Howdy, pals and fellow residence cooks!
That is my weekly publication, which incorporates 7 weeknight meals + 3 wholesome salads (for the week of September 23-29, 2024) + 3 new posts revealed within the final 7 days!
On the backside of this article, I am sharing some wonderful pictures 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 need to use 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 revealed 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)
Prime feedback of final week!
I’m so fortunate to obtain so many form, candy, and heartfelt feedback about my recipes—it significantly makes my day! I even screenshot them and add them to my “Affirmations” folder on my iPhone (sure, it’s a factor, no less than for me!). Now, I’ve determined to begin sharing my high 3-5 most encouraging and uplifting feedback from the earlier week in my publication. Unfold the love!
From Deirdre on my Fb web page:
“Julia’s Album, I’ve to shout out a Thank You to you!! I’ve been battling quite a few well being and surgical points and these recipes not solely give me pleasure to make however my surgeon and oncologist are so completely satisfied that I’m attempting to remain as wholesome as doable in between surgical procedures. It’s all due to your scrumptious and wholesome meals!!!
😀😷😷🙏🙏🙏”
From Claudia on my weblog:
“Hello Julia! you’re fantastic! thanks for sharing your ardour about meals! that is nice….. blessings. as we speak, my husband and I are following your creamy shrimp and mushrooms pasta recipe.
Cheers!!”
From Fran on Fb:
“Your recipes are ridiculously scrumptious. You’re like a meals savant! My sister and I are nuts about all the things we’ve cooked of yours. Pics are fabulous!”
From Kristine on Fb:
“Love the mountain climbing pics! We’ve got been having fun with numerous “Julia dinners” this week. Sustain the nice work! You might be so beloved and appreciated at our home!”
An enormous shout-out and THANK YOU to everybody who leaves feedback on my web site! Your suggestions and recipe evaluations are all the things—they maintain me motivated and stop me from feeling like I am simply tossing recipes right into a culinary black gap!
Mountaineering Columbine Lake close to Silverton and Ouray in Southwest Colorado
Let me let you know about one other certainly 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 stable 2,340 toes of elevation achieve over 3.5 miles one approach 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 situated 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 certainly one of Colorado’s hidden gems—not as well-known, however completely beautiful. You begin by tackling a steep path by the dense forest, then break by the tree line into breathtaking alpine meadows, and eventually, 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 crushed path, and it is advisable to be in fine condition and acclimated to the altitude to essentially get pleasure from it. We barely noticed a soul on the path—possibly three folks whole—which was a part of the attraction. If you happen to’re an skilled hiker, that is an unforgettable journey. However for an informal hiker? In all probability not your best option.
Listed below are some pictures 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 a spruce-fir forest, and let me let you know, it wastes no time getting your legs burning! You’ll be gaining elevation quick. However when you energy by 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 course of the basin, and we discovered ourselves climbing by rocky meadows. We needed to hike throughout scree slopes and piles, which might really feel like navigating a large slide made from rocks. It’s a must to watch out, concentrate, and put on the correct sneakers.
And there’s Kevin, standing on the fringe of the abyss—in all probability pondering whether or not he’s courageous or simply barely loopy!
In spite of everything that mountain climbing and climbing, we have been lastly rewarded with a surprising view of Columbine Lake at 12,690 toes! It’s undoubtedly above the tree line—no bushes wherever in sight! Simply pure mountain glory!
Columbine Lake is ready 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 have been falling throughout me at one level. Undecided what it was – rain and wind or an offended squirrel.
We had numerous rain (once more!) on our manner 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 big slippery rocks and so long as there aren’t any bolts of lightning.
At this level, we have been virtually carried out 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 cute child calf. The opposite two have been “enjoying hide-and-seek” behind the bushes and bushes, coming out once in a while.
Life may be so unhappy and I feel it is essential to concentrate on constructive issues we have now and issues we will nonetheless get pleasure from.
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 mountain climbing as of late, lol!) Or, inform me for those who’re planning to strive any of my recipes, it is a meal plan, in any case! 😍🥰
