An Inspired Cook

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  • Tag: Ghost Ranch

    • Georgia O’Keeffe’s Pecan Butterballs

      Posted at 11:52 am by NativeNM, on December 5, 2025

      For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by Georgia O’Keeffe’s story. She is renowned for her landscape and floral paintings in and around Ghost Ranch. When she first visited in 1934, the land was owned and occupied by a dude ranch, however she was offered a stay in a cottage on the property. It’s said that Georgia found solace at Ghost Ranch and spent her summers there painting until 1949 when she convinced the owner to sell her a parcel of land where she made it her home. Ghost Ranch is one of my favorite places on earth and I can see why she would embrace this beautiful landscape. Each time we visit I get a sense of traveling in her footsteps and viewing the scenery that she painted so long ago. I chose my blog header for the breathtaking landscape that is fondly known as “Georgia O’Keeffe country. I remember standing there in awe trying to capture the beauty before me, not knowing that Joe would take that photo.
      This post was originally going to be a recipe for Mexican Wedding cookies, however I came across Georgia’s recipe for Pecan Butterballs which looked and sounded very similar. Georgia opted for honey in place of powdered sugar for these pecan filled cookies. I was intrigued by her cookies and that search lead me to a different story. I found that a collection of Georgia O’Keeffe’s recipes were auctioned by Sotheby’s and sold in 2020. There is an image of the recipe card that she hand wrote for her Pecan Butterballs. Her pecan butterball cookies are perfect with a cup of afternoon tea. They also make a nice treat to share over the holidays. Hope you enjoy!

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      Posted in Cookies, Recipes | 4 Comments | Tagged christmas-cookies, Cookies, Georgia O'Keeffe's Pecan Butterballs, Ghost Ranch, Holiday Cookies, Mexican Wedding Cookies, Pecan Butterball Cookies
    • Talus Canyon Trail

      Posted at 10:29 am by NativeNM, on July 12, 2024
      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.

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      Posted in Recipes, Uncategorized | 5 Comments | Tagged Abiguiu, Abiquiu Lake, Abiquiu New Mexico, Ghost Ranch, hiking, New Mexico, photography, Talus Arch, Talus Canyon Trail, Talus Slot Canyon, Travel
    • Ghost Ranch Chimney Rock Trail

      Posted at 1:25 pm by NativeNM, on April 19, 2024

      It was just a year ago, almost to the day that we visited Ghost Ranch and hiked up to the top of Kitchen Mesa Trail. There are many trails to hike in and around Ghost Ranch, a place that Joe and I love so much. We plan to come back and explore more hiking trails any chance we get. This time we chose one of the more popular trails, Chimney Rock Trail which is about 3 miles out and back. It’s an uphill hike which can be a challenge but take your time, gather your breath, take lots of pictures, always bring an energy bar and enjoy the view. We had perfect hiking weather with full sunshine, a slight breeze with the temperature just about 60 degrees. There were many other hikers of all ages enjoying the day as well. It’s always a sign of Spring when you see so many people enjoying a hiking trail with their family this time of year. No matter your age, try to get outdoors and enjoy nature around you. It fills your soul and will inspire you to explore more places that make you happy.

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      Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments | Tagged Chimney Rock Trail, Chimney Rock Trail Ghost Ranch, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ghost Ranch, Ghost Ranch New Mexico, hiking, nature, New Mexico, Travel
    • Ghost Ranch Kitchen Mesa Trail

      Posted at 3:15 pm by NativeNM, on April 21, 2023

      Ghost Ranch is one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. New Mexicans call this Georgia O’Keeffe country as she painted so many landscapes in and around Ghost Ranch. She first arrived in Taos, NM in 1929 where she first heard of Ghost Ranch. It took her a few years to make it back where she stayed at a dude ranch on Ghost Ranch property. She loved it so much that she came back and stayed as a guest of the owner Arthur Pack who owned and operated the ranch. In 1940 she bought the house in which she stayed. It was called Rancho de los Burros and she acquired it along with 7 acres of surrounding land. She eventually made her home in New Mexico permanent, and purchased another home/studio in Abiquiu which is just a few miles from Ghost Ranch. The land she loved is reflected in many of her paintings. I have always loved her work and am so lucky to wander some of paths she took so many years before and witness the beauty she captured in her paintings. These days you can visit Ghost Ranch by purchasing a day pass or book a stay including lodging or camping with an RV or tent. You can participate in art workshops or book a walking tour or go horseback riding. There is a museum on site as well. This is our first hike inside Ghost Ranch which has many trails to choose from. Since we are getting older we decided to do the hardest trail first because you never know when you might not be able to do it again. The Kitchen Mesa trail is the most difficult and longest hike on the map yet it is described as the most beautiful hike. I have to admit it wasn’t an easy trail with some narrow cracks to climb and steep slippery sandy areas on the edge of a cliff. But we took our time and managed to make it to the top. By the time we got up there I was losing steam and had to have a granola bar with some sugar to get my energy back but it was so worth it. Once we got to the top we had another 1 plus miles to look out over the landscape with the vivid colors of the terrain and sky. On this day there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and 65 degrees for a high. It was magical and Joe and I teased each other that I got to hike Kitchen Mesa before I turned 60 (just barely) and he turned it back on me to say he could still hike it at 60 (just barely). I guess that tells you how old we are but we are loving every minute discovering so many beautiful places in New Mexico that you can only witness from hiking there. I hope you enjoy the beauty of Ghost Ranch and especially Kitchen Mesa Trail.

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      Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments | Tagged Abibuiu, Abiquiu Lake, Georgia O'Keeffe, Ghost Ranch, Google Pixel 7Pro, Kitchen Mesa Trail, New Mexico, Pedernal Mesa, Pedernal Mountain
    • December 2025
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