Howdy, pals and fellow dwelling cooks!
That is my weekly e-newsletter, which incorporates 7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads (for the week of September 23-29, 2024) + 3 new posts printed within the final 7 days!
On the backside of this article, I am sharing some superb images from our hike to Columbine Lake close to Silverton, Colorado. It’s a lesser-known however difficult and strenuous hike that rewards you with a panoramic turquoise glacial alpine lake sitting at 12,690 toes!
7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads
DAY 1: Creamy Mozzarella Shrimp Pasta
DAY 2: Lemon Pepper Rooster with Creamy Garlic-Lemon Sauce
DAY 3: Mediterranean Salmon with Rice, Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta (One-Pan, 30-Minute Meal)
DAY 4: Rooster Risotto (creamy rice) with Spinach, Solar-Dried Tomatoes, and Parmesan Cheese
DAY 5: Southwestern Black Bean and Butternut Squash Enchilada Casserole (Meatless. You should utilize candy potatoes or yams as an alternative of butternut squash).
DAY 6: Rooster Florentine Bake with Spinach-Artichoke Dip, Solar-Dried Tomatoes, and Mozzarella Cheese (30 Minutes, One-Pan)
DAY 7: Vegetable Beef Soup with Carrots, Potatoes, Bell Pepper, and Inexperienced Peas (ONE-POT)
SALAD 1: Apple Spinach Salad with Pecans, Dried Cranberries, Goat Cheese, and Maple-Lime Mustard Dressing
SALAD 2: Strawberry Mango Salad with Arugula/Spinach Combine
SALAD 3: Roasted Candy Potato Salad with Spinach, Apples, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, and Feta
New posts printed within the final 7 days!
NEW: Sausage White Bean Soup with Spinach and Carrots (30 Minutes, One-Pot)
NEW: Steak Enchiladas
NEW: My Finest 26 Apple Recipes to Make within the Fall (each Savory and Candy)
Climbing Columbine Lake close to Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado
Let me inform you about one other considered one of my favourite hikes—Columbine Lake, nestled within the San Juan Nationwide Forest close to Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado. It’s a 7-mile round-trip hike to a surprising alpine glacial lake that sits at 12,690 toes elevation! The elevation on the trailhead (the place the hike begins) is 10,350 toes, and your ending elevation on the lake (on the finish of the hike) is 12,690 toes. So, you are taking a look at a strong 2,340 toes of elevation acquire over 3.5 miles one strategy to the lake. Then, after all, you retrace your steps on the way in which again. It is an out-and-back hike, and wow, it’s value each step.
Columbine Lake is positioned in a glacial bowl surrounded by peaks over 13,000 toes. Alpine lakes at all times have a stunningly clear, jewel-like look.
What makes it further particular is that it is considered one of Colorado’s hidden gems—not as well-known, however completely attractive. You begin by tackling a steep path by means of the dense forest, then break by means of the tree line into breathtaking alpine meadows, and at last, you attain the jewel of the hike: a crystal-clear glacial lake, framed by rugged 13,000-foot peaks. It’s nothing in need of magical.
Now, I’ll be trustworthy—this hike is not any joke. It’s strenuous, off the overwhelmed path, and you should be in good condition and acclimated to the altitude to actually take pleasure in it. We barely noticed a soul on the path—perhaps three folks whole—which was a part of the appeal. Should you’re an skilled hiker, that is an unforgettable journey. However for an informal hiker? In all probability not your best option.
Listed here are some images from our journey! I can’t wait to do that hike once more!
Proper from the beginning, the path kicks off with some steep switchbacks by means of a spruce-fir forest, and let me inform you, it wastes no time getting your legs burning! You’ll be gaining elevation quick. However when you energy by means of that, the path chills out a bit, and you end up in wide-open meadows above the tree line. Usually, these meadows can be bursting with wildflowers, however since we hiked in September, this was our view:
Right here we’re getting into the zone above the tree line:
The path turns into steep once more in the midst of the basin, and we discovered ourselves climbing by means of rocky meadows. We needed to hike throughout scree slopes and piles, which may really feel like navigating a large slide manufactured from rocks. You must watch out, listen, and put on the suitable sneakers.
And there’s Kevin, standing on the fringe of the abyss—most likely pondering whether or not he’s courageous or simply barely loopy!
In spite of everything that climbing and climbing, we had been lastly rewarded with a surprising view of Columbine Lake at 12,690 toes! It’s undoubtedly above the tree line—no timber anyplace in sight! Simply pure mountain glory!
Columbine Lake is about in a glacial bowl surrounded by rugged ridges over 13,000 toes. The elevation at this lake is 12,690 toes.
On the way in which again, the climate modified quick, and it began raining. Right here we’re, descending from above the tree line into the wooded space.
This stuff had been falling throughout me at one level. Unsure what it was – rain and wind or an indignant squirrel.
We had a lot of rain (once more!) on our means again which made the descent truly simpler as a result of the path had extra traction. On dry days, some trails can have free gravel or compacted grime that acts like a layer of sand, inflicting hikers to lose stability. So the rain can typically be a hidden benefit on some trails, so long as you are not climbing up or down large slippery rocks and so long as there aren’t any bolts of lightning.
At this level, we had been virtually performed with our hike. Take a better look and also you would possibly simply spot a moose hanging out by the water’s edge!
There’s one other moose we noticed! There have been three in whole—one was an lovely child calf. The opposite two had been “enjoying hide-and-seek” behind the timber and bushes, coming out from time to time.
Life will be so unhappy and I feel it is essential to deal with constructive issues we now have and issues we are able to nonetheless take pleasure in.
An enormous shout-out and THANK YOU to everybody who leaves feedback on my web site! Your suggestions and recipe evaluations are every thing—they maintain me motivated and forestall me from feeling like I am simply tossing recipes right into a culinary black gap!
Please do not be shy and say Howdy within the feedback and let me know the place you’re from (I’m from Colorado) or share one good or enjoyable factor that occurred to you this week! (For me, it’s all about climbing today, lol!) Or, inform me when you’re planning to attempt any of my recipes, it is a meal plan, in spite of everything! 😍🥰
