Realtor by day… Denver area food, wine, outdoor enthusiast, tennis addict, organic gardener, traveler, family, friends and dog lover for the rest of my time!
My career allows me time to do the things that are important to me! Most people that I know work to live and enjoy this amazing state that we call home! This is the COLORADO LIFESTYLE! Maybe this is why Colorado is one of the happiest places to be or is it our 300 days of sunshine a year?!
My Mom is an awesome cook and when I have my “aw shucks” moment, I can thank my Mama. She loves to create and try new things – her Mom, (god rest Nana’s soul), while she was a saint, she lacked terribly in the cooking department. I guess this is why my Mom and my Aunts are completely different. They explored and created in the kitchen and taught us kids, who wanted to listen, from an early age not to be afraid of cooking. I was the one of the ones who listened. I also, have to credit my Dad. He traveled a lot when I grew up. This had its disadvantages but definitely had its benefits. He knew all the great places to visit and all the BEST restaurants to go to. He taught me fine dining and the meaning of really good wine. Basically, I was lucky, I had the best of both worlds, growing up eating really good food and being enlightened to fine dining. I am thankful for this.
Besides my Mom, I learned to cook from the myriad of 1970’s and 80’s cookbooks following recipes to the tee, but I was bored. I was never the kid who colored in between the lines, so it started in my teens, making up my own recipes. Most people read novels (I do enjoy one once in a while) but I read cookbooks and am a “food TV” fanatic. I am always seeking other perspectives of what others do. I engross myself in learning about spices, culture and technique- so basically self-taught and just enough to be dangerous!
I think when things really took hold on the notion of really good food, were on my trips to Europe as a late teen. I still to this day remembering eating a celery root salad in Saas Fe, Switzerland in April of 1987 (weird I know, but it was damn good) and then in March of 1989 in Northern Italy, I experienced my good friends Nona’s “gravy”. I still dream of this gravy. Grandma’s sauce (and homemade wine,duh) was something I will never forget! I also went to a cooking school in Italy a few years back, this opened my eyes to real “homemade” Italian food and cooking from the local land. I realized then, that I was living in an over-processed world. Although I was, at the time fairly healthy, I had no idea what “good” local food was all about. I experienced, unprocessed, organic food and to this day has made an impact! A good one at that.
In my circle of life in Colorado, I have healthy friends and family. We buy as much organic as we can and eat local as much as possible. With the cost of eating out and our really sluggish economy, I have happily resorted to cooking, canning and growing as much as I can at home and sharing with my friends and family! This is a happy part of my life. My community where I live has organic community gardening plots where I grow a ton of vegetables. I like to know what I’m eating and what goes into my food. I no way intend for you to buy organic or local because it may not fit into your lifestyle or budget (it’s hard, I know) but know the ingredients that I use are. I want to focus on including really great food with a healthy “awesome” lifestyle and supporting the local farmers and food producers. My foods aren’t always “low fat or healthy” for that matter, but a life in balance with a good dose of playing outside is good for a healthy balance in life.
I hope you enjoy my blog. Colorado Food and it’s Lifestyle are really awesome! We are so lucky!
XO Heather
Hello, Heather. When I was searching for Fireball BBQ sauce, I came across this page. The other
recipes I’d read didn’t include jalapeos. Our Simi
Valley tract home garden provides us with peppers and tomatoes, so at least some of the ingredients
are organic and homegrown. This makes us feel good about using what we’ve grown. Thank you for the recipes.
HI Heather. I ran across this page when searching the web for a Fireball BBQ sauce. The others that I’d read didn’t include Jalapeños. Since I grow our peppers and tomatoes in our tract home garden here in Simi Valley CA, at least some of the ingredients will be organic and home grown which makes us feel good to use what we’ve grown with God’s help. Thank you for the recipes.
gary m
Wow! Thanks Gary! I hope it turned out great! Thanks for following my blog! 🙂
Hi Heather, I worked with your dad at Kroger. I love your blog and look forward to trying some of your recipes. I love to cook also. Your dad gave the Silver Pallet cookbook one year for Christmas and I love it. Keep up the good work and keep the recipes coming!
Hi Heather,
I was your dad’s assistant when he worked for The Kroger Co. After reading the family and friends newsletter from your parents, I decided to look up your food blog on RockyMountainCooking.com.
I love your recipes and am anxious to try them. Your dad gave me The Silver Pallet cookbook for Christmas one year (I love to cook also.). I will follow your blog. You will hear from me from time to time to see “what’s cooking.”
Keep up the good work with your blog.
Hi Carolyn! So nice to hear from you! This new blog thing has been a lot of fun! I hope you are well! Thanks and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Hi Heather, Just found your blog via my friend Lea Ann. Welcome in the local foodie blogger community! Kirsten
Thank you Kristen! I love Lea Ann! I appreciate your support! I’ll follow you too!
Heather, I hope you do some things with Colorado beef and maybe Colorado trout.
Love the picture with you and Chris!!
David Reid
I will David! I’ll get Dad to take me fishing and will keep a trout instead of putting it back!
Great story, Heather! You are so lucky to have learned to enjoy cooking at such a young age. When I was growing up, nobody I encountered enjoyed cooking as much as you clearly do. I’m cooking more now because I like to eat healthy and avoid the processed foods. So thank you for sharing your insights and recipes–great timing!
Dearest Heather, I am so proud of you and I am so excited to have finally subscribed to your blog. There is no doubt that there will be many more excellent recipes and tips to come. Your photos are beautiful and your easy to read instructions (For those of us who need it :)) are just delightful. Keep up the great work and I look forward to trying out your high altitude cooking here in St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria. All the best and Servus!
What an exciting adventure for you and the rest of us to enjoy! Even though I don’t cook much anymore for myself, it is fun to read about it. All the best, Joyce
Hi Heather!
Congrats on your new venture! Best of luck!
Natalie
Thanks Natalie! I appreciate your support!
I can’t tell you how excited I am that you’ve started blogging your recipes! Especially since I have had the pleasure of enjoying your scrumptious offerings. You are a gifted cook and that you love what you do really comes through in your dishes. You are the only one I know that could make a 5 star meal out of an avocado and a waffle. lol Seriously though, good luck on your new endeavor! xo Stace