The Dinner Bell Rings Again.

 Dove Creek Dinner Bell

Address: 546 Highway 491

Dove Creek, CO, 81324

Phone: (970) 677-2211

Website: https://www.facebook.com/Dove-Creek-Dinner-Bell-107173578124015/

Hours of Operation:

Tues – Fri: 7AM – 7PM

Sat – Sun: 7AM – 2PM

Mon: Closed

How times flies in the restaurant business.  It was only 2015 when we discovered The Dinner Bell, in Dove Creek, CO, and enjoyed many a breakfast, lunch or dinner there.  I have to admit that breakfast was my favorite meal.  We would get up early on a Saturday or Sunday morning, take a ride up into the mountains, just for an hour or so, and then to The Dinner Bell we went.  My favorite item on the menu was the biscuits, slathered in butter for me; layered in gravy for hubby.

Charlotte and Stanley Daves owned the restaurant, and Stanley was known as the best biscuit maker in town.  I concur with that! Sadly, it was in May 2016 that a reckless semi-truck driver decided to take Stanley’s life while he rode his tractor down the highway.  Charlotte kept the restaurant open for a few more years, but it was not the same any longer.  So, she sold it to new owners, who converted it to DC Rack Haus.  Charlotte worked in various places, but something just was not quite right for her.  She was a leader, not a follower; a giver of orders, not a taker of them; she admits, “I like being the boss and in control.”

Then it happened, Deb’s Diner closed down; it has been on the western end of Dove Creek, while the old Dinner Bell had been on the eastern end.  Well now, it was as if the Fates had knocked on the opportunity door, and Charlotte, with Lacey Dufrene, opened that door fast.

They renovated, got in touch with food service sources, and the new Dove Creek Dinner Bell opened in January 2021, with the original menu. Would have been sooner, but that nasty Covid pandemic put a kibosh on that for many a new business.

Going in on a Saturday for lunch, the place was packed, but that is not unusual.  The locals are extremely happy to have this restaurant back again; shouts of “Hi Charlotte!” were heard often.

Folks were talking, laughing, relaxing and generally having a good time.  While the exterior of the building is simple, it is the décor and atmosphere inside that is best – laid back with cozy décor.  Now if you are in a rush, don’t be!  This is a place where you come to relax while enjoying your meal, and the company with you.  Oh, that blur you just saw wiz by, that was Charlotte who has a trifold position – owner, waitress and cook.

 

 

 

 

The food at The Dinner Bell is country comfort, from biscuits and gravy to enormous burgers with all the fixings, and downhome meals like chicken fried steak. 

 

 

 I decided on a smaller meal of the chicken sandwich which can be breaded or grilled, I chose breaded (deep fried), and fries.  The outside was crisp with a slight kick in seasoning, the chicken tender; and the fries were yummy.  Had to keep smacking hubby’s hand to keep him away from MY fries!

 

 

 

 

Now hubby decided he was really hungry, so he went for the chicken fried steak which came with a side salad packed with veggies and cheese, and chose the raspberry vinegarette dressing.  It also came with a heap of mashed potatoes, whole kernel corn, and white pepper gravy.  The steak was so tender, a knife was not needed to cut it, and the gravy made it even more delicious.  Usually, we take home part of our meal, to finish later on, but not this time; it was gone-gone.

 

No time to sit and eat?  The Dinner Bell does take out service; call your order in; or come in, order and have a seat while waiting.

 

Ding, ding, ding, The Dove Creek Dinner Bell is back!

Mary Cokenour

 

 

 

Always a Good Reason to Eat Strawberries.

"Strawberries, strawberries, every year

These must be eaten, enjoying here

Even the best cakes allow it when

Made in kitchen, the cook will be then

Baked with love, served with pleasure"

 

Strawberry Strawberries Forever

Sung by: Anne Lemmen

Written by: Ingeborg Bauer

Available Only At: Amazon Music

 

Strawberries are a deliciously, unusual fruit; unusual due to their structure.  With the variety of fruits and vegetables grown throughout the world, the strawberry is the only fruit with seeds on its outside, approximately 200 of them.  Due to this feature, botanists call the strawberry a false fruit, aka pseudocarp, since they look at it as a “fruits within a fruit”, and not a simple berry at all.

Consumer wise, we tend to see strawberries make a huge appearance in supermarkets around April.  While they are available year-round, prices vary due to the quantity available, where they were shipped in from, and method of growth (fields or greenhouses).  Being a cool weather plant, home growers plant April to May, or mid-spring; first harvest is typically June, with a second harvest occurring in the early fall.  With the high heat of July and August, like humans and animals, these plants shy away from the scorching sunlight.

In a very detailed, scientific 2019 study done on the nutritional and health benefits of strawberries (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7202899/), “Strawberries, are a rich source of nutrients that helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The nutrients lower the post-meal spike in blood sugar and insulin in adults with obesity or excess weight who have insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome.”  In a Medical News Today article (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271285), “Strawberries are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.”  In layman’s terms, this fruit is really, really healthy for the human body!

That is if you eat them plain, no dipping in sugar, whipped cream or chocolate.  No adding into baked desserts loaded with high carb ingredients like flours and sugars; and if they are, moderation is the key word.

When it comes to purchasing fresh strawberries, I personally tend to wait for the sales, and buying, what others would say, is way too much.  Why?  To process them into manageable savings of course!  Removing the leafy top and center white part, place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, and freeze until solid, at least 30 minutes. Transfer to a resealable freezer bag, and store for up to 3 months.  Baked goods, such as muffins and quick breads, should be individually wrapped in plastic, and can be frozen up to 2 months.

So, it came to pass that, once again, I had overripe bananas waiting to be, frozen, or baked into bread.  At the same time, there were enough strawberries remaining, just about to enter their “icky” phase of ripening, so what did I do?

 

Strawberry Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (add 3 Tbsp. for high altitude)

3/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup (6 oz. container) vanilla yogurt (or sour cream and increase vanilla extract to 4 tsp.)

2 eggs beaten

3 overripe bananas, mashed well

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup thickly sliced, or large dice strawberries   

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9”x5“ loaf pan with baking spray.

 

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl whisk together the butter and sugar. Then whisk in the yogurt, eggs, bananas, and vanilla.

 

 

 

Gradually add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients, folding them together until just combined; do not overmix.  Gently fold in the strawberries. The batter will be very thick, but loose.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick, inserted in center of the bread, comes out cleanly.  Remove pan from oven and let bread cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Remove bread and transfer to a cooling rack for an hour before slicing.

 

Store in plastic wrap; bread will last up to 3 days in refrigerator, or 2 months in freezer.

Makes one loaf.

Think of it this way, all these yummy bread recipes I have been sharing is increasing your recipe card file.  The holidays will be here sooner than later, and homemade baked goods make great gifts!  …and yes, you can substitute with blueberries, blackberries or raspberries; still a one cup ratio, or 1 and ½ cups, who keeping score, right?

Mary Cokenour 

Cabbage Patch Goodness

 Coleslaw, a salad, primarily using shredded cabbage, served cold and a frequent side dish at picnics and barbeques.  Researching its origin began with dissecting the name and finding out what it actually meant.  At first, I began with Cole’s Law, and wondered who the heck was this Cole guy, and what Law did he generate about a cabbage salad?  Now, now, do not be rolling those eyes at me; just doing a little tongue-in-cheek joking around with this.

Cole is Greek, meaning "victorious people" while in England, and taken from the Old English word “cola”, means "swarthy, black coal."  No filibustering, about salad, in any courts or political arenas.  Time to trace the true origins of coleslaw, and the Greeks must have been referring to the Romans, for this was a very victorious culture. 

The Roman period in the Netherlands began in the year 19 BC, when two or three legions established a camp in Nijmegen. The southern region remained under Roman rule for approximately 450 years, all the while influencing culture, cuisine and lifestyle.  In Rome, a common dish, served at meals, consisted of cabbage, vinegar, eggs and spices.  Since the Romans were guarding the Rhine, and cabbage happens to like growing along river banks, it made sense to introduce it to the populace living there.

Between the 1600s and 1800s, many Dutch immigrated to the New World (America) to escape religious persecution; settlements mainly in New York and Pennsylvania.  The word “coleslaw” is an English translation of the Dutch “koolsla”, with “kool” referring to “cole”, and “sla” meaning “salad”.  Which now brings us back to the name origin of “cole”, but in Dutch, it refers to cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, and kohlrabi.  Cole crops are cool season vegetables that grow best at temperatures between 60F and 68F.  World languages can be so fascinating, with one word having so many different meanings, dependent on where, and the cultural lifestyle.

An original coleslaw recipe can be traced back to 1770, in the cookbook, The Sensible Cook: Dutch Foodways in the Old and New World (Translated and edited by Peter G. Rose). The recipe is credited to his Dutch landlady who mixed thin strips of cabbage with melted butter, vinegar and oil; frying the cabbage and still creating a creamy concoction.  Sort of reminds me of the Irish dish, Colcannon, made with mashed potatoes, fried cabbage strips and crispy bacon.   

Today, coleslaw has grown as a simple salad. Dressings can be a vinaigrette, or sour cream or mayonnaise based.  Other shredded vegetables are added, not just a mixture of white with purple cabbage, but with carrots, bell peppers or hot peppers.  While is it often looked at as a mere side dish, it makes a creamy, crunchy topping for sandwiches such as fried fish or shredded pork barbecue.

 

 

Now the weekend will be here before you know it, so here is my homemade recipe for coleslaw, for your dining pleasure.

 

Coleslaw Dressing

 Ingredient

2 cups mayonnaise

2 and ½ Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp.  lemon juice

3 Tbsp. white vinegar

½ tsp. ground black pepper

¼ teaspoon salt

½ tsp. celery seed

Preparation:

Whisk all ingredients together in bowl until smooth and creamy.

 

 

To Make Coleslaw

In a large bowl containing 1 lb. shredded white cabbage (or ½ lb. white plus ½ lb. purple) plus ½ cup shredded carrot, pour dressing over; toss until all vegetables are coated.

 

Makes 8 servings of Coleslaw.

 

Oh, before I forget, all the while I was writing it out as cole slaw, Merriam-Webster dictionary has schooled me, the proper spelling is coleslaw; all one word.  The more you know…

Mary Cokenour

Twin Rocks has Cottonwood Flair.

 

Twin Rocks Café

Address: 913 Navajo Twins Drive

                 Bluff, UT, 84512

Phone: (435) 672-2341

Website: https://www.facebook.com/twinrockscafe/

 

 

May 2019 was the last time I had written a story about Twin Rocks Café.  I was told that Duke Simpson loved that article, and how happy it made him feel.  Then, suddenly, the Duke passed on to that great trading post in the sky.  While it was a sad event, I was glad, in the knowing, that my story had made him feel so happy; sort of a good deed done without thinking to.

Beginning of July, I received a phone call from Frances van der Stappen, General Manager and Chef, of Twin Rocks Café, and she had a story to tell me.  Seems the owners of Cottonwood Steakhouse were hanging up their pots, pans and recipe box to retire, after 27 years, and the restaurant had been sold.  Now while Twin Rocks is loved by locals and tourists alike, the same can be said about the Cottonwood, and what would happen to the staff and all those amazing, downhome recipes?

The answer was for Steve Simpson, Duke’s son and current owner, and Frances to solve this while also solving a café issue, understaffing.  That is correct, understaffing had also hit many businesses in San Juan County, so the café was not able to be open nightly, for dinner, as often as they used to.  They hired the entire team, from Cottonwood Steakhouse, so they could stay together, as a team, earn paychecks, and continue to serve up the food they had prepared and served for many years.  One of those employees is Reed Sampson (Evening Manager), and anyone who has dined frequently within the Blanding/Bluff areas knows Reed.  Not only has he owned his own restaurant (Fattboyz BBQ) at one time, but when it comes to being part of a wait staff, he is the best of the best!

Frances sums it all up nicely with, “We welcomed the opportunity to build a bigger table and to honor the work of this great group of experienced and valued people.”

Maybe you are new to the area, maybe just passing through and decided to read the local newspaper, but a trip to Bluff, for food and scenery is always a great idea.  Twin Rocks Café serves up Four Corners style comfort food, using local, regional food suppliers, as well as Utah Craft Brews on tap, and a select wine list.  With the incorporation of Cottonwood’s recipes, the menu has been changed, but you will still see many of the tried-and-true favorites still available.

 

Fry and Ash breads are freshly made; the tell of freshness is not just the taste, but the steam that floats up as a piece is torn open.  These breads are used, not just as sides, but for the café’s famous Navajo Taco and Navajo Burger.  Both full of locally sourced meats and vegetables; packed with flavors and textures to make your eyes roll with satisfying delight.

 

 

 

Now, while the café offers pick-up ordering, dining inside, or on the patio veranda, is definitely the best of the choices.  The Navajo Twins stand tall beside the trading posts, and when the sunlight hits the bluffs, of Bluff, it is a breathtaking view.  No wonder those 1880s pioneers decided to hitch their horses to the river side trees, and call, where their wagons stopped, home.

So, with all the menu and staff changes, Twin Rocks was able to establish firm hours of operation once again:

NEW DINNER HOURS BEGINNING FRIDAY, JULY 9

Friday: 5-9 PM

Saturday: 5-9 PM

Sunday: 5-9 PM

MONDAY 5-9 PM

As always, the Cafe will be open for lunch, brunch and dinner

Sunday: 8-3

Monday: 8-3

Tuesday: 8-3

Wednesday: 8-3

THURSDAY CLOSED FOR STAFF DAY OFF

Friday: 8-3

Saturday: 8-3

 

Breakfast is served up to 3pm, so if you are absolutely craving Navajo Blue Corn Pancakes, or one of their two versions of Eggs Benedict, you can!

Roy and I were so lucky to be able and dine there on Saturday, July 10^th, and it was like the Fates had arranged it.  I had been so looking forward to trying out a new recipe, on the grill, for barbecued pork tenderloin.  Unlucky me, none available; ah, but not so unlucky after all.  That phone call, from Frances, also included a dinner invite, and how could we say no?

 

First off, our waiter was Reed, and it was so good to see him again.  Besides pampering us, we always have good jokes and stories to relate during moments, fleeting moments, of down time.

He started us off with our favorite appetizer, Buffalo Chicken Bites; tender pieces of boneless, skinless white meat chicken, deep fried and coated in a medium spiced sauce.  Oh, before I forget, dressings, sauces, sides, basically everything is made fresh, in house; and Frances trust her kitchen staff to the umpteenth degree!

 

 

Next was the Three Sisters Salad containing spring mix greens with roasted corn, Anasazi beans, tomato, cucumber, red onion and toasted tortilla chips (corn and blue corn).  We chose the Agave-Balsamic vinaigrette which only brought out the flavor of each item.  The variety of textures was like a handful of puzzle pieces, that suddenly came all together, to create an amazing photo of taste.

 

 

 

Roy’s main meal was the 16 oz. Rib-Eye Steak (sourced from Hyrum, UT), sides of cole slaw and fries, and a green chili aioli (sorry fry sauce lovers, this aioli is better!)  The moment Reed brought this out, the overwhelming scent of charred meat got the salivary glands working in overtime.  The steak was tender, juicy and very little fat, so mainly meat…meat…meat!

 

 

 

My choice was the Pork Tenderloin with Barbecue Butter.  See, I was lucky again, as I got my grilled pork tenderloin after all.  My choice of sides was Anasazi beans (heart healthy) and potato salad.   While the pork had char on the outside, the meat itself cut like butter, so tender and tasty.  The barbecue butter gave an interesting experience.  As the piece of meat, smeared with the butter, went into the mouth, a sudden “twang” hit the back of the throat.  Chewing, the flavors of the two items mixed and it gave a satisfying comfort to the mouth feel.

 

 

 

 

We were smart to save half of our main meals for home, as dessert had to be tried.  We have enjoyed the café’s Peaches de Chelly, but now was time to try Strawberry de Chelly.  Whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, sliced strawberries sitting on freshly made Navajo frybread.  Roy is not a huge dessert eater, but even he was fighting me for the last bite of this heavenly creation.

 

What’s in store for the future?  The old crowded gift shop is gone; only local items such as Blue Bird Flour, Adobe Milling, Utah’s own Real Salt, and dried Anasazi Beans are for sale, for now.  Eventually a coffee/kitchen gift shop will be in the works, hopefully offering up freshly, and locally, made canned goods.  Anyone can buy a t-shirt anywhere, but Twin Rocks Café is all about the food; and they are great at doing that.

Mary Cokenour