If Laughter is the best medicine and an apple a day keeps the doctor away, I’m looking at healthy. This has been a week carbo-loaded with Life’s joys and nature’s wonder. It’s also been days of peeling Granny Smith apples, tossing them in the crockpot and producing enough hunky applesauce to feed the populace of Colorado.
It’s because of joy, wonder, and, yes, even applesauce, that I am tardy in posting this week’s French Friday with Dorie recipe, a scrumptious Chicken Tagine with Sweet Potatoes and Prunes ( I used Dates).
It’s Friday. We’re scrambling to get Dorie’s Chicken Tagine with Sweet Potatoes and Dates plated. Probably not going to make the FFWD deadline. Donna, the Forest Conservancy treasurer and Fred, a volunteer Forest Ambassador, are not sympathetic to my small kitchen and lack of equipment. Fred’s wife, Cathy, was visiting her sister who lives in Portland and missed the meal.
Let me explain. First, the applesauce. My philosophy, which I have finally come to regret, is that if more is better, more, more, more is best. Granny Smith apples were on sale this week and, not wanting to miss out on a great price, I overbought. Peeling apples gulps up chunks of time.
Last Monday I celebrated my birthday. My enterprising friend, Jane, always, always, always scouts out the greatest gifts. This year she outdid herself by finding a vintage felt Ranger hat, with the label, Campaign, authenticated with “sweat” marks on its headband. I will wear it when I’m a volunteer Wilderness Ranger next Summer.
As for Mother Nature’s wonder, she dumped it here last week. It’s called snow and Coloradans are ecstatic. As they should be. This state cries for moisture and its ski resorts beg for the white stuff. Having evaded such nonsense for the past eight years while living in Nevada, I found myself ill-prepared. No boots. No mittens. No car snow scraper. You name it, I didn’t have it. I declared myself a snow emergency and took a time-out to regroup.
Two days later, Mother Nature blew into town, leaving a snowy message and erasing any hopes of more Indian Summer days.
The joys have been in bringing closure to the journey of a good man and a life well-lived. For the past three months my family and I have been discussing how best to honor Michael with a memorial of some type. Although we wanted it to be meaningful and significant, we are not a family of great wealth, charitable trusts nor much discretionary income.
As our friend, Lloyd, said in his eulogy to Michael, “He never confused his self-worth with his net-worth. Getting rich was not his goal in life. His life’s goal was taking care of his patients and he did that very well.”
While hiking in the Rockies in late August, we encountered freshman college students exploring our trail system during orientation week. They all wanted ( and, received ) Smokey the Bear stickers for their backpacks from volunteer Wilderness Rangers, Sandy (l) and Ruth.
There are all kinds of tiny, hand-to-mouth organizations in every community and Aspen is no exception. But it was a no-brainer to choose the Forest Conservancy, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the White River National Forest and serving the community (that’s all of you) who enjoys it.
The FC was established in 2001 by four Aspenites concerned about the lack of government-paid personnel (Rangers) available to protect and monitor the 2.3 million acres of the WRNF. What began with four, quickly grew to fourteen (when I joined), and now is well over one-hundred volunteers who serve as Wilderness Rangers, Forest Ambassadors and certified Master Naturalists.
Hiking with volunteer Wilderness Rangers Annie (L) and Donna (R). Donna amazes me with her knowledge of Rocky Mountain flowers and vegetation. I love to hike with her. As you can see, I cannot be issued my uniform again until I pass my certification and jump through some hoops. I’m not taking this personally, the Forest Conservancy means business.
The FC collaborates with the USDA Forest Service and thirteen other partners to hike and monitor our trails. Today, more than a decade later, the FC is an indispensable arm of the Forest Service and BLM and…………always strapped for cash.
What better way to recognize a man who not only skiied these mountains for fifty straight years but also grumbled his way through three to five-mile hikes every summer with his wife. Once decided, my brother and sister-in-law made a very, very generous contribution to the FC in Michael’s name which I will match. Happily, we’re in business. A win-win for everyone.
Sometimes we even chat-up the guys we meet on the trail because they are good-lookin’ !!!
Last Friday night, three FC friends, all FC volunteers, joined me for dinner to celebrate, thus having the opportunity to sample Dorie’s FFWD recipe choice. Once again, this week’s recipe, Chicken Tagine with Sweet Potatoes and Prunes, was fabulous. Luckily, you can find the recipe here. I served this one-dish meal with Yotam Ottolenghi’s Beet, Orange and Black Olive Salad (recipe here) saffron risotto and crusty bread. Needing a light dessert, we enjoyed daughter Melissa’s crockpot applesauce (warm) over Dulce de Leche ice cream.
Mise en Place for the Chicken Tagine with Sweet Potatoes and Prunes. Notice I substituted Dates for Prunes.
Donna, who coincidentally, is the FC treasurer, loved this tagine’s spices – saffron, cinnamon, cayenne, star anise and bay leaves. “There are no sharp edges to this dish,” she remarked, “it’s just round and mellow.”
Her husband, Bernie, who is a Forest Ambassador at our beloved Maroon Bells, brought bottles of well-regarded Chateau De Paraza red wine from the Minervois AOC region of the Lanquedoc. It was fruitier than a Bordeaux with an earthy, rustic taste that complimented the tagine.
At last, dinner is served. The verdict? Tasty. Delicious. Very good.
My only tagine suggestions which I offer are:
1. For fuller flavoring, steep the saffon threads in the 1/2 cup of warmed water needed in the tagine.
2. Because it is topped with toasted chopped walnuts, I substituted walnut oil for the plain olive oil.
3. I chose Dates over Prunes.
To see what the Doristas, my colleagues who did meet the Friday deadline cooked up, go here.
Snow seems so far away from the Northeast right now as we batten down the hatches in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. What a gorgeous place you live in and great outdoors people to share your meal with…wonderful. Hope all is well and pray my power doesn’t go out.
Diane, I know I speak for all of us in FFWD to say that we are thinking of our East Coast sisters right now. Stay safe.
Mary, as always, I love your story of sharing a Dorie dish with enthusiastic friends. This sweet dish is made even sweeter by weaving in your story of Michael and your family’s way of honoring his memory through the Forest Conservancy. Sounds like a wonderful program. Hope you adjust to your local snow emergency. In my opinion, October is too early for snow. Have a great week.
Hopefully my Colorado pals will not read this, Betsy, but, in my opinion, October IS too early for snow.
Mary, first of all “Happy belated Birthday” – the ranger hat looks just wonderful! What a terrfic and unique gift! Second, we had snow here last week too, this is way too early and the weather turned from late summer to winter in just one day – hope the weather will be tamer soon, for everyone! And lastly, your Chicken Tagine with the dates looks scrumptious, it is so nice to read that you got to share the dinner with so many good friends! Love your post and all the pictures!
Have a wonderful week!
Happy birthday, Mary! I wish you much more laughter and apples for this coming year. I loved this heartfelt post – Michael is surely smiling down on all of you who donated to preserve the Aspen wildlife he enjoyed so much.
That wine sounds amazing! It sure sounds like you had a great meal.
Thanks for the props, Mary. I was as excited to find the hat as you were to receive it. I am currently “vacationing” on Long Island so perhaps I should look for an atlas of better vacation spots on my next outings.
Bernie & I were thrilled to be part of your evening and to be at a Dorrista event.
Great pix…particularly of you in the HAT with Aspen fall colors in background.
“Cher says”
“Sending a belated-birthday hug your way.
Snow – wow. I know it can happen anytime here, but I am so not ready for it (of course, who knows what may show up in the backyard compliments of Sandy Frankenstorm).
Your tribute was beautifully thought out. “
Mary, you are such a remarkable woman! You truly make the most of all that life has to offer.
I’ll get back on track with FFWD one of these days! I’m so thankful that we were on the East Coast last week, and not this week.
I think you would love the Toasted Pumpkin Seed Brittle – I actually liked it better than peanut brittle. And, I just read how good pepitas are for you – LOL! There’s a slight error in the recipe. The sugar mixture will not become clear – it should just be heated until the sugar is dissolved before adding the butter.
I wish you every happiness and am so grateful for our friendship! xoxo
Oh, Susan, thank you for the recipe correction which I will also pass on to Melissa. And, my dear, it is my good fortune to have “linked” up with you (and, John) through this FFWD experience. Lots of happy Posts ahead for the both of us. Next week, Quiche!!!!!
You’ve been busy Mary! Wow that snow is beautiful but who would expect it in October? Looks like you had a wonderful dinner and wonderful friends! What could be better?
What a lovely post, Mary. I so enjoyed reading it and looking at your photos. It seems unreal to see snow this early especially after seeing all the rain that hit the east coast this week from Sandy. The FC sounds like a wonderful organization and so rewarding that people like yourself can make it what it is. Happy Belated Birthday to you! I love the Ranger hat. What a unique and thoughtful gift. Your dinner looks fabulous and I like that you substituted dates. Thank you for your tip about the saffron – I will try that next time. I hope you are having an enjoyable week!
Lovely post! Wasn’t the chicken tagine delicious!? Loved your menu, will have to serve it with a beet salad next time around 😉
Just now catching up with your Forest Conservancy blog. Didn’t make the chicken tangine but we finally are sending a small gift to the FC in memory of Michael. So glad it is something representing your life together in Aspen. And Happy Birthday, young friend! Hoping for more snow so we can get to Aspen in December but sorry we will miss you in the winter.xoxo
Looks like a fun time outside!
I’m finally catching up with post readings. Mary, Happy (very belated) Birthday!