See some of Albuquerque's finest historic homes this Sunday, May 13, 2012, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on this year's Historic Home and Garden Tour, where you can see houses ranging from Queen Annes and Victorians to bungalows. I always love to see the gardens!
You can buy tickets in advance ($12.50) at www.abqdna.org or purchase them at the starting point at Mary Fox Park, 13th Street and Roma NW ($15). Parking is very limited, so park in one of the lots (see the website) and walk to the park, or take the bus or have someone drop you off.
Food vendors will be on site at Mary Fox Park, or you can get a free burger with your ticket purchase from bRgR at 3rd and Central. Also, the ABQ Trolley will be providing trolley service around the tour route.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
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What could be nicer than a cup of tea--iced or hot--and some Lemon Cooler Cookies? Here's our recipe from the Bottger Mansion of Old Town. Click here for a printer-friendly pdf version.
Lemon Cooler Cookies
Bottger Mansion of Old Town Bed & Breakfast
Albuquerque, New Mexico
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest (from 2 medium lemons)
1 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped white chocolate (or white chocolate chips)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the lemon zest and vanilla and lemon extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the white chocolate. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for about 12 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.
Kathy’s notes: I like to use a #40 size scoop (available at restaurant supply stores) for even-size cookies. I always use parchment paper for cookies on the baking sheet. The dough is easily frozen (flatten the balls); keep in a ziplock freezer bag; bake about 14 minutes.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
follow us on Facebook
This year's Spring Lecture Series by the Institute for Medieval Studies is "Medieval Masterpieces," April 16-19, 2012. All of the lectures will be at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Woodward Hall, Room 101; a concert by the UNM Early Music Ensemble on Thursday will be in Keller Hall. Here's the schedule:
Monday, April 16, 7:15 p.m.
Twelfth-Century Masterpieces of Illumination: The Giant Bibles of Romanesque England--Christopher de Hamel, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Tuesday, April 17, 5:15 p.m.
Boethius’s “Consolation of Philosophy” and Its Influence in the Middle Ages--Philip Edward Phillips, Middle Tennessee State University
Tuesday, April 17, 7:15 p.m.
The Bayeux Tapestry: A Medieval Network--Martin Foys, Drew University
Wednesday, April 18, 5:15 p.m.
Beowulf: Not Just Legends in the Named Lands of the North--Michael Drout, Wheaton College, Massachusetts
Wednesday, April 18, 7:15 p.m.
Illuminated Animals and God in Medieval England--Christopher de Hamel
Thursday, April 19, 5:15 p.m. (in Keller Hall)
Masterpieces of Medieval Music--Concert by the UNM Early Music Ensemble, directed by Colleen Sheinberg
Thursday, April 19, 7:15 p.m.
The Mysterious Maker of a Medieval Masterpiece: Gislebertus of Autun—Doer or Donor?--Linda Seidel, University of Chicago
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
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I adapted this recipe from one I found in the newspaper. It originally called for cucumber and radishes in the relish, but I can't eat either of those. Click here for a printer-friendly pdf version.
Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Avocado-Jicama Relish
From the Bottger Mansion of Old Town Bed & Breakfast
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Adapted from avocadocentral.com
Serves 4
relish
1 large ripe avocado, peeled, seeded and diced
1/4 c. finely chopped jicama
2 T. chopped green onion
1 T. minced cilantro
1/2 T. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. olive oil
pinch of salt
Tacos
1 T. olive oil
2 T. finely chopped red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T. chipotle puree *
2 medium vine-ripened tomatoes, cored, seeded and diced
2 green onions, finely chopped
3 c. coarsely shredded roasted chicken breast
Salt and pepper to taste
8 small corn tortillas
Relish: in a large mixing bowl, combine the avocado, jicama, onion, and cilantro. Add red wine vinegar and slowly drizzle in the oil until well combined. Add salt to taste. Cover, pressing plastic wrap firmly on the surface of the relish and refrigerate until use.
Tacos: Heat a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and onion to the pan; cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, then stir in the chipotle puree and tomatoes. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until most of the liquid from the tomatoes has evaporated and the mixture begins to thicken. Add the green onions and chicken and mix well; cook until the chicken is heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste and remove from heat.
In a separate small frying pan on medium-high heat, heat tortillas for about 15 seconds on each side. (They should be just barely crispy but not stiff.)
Spoon one-eighth of the chicken mixture into each tortilla and top with avocado relish.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
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Be still, my heart! Two of my very favorite things will be front and center at the 2nd Annual Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Fest in Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 23-25, 2012, at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Just in case more than 75 vendors of coffee and chocolate were not enough, the Chocolate and Coffee Fest also includes baking contests, cooking demos, chocolate eating (!), and live entertainment.
It starts off with an adults-only "Alien Tequila After Dark Chocolate Party" on Friday evening ($20 per person) from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. You can visit the vendor booths and enjoy the live entertainment beginning at 8:00 p.m.
Everyone is welcome on Saturday (10-7:00) and Sunday (10-6:00). Click here for details on times and ticket prices for seniors, kids, etc.
Parking is available in the parking garage under the Convention Center, as well as at meters on the street and surface lots in the area.
2nd Annual Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Fest
Albuquerque Convention Center
401 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico
(505) 768-4575
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
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Ellen Gutman Chenaux from Birchwood Inn, one of the Bed and Breakfast Foodies, graciously shared this recipe for Outrageous Orange French Toast some time ago, and it has become a breakfast favorite at the Bottger Mansion of Old Town. Our only observation is that the Grand Marnier is a must--not optional!
Outrageous Orange French Toast
Ellen Gutman Chenaux, Birchwood Inn
Serves 6
6 eggs
1 c. orange juice (or 2/3 cup juice and 1/3 c. Grand Marnier)
1/3 c. milk or cream
1/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
rind of one orange, finely grated
9 slices of challah (egg bread), 1 inch thick, and cut each slice into two triangles
butter
powdered sugar
orange slices
maple syrup
Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the juice (and Grand Marnier), milk or cream, sugar, vanilla, salt, and orange rind. Mix well. Dip the bread in the egg mixture, turning to coat both sides. Melt the butter in a large skillet or on a grill on medium heat. Cook through, browning both sides. Place three triangles per person, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and garnish with orange slices.
Serve with maple syrup (the real stuff!)
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
follow us on Facebook
As much as we love chocolate, some of our guests can't eat chocolate and variety is a good thing. Some guests gave us a package of dried cherries from Wisconsin, so I created this recipe for Cherry Chip Cookies. As always, they're pretty easy and the dough freezes well. Click here for a printer-friendly pdf version.
Cherry Chip Cookies
Bottger Mansion of Old Town Bed & Breakfast
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Makes 28 cookies
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. softened butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. uncooked rolled oats
1/2 c. coconut flakes, toasted
1/2 c. white chocolate chips
1/2 c. coarsely chopped dried cherries
1/2 c. coarsely toasted almonds, chopped
Cream butter with sugars; mix in egg, almond extract and vanilla. Add flour and salt; mix in oats, coconut, white chocolate chips, cherries and almonds.
Use a #40 scoop (or measure 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into a ball for each cookie). Squash cookies flat (they will not spread during baking) and bake at 375F for 14 minutes.
To freeze: line baking sheet with parchment and put cookie dough balls close together; squash them flat and freeze them until they're hard. Remove from baking sheet and store in a gallon ziplock freezer bag.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
follow us on Facebook
Los Caprichos, an 80-print exhibit by Francisco Goya, is showing at the Albuquerque Museum of Art & History through May 13, 2012.While the artwork itself is fascinating, even more stunning is the commentary that accompanies and somewhat explains each print.
As stated by the exhibit's curator, Robert Flynn Johnson, "... the imagery unleashed in the unrelentingly dark and cynical series of Los Caprichos continues to provoke and disturb our contemporary consciousness--even after two centuries! That is the essence of great art, to endure, and to continue to have relevance."
Albuquerque Museum of Art & History
2000 Mountain Road NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104
(505) 243-7255
www.cabq.gov/museum
open Tuesday through Sunday, 9:00-5:00
admission $4 with special rates for seniors, children and New Mexico residents; free to New Mexico residents on Sunday until 1:00 p.m.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Townhistoric bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.comfollow us on Facebook
Restaurant Week is happening all over the country. New York City has just finished their 20th year! Albuquerque Restaurant Week will be March 18-25, 2012. Now's your chance to try some fantastic restaurants, maybe some of them new to you, for a fixed price.
This year we want to try Zacatecas Tacos and Tequila. For $29 per person, we'll have Tarascan Soup (roasted tomatoes, guajillo chiles in a rich broth, garnished with crispy tortilla strips, cotija cheese and pico de gallo), Pepita Crusted Pork Loin (poblano pozole, manchamantel sauce and peach habanero marmalade), and Pastel Tres Leches (sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, whipped cream, toasted almonds).
Every restaurant presents their offerings a little differently. Some give a choice of three or four entrees, some have additional courses of soup or salad, some may include a glass of wine or any soft beverage. There's a wide range of menus and prices, so there's something for everyone.
Restaurant Week in other parts of New Mexico: Santa Fe--March 4-11, Taos--March 25-April 1, and Las Cruces--March 11-18. If you don't live in New Mexico, check for Restaurant Week in a city near you.
I’m having fun--come on along!
Kathy
Bottger Mansion of Old Town
historic bed & breakfast
110 San Felipe Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87104
www.bottger.com
follow us on Facebook
