Monday, November 3, 2008

Green Chile Shopping on a Sunday Afternoon

I have to admit, there is nothing more heart warming or mouth burning than taking a trip down Sheridan or Federal on a fall afternoon for a bushel of Hatch, New Mexico roasted green chiles.  These delicious New Mexico treats, harvested late in the summer, make their way north to Denver only to find themselves in a pot with pork, onions and tomatoes for the perfect Sunday dinner or snack during the Broncos game.  

This particular stand on 64th and Sheridan in Northwest Denver offered a variety of flavors ranging from mild to dynamite (code for "OMG Hot")!  Should you want to sample the goods before picking your bushel, they just break open the chile and give you a bite!  This is not to be taken lightly, though, because whatever you bite into, you're going to have to swallow and suffer through so just make sure you're up for it!  Once you've picked your bushel, half bushel or whatever quantity seems appropriate, they throw it in a roaster where flames blister the skin of the chile and infuse it with that roasted flavor that will make your green chile stew the stuff dreams are made of!  Once our bushel was ready, they tied it up in a garbage bag and we headed home to start the stew.  

The smell of roasted green chiles will linger in your car and kitchen for the next few days so make sure you get enough of them to cover your cravings until the smell is gone!  The weather's getting cold so before the winter sets in, head on down to a roadside stand, grab a bushel and put it in your freezer, you'll be glad you did!  They freeze wonderfully but require a little work on the front end to peel the skin and de-vein and de-seed them.  Be careful, wear gloves and DON'T TOUCH YOUR EYES!

The recipe we use comes from a restaurant in Santa Fe called the Pink Adobe.  Enjoy!

Yield 6 Servings
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 lb. boneless pork, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups peeled and chopped fresh tomatoes
2 cups roasted, peeled and chopped fresh greeen chiles (USE RUBBER GLOVES!)
1 fresh jalapeno chopped (use gloves, take out membrane and seeds)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. fresh black pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
1 cup chicken or beef broth

Heat olive oil in 4 qt. dutch oven with cover (a regular pot with cover will do). Add pork and cook until lightly browned.  Add onion and garlic and stir with meat. Add flour and stir 1-2 mins. Add tomatoes, chiles, jalapeno, salt, pepper and sugar.  Mix to incorporate.  Add broth.  Lower heat.  Cover pot and simmer for 1-1 1/2 hours until meat is tender.

Serve with tortillas, shredded cheese and sour cream.


Sunday, November 2, 2008

"Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."

Albert Einstein said that and I couldn't agree more. It is with that spirit that I begin my journey into blogging! I've heard that blogging is the way to go...keep the world up to speed on what you think, what you do and how you feel. That sounds pretty cool to me!

As a real estate professional, I have an obligation to know as much as I can about the city I live in. I help people buy and sell homes, but I also help people choose a lifestyle. This got me thinking about my lifestyle. I happen to love my lifestyle. I live in the Highlands and love everything about it, but having settled in to my neighborhood, I find myself eating in the same restaurants, taking my dog on the same walks, going to the same shops. Mind you they are great restaurants, dog walks and shops, however this settling has caused me to stay closer to home these days.

I get to experience the rest of Denver through the eyes of my clients and through the filter of the needs and wants of their family. I love it but I don't get out and experience it the way I used to. I rarely drive across town anymore to the new restaurant in Park Hill or go for cocktails at the new bar on S. Broadway because I have so much right here.

Well, folks, it's time for a change. I want to get back out there and rediscover my city! I want to go to the new restaurants and bars instead of reading about them in 5280. I want to shop in the new shops, see the new exhibits, shows and concerts, experience the new trails, go to the farmer's markets, check out the festivals! Denver is a city of rich history, beautiful landmarks, parks and architecture. I want take on all if it and tell you all about it!

So this is my platform. I won't just be your source of real estate information, I will to be your source of lifestyle information. Check in often to find out what I love about Denver!