“Oh my gosh, this recipe looks delicious.”
“Check this out…I want to make this one tonight.”
“Can we have these for breakfast?”
And so it went. For about 100 miles, my oldest son and I oohed, aahed and exclaimed over the recipes in The Ski House Cookbook.
It was the week before Christmas 2010 and my husband was driving us on our annual holiday pilgrimage to Little Cottonwood Canyon (home of Snowbird and Alta). I received The Ski House Cookbook in the mail from Amazon and cracked it open somewhere along I-70 in the Utah desert.
By the time we got to Provo, my son and I had read it cover-to-cover. We dreamed of consuming nearly every dish in the book. We were definitely looking forward to our days of skiing and now we were actually looking forward to cooking as well.
Ski Moms Aren’t Always Kitchen Moms
Ordinarily, cooking after a day of skiing is something I do reluctantly. Why? Because while I love to eat delicious food, I would prefer that someone else cook so that I can sit ’round the fire with my family and relax after a day on snow together. Fat chance. Doesn’t happen. Instead, what often did happen (notice the past-tense), was that we’d eat pasta with sauce from a jar and a salad.
Green, Blue and Black…Recipes
Finding The Ski House Cookbook was a revelation. Throughout the ski season and into the summer and fall, this cookbook went everywhere we did. The recipes are rated easy to difficult by (you guessed it!) green circles, blue squares and black diamonds. Paging through the book’s pasta section, green recipes include Penne alla Vodka, Rigatoni with Sausage and Ricotta, and Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce. YUM! And the recipes truly are quick and easy.
Graduating to the blue recipes, one finds Hearty Lasagne, and Off-Piste Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. And since pasta should be easy and delicious, there are no black recipes in this section.
In fact, the handful of black diamond recipes are true splurges: for example, Eggs Benedict with Chipotle Hollandaise, Croque Monsieur sandwiches, Classic French Onion Soup, and Roast Beef Tenderloin with Red Wine Shallot Reduction. And while each of these sounds fantastic, I haven’t made any of them. I stick to the easier recipes that taste fantastic and are, well, easy.
Here are some of our favorites: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake, 15 Minute Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, White Bean with Bacon Soup, Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Spaghetti Carbonara, Buttery Tomato Sauce, and Blue Cheese-Stuffed Bacon Burgers. Again, YUM!
Delicious, Real Food
As you may have noticed, while each of these recipes sounds delicious, none of them sound extravagant or outlandish. The recipes in The Ski House Cookbook are real food for real skiers, of any age. The food is creative, but recognizable, so even picky kids won’t be put off.
The Ski House Cookbook does assume that your cooking skills go beyond opening cans and boxes, but nothing is so difficult, or requires so many utensils and tools, that you can’t make it in a condo. What can I say? We love this cookbook — not only during ski season, but year-round.
Quick Pains au Chocolat
This was the first recipe we tried. It is so good we have to “try” it frequently.
Ingredients:
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 17.3 ounce package), thawed and cut into 8 squares (note from BSM: I find it easier to cut into 9 squares, but maybe that’s just me)
1 large egg, lightly beaten with 2 teaspoons water
1/2 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate or chocolate chips
Sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2 Brush one edge of a puff pastry square with the egg wash. Place 1 tablespoon chocolate on the opposite edge of the pastry square and roll the dough tightly toward the egg wash side. Press the edge with the egg wash into the dough to seal. Place the pastry roll, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining squares and chocolate.
3. Brush the tops of the pastry rolls with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle lightly with sugar. Bake until the pastries are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Copyright: The Ski House Cookbook. Reprinted with permission of the authors.
© 2011 – 2017, braveskimom. All rights reserved. Any use or publication of content, including photos, requires express permission.
NJMK3 says
Sounds like this could have been called the active family house cook book. I want to try all the black diamonds!
braveskimom says
So true! Active families need good food! Good luck.
Carrie says
If I don’t win, I’ll put it on my Christmas wish list! Looks amazing!
braveskimom says
It is amazing! Good luck!
Jean Dillon says
The beef short ribs & French onion soup actually made my mouth water and I just had breakfast!
braveskimom says
Wait til you see what they suggest for breakfast! You’ll want two breakfasts! Good luck!
Christy Fry says
Sounds good. Would love to check it out!
braveskimom says
It’s a great book — for real moms and skiers. Good luck!
Trish Mahre says
I think I need to leave work to try that chocolate pastry recipe. Mahre family is in!
braveskimom says
You should definitely leave work. Just promise to bring some back to your co-workers! Good luck!
WB says
Looks fantabulous! Can’t await to try some of these out in the ski house this season on unsuspecting ski mates! My beginner-intermediate wife can now explore double black diamonds without the bruises…yay!
braveskimom says
So true! And you know, these are the only greens I willingly choose and enjoy! Good luck!
Stephanie says
Oh my gosh, I totally want to win this cookbook, or like Carrie, put it on my wishlist this holiday season!
braveskimom says
Santa had better stock up! Good luck!
Tamara says
This looks perfect for a family that loves to ski and loves to eat…like mine!
braveskimom says
Mine too! Good luck!
Bring The Kids says
Good cookbook? COUNT ME IN! Not only do I love to cook, but I love to eat good food even more!
braveskimom says
And cooking good food that is easy? Can it get better? Good luck!
Wendy Nelson Spirek says
This blog and your efforts/creativity in making it so engaging are the perfect reflection of who you are, who you always have been and why I simply adore you and count you among my closest and dearest friends. I know I’ve seen this cookbook in a condo we’ve rented along the way and forgot about it until you mentioned it. There are few things more relaxing than contemplating great recipes in a cookbook. Cheers!
braveskimom says
Wow! What a nice comment! And while I agree with you about the relaxation factor of contemplating great recipes in a cookbook, I also enjoy relaxing with friends like you, good food and wine, after an epic day of skiing. Do we have a date for 2012? Good luck!
Julie Iskenderian says
Looks perfect for any ski family!
braveskimom says
It is! Good luck!
Sarah P. / The Ski House Cookbook says
What a gorgeous blog post about The Ski House Cookbook! Thank you so much for the beautiful shout-out. As you can imagine–the book was really fun to write too!
braveskimom says
Thank you Sarah! I truly have enjoyed using The Ski House Cookbook! And, I don’t wait for ski season. I use it year-round. Best of luck with Julia’s Child, your new novel! Cheers.
Carrie says
We love simple and delicious — and we love to ski! Perfect!
braveskimom says
It is perfect, isn’t it? Good luck!
Cee says
Rigatoni with Sausage and Ricotta sounds delicious!
braveskimom says
Yes it does! Even after a non-ski day! Good luck!
Stephanie Morris says
Thanks for sharing about this book. We will have to add cooking as a family to our list of activities we like to do together.
braveskimom says
I agree. Cooking as a family is really fun! Good luck.
Linda Williams says
I’m a terrible cook. I gotta have that cookbook!! 🙂
braveskimom says
But you’re a great skier and photographer! Good luck!
Patricia says
Sounds wonderful. Please count me in!
braveskimom says
You got it! Good luck!
SoCal Skiing Mom says
Any new ideas in the kitchen are great!
braveskimom says
So true. We can all use some inspiration! Good luck!
Emma says
This cook book looks amazing 🙂 Winter in England is so depressing I need good food to get me through when I can’t go away to ski!
braveskimom says
This book should do the trick. Good luck.
Vickie says
Sounds so yummy even for everyday meals when not skiing . Thanks for a chance on the giveaway.
braveskimom says
You are welcome. Good luck.
Julie Arnold says
With 3 hungry kiddos to feed after a
Great day on the slopes this would be awesome !!
braveskimom says
Don’t forget the hungry adults! Good luck.
Sandra Gichner says
The cookbook looks great! I need it for the long dark city nights here in DC when I dream of skiing. Can’t wait to make it out there this spring. I’m jonesing for skiing and great winter food!
braveskimom says
You won’t be disappointed! Good luck!
Emilie Winters says
This cook book looks amazing and I would love to win it!
braveskimom says
It is amazing! Good luck.
Natasha says
This is a terrific book and a great review, Thank you. Not only is this on MY wishlist but I am going to give it as gifts.
braveskimom says
Your friends and family are very lucky! Good luck.
Kim Kircher says
I recently bought this book and I’m so glad I did. I love the recipes. So perfect for a skiing family.
braveskimom says
It is great, isn’t it? Thanks.
Rosita says
This sounds soooo good! I’ve already picked out three recipes that I want to try: Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake, 15 Minute Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, and Spicy Roasted Chickpeas. Plus, I love the idea of Julia’s Child! Can’t wait for it.
braveskimom says
You’ll love all the recipes. I think Julia’s Child comes out in February. Look for it! Thanks!
Brenda says
Just in time for ski season, these sound so delicious!
braveskimom says
So delicious! Thank you for entering.
Erik says
I just recently got my hands on a copy of this book for a brief page-through… I would love to have a copy so I can make more of the items in it! Living in Utah, I need a quality cookbook that understands the ski lifestyle 😀
braveskimom says
Yes, you do! Good luck!
Sarah says
I love the idea of ski symbols for recipe difficulty – would make my life easier choosing a recipe! And I am like you, after a day of skiing I have such a hard time cooking anything that takes more than 5 min 🙂
braveskimom says
I like the symbols too. Very clever! Thanks!
Jennifer says
Looks great. And, with the kids, we need easy.
braveskimom says
Easy is good! Thanks!
Jackie Aguilar says
I’m a sucker for a good cookbook. Your blog is impressive.
braveskimom says
Thank you! Good luck!
Andrea Flickinger says
Those recipes sound amazing! Fingers crossed. 🙂
braveskimom says
Good luck!
colleen kosinski says
Can’t wait to read your new book! Would love a copy of your cookbook!
braveskimom says
February! Mark your calendar for Julia’s Child by Sarah Pinneo! Good luck!
Janesa Urbano says
Sounds great! I hope to try them out this season!!!
braveskimom says
Thanks for the comment! Good luck!
Amy Reinink says
Wow! This looks delicious! Thanks for turning me on to it—even if I don’t win it, I’ll have to track down a copy for myself! I’ve “liked” it on Facebook, too.
braveskimom says
Thanks Amy! Good luck!
Amelia says
looks fabulous! thanks for the chance!
braveskimom says
You’re welcome and good luck!