With their fourth cookbook, the Denver Junior League has gone off the deep end. I own and use regularly their first three books, so it was natural for me to buy this one as soon as it came out. Alas! They've lost touch with their audience. There are too many recipes with ingredients difficult to find outside of large urban areas. And why so much focus on seafood from a group in the Rockies? Seems as if the good ladies are trying too hard to identify with the San Francisco "nouvelle" cooking crowd. This book is going into my rummage sale box.

COLORADO COLORE:
A Palate of Tastes

An inspiring collection from
The Junior League of
Denver

This colorful cookbook is an inspired collection of recipes, menus and entertaining tips from The Junior League of Denver. The entire League has a long history of showcasing local foods in recipes they test vigorously.

Compiled to compliment the "dazzling magnificence of our colorful state," Colorado Calore delivers a savory enhancement to the state's fiery Colorado sunsets -- to its magnificent Rocky Mountains. Over 2,500 recipes were considered before focusing on the book's 300 surviving recipes. From chile peppers to sugar beets, wheat to beef, these recipes represent the vast agricultural abundance that is Colorado. Below is a short description of only a few recipes in the book:

§ Figs with Prosciutto blend with crème fraiche and mint to become a tasty appetizer.

§ Papaya Salsa with peppers, onion, lime, cilantro pineapple juice and tequila make Won Ton Chips sizzle.

§ Mediterranean Salsa with artichoke hearts, tomatoes, black olives, onion, garlic and savory seasonings

§ Indian Waldorf Salad of Granny Smiths, celery, onion, lime juice, almonds, and curry powder.

§ Baked Goat Cheese rolled in flour, dipped in beaten egg and dredged in bread crumbs.

§ Spinach and Berries Salad with dill, plus almonds, butterhead lettuce, green onions strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

§ Parmesan Sesame Biscuits made with buttermilk and cayenne pepper

§ Strawberry Patch Soup made with sour cream, whipping cream, burgundy, seltzer water and mint leaves

§ Sweet Potato Hash Browns with sweet onion and fresh parsley

§ Roasted Asparagus and Portobello Mushrooms, cooked with the magic of walnut oil, balsamic vinegar and herbes de Provence

§ Tuscan Green Beans, made savory with rosemary and garlic

§ Roasted Red Potatoes with Artichokes, onion, thyme and crumbled feta cheese.

§ Couscous made with parsley, green onions, almonds, currants and green peas.

§ Green (Spanish) Olive Enchiladas complete with onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder, semisweet chocolate and Monterey Jack cheese

§ Roasted Turkey Breast with Sage Corn Bread Crust of crumbled sweet cornbread, fresh sage and Dijon mustard

§ Cranberry Salsa Sorbet made from whole cranberry sauce, a jalapeno chili pepper, celantro and fresh lime

§ Pork with Dried Plums includes sherry cooking wine vinegar, garlic, rosemary, crushed red pepper and escarole.

§ Roasted Red Pepper Sauce made from bell peppers, roasted red peppers, slivered almonds, red wine vinegar and tomato paste.

§ Mint and Scallion Soba Noodles, a simple dish with rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and mint.

§ Chocolate Valencia Pie made from semisweet chocolate chips, cream cheese, orange zest and whipping cream.

§ Colorado Ranch Cookies are made with brown sugar, rolled oats, dried cranberries, shredded coconut and sliced almonds.

Review written by Marty Martindale

This cookbook is not filled with ingredients that you've never heard of or know you'll never be able to find at your local grocery store. You can not go wrong with cooking any of the meals in Colorado Colore. It is filled with simple recipes that are full of flavor without adding to the ingredients. I highly recommend this cookbook to those intimidated by cooking and to those who love it.

Boringest book you'll read in your life....how horifiying this.. book is.

Have you ever survived a blizzard? Survival Blizzard, written by K. Duey and K. A. Bale, takes place in Estes Park, Colorado in 1886. Things were going well for a poor but smart girl, named Maggie. Hadyn, a rich, selfish boy, is really a spoiled brat. The problem Hadyn faces is that he wants to go home, because he doesn't like living on the ranch with Maggie. Hadyn's big opportunity to move finally comes when his aunt and uncle have to go to the hospital. Of course, he takes the opportunity and leaves the ranch. He also leaves Maggie worried.
Maggie finds out that her spoiled, rich cousin never made it to the train station. She feels she has to go rescue Hadyn, who was stranded in a
blizzard. Where could he be? Will Hadyn be alive? Even if she finds Hadyn, will he want to go with Maggie? Just imagine two kids in the face of disaster, who find the courage and determination that they never dreamed they possessed.
....

When Maggie's father, a rancher in 1886 Colorado, is injured, Maggie's mother takes him to town to see a doctor. That leaves Maggie alone with her spoiled city cousin, Hadyn, who is visting Colorado as a punishment for being expelled from school. Hadyn and Maggie have a fight, and Hadyn runs away, determined to find the train station. When Maggie learns Hadyn never made it to town, in spite of hating him, she sets out to find him in the wilderness. But a blizzard descends upon the mountains, trapping Hadyn and Maggie in a harsh and unforgiving wilderness. If they are going to survive and find their way home, Hadyn and Maggie have to work together. This was an excellant survival story in a historical setting.

Climb or Die
By Edward Myers
Reviewed by: J. Soon
Period: 6

During their vacation, the Darcy family drive up a lonely mountain road. Then a Blizzard comes in, making their car slide off the road and slam into a tree, injuring both parents. But Danielle and her brother Jake are unharmed. Their parents say that they have to find help, and fast. Then Jake has an idea. He says that there is a manned weather station on top of Mount Remington. But, since they don't have any mountain climbing equipment, it is going to be hard. Jake and Danielle then realize that their only hope is to reach the weather station. If they don't, no one can find them both or their parents. This is the ultimate test of survival.
I liked this book because it gave alot of adventure. Like I said in my other reviews, adventure stories are on of my favorite books. My other favorite one is suspense. And it also gave suspense, too. So that is why I rated this book 5 stars. "But the climb got harder, not easier. The cliff grew steeper. The rocks turned slicker. Handholds and footholds beame more difficult to find and less reliable once Danielle found them." I like these entences because they described the hardships Danielle and Jake faced. That's what I like about this book.
I disliked this book because I am not really into mountain climbing. I'm guessing that the author liked mountain climbing alot because of all the vocabulary he knows about it. In this book, there was alot of mountain climbing. It kind of made me frustrated, but in a way, it was exciting. That's what I don't like about this book. "For Danielle and Jake, there is no going back-- ONLY UP.
My favorite part in the book is always when it gives me flashbacks. That's why I picked this certain part. It was when Danielle and Jake started climbing and struggled with it along the way. It reminded me when I was in Las Vegas. There was a place called GameWaorks, where they had tons of games. My dad encouraged me to mountain climb a mini-mountain there, so I tried. In the start, I struggled alot, just like Danielle and Jake. But in the end I made it all the way to the top, just like Danielle and Jake. That's why that is my favorite part in the book.

This was an excellent, well written book about two siblings who must climb a mountain to reach help for their injured parents. In this man versus nature story the Darcys are trying to reach their house in the Rockies during a severe thunderstorm despite all the warnings to stay off the highway. When the car loses control, bashes into a tree, and wounds Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, Jake and Danielle know they must go for help. They decide to climb Mount Remington and get help at the weather station at the summit. Since they have no tools to assist them in climbing the mountain they must improvise using equipment in the back of their car and Danielle's past experiences. There are a few moments of doubt while climbing the mountain but they persist and finally reach the top. If you like adventure/survival stories, you'll love this. There is never a dull moment in this quick paced book.

I really liked the book Climb or Die by Edward Myers. It was about a family that is driving in Colorado and suddenly a blinding blizzard hits. The father is unable to keep the car steady and he slides off the road and whacks into a tree. The parents are badly injured but the children are barely harmed. To get help they must climb Mount Remington where there is a weather station that has contact with the outside world. There are many obstacles that they encounter such as the idea that it is freezing cold out and that they do not have the proper mountain climbing equipment. In the end they do reach the summit and their parents are rescued from the car. This book has a great plot, unique setting and some fascinating characters. I would recommend this book to any reader.

This is one of Diane Mott Davidson's series of culinary mysteries with Goldy the caterer. This one deals with the murder of the valedictorian of the prep school. Goldy discovers him when she is packing up the catering van after a college information night/event. The story focus is on the pressure of getting into the "right" college. The pressure is on the students, their parents and the administrators and teachers. The question is, who will sink to any level to achieve what they believe they deserve. While the storyline was a bit stark for me, the recipes were excellent. The Chinese Beef stir fry, the Biscotti, Red n Whites, and the Galaxy Doughnuts were just a few of the excellent choices. Some of her other books that I really enjoyed were, Main Corpse and Prime Cut, and then Tough Cookie.

I am more of a sci-fi/fantasy fan but I do enjoy a good mystery now and again. I spotted this one in the grocery store and decided to give it a try.

This book, while not great literature....is a fun and entertaining book which doesnt take itself too seriously. Goldy Bear is a caterer who, as in "murder she wrote" seems to have a penchant for getting into trouble. She is also the single mom of a teenaged boy and a survivor of domestic abuse.

In this book, while catering a party at her son's prep school,( her x hubby pays for this extravegance, though he doesnt pay his child support) she finds the body of the class valedictorian. Being the caterer for most of the school's functions, and many of the students parents, she finds herself quickly embroiled in a mystery which seems to be hitting a bit closer to home than she would like.

The book is peppered throughout with actual recipes, punctuating her catering functions. Personally I think it is really neat to have the recipes, and while not being a chef, it has actually gotten me interested in cooking :-)

I am off to buy the rest of her books and next time I am going to save them to pamper myself with. I am going to look up one of the recipes and bake it before i sit down to read and decadently read and munch lol.
what a great way to spend some quality mommy time. (Treat yourself, why not?)

Goldy finds herself in a war in Arch's school. The struggle between parents is over whose senior is the smartest, the most talented and the most well rounded. Many of Goldy's catering assignments in this book end in disaster! Goldy never knows what she is going to find this time around. Will it be a fight, will she be scolded or will there be a dead body?

In "The Cereal Murders" Diane Mott Davidson serves up a hearty meal of murder, jealousy, petty thievery, angst and pranks (which end up getting a few people hurt)! You will be entertained with the activity of many twists and turns in this mystery. As always, Goldy herself is sassy and stubborn.

There are treats involved. A side dish consists of some romance and a marriage proposal that is repeated again and again. How sweet!

D. M. Davidson provides us with 11 very delicious looking recipes in this book. Enjoy!

There is lots of good dog talk here (in fact that's the only thing that got me to finish the book) and the plot is intricate enough, but the tone is just dull. I'm sorry, this writer did a really good job of crafting her story, but there is no joy, no sense of fun, very little suspense and most of the characters are just awful. The only likeable characters are the protagonist, her mother and her boyfriend. What dreary lives they lead, since there are no interesting, funny, fun, smart or charming people for them to have as friends. The book is so workmanlike it was a real chore to finish it. It's really not fair to compare this writer to Susan Conant and Carol Lea Benjamin, since her work is unique, but they each also have a series of novels with a single female canine-loving protagonist who solves murders. The difference is that they are fun. Both Conant's and Benjamin's characters are funny, fascinating, delightful people who get themselves into some difficult scrapes. O'Kane's characters are none of those things. Sorry, I wanted very much to like the book, and I love her dog theme and the constant dog talk.

What a relief to find a dog-lover's mystery without all the voluminous asides of Susan Conant or the occasionally too cutesy Laurien Berenson. (Not that I haven't read and enjoyed both those author's books). Enjoyable dog training information, and the mystery really moves along, with plenty of characters to keep one guessing, especially as negative information about each suspect keeps turning up. Nice characterizations; both the protagonist and her mother are appealing.

There's never a dull moment in dog behaviorist Allida Babcock's neighborhood. First she's called on to help Cassandra and Paul with Suds, the Siberian husky they're fostering, and her pups. Then divorcing couple Edith and Trevor want her to mediate in a custody dispute over their silky terrier, Shogun. Allie subsequently finds Cassandra murdered in Edith's back yard, and Shogun is nowhere to be found. "Ruff Way to Go," like "Play Dead," its predecessor, is an entertaining cozy whodunit that dog lovers will enjoy. The series should appeal especially to those who like Susan Conant's mysteries: Allie's world-view is as dog-centered as Holly Winter's; humor, though more low-key, is much in evidence; and there's an abundance of canine lore, including lots of useful care and training tips.

This book starts with a great, well painted rescue. Most of the remainder of the book then focuses on the egos and personal conflicts of the team and sheriff. "He said this and she said that and I said this." As a member of a busy SAR team, I was amazed at (and saddened by) how poorly the team and Sheriff got along. I also question the pseudo-conclusion that rescue teams will become paid services.

If you are looking for insight into the personal relationships the make up a rescue community, you will like this book.

The falling season is a tough book to review, since I am involved in SAR work, not in Colorado though. First off the author is an excellent writer and keeps the book moving along. He gets into the personalities of the team members and when you do SAR work you realize that it is the interrelationships of the team personal that make or breaks your team. I think Mr. Clifford does a good job in detailing the day to day nuances of the characters in the book.

I also think that he portrays a realistic look at the tensions that arise between the NEEDED paramilitary Sheriffs department and the free-spirited rescuers. The facts are that the SAR Teams are going to become more and more under the direct aegis of the Sheriff departments. That means more liability issues will be raised and in turn more Certifications will be needed to be a member of any SAR team. While this may be a noble objective it also had the direct dilemma of ostracizing the competent members on any SAR team. I have seen it happen, so sometimes the net result is a SAR team will lose some competent people only to be replaced by individuals that have passed the minimum sheriffs department certifications. While technically these individuals are qualified to perform a rescue they are as inept as any mountain neophyte is and in most cases a liability to the team. But this is the wave of the future and a reason why the author sees SAR teams being staffed only by paid people.

One caveat for the any Non SAR person. This book does glamorize the work and makes it seem as non-stop action. I understand that the book has to do this otherwise it would be a bore to read. But real SAR work can be tedious and hard, no limelight, many days spent traipsing through buckthorn or on the side of some rattlesnake-infested ridge. You will come home on many days, dirty and tired, with fresh scrapes on your hands and faces oozing blood, just wondering just why you were assigned to search that area? But in the end it's always worth it.

A biased and straight forward view of the famous Aspen Search and rescue team from one of it's own. The rescues are real accounts, the effects on the rescuers are real, and the thoughts and interactions between the people are real. The book puts you into the shoes of the rescuers and tells the stories and follys of everyday people from the point of view of their heros. We see the struggle, the teamwork, and the impact life as a volunteer rescuer requires. We also view the ignorance and chances that people take in the outdoors. Under the drama of the rescues is also the life and interactions of the people involved. We see their good and bad sides. We are there as they make life and death decisions. We are a part of the team. The Writing itself is not overly fantastic, but the treatment of the subject and the feeling behind the words is at a depth that none but one of their own could have told the story. As a skier and backcountry recreationalist, I especially found the honesty and feelings portrayed as being similar to those I have felt in trying times and when dealing with those who tempt fate. Overall, a compelling story of the way man and nature interact both externally and internally when things have gone horribly wrong.

While this book can be informative at times, it lacks organization, and is inconsistent.

If you're used to other Falcon Guide Trail books, you expect a section on each trail...how to get to the trailhead, difficulty rankings, miles each way, elevation gain, etc, all laid out at the beginning of each trails description. Not in this book. If you're interested in Longs Peak, for example, it gives no details of how to arrive at the trailhead at all. No details on getting there from ANY of the parks campgrounds, of which there are few. It goes into the climb in the style of a travelogue, NOT a trail guide. I was disappointed, and this book will now simply collect dust on my shelf. I want a guide for specific trails, with specific instructions on how to get to the trailhead, with suggestions and tips for each. Maybe I'll write my own, after spending a few weeks there this summer.

Save yourself some cash, and pass up this book.

For anyone hiking in RMNP, this is a good book to have along, but I'd prefer to have a second option, like Malitz's RMNP Dayhiker's Guide. Malitz's book has altiude gain, elevation at destination, distance one way, and which trailhead to use at the beginning of the description of each trail. This book just has a chart in the back. It also is just a little more like a story book than a guide book. Not what I need in the middle of the wilderness. The only pictures are sketches, where Malitz's Dayhiker's Guide has lots of nice color photos, which can take a little of the surprise out of what you're about to see, but do help in location recognition. Dannen's guide is full of info, you just have to read a little more to find it. Both are good companions to have along and to use for preparation, but if I could only carry one I'm afraid this one would stay behind in favor of Malitz's Dayhiker's Guide or the soon-to-be-released Frommer's RMNP 3rd Edition.

This book is a must-have for anyone planning a trip to RMNP. It is by far the most comprehensive trail-guide available, and includes more than adequate reference materials. This book is perfect for the first-timer, the seasoned dayhiker, and the experienced backcountry hiker...I very highly reccomend it.

Brilliantly told, with credible characters (some of whom we've met in Ground Zero) and a fast paced plot. I have to admit that I was a bit lost at one point, hoping that the UFO link was not going to be the explanation and, thank God! it wasn't. But it was an interesting detour.

If you want to read this one, read Ground Zero as well. They are both great thrillers and I can't wait for more.

I found Ground Zero by accident and read it in a day. This one was just as enjoyable! Ramthun's characterizations, dialogue, and plot are believable, enjoyable to read, and exciting. This is just the kind of book I like - plausible plots, returning characters who have substance, and great writing. Once again, I am eagerly awaiting Ramthun's newest addition to this series.

There once was a man who wanted to be President of the United States more than anything else in the world. He became a Senator, but lost when he ran for the top office. Jacob Mitchell does not give up his dream. Instead, he receives an appointment as Director, Ops 12E at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. He now controls a machine that causes earthquakes and successfully tests the device in the Colorado Springs area.

Police Detective Eileen Reed, liaison to the Air Force, visits the base when someone finds one of Mitchell's men dead in an apparent suicide. However, the victim was murdered because he was going to reveal Mitchell's intentions with the earthquake machine. Eileen and her partner investigate the case as if a murder occurred. Soon they start honing in on Mitchell and his diabolical plan.

Anyone who previously read GROUND ZERO, the first Reed tale, will recognize many of the secondary characters returning for a thrill a minute ride. This includes the sexy Joe the boyfriend, Lucy the CIA analyst, and Eileen's partner Dave. They add depth and color, but even more significantly ground the suspense thriller to the believable plot. Bonnie Ramthun provides her fans with a sure shot best seller.

Harriet Klausner

It is rather interesting to see the controversy surrounding Wallace Black Elk and his activities. Although Wallace is a Rosebud medicine man with impeccable credentials, he has become too well known and that means he has broken an unspoken taboo that cannot be forgiven within his community. Many Native Americans, like so many other peoples (indigenous or not) simply cannot tolerate the success of one of their own and are prepared to do anything to bring them down. After all, a true member of the tiospaye is supposed to be self-effacing, humble, generous... and poor.

I cannot be a judge of Black Elk's character. But I know a good thing when I see it. Anyone who has had even remote experience of Lakota healing ceremonies will know immediately that with this book we are given a great gift. The book will be useful to all who want to understand social and ceremonial aspects of Lakota life and the practical manifestation of their worldview and religious practice. God knows that our country and our planet are in need of these teachings. We get highly useful descriptions of major rituals, such as the Kettle Dance, the sweat lodge and the "vision quest"; more importantly, we get an intimate glimpse into a Lakota medicine man's relationship with his spirit helpers and guides and with his sacred pipe (Chanunpa). The book bristles with the reverence for the pipe and with acknowledgement that the medicine man is only a channel ("a hollow bone") for the Spirit. There can be no question about Black Elk's credentials, about the validity and importance of his experiences and his ability to heal people through sacred Lakota ceremonies.

The book is also funny in a way that Lakota themselves can be funny by being at the same time self-deprecatory and self-congratulatory. Black Elk obviously enjoyed the process of describing his experiences; he also inserts a few pages on his encounters with unindentified flying objects and their denizens but I suggest the reader checks this out for herself.

In short, this is a warm, informative and rewarding book that addresses crucial elements of Lakota religious life through the words of an authentic practitioner. It glows with gratitude to Great Spirit, Mother Earth and the Chanunpa. I recommend it.

This book was carefully complied from a great many audio tapes of Grandfather Black Elk talking. The result is remarkably close to sitting near him as he quietly talks directly with you. (And I'd know, I once spent a weekend doing just that.)

Wallace Black Elk invites you to share his feelings about the beliefs of his people and brings you into the rites and ceremonies of his spiritual quest.

Few people make others so generously free with their inner lives. More than a good read, it's an experience!

Those who know Wallace Black Elk personally know that Bill Lyons captures the flavor of Grandfather's humor, the deeper teachings that lay behind the words, as well as the pain and difficulties that have gone into making access to the Spirit available to all. When you read this book, you'll know why the early government and Christian religions wanted to stop the Indian practices - they're real, and you'll be glad for the triumph of these sacred teachings. Like his predecessor, Nicholas Black Elk, Wallace Black Elk's vision goes beyond the borders of race to encompass all beings, so that once again, the great hoop may be whole. For Indian peoples who have lost contact with spiritual origins, whatever they may be, this book can be a powerful reclamation of the Spirit. For all people who have been searching for the something that has been missing, you will find it in Black Elk: The Sacred Ways of a Lakota. This book and others detailing the shamanic practices of our ancient Indian cultures are a real coup for the American Indian: in spreading the teachings, these courageous men and women have transformed the children of the enemy into friends and allies. The whole world benefits.