The_NM_TX

  I don’t know how but before I even moved down here, I heard of this cookie exclusive to New Mexico called Bizcochitos. Upon arrival it was on my short list to find, and try these cookies. Needless to say, after my first one I was not only intrigued, but also hooked. The flavors and texture were so interesting, and like nothing I have ever had. Where had these cookies been before I moved? So naturally I needed to learn how to make them once I got settled in. Once home where the sheet pans, and mixer were unpacked I sought out a proper recipe, and what I found was surprising. Cinnamon, anise, brandy, and lard? My first thought was that this was like the game of telephone and these are the ingredients that eventually made their way into my ear. But all recipes were consistent so I headed to the grocery store on a mission and came back with all I needed to make these cookies. While there is still some fine tuning to the technique the cookies turned out good, and are now a part of...

  Being from Colorado the thought of mountains shouldn’t seem that alluring. Going from a state where there more 14ers than I can count, the thought of Sandia peak should seem small and insignificant. But what most people outside of Colorado don’t realize is that unless you’re driving west, or waiting in the hour plus traffic to get into them the mountains aren’t as accessible as they once were. They are merely a pretty sight that is often just out of reach without the proper planning and early wake up call. After relocating down here I consistently found myself in awe that no matter where I was driving the Sandia was always in sight. Even more so is the close proximity to it makes it seem grander than its 10,000-foot peak really is. With that being said one of my favorite aspects of this mountain is watching how much it changes throughout the course of a day. I love how as the sun moves across the sky certain crevices become more prominent while others disappear into the shadows...

  Moving to New Mexico in October had a lot of unknown advantages, one of the biggest was that it was harvest time. I know that every state has a harvest season and festivals that go around it, but here there was something unique about chili season. Of course, that was seeing all the ristras everywhere, and having the opportunity to make one. On that note though I’m not going to lie, prior to moving here I never knew the term ristra. Thankfully I quickly learned that they are both a method for preserving chili peppers for further use as well as a sign for good luck and health to the household. So, what else is a new person to the state to do during harvest? Dive right in and learn exactly how to do this, and thankfully the opportunity presented itself. Big Jim Farms in Los Rancho de Albuquerque offered beginner classes on this classic technique, and it was a day to remember. Upon arriving there were buckets lined up overflowing with fresh peppers ready to be strung and preserved ...

 One of the unfortunate things that was quickly learned about relocating to the Albuquerque area in late September/early October is just how popular Fiesta really is nationally. So unable to secure a rental some time in the New Mexico mountains became my temporary home, and the location was Red River. Now one might think that relocating from Denver the notion of staying in the mountains might be a let down. Well in actuality the opposite was true.  So on a Friday afternoon, packed up the car to head south on I-25 and pulled up in Red River a few hours later only to be immediately taken in by the town. To go from the fast paced environment where the mountains are way off in the distance to be right at the base of them watching the colors of the leaves change was a very relaxing moment. Looking out the window to see families of deer walking by was unexpected but great to see, and then there was the town itself.  One of the great aspects I've always enjoyed about staying in ...

  2015 was the first time I had truly visited Albuquerque, and the basis of the visit was to go to fiesta. Needless to say, the weather did not cooperate that year, so the visit would have seemed like a total bust. In actuality it was the opposite. Missing out on balloons albeit disappointing allowed time to explore Albuquerque. That included amazing food in Old Town, walking around Old Town, enjoying craft beer from an abundance of breweries, checking out the Biopark, and that was just in 1 short weekend. Fast forward 6 years to 2021, and the desire for a change of scenery is constantly growing. Sure, Colorado is a great state that offers no shortage of entertainment, but since that trip in 2015 a lot has also changed. The growth of Colorado made it difficult to enjoy the mountains, the sports, the city. The growth also came at a cost, and living there just became more and more expensive with each passing week. So, when the question came up of where the change of scenery should ...