Fall Food

Possibly the most underrated season of all time in a mountain town is Fall. Fall is often called “shoulder season”. Of course Steamboat Springs is home to some of the best aspen groves that anyone could ask for and their leaves are truly stunning! The brisk cooler air of the fall reminds all of us the ski season is right around the corner and it’s hard not to be excited about the future powder days, but other than stunning leaves and hopes of great future powder days, what is actually going on in the season of Fall itself? Sometimes I think of Fall as the season of food. You can’t talk about Fall without talking about Thanksgiving, and let’s not forget about a good halloween chili! 

Chili is a hot topic around the Foundry right now. The annual “chili cook off” is back! Foundry’s chili cook off is a chance for staff to come together and be actively engaged with each other in a setting that isn’t just “another day at the office”. People naturally will gather around food. Just think about any event or gathering that you have been to (birthdays, weddings, sporting events, etc…), there was probably some sort of food being served. People gathering around food is probably the most human thing that we can do. Every single person needs food to survive, meaning that food is possibly the most basic thing that all humans have in common. 

Not only is food a necessity, it is often a way of life. So many people around the world spend large portions of their day dedicated to cooking and prepping food. I’m not talking about just restaurant workers, I’m talking about everyday people. In some cultures around the world it is common for people to just make their own bread or make their own tortillas, but here in America it is much more common for people to just go buy bread and tortillas at the store. Why we have gotten away from making foods probably comes down to time. Most people will say there isn’t enough time to make bread or tortillas or for some people even just any food at all. Make time!!

I say Fall is the season of food, and I mean it! Fall is a time where a lot of us find ourselves spending more time indoors due to the weather. Some of us miss the abundant outside time we can spend during the summer months. Instead of feeling down about being inside more, get excited about all that you can do inside! Cook something, bake something, prep food for the week, or spend hours trying to come up with the perfect chili! Cooking and baking is my favorite indoor activity and one day I hope it becomes your 

Garden Update!

Yes, Fall is here, so our garden season is wrapping up quickly. The green house is still chugging along as always, but we have more exciting news that is similarly related to the garden! We’ve gotten ourselves a Pig! His name is Tatter Tot and he is just adorable! We love him unconditionally.

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Recipe!

Fall is the season of pumpkin and also the season of baking! So why not put two and two together to make yourself some great pumpkin banana bread!

‍Pumpkin Banana Bread

‍Yield: 1 9x5 loaf pan

Prep time: 30 minutes

Bake time: 45-50 minutes

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Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk (room temperature) 
• ½ stick of butter (melted)
• 3 T of honey
• 4 bananas (very ripe or overripe)
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon of nutmeg
• 2 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 8 ounces of pumpkin purée 

For the honey cinnamon butter

• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 
• 2 tablespoons of honey 
• ½ stick of unsalted butter (softened enough for mixing)
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt

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Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
• In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer combine egg, egg yolk, pumpkin purée, honey, bananas and melted butter.
• Mash the bananas with a masher or fork until the egg banana mixture has turned into a paste
• Now add all of your dry ingredients; whole wheat and all purpose flour first, then baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
• Once all of your dry ingredients have been added, mix until combined.
• Grease a 9x5 loaf pan with butter or a spray oil.
• Pour your batter into the pan and then place in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. 
• While the loaf is baking, make your honey cinnamon butter. 
• Put your softened butter, cinnamon, kosher salt, and honey into a small mixing bowl and beat together with a fork until combined. 
• Serve your pumpkin banana bread warm with the honey cinnamon butter over the top!

As always, have a safe and clean season! - Chef Henry Olson 

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**Photo credit: Andrew Olson (@_andrew__olson_)

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