Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff

The wonderful day trip to Flagstaff included an informative stop at Arizona Historical Society's Pioneer Museum.

Sharron McKinney and daughter Lexie

Lexie's son built this for his
Eagle Scout project

Published by the League for AZ Centennial

Q & A on the front porch

Riordan Mansion on Flagstaff tour

Lobby entrance is in the original 6 car garage

Two brothers married two sisters and built a customized duplex so both families could live together in 1890's Flagstaff, AZ.  Each side had their own entrance but was a mirror image of the other side.  With 13,000 square feet, each half is about 6,000 with a 1,000-square-foot room in the middle joining them together. They hired the same architect that built El Tovar at the Grand Canyon to design this Craftsman style home using pine from the surrounding Ponderosa forest. It even had electricity accommodating 16 watt light bulbs (they owned the electric company).
Touring the Riordan Mansion on the November Historical League bus tour, we learned so many interesting facts and stories about the family, the logging business, the economy and life in that era.

Ready to begin the tour with guide Rebecca

Originally a drive-through six car garage, it was converted to lobby entrance.

League Tour organizer Cindy Tidwell-Shelton presents our guide Rebecca with Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Tools of the robust logging trade in 1890.

Multiple brick fireplaces in the home but they were stuccoed as was the fashion at that time.

Very tall Tim and 5'1" bride Caroline Riordan

Lunch at historic Josephine's in Flagstaff

Two tables of Historical League members ready to enjoy lunch.

Our wonderful bus tours always involve delicious food. The Monday, November 7 trip to Flagstaff was no exception with a lunch stop at Josephine's American Bistro. On the National Registry of Historic Places, this unique restaurant has so much history and such delicious food. We were also pleased to meet the owner and talented Chef Tony Cosentino.

Ruth McLeod, Karolee Hess and Cathy Shumard

Chicken and dumplings

Delicious beef, potatoes and fresh vegetables

Orange-Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash

For a delicious side dish at your Thanksgiving dinner, try Orange-Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash.

Ingredients:

1 pound Brussels sprouts washed, trimmed and halved

1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled then diced into 1/2 in cubes (about 3 cups)

2 T olive oil, divided
salt

3/4 cup toasted pecans + 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Mix together glaze ingredients and set aside before preparing vegetables:

2 T butter (or ghee), melted

2 T honey

3 T fresh squeezed orange juice

1 T orange zest

1/2 t black pepper

2 t apple cider vinegar

Directions:

In a large saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Swirl to coat pan, then add in squash. Stir the squash pieces so they are coated with oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Shake the pan so squash spreads out in an even layer and let cook, without stirring, so that they brown a bit on one side (several minutes). Stir and spread the pieces out again and let cook without stirring so more sides get browned. Let cook until the squash is soft, but holds it shape. (This will depend on the size you cut your squash, so try one to test.) Once done, remove from heat and pour into a bowl.
Heat the other tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat using the same pan. When it’s very hot, place the Brussels sprouts cut side down in the oil, sprinkling with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Turn the heat to medium, and sear on one side until nicely browned, about three minutes. Turn the Brussels sprouts over and cook on the other side until nicely browned and tender, three to five minutes. Some of the leaves can be charred dark brown or black. Turn heat down to low and add the squash back to the pan, along with the pecan mix. Stir in the glaze and cook for a few minutes, coating all ingredients and warming through.

Serves 4-5 as a side dish

Thanks to heartbeetkitchen.com for the recipe.

Holiday Concert with Esteban

Esteban in Concert at the intimate Steele Auditorium, AZ Heritage Center at Papago Park. 
Saturday, Dec 10, 2016. 
Pre-concert reception includes Spanish tapas, sangria, wine, beer, soft drinks and a fantastic raffle.
A fundraising event from www.HistoricalLeague.org
What a fun way to start off the holidays.

www.BrownPaperTickets.com
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Cookbook meetings informative and fun

Comprised of an amazing group of Historical League volunteers, the cookbook committee is having fun while working on Tastes & Treasures A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona, Volume II. So many new venues, new recipes, new histories . . . we're excited to create the new cookbook from it's infancy to it's publication. And we are always interested in sharing the stories of Arizona through this book.

Cookbooks very popular

Tastes & Treasures cookbook continues to be a popular item. Sharron McKinney mentioned our cookbook to her quilting group. When they learned that the history of Arizona, historical venues and recipes from all over the state are in the book, three friends ordered. Sharron has more books to deliver to her friends at their next meeting.
Thanks to Sharron and the original cookbook committee for writing such an award winning book.
We look forward to Volume II to be published in Fall of 2017.