The Abriendo Inn Bed and Breakfast

Last month my husband and I were lucky enough to travel to Pueblo, CO for his brother's wedding. It was a beautiful, quaint, historic town and it was a perfect mini vacation. We got to stay at a bed and breakfast called "Abriendo Inn" http://www.abriendoinn.com/. If you have never stayed at a B&B you should give it a try. Usually, they are locally owned and operated and breakfast is included in the nightly rate of the room. We have stayed at a few in our travels and all have been great but Abriendo takes the cake!

 The front of Abriendo Inn

Dining room, entry, and stairs with stained glass windows

Abriendo Inn has been rated the best bed and breakfast in many Colorado publications. It is a historic home with 10 rooms to choose from, each with their own style and decor. The house has a big porch that we spent quite a bit of time relaxing on, and a beautiful neighborhood to take a walk around. The staff is wonderful and made a wonderful wedding weekend for the whole family.

Of course, I wouldn't be talking about the Abriendo Inn without mentioning their delicious breakfast. I have some pictures below and they offer some recipes on their website. It was delicious!

Breakfast #1: Oven poached eggs with herbed cream cheese on top of Mexican style beef on corn polenta with homemade herb bread and scones.

It was sweet and savory and I am definitely going to start poaching eggs in the oven.

Breakfast #2: Vegetable frittata with herbed skillet potatoes, bacon and homemade apricot bread.

Again a delicious start of the day!

Find your kitchen style

Recently, I took a tip from a friend and her blog post about finding your design style through a quiz online (Cardigan Junkie).  I looked and found a quiz that will help you find your kitchen style. Take this quiz on kitchens.com and let me know your results. Do you like what it came up with?

I took the quiz a few times and got the same answer each time. I am very pleased with the results. Maybe one of these days I will get one close to this.

My Results:

Country Kitchen - From Kitchens.com
Natural is the name of the game when it comes to your kitchen.
Your home’s country charm can extend beyond a farmhouse design. From rustic Northwest mountain homes to New England cottages, the country style manifests itself in natural wood furnishings and handmade items. Look toward plank doors or simple paneled doors done in natural and rough-hewn woods like pine, alder or maple.

 

Tips for your kitchen - Trash Bowl

One of the best tools I have found for my kitchen is a big, cheap, plastic bowl. I set it next to my cutting board, and use it like a trash can on the counter, instead of going back and forth to the big trash can when I am chopping. This 'Trash Bowl' allows me to make only one trip to the trash can instead of 50 and it saves me a ton of time and energy.

I have to admit I got this idea from Rachael Ray along with some others. Stay tuned for some more tips for your kitchen. Try it out and let me know if it works for you!

The Perfect Pantry - A must have for a kitchen

Every kitchen should be well stocked with basic ingredients so you don't have to keep running to the store to get things like salt and pepper or chicken stock. I have listed items that I feel are important to have on hand in your kitchen/pantry. These will get you through most recipes and most of them will last a while in the pantry or in the refrigerator. There are probably a few more items that I keep on hand that aren't listed, but they are not necessary essentials. 

My dream pantry

These first few items are the essential six staples to always have on hand

Salt
Pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Vegetable Oil
All-Purpose Flour
White Granulated Sugar

 

Canned Goods 
Low sodium chicken and beef broths are best to keep around because they let you control the seasoning as needed. I try to buy low sodium beans, too. Make sure to have the non seasoned tomato sauces (not Italian or Mexican style) because seasoning from the spice rack can be added unless the recipe calls for the seasoned tomatoes specifically.

Chicken Broth
Beef Broth
Canned tomatoes
Tomato sauce
Tomato paste
Can/jar of marinara sauce
Canned beans: white, black, kidney 
Tuna 

 

Starches and Dry Goods 
From the list below make sure you stock up on the items you like. I personally cook with penne or short pasta more than spaghetti because it's easier for me to eat without getting it all over myself.

Spaghetti
Linguine
Corkscrew pasta
Penne or other short pasta
Egg noodles
Long-grain white rice
Jasmine or basmati rice
Lentils
Split peas
Dried bread crumbs
Orzo (short rice-looking pasta) 

Root vegetables 
I have always heard that onions and potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area—not in plastic bags or in the refrigerator, so that is how I store mine. I do however keep green onions on hand and they keep best in the fridge in my opinion.

Potatoes (russet, red, or yams (sweet potatoes))
Onions (red or white and green (scallions))
Garlic (Fresh)
Non Root vegetables but can be stored on the counter
Lemons

Limes

 

Condiments
Vinegars (balsamic, cider, white, sherry, and wine vinegars)
Soy sauce (low sodium)
Worcestershire sauce
Salsa
Hot sauce (like Franks® or Tabasco®-red or green)

The Spice Rack 
Most of the following spices you can find dried on a spice rack that can be purchased at any home goods store. Prices range from $10-$50, but it's worth getting them all together rather than paying $3-$4 for individual bottles. When I run out, I buy them in bulk at the warehouse store and fill up the bottles in the spice rack.

Dried basil
Bay leaves
Cayenne or
Crushed red pepper flakes
Chili powder
Cumin
Cinnamon
Garlic powder
Oregano
Paprika
Dried parsley
Dried rosemary

Fridge essentials (Also known as the 'Man's Fridge' or 'College Fridge')
These items are must-haves in the fridge because they are used in many recipes and dishes.

Eggs
Milk
Butter or margarine
Ketchup
Mustard (Dijon preferably)
Mayonnaise (reduced fat)
Parmesan cheese (good quality wedge of fresh if possible or the graded kind in the canister will work in a pinch)
Other cheese (shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or a shredded mix) 

Freezer essentials 
Having a well-stocked freezer will really help you on the nights you need something fast but don't want to go out to a fast food joint. 

Frozen corn
Frozen spinach
Frozen peas
Ground beef
Chicken breast
Frozen cheese tortellini