Colorado Cache Cookbook

COLORADO CACHE COOKBOOK by The Junior League of Denver.

This cookbook has a copyright of 1978. I believe this was a gift from my Mother. I have cooked from this cookbook before. Note: I believe the version I own is an edition printed about 2005. Colorado Cache is currently out of print but you can buy used copies online.

When I first got this cookbook, I had trouble finding recipes that I wanted to try. Sometimes, maybe it's my mood or my appetite, but I'll pick up a cookbook and just not be interested. That's what happened with the Colorado Cache Cookbook...at first glance it didn't do much for me. I even made a recipe from it years ago (Cauliflower au Gratin) that turned out okay but wasn't anything that I wanted to make again. But I kept coming across blogs with great sounding recipes that came from the cookbook and everyone seemed to rave and consider it an essential cookbook to have in their collection. So not to long ago I picked it up again and gave it a second look. Glad I did because I found quite a few recipes that I'd like to try out.

Unlike a lot of Junior League Cookbooks I own, there are no names attached to any of the recipes.  There are 700 recipes that were chosen by a "cookbook committee".  They do have a list in the back of all the members who "contributed" to the cookbook.

Chapters include the standards along with ones for Mexican Food, Microwave Cooking (remember this was originally out in the late 70's), and Picnics and Camping. There is a chapter titled "Potpourri" which includes dishes like mustards, chutneys, jellys, pickles etc. There is also a chapter with some recipes from local restaurants. Though there can be several recipes on a page, they are in a really easy to read format. No photos. Each chapter begins with a drawing of a Colorado area. Each chapter also has a "hint" page which comes from a place in the state. For instance at the start of the Pasta, Rice and Potatoes chapter is a drawing of "Pawnee Butte National Grasslands". The "hint" comes from "Golden" which happens to be the site of Buffalo Bill's grave. Each hint page gives some information about the foods used in the chapter, or info about techniques. Listed on the Golden hint page is that rice will be fluffier and drier if a slice of dry bread is put on top of it after cooking and draining.

The recipes seem pretty simple and straightforward. Most I don't think would take a lot of time to make. There are some recipes with long lists of ingredients and instructions but most are doable for the home cook.  Basic ingredients are called for though you might run into a recipe asking for venison or elk in the Fish and Game chapter. As with a lot of Junior League cookbooks, most of the recipes seem to be simple, downhome type versions of recipes.

There is a good index. If you come across a recipe that is found in the microwave chapter they will actually note that next to the recipe name (same with campfire foods).

With over 700 recipes, Colorado Cache has too many that I want to try for me to list them all. A few that I've marked:  The Bee Cheese; Green Chili Wontons with Guacamole Dip; Chilled Raspberry Soup; Garbonzo Soup (feeds 16!); Cheese and Sausage Grits; Garden of the Gods Sublime Salad; Twelve-Boy Curry; Chicken in Sour Cream; Feijoada (Brazilian Black Bean Stew); Spaghetti Pie; Green Beans with Water Chestnuts; Sour Cream Cabbage; Rum Flambeed Mushrooms; Pasta Walnetto; Quick Cheese Loaf; Mexican Quiche Appetizer; Cold Guacamole Soup; Taos Chicken Chalupas; Chocolate Run Dessert; Beer Cheese Spread (from the Microwave chapter); Gorp; Potato Chip Cookies; Sensational Rum Pie; Liqueur Pie; Drunken Casserole Cake; Hot Bananas Jamaica; Pikes Peak Spiked Apple Crisp; Apple Knockers (an alcoholic beverage).

Reading some reviews, this seems to have been a favorite cookbook for folks to give at bridal showers. I can see with it's wide range of recipes that it would be a fun cookbook to present to a young bride. The only thing I miss is some sort of background on the recipes. Looking forward to giving several of these recipes a try!

 

Comments

[Cassaendra]

Hi Mrs. L, I've noticed that about some of my cookbooks...reading them for an hour in the bookstore, only to have lost its luster after trying 1 recipe...and years later, rekindled. Others that I've received as gifts and wasn't too keen on at the time, are good now. For the past year or so, I've been meaning to sell off some of my cookbooks, then I chuckle leafing through after setting them down for 10 years. Cauliflower au gratin sounds great!

[Gertie Italiano]

I got my Colorado Cache cookbook at least 10 years ago and every recipe I tried was delicious, including a sauerkraut loaf I made as a joke for my husband's birthday. I now live in Ecuador and did not bring any cookbooks with me (big mistake.) I am at 8,400 feet and need my Colorado Cache more than ever.