I wish I could live here! Oh wait..I do! Ok last picture of the beauty that is Denver right now… (ok that is probably a lie)

Homemade Potstickers

Homemade potstickers…sooo simple and soooo delicious! Cook up some chicken, throw in some herbs, spices, chilie sauce, zucchini, or whatever you have on hand, throw in the food processor and fill your dumplings. Throw in a lightly* oiled pan, allow to brown a bit, throw in a little broth, cover and steam. YUM!

Morning Bartender

I am quickly learning the art of being a barista. Having barely even brewed a pot of coffee before in my life, this job has declared a challenge for me. After a crash course in the drink making (in which I swear my “teacher” was speaking a different language) I was sort of thrown onto the stage as a “barista” (I keep using that word because it makes me feel so much more official).

Now, nothing will make you feel more clumsy than trying to take people’s highly specific drink orders as you balance in your mind the type of drink, the kind of milk, the size of the cup, the recipe for the drink…Interestingly enough I now find myself easing into the role and speaking the language that is coffee. This may be my only time in life that I feel similar to or relate to a bartender. I find that being a barista is in a sense tending to the “early morning bar”. People come up with their problems, stories, good and often bad moods, desperately in need of their drink, their caffeine, their little pick me up, to get their day started. 

Oh but don’t worry, when I am at work I often find myself reinacting scenes straight out of a movie. Yes, I have brewed coffee into an already full pot, and yes I have turned around to find coffee spilling everywhere (everywhere!), and yes I have done this multiple times. (It is just so hard to remember to switch out the full pot for the empty one at 6 in the morning) I sometimes feel like I am actually getting more practice in the art of cleaning up coffee rather than the art of making it.

 The point is that I really don’t have a point. I am just really starting to enjoy coffee. I feel like a part of a club or something being able to take orders and catch on to the lingo. And who hasn’t always dreamed of using the fun coffee equipment. Can you say skinny, decaf pumpkin spice latte, hold the foam, two extra dry cappuccinos and a light roast drip? 

Slight Change in Weather...

I am pretty sure this past weekend I was happy as a lark, feeling as though it was late-summer, as I rode my bike along beautiful sunny streets and sipped coffee at the farmer’s market. Now I am whistling Christmas tunes thinking about feasting over holiday meals as I stomp through the snow, bundled up from head to toe. The snow is here again but probably not to stay which will only add to my confusion. So as for now…welcome winter? But I will say, as much as I dreaded this dumping of snow when I first heard it was coming, I rather enjoyed my walk through to school this morning. There is something so incredibly peaceful about the snow, it is magical seeing a blanket of white as far as the eye can see covering the world that was oh so recently laden with sunshine. So, it is exciting for now, but come May I will be MORE than ready to see it go. Here we go again…now let the holiday season begin!

Bike Ride Anyone?

Bikes!

Gas is just too expensive so I searched craigslist and found an awesome bike and it has made life even more amazing! This weekend I got home from work and went exploring with my friends. We rode down the gorgeous streets surrounded by bright and vibrant leaves due to the beautiful fall weather. We stopped at a little church with a pumpkin patch in front and then made out way to a little bakery and sat down and enjoyed the sunshine. It was the perfect afternoon. 

This morning my friend and I woke up early and went on a little adventure and rode out to the farmers market. We both got a coffee and strolled the market. We were also each given a free apple and it was beyond incredible :). It was the perfect start to the day!

The weather is perfect and I really wish it could be fall all year long so that I could ride my bike everywhere all the time and enjoy the beautiful colors, the nice cool breeze and the fabulous farmers markets!!

The food ain't so bad in Denver either...

So I have decided that Denver is like this hidden gem. You really have to live here for a bit to truly understand the amazingness of it. For starters it is BEAUTIFUL. I mean, the mountains are in the distance ya, but the trees and cute little streets and parks ah. Also it is no wonder that it is the healthiest city seeing as everywhere you turn there is another cute park where everyone is out walking, running, playing sports, biking, roller skating (and doing all these things with their dogs…which I think is my favorite part!). Yes, the weather is beyond random but you can’t ever say you get sick of it seeing as one day it is below freezing and the next you are outside in shorts and t-shrt soaking up the rays. The houses and little communities are out of a picture book and there are so many fun restaurants and food spots to enjoy. So….can you tell I might like Denver just a little bit???

Pictures are worth a thousand words right? So while I could tell you how amazing Denver is, here is a little peak to help you better understand :)

Don't Forget to Save Room For Dessert

A few nibbles from Advanced Baking and Pastry

Food Trucks! But more importantly...FOOD!

 
 
I can't decide if I love or hate the whole food truck fad. I guess it is still weird to me that food is being produced out of a truck and that is what makes it exciting. However, it does make for a good time when all the food trucks come together in the same place on a beautiful late summer evening! It is like being able to sample food from a ton of different restaurants at once. Awesome.