In 2022, I completed an extensive culinary writing project, the Food ELEVATED cookbook – 100 recipes for Colorful Cooking from the Colorado Front Range. Although started in 2018, in 2020, as with many creative projects, it became a pandemic project.
To complete this wonderful exploration of Colorado, the cookbook received a Gold Medal from the Colorado Independent Book Publishers EVVY awards in August 2022.
What Was the Inspiration for Food ELEVATED?
Wow, there are so many things that inspired me but for the most part, I received inspiration from the many small farmers and food creators who bring goodness to Northern Colorado. There are multitudes of weekly markets, big and small, pop-up, urban, city, and county markets to choose beautiful year-round produce to eat in season. It is truly magical but I know there is an incredible amount of work that goes into farming and producing luscious produce for us to enjoy.
What This Cookbook Is:
1) Part recipe book – what do I do with that parsnip?
2) Part history book – Let’s appreciate the agricultural history of the area and everyone who is currently working hard to create a sustainable and regenerative food environment.
3) Part virtual visit to Northern Colorado, the Front Range, and a bit of the Western Slope– 500 plus images and stories. Walk with me through our gardens and markets, and meet 35+ unique local vendors!
4) Eat local – How about those autumn apples, May asparagus, and 15 or more kinds of garlic?
Is it vegetarian? Yes.
Is it primarily plant-based, plant-rich, Mediterranean, Blue Zone, or more? Yes. I am not recommending any single lifestyle or eating pattern except, let’s just eat more veg, fruit, and grain!
Is it accessible and approachable for those who enjoy meat and dairy? Absolutely!
This book is not the definitive cookbook about Northern Colorado cuisine or recipes. It is a touchstone so visitors reading this book can get a feel for the beauty of the area, the difficulties in raising fruits, grains, and vegetables in soil that can look like caliche or sand, has a very short growing season, droughts, fires and yes, perhaps even a flood.
Food ELEVATED Cookbook SNEAK PEEK!!
What is Front Range Cuisine? 
In my humble opinion, Colorado does not have a “cuisine” per se. It is an amalgamation of a bit New Mexico from the chilies and other culinary specialties and Hispanic/Native American influence, the Denver omelet, meat from the cattle and lamb industry, a bit of German and Russian, and the other new international culinary cuisines brought to this area. Colorado is privy to some of the most beautiful farmer’s markets and CSA bounties across the state, at different elevations and terroir.
Over the last 10 years, Colorado has experienced more diversity in its population and with that comes diversity in dining. Coming from Houston, which is one of the most diverse cities in the United States, it’s now a pleasure to see Ethiopian, Afghanistan, Tibetan, and Lebanese delicacies in Fort Collins and other Northern Colorado communities. From special roast coffee to toum, we are experiencing more interesting, international cuisines.
So, how did I write about NoCo Cuisine?
Freshness. Availability (in season). For this book, primarily Colorado fruits, grains, and vegetables. Home chefs may choose to add some wonderful responsibly raised meat or fish as a side to anything in this cookbook. Sharing cultures that have come to Northern Colorado including the German Russians from the sugar beet era and new immigrants. Technique. Interesting but simple. A bit out of the ordinary. Simple. Easy for the home cook for an easy meal. In that order – again, if possible. Probably not. :-)
How Can You Get Your Copy of Food ELEVATED?
The book is published through Ingram Spark Publishing, thus it is available online through all major online booksellers such as Amazon, BooksAMillion, Powells, and BarnesandNoble. Through Ingram Spark, it is also available to 30,000 bookstores around the world so please check with your favorite bookstore near you! If you want a signed copy as a gift, check out my store and order your signed copy! Shipping is available!
Want more cooking ideas for eating less meat? Want to eat more plants? Let’s do it!
LEARN ABOUT AND ENJOY THESE OTHER PLANT-BASED FOCUSED PRODUCTS IN MY STORE!
RATHER ORDER AND SHIP? TOTALLY COOL!
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO WORKBOOKS and COOKBOOKS ALSO AVAILABLE ON MY AUTHOR PAGE ON AMAZON!
