Guest Blogger: Laurie Priddy, Her Story, and the Amazing Feta Cheese Spread Recipe
Laurie’s story…
A little over a year ago, I purchased a farm in Palisade, CO. Actually, it was a vineyard with ten acres of grapes that had been neglected for a number of years, weeds were higher than the grapes! The property included several outbuildings and a rental cottage. Collectively it needed a TON of work but it was also heaven!
Fast forward a year… the grapes were 80+% dead due to a very hard freeze in October 2020. As difficult as it was to let go of the grapes, I’m happy to report the farm now has two acres of cherries growing on a trellis system and next year I’ll add more cherries and five acres of peaches! The farm is coming back to life and looking fabulous! Renovations on the cottage are complete. It is cozy and welcoming with amazing views of the National Monument out the kitchen window. It looks stunning in the soft morning light and in the fiery glow of sunset.
One of my current projects is growing grass around the cottage. When I bought the property, the yard was dirt and weeds and made the entire place look hot, dry and shabby. While I’ve had some success with the grass, the weeds are still endless. I’ve taken to pulling a bag a day, first thing, before the sun crests the trees. In the cool breeze of the morning, it’s a very satisfying job and in a short amount of time, I’ve seen real progress! Like an “apple a day”, I think a bag a day will keep the cottage lawn weed free going forward! And… I’m so excited to see worms as I weed… a sure sign that our dirt is turning to soil!
The Amazing Feta Cheese Spread Recipe
My friend Kim introduced me to Palisade several years ago and is THE master of picnics. Palisade, CO is a perfect spot for wine and a picnic! One of our favorite picnic foods is a whipped feta spread. When served with rosemary sourdough crackers and roasted tomatoes and garlic, it is simply delicious! I particularly enjoy it with a glass of Pinot Gris from Colterris. Divine! You can find many different recipes for whipped feta, but here’s my favorite:
Ingredients:
8 oz of feta cheese (soaked in water for 30 minutes (ONLY 30 minutes) to take out some of the saltiness)
⅛ lb of cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon of heavy cream
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
1 Tablespoon of lemon juice
Directions:
Crumble the feta and puree in a food processor. Add the cream cheese, heavy cream, olive oil and lemon juice and process until smooth and airy. Best to refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. I play around with the amounts to taste.
Bon Appetit!
