Posted at 1:10 pm by NativeNM, on November 14, 2024
November came in with a bang and brought us colder mornings with freezing temperatures along with our first Winter storm of the season. When the cold weather sets in, I am inspired to crank up the oven and bake pizza. This pizza has always intrigued me and got me to wondering if it would taste as good as it sounds. Turns out, it exceeded my expectations and I plan to put it on the pizza rotation a lot more often. Joe also raved about it, he would have gladly had another slice or two, but we are trying to eat healthier with smaller entree portions while adding more salad to our diet. I worried the fig jam would be too sweet but in fact, the prosciutto balances it out resulting in salty and sweet flavors combined with savory spinach, goat cheese and pine nuts. It really is an incredible combination of flavors.
Posted at 9:33 am by NativeNM, on October 18, 2024
It’s been 6 years since Joe and I moved back to New Mexico. It’s been my dream to explore all the natural wonders of our state, creating a diary of our travels through photographs. Many of those places have hidden treasures that can only be found by hiking to them. Along the way we’ve been compiling photos of all the wildflowers. After the monsoon rains in the summer, the wildflowers begin to bloom and we’ve been fortunate to find many of them. We routinely find a variety of flowers at the Valle Caldera, the Sandia Crest trails, El Morro National Monument and even the trails close to home. Truthfully, Joe and I spend hours and get lost in thought while taking pictures of flowers when we go hiking. He keeps track of our miles and how fast we are walking which slows to a snails pace when we reach a valley of flowers. I particularly love cactus flowers. Those colors are my colors, from the sunshine yellows, to the peach colored orange to the vivid pinks. The cactus above is located on the Riverside trail in Rio Rancho. The trail from Riverside heading north is covered in Prickly Pear Cactus and when they begin to bloom there is nothing more beautiful. You can hear the bumblebees buzzing from flower to flower until their legs are heavy with pollen. If you are into wildflowers or any flowers for that matter, you will love the unique wildflowers of New Mexico.
Posted at 10:36 am by NativeNM, on October 11, 2024
I’ve always loved spinach to make salads or to enhance a pasta or soup dish. Recently I’ve been on a salad kick and this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Candied Pecans was one of the best. The strawberries had the perfect amount of sweetness which balanced the spinach, candied pecans and goat cheese crumbles. I had some strawberries in the freezer and picked out a few to make a strawberry vinaigrette. It goes quite well on this salad but you can also go with a balsamic vinaigrette if you prefer a more savory dressing. The candied pecans give the salad texture and crunch while the goat cheese counters the sweetness with a bit of tangy creaminess. It all comes together to make a flavorful salad to go alongside most any entree.
Posted at 10:46 am by NativeNM, on September 24, 2024
Red and Yellow Dahlia
Our day at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens was one I will never forget. We arrived early to find the flowers still dotted with dew. The dew on the plants and flowers made them so vivid and bright, it was like an added texture on top of their natural beauty. The gardens are part of a 47 acre area with 4 miles of trails, with trickling streams running through it along with a path that leads to the ocean. We spent hours walking the trails and taking pictures of the colorful flowers. There were many garden collections but the Dahlia Garden was my favorite with every color of dahlia imaginable. I wish I had a knack for gardening, I would fill my yard with so many colorful flowers. It’s just not in my skillset, Joe will tell you that I kill every plant I touch. But for me, the next best thing is visiting a botanical garden and taking photos so that I can revisit them. After looking through all of them the red and yellow dahlia was the one I kept going back to. There are so many to choose from, take a look and find your favorite!
Posted at 1:01 pm by NativeNM, on September 16, 2024
September has always been our favorite time to get away. After Labor Day, traveling is less expensive, less tourists, and cooler weather. It’s the perfect time for a coastal vacation. Joe and I have been longing for a relaxing few days near the water and after many considerations we decided on Northern California about 3.5 hours north of San Francisco along the Mendocino Coast. We stayed in a vacation rental located in Westport along scenic Hwy 1 on the California Coast. The rugged ocean cliffs, sea glass beaches and beautiful flowers were the main attraction on this holiday. We spent a week taking in the beauty of the rugged ocean seaside, exploring the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and Muir Woods. And on our last day we spent a day in San Francisco retracing some of our favorite spots from our last visit in 2014. We so enjoyed this magical place where we could explore a little piece of the California coast away from the most populated tourist areas and still be wowed! Tag along on our journey and you too might be persuaded to visit the Coast of Northern California.
It’s green chile season here in New Mexico. It’s a special time of year when the chile roasters come out and the smell of roasting chile is in the air. One of my favorite things to make during chile season is chile rellano chimichangas. Traditionally they are stuffed with cheese, however I sometimes I add chicken, steak, or smoked pulled pork. Another idea is to add some farm fresh corn, fresh pico de gallo, or diced sauteed zucchini. I even fry up some pan fried potatoes to add which is always tasty. Whatever you stuff your chile relleno chimi with, it elevates the flavors for each individuals taste. Look for NM Hatch Green Chile in many grocery stores across the US. Here are some links where you can order fresh green chile to ship from New Mexico straight to your door: Hatch Chile Store, Chile Monster, or The Fresh Chile Co.
Tsankawi Prehistoric Site is a separate part of Bandelier National Monument; located approximately 12 miles from Bandelier off of State Hwy 4. Tsankawi is a 1.5 mile loop that literally follows the footsteps of the ancestral Puebloans. It is believed that they first occupied the area around 1400 A.D. The trail loop is a path that has been worn into the rock as the natives traveled from the mesa tops to their farms in the canyons below. There was a village built on top of the mesa out of tuff stone and mud. It was roughly rectangular in shape, with about 350 rooms and an enclosed central courtyard. The trail leading to this area is closed at this time, however we were able to see the homes that were built along the base of the cliffs. They dug cavates out of the soft tuff stone known as talus pueblos. Taking photos from within the caves are quite beautiful; you can see the landscape and sky through the holes they created. There is definitely a door like opening with smaller holes that appear to be windows to let in light and the blue skies above. The most amazing part of the loop is the centuries old footpath that has been worn though the soft stone which look like footsteps or a smooth narrow trench. When on top of the mesa, you can see the vast landscape for miles with Los Alamos in the distance. Following the path of the native ancestors left us with a feeling of being transported in time.
See header photo in color as I take in the landscape.
This post is a bit different from my usual travel posts. I thought these photos would be worthwhile in black and white, but I had no idea the dramatic effect they would have. While traveling and hiking across New Mexico, I try to showcase the colors, textures and landscapes that I find quite beautiful. On this day we attempted to find the elusive Talus Slot Canyon. This was our second attempt and both times we’ve failed, however it was one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever experienced. The summer monsoon had drenched the thirst of our arid landscape turning it from a wheat color to vivid green. The clouds were abundant in every shape and size giving the landscape a moody atmosphere. As we headed out we were aware that it might rain at any moment, so we took caution as the Talus Canyon Trail is an unmarked trail through a dry creek bed and rocky areas. On Hwy 84 just a mile or so past the turnoff to Abiquiu Lake there will be a picnic/parking area on the south side of the highway. Park here, then walk across the highway to find the trailhead. There is a visible footpath but if there has been any recent rainfall, the footprints are likely to be washed away so be aware and use your trail app. Once you head back into the Talus Canyon the view is breathtaking. Whether in color or black and white, the Talus Canyon Trail is one of my most treasured places to hike.
The Valles Caldera is the result of a volcanic eruption that happened over a million years ago which created a volcanic depression in the earth approximately 14 miles wide in diameter. Located in the Jemez Mountains of New Mexico, it is now a beautiful valley known for it’s huge grassland meadows, the East Fork Jemez River and hiking trails. It is also a wildlife preserve and home to the 2nd largest elk population in New Mexico. You might see prairie dogs that pop up along the road to the Valle Grande entrance station or a coyote strolling through the grassy meadow. There are numerous hiking trails in and around the preserve but if you want to hike or backpack in the backcountry you will need a pass or a code to drive to the backcountry trails. They only allow a few vehicles in the backcountry per day. Check in with the entrance station or reserve a pass online. Over the past 5 years we’ve visited the Valles Caldera numerous times and each time is a different experience. Sometimes it’s sunny, sometimes foggy or low lying clouds in the valley. Depending on the rainfall, the meadow can be gorgeous green or a dull wheat color. We love to go in late Spring and early Summer when the wildflowers are in bloom. This is one of our favorite places to get away. Here’s a fun fact: If you’ve ever seen the tv show “Longmire”, you might recognize the cabin and stables where Walt Longmire’s ranch scenes were filmed. While the series took place in Absaroka County, Wyoming, it was actually filmed in NM. The Sherriff office and town scenes were filmed in Las Vegas, NM. I hope you will enjoy some of our adventures over the past few years exploring the Valles Caldera National Preserve.
It’s that time of year to make some chilled treats to beat the heat. I was instantly inspired when I came across a a box of Outshine Fruit Bars with “Mango and Tajin” flavors. Oh . . My. . Goodness, they looked just like my Mangonada Margaritas, only frozen into a popsicle. I always have frozen mango and pineapple in the freezer to make smoothies, sorbet or the occasional Manognada Margarita. With everything on hand it was easy to measure out the ingredients and blend away. In a few hours we had refreshing mango and/or pineapple popsicles with tangy chili lime flavors throughout. Kids aren’t the only ones who deserve a popsicle now and then. Enjoy!