Santa Fe in the Fall

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Mango Tomatillo Papaya Salsa Day 1, Tuesday:  After a very long drive from Fort Worth we arrived in Santa Fe.  Our only food stop along the way was at Red Robin in Amarillo.  I happen to like their chili and there is not much to choose from in Amarillo, unless we wanted to stop by the Big Texan Steak Ranch and try the 72 ounce steak dinner.  When we arrived in Santa Fe we checked into our hotel, The Chimayo De Santa Fe Hotel on the Plaza.  Tune Up Café was our destination, a place we saw on a DDD episode a couple years ago.  Former Café Pasqual chef, Jesus Rivera, started it in an old...

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Santa Fe Chocolate Trail

Todos Santos, in the Casa Sena courtyard was our first stop on the Chocolate Trail, really nothing more than a list of a few chocolate places suggested on a card we picked up at our hotel.  We had already planned to go to Chocolate Smith for our favorite chile chocolates but trying some new places is always fun.  Todas Santos was small, packed with lots of "dark" items with skull themes and Day of The Dead items, from what I could tell.  I just wanted to hurry out of there, so we picked a few chocolates and left!  Starting in Upper Left--Caramel Toffee, Black Pepper Truffle, Chipotle Orange Cone, Classic Dark, Pumpkin...

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Key Lime Pie

I had a request to post my recipe for key lime pie.  I've made this pie many, many times and it always turns out great.  I adapted this recipe from one by Rebecca Rather. Crust 1 cup Texas pecans 3 cups graham cracker crumbs (the whole box, 3 packages, made into crumbs in the food processor) 1 T sugar 1 cup salted butter, melted  (2 sticks) Filling 3 large egg yolks 1 1/2 cups key lime juice (I buy a mesh bag of key limes and it takes the entire bag, very labor intensive but worth it.  Don't buy the bottled juice!) 3 1/2 cups sweetened condensed milk (2 cans) Whipped Cream 2 cups cold heavy whipping...

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Farm & Fork: Think Globally, Eat locally Street Food Goes Gourmet

       The second Farm & Fork event was held on September 25 at the Lightcatcher Winery. The announcement read: "Join the winemaker, chefs, farmers, cooking school teachers, bakers and restauranteur for an evening of food, wine and entertainment at Lightcatcher Winery." The Lightcatcher Winery is a unique, boutique winery owned by Caris and Terry Turpen. Caris is the lead chef and winemaker. They have produced award winning wines and the food created by Chef Caris Turpen and her staff is stellar. I loved the atmosphere--from the tasting room filled with unusual gifts and displays of their wine to the outdoor...

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