Digest connects family recipes to history (History Colorado)

“The people who give you their food give you their heart.” 
— Cesar Chavez

…..History Colorado Newsletter….

My dad passed away less than a month ago. After hearing the news, my brother and I made a pilgrimage to gather some sentimental belongings at his home near Boise. Going through his files, I came across a binder with the title Steve’s Secret Recipes 🙂 on the front. After coming to terms with knowing that Dad used emoticons, a feeling of joy came over me. Here was a way for the two of us to stay connected. I could now make his award-winning Colorado Sweet Chili the same way he did. On top of that, there were his famous hickory BBQ recipes, and a guide to his legendary never-dry Thanksgiving turkey. What a find.

Food is common ground, something relatable to everyone on a basic level. Most of us have a memory about a loved one’s delicious cooking or helping a parent mix ingredients (even when, in hindsight, we were doing more harm than good). There are few better ways to spark a memory, to learn about history, or to help tell a story, than to eat the food of the past. 

Once a month, my girlfriend Megan and I have been doing just that. We cook our way through the Across Colorado: Recipes and Recollections cookbook for History Colorado’s YouTube channel. Written by History Colorado volunteers, this cookbook combines delicious recipes with Colorado’s rich history. A new edition is available in many History Colorado gift shops in Denver and around the state. I hope you’ll join us for future episodes, and try out some of the recipes with your family. Making memories and eating delicious food—it doesn’t get much better than that. Be sure to scroll down to check out one of our favorite recipes, and look for new historic recipes each week.

— Jeremy Morton, Public Engagement Manager 8/11/20 #DoingMyPartCO | HistoryColorado.org | #historycolorado

Join HISTORY COLORADO newsletter to get their weekly digest — which includes historic recipes.

The first one was in video format. Watch Jeremy and Megan make the red chili with buffalo and sausage, and learn the history of the Buckhorn Exchange—Denver’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, in business since 1893 .

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NOTES FROM EDITOR: The video is very casual, and simple, and will appeal to new cooks. The Colorado cookbook is illustrated with vintage and historical photographs. The history of Buckhorn is in the last two minutes of the 22 minute video. The Buckhorn is known for displaying dozens of wild animal trophy heads. It is located on the outskirts of downtown Denver, near a railroad track. It has the first liquor license in Colorado.