Happy hump day everyone! Hope your week is going well. I’ve got such a delicious recipe for you that my entire family loves. It’s meatless, gluten free, grain free and super great for you. This time of year we see winter squash everywhere. It’s one of the tastiest things about fall. One of our favorites is spaghetti squash. It’s a way lighter and smart alternative to pasta and you can flavor it in so many ways. This simple preparation with roasted tomatoes and garlic is heavenly. The best news is you can have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes.
If your wanderlust spirit is calling out to you then I suggest you add Provence, France to your bucket list! Â I just ventured there & enjoyed countless memorable experiences. With so many awesome travel options these days and heaps on all of our bucket lists it can be hard to hone in on where to go next. For me, there are always a few things I consider first: food, adventure, and luxury. I hit the jackpot on all of these with my Provence to the French Riviera Backroads tour.
This epic travel company nailed it on every detail possible. We stayed at 3 properties on the weeklong trip and I couldn’t resist sharing the Château de Berne first! It was nice to have this renowned brand do all the planning. All I had to do was pedal from each remarkable town to the next. If you love wine tasting and wish to experience five stars at it’s finest then this property is for you!
I am a huge fan of Relais & Chateaux properties. They offer unique boutique hotel experiences in unforgettable locations. Each location & hotel style is authentic to its surroundings. The service and food are always exceptional. No two properties are alike in their portfolio, it’s the attention to details at each one that swoons.
For an example of how diverse the properties are, check out my post on The Home Ranch in Clark, Colorado. In that article, you’ll see the amazing contrast in styles.
Location
The 18th-century Château de Berne is located on a 1235 acre forest & vineyard estate in the Var hinterlands. It’s located between the villages of Lorgues and Flays in Provence, France.  You enter the property via a small country lane & when you get inside you are surrounded by vineyards and beautiful views. You can smell the grapes, flowers, and trees as you walk around. The Château is both secluded and full of life, this is a place to slow down and unwind. Provence is a very fertile, sun-drenched part of France, that’s why the grapes and so much produce is grown there.
There are 27 spacious rooms at the Château. I felt like a princess in my large 2nd-floor room that had a beautiful view of the gardens and patio. I enjoyed time soaking in the Provençal sun on my balcony. The room design is clean, comfortable french country style. My king bed was completely luxurious & I didn’t want to leave to get up early to pedal my bike. I did enjoy some extra time relaxing my muscles in the soaking tub.
Service
Hotels earn the prestige of five-star and Relais & Châteaux properties for a reason: the service is attentive, mindful and thinks of all your needs before you do. Bringing a pet? Don’t worry, your dog or cat will be pampered just like you are. I wish I could have brought my hounds there! Pets would love the access to plenty of room to run around. If you are out on a hike, bike trip or shopping excursion in Aix en Provence (a post on that coming soon) they have daily pet sitting services so your sweets will be kept company.
For dining there are a few options, each taking advantage of seasonal, local produce. Options include Le Jardin de Benjamin (a Michelin star restaurant), the Bistrot in the cellar (a bit more casual), the Table de Chef (you in the kitchen watching the Chefs)Â or test your skills with hands-on learning at the cooking school. Â Chef Benjamin Collomba and his team create all kinds of magic in their kitchen and we savored quite the gamut, paired with the domain’s wines of course!
Pool & Spa
When at a property like this, it’s essential to relax by the pool and visit the spa. As soon as I checked in I went exploring and stumbled on the pool. A place I will never forget! The weather was warm and the pool very inviting after riding 35 miles.
The outdoor infinity pool is gorgeous with lots of comfy loungers that beckon you to unwind. The views of the olive trees and the vineyards add so much to the overall experience. The spa indoors is exactly what anyone would want for the ultimate in relaxation. The design is modern meets traditional and very well appointed with an indoor pool, two jacuzzis, sauna, steam room, sun lounge, and relaxation space with a herbal tea room and fitness gym. There is a complete list spa services, each inspired by techniques found around the world. I wished I could try them all!
Contact
The hotel is in the countryside of beautiful Provence, France. They offer standard night rates and wonderful packages too. I would love to try all of them! Try to book at least 3 days so you have time to chill, unwind and enjoy as much as possible.
Pumpkin Sugar Cookies with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
Are you tempted to jump through the screen for these cookies? I promise you right now…these are the epitome of fall baking. Soft pumpkin sugar cookies with the most delicious maple cream cheese frosting. Your house will smell ahhhhmazing as they bake. If you are gonna go for some calories, why not make them worth it. With these cookies!
How to Easily Peel and Cut a Butternut (or any!) Winter Squash
It’s that time of the year when the markets are overflowing with all kinds of beautiful winter squash including pumpkins, butternut, acorn, spaghetti, etc. Over here, we love these cold weather, thick skinned veggies & I know many of you do too. Winter squash is very different than summer squash (zucchini) in that the skin is hard, thick and not what you want to eat. It’s essential to peel them and your recipes will ask for them to be cut in a certain way.
They big question that so many folks ask is: How do I peel and cut a Butternut (or any winter) squash without chopping off my fingers?! The answer is it’s way easier than you would ever think & I’m going to show you how! When I learned this technique a few years ago it meant that we could enjoy squash any time we wanted it. It also prevent me from purchasing pre cut squash at the store, it really has no flavor.
Here’s all you need to know to make peeling and cutting into a squash a no brainer (and you won’t cut your fingers off!)
Step 1: Pierce several holes with a sharp knife or fork all around your squash. This will prevent it from exploding in your microwave.
Step 2: Microwave butternut squash, on the high setting for 4- 5 minutes. More thick skinned squashes will take more time, add time as needed. Skin will be soft to the touch when it’s ready to be cut. Remove from the microwave and let cool a few minutes. This will make the skin and flesh just soft enough to safely and easily peel and cut.
Step 3: With a sharp knife trim off the ends of your squash. I always keep a kitchen towel underneath the squash to anchor it. They are very roly poly.
Step 4: With a sharp knife or a peeler (I prefer the knife) trim the skin off the fleshy part. Discard the ends and skin.
Step 5: Cut the squash into rounds. Remove the seeds with a paring knife. You can scrap them out or cut around them and push out the middle portion. You can keep the round shape or cut into cubes.
Step 6: Now you can cook your squash according to your recipe. I will be sharing plenty of delicious squash recipes with you in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for those!
It’s that time of the year when the temps dip and we crave warmer foods such as soups. This Avgolemono Soup: Greek Egg, Lemon & Chicken Soup is one of my all time favorite recipes. It’s got so much flavor, lots of protein and orzo pasta to keep your belly full longer. If you wish to make this gluten free then simply use quinoa or rice instead of the pasta. That would be a great swap and you wouldn’t miss out on all the tasty fun.
The countdown to powder ski days is officially on! It’s the time of year to start thinking about your next ski vacation. We just got a few inches of freshies in Telluride, CO & I’ve seen photos of snow in the Alps too. For those of us powder hounds & snow angels this means everything. If you have been dreaming about an alpine vacation in Austria, then basing out of St. Anton in the Tyrolean Alps just might be the dream trip for you.
Put a pin on your world map and start planning. Did you know that the Alps are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe? This means they are vast and there is a spot on those ski hills with your name on it! St. Anton is connected via a vast lift system to the greater Arlberg area including Stuben and Lech. I stayed a few days in those areas too, but you can certainly base camp out of one of these towns and enjoy the entire Arlberg resort. I recommend at least a week-long visit to tour around. Staying in St. Christoph and Oberlech are also fabulous options I would highly recommend. Being the home of skiing as we know it, this area is well worth as long a stay as possible.
If you’ve always wanted to see charming Tyrolean architecture, beautiful chalets, guys in Lederhosen and girls in Dirndls then you will be in the right spot. If you want, you can wear this traditional dress as well. I love mine! It was generously given to me by my new Austrian friend Wilma…we enjoyed a girl’s night out together at the Museum Restaurant sipping heavenly wine, eating gorgeous alpine inspired cuisine and wearing our dirndls.
I was invited to stay at the Hotel Schwarzer Adler, a beautiful, classic 4-star property. I had one of the rooms that had recently been remodeled. It was spacious and very comfortable. I love the modern design with pine walls and contemporary furnishings. The common rooms in the hotel are more classic & traditional Tyrolean style, which is a nice twist. It seems that the hotel is remodeling in stages as the website photos images seem sparkly new.
The wellness center is roomy and beautiful with 3 floors space to spread out. There are two pools, indoor and outdoor. Make your way to the Sky Pool as soon as you get there, it’s heated, perched with great views and wonderful to soak in all weather. It looks like the hotel just renovated the entire wellness center, so do check out their website, it looks gorgeous! There are energy rooms, relaxation areas, plentiful spa services to offer guests the ultimate wellness retreat.
The shopping in St. Anton is very fun and sporty. It’s super easy to get around and also fun to stop at cafes and bars along the way. You will not find the usual array of luxury boutiques here, but there are some local favorites, especially if you are looking for ski clothes. The super fancy boutiques are just a car ride or ski tour away in Lech. My favorite place to buy ski clothes and streetwear in town was Jennewein with brands like designer Rossignol, Parajumpers and Goldbergh. Also, check out Alber Sport and Intersport.
Eat
The food in the Arlberg is traditional Austrian country comfort food. It’s important to take in a lot of calories when you have been skiing hard all day. Traditional Austrian foods are Bergkäse cheese & all kinds of high alpine farmhouse cheeses (they are delicious!), apple strudel, Sacher Tortes. Don’t worry if you can’t get to Austria just yet, all of these recipes and many more will be featured in my upcoming cookbook!
I also recommend for a very romantic evening, the restaurant in the hotel I stayed in the Schwartzer Adler. Their menu includes gorgeous plates paired with the finest wines. I enjoyed their 5-course menu which is the way to go if you want a memorable evening. If going this route, be sure to spend a few hours enjoying and relaxing into the cuisine. Their breakfasts are epic as well. There is so much to choose from, perfect to prep for a long day on the slopes.
A few restaurants I recommend you try for the true Austrian experience: Sonnbichel Stube (inside the Das Sonnbichl hotel), The Museum Restaurant (inside the History Museum, do also take the time to tour this place to learn about the history of skiing)
Don’t miss: Ski over to St. Christophe for a few hours and take a long lunch at Hospitz Alm. I went there two days in a row I loved it so much. The menu is amazing (mostly traditional Austrian) and the service is super friendly (very handsome!) and dressed in traditional Alps clothing. You can go for lunch, drinks or dinner. On sunny days sitting outdoors is the way to go, the views of the Alps and charming St. Christophe are amazing. I discovered one of my all-time favorite pasta dishes while here, called Krautfleckerl, this is a traditional noodle dish with caramelized onions, cabbage and lot of butter.
If you are a wine lover, then the Hospital Alm is without a doubt a stop for you! Their wine cellar located below the restaurant is among the largest in the world and they take great pride in the vintages they have collected throughout the years. Here’s a short video I made of our tour inside. You don’t want to miss this!
The party scene in St. Anton is HUGE. There are many places you can find a party both on and off-piste. All you need to do is stroll around the village and you will find so many bars to suit any style. I love the hotel bars which are elegant and a bit more chill when all I want to do is relax.
Another fun event to check out is the “Schneetreiben” Ski Show held on Wednesday nights. It’s super festive, like July 4th with fireworks galore, except on the ski slopes. Here you will learn about the history of skiing and watch some of the best skiers in the region show off their skills.
Ski
As I talk about in these two posts Stuben and Lech the skiing in the Arlberg is world famous for so many reasons. If it’s your first day out on the slopes I highly recommend you hire a ski guide. They will answer all your questions and help to unravel the vast ski terrain options. This resort is way larger than what you find in the USA, so don’t be shy about hiring a guide for at least a day. If you are turing the backcountry then it is very important to take a guide. They will show you the in’s and outs of the Alps backcountry.
I had a great guide from Stanton Classic. There are many tour operators in the region, find the one that best suits the terrain you wish to ski. My greatest advice when choosing a ski guide is very honest about your ski level. You don’t want to end up bored and you certainly don’t want to end up somewhere you are too scared to get down. If you want to be in a group, make sure they speak English.
Unlike the American resorts, most of the Alps skiing is above tree line, this means you can lose all visibility quickly when a storm comes in. The best thing to do is not panic and try to get below the fog layer. If you are near a ski hut you can wait out the storm there. It’s always fun to have some cake and coffee watching the storm roll through. Remember in the mountains storms can blow in and out quickly, but do check the weather before you leave your hotel.
For more information about the area check out the St. Anton website. Also follow them on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter for timely updates.
Chicken wings have always been a favorite of mine…a beckoning source of calories after a late night out on the town back at Syracuse University. My friends and I would order a feast of wings from a place called Sal’s Birdland and dive into them with fierce ambition. Smothering mine in blue cheese and chomping away until sleep beckoned.
These days I prefer my chicken wings at a way earlier hour (like happy hour) and I love gourmet flavor twists. I bet you will love the flavors in my Baked Honey Harissa Chicken Wings. Harissa is a fragrant North African spice blend that you can find in a paste or powder. I use the powder in this recipe, but either would offer delicious results. You can find this spice at most markets and definitely at Middle Eastern specialty stores. You can also whip up my Harissa Yogurt Sauce, a cooling dip that compliments these wings perfectly.
This has got to be one of our all-time favorite muffin recipes. Chocolate lovers you will be pleasantly surprised with these Double Chocolate Buttermilk Muffins. My 10-year-old son was beaming from ear to ear when he bit into one of these.
A lot of people ask “why add the buttermilk” and “please don’t hesitate to add it” is always my answer. It imparts a texture to baked goods like nothing else. It helps to add lightness and tenderness to the crumb. Making you hungry yet? Go ahead and bake up a batch of these beauties. They take no time at all.
There is something so completely amazing about a creamy alfredo sauce. This Salmon Fettuccine Alfredo is comfort food at it’s finest. No need to go to the Italian restaurant for this classic dish when it’s at the ready in under 30 minutes right in your very own home. All of your Italian cooking dreams just came true. Indulge in this cream sauce with parmesan, shallots, garlic and white wine. Add the salmon and you have a full meal. It’s amazing how much better sauces taste when you do add a splash of wine to them. It gives them that gourmet taste with no effort at all.
Calling all ice cream lovers: this Plum Ginger Semifreddo is such a delicious dessert and super easy to make at home. Ribbons of homemade plum ginger sauce run through a rich, creamy vanilla ice cream.
Have you noticed all the beautiful plums in the markets lately? I sure have! Where I live in Telluride they are mostly red and purple fleshed. Here in France (where I’m visiting now) there are shades of yellow, green and of course plum! If you’ve never made a semifreddo now is your chance. It’s a delicious ice cream recipe that requires no ice cream maker. It is handy to have a stand mixer but a hand mixer works just fine too. In case you have neither you can take some extra time and muscle to whisk the ingredients by hand.
Isn’t the color of this just gorgeous?! You can drizzle extra sauce over the top or not before serving. You can also scoop the semifreddo out of the baking mold or tip it our and slice.
It’s always fun to take a road trip. One that’s not too far from home. Just far enough to feel like you are going somewhere…but not so far that your sore from being on the road all day. I’ve been hearing about Gateway Canyons Resort for some time now and was eager to make the trek. This land of natural beauty is located not too far from my home in Telluride, Colorado. Thanks to my friend Natalie, Gateway was where she chose to celebrate her birthday with all of us. It was my time to pack up the car & explore. Breaks come when you need them & this was a welcomed one.
A group of us packed our bags and wanderlust spirits and made our trek out to Gateway from our high mountain town Telluride.
The drive from Telluride to Gateway is roughly 2.5 hours. Surrounded by National Parks and wide open roads, the views along the way are epic. If you love taking photos like I do than leave some time for pit stops along the way, such as this old Mobil station that was converted into a diner.
Once you arrive at the resort you have entered into another land. Giant red rocks surround you in all directions. The grass, cactus & landscape glows in technicolor green, with plenty of areas to run like the wind. The blues from the sky and the pool dance against the other colors in this brightly hued palette.
My experience at Gateway was blissful, relaxing and the ultimate retreat. As you can see from my photos you become small in comparison, yet empowered surrounded by all this nature.
The resort is secluded in one of the most beautiful parts of the USA, but offers many activities to suit all styles. Some options include helicopter air tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, skeet shooting, yoga and more. They have all the gear, so you can travel that much lighter. You can be as rugged or chill as you wish. I always love a combo of both. After adventurous activity you can jump over to the spa for head to toe relaxation.
There are many choices for delicious dining when on the property. From poolside casual at Cantina to more elegant at Estrada. There are also a few lodging options, I stayed in a suite, a super comfy and grand scale room that was decadent for just me and is perfect for a couple. There are also casitas which are beautiful and super luxe if you have a few more people or want to throw a little red rocks soiree. The southwestern decor is rustic and very comfortable.
A great surprise is the classic car museum that is located on the property. Even if a giant vintage car collection isn’t your thing…go inside. It’s a walk through history, the cars are impeccable and the entire collection is eye candy. You will dream of touring the canyon roads in one of these beauties. Speaking of which, Gateway has a luxury car collection that you can tour around the canyon lands in. They call this Driven Experiences, where you can drive around in your dream car for the day.
Gateway is a destination worth checking out for a family, girl’s trip, guys trip or romantic getaway. There is plenty of room to spread out, so you don’t feel like your tranquility is at risk of the other guests. Blissful indeed.
Contact the resort here for more info & to book your special red rocks adventure in the heart of the Colorado wild west.
This skillet dinner is absolutely perfect for this time of the year. My One Pot Lemon Pepper Chicken and Rice recipe will see you through fall, winter and likely the rest of the year. It easily feeds a family, tastes amazing and is very budget friendly too. I added mushrooms to ours, you can add in your favorite veggies too. Red pepper, green beans, spinach…the list goes on and on. Enjoy as it is or customize to suit what fresh veg you might have on hand. Hopefully, you have a large cast iron skillet in your arsenal. If not, it might be time to order one. They are not expensive and act as another set of hands in the kitchen. If you don’t have one yet, you can also use a heavy bottomed skillet or Dutch oven.
