #ShopWithYourHeart! aspca.org/ShopWithYourHeart @ASPCA.” 

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rigoni di Asiago and Nocciolata Spreads

Rigoni di Asiago are an Italian made food family of spreads that are now available in stores nationwide. Their fruit spreads, honeys, and chocolate-hazelnut spreads are both sustainable and organic.

Made with organic ingredients completely free of GMO’s, preservatives, colors, additives, or artificial sweeteners, Rigoni di Asiago’s Nocciolata combines hazelnuts, fair trade cocoa and cocoa butter, natural vanilla extract, skimmed milk, and raw cane sugar for a chocolate-hazelnut spread with undeniably superior flavor. It is made with environmentally-responsible cold-pressed sunflower oil (no palm oil!). It also contains far less sugar than other brands and is free from hydrogenated fats. Rigoni di Asiagoeven offers Nocciolata Dairy Free, is a certified-vegan alternative of this chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Prepared with perfectly ripened organic fruit, Fiordifrutta fruit spread simply contains fruit sweetened with organic apple juice, providing a completely natural, healthy, low-calorie spread. These come in 17 different flavors.

Fiordifrutta fruit spreads come from organic farming. Each 8.82 ounce jar is made exclusively from over three pounds of selected organic fruit using using a patented low-temperature cooking process. Unlike most other spreads on the market, Fiordifrutta fruit contains no added sugar. Sweetening is made instead with organic wild apple juice. This exclusive recipe preserves the nutrients of the natural fruit while significantly reducing the sugar substance content (30% or more compared to other spreads) and contains 30% fewer calories than most others.

Mielbio encompasses a full range of raw Italian honey from Wildflower to Acacia, Orange Blossom, Lime and more.