About

Hello, My name is Lea Ann Brown and welcome to my kitchen and blog at Cooking On The Ranch. 

My Credentials

I’m a photographer, writer, classically trained chef, and professional blogger. I’m a graduate of the Cook Street School of Culinary Arts in Denver, Colorado.

I have also completed over 60 recreational cooking classes at the following culinary establishments:

• Sur-la-Table
• Uncorked Kitchen
• Cookst Du2, Heidelberg, Germany
• Cuisine Aptitude, Strasbourg, France
• And in Sasbachwalden, Germany

I am obsessed with the fine Culinary offerings from our neighbors to the South, and have traveled many times to New Mexico to study, enjoy and learn New Mexican Cuisine. You’ll find many New Mexico specialty recipes here.

The Southern Part of Colorado is an agriculture mecca growing famous Rocky Ford Melons, and Pueblo Chile Peppers. I’ve been fortunate to have been chosen to be a judge for the Pueblo Chilefest. An annual event celebrating the harvest of crops from the area.

Featured In and Partnered With:

• Highlands Ranch Herald
• Appliance Factory
• Stubbs BBQ Sauces
• Tony’s Gourmet Market and Meats
• Highlands Ranch Lifestyle Magazine
• Colorado Country Life Magazine
• Sitka Salmon Shares
• Sprouts Market
• Mezzetta
• Wild American Shrimp
• Foodista Cookbook

Who Is My Blog For:

• If you’re an adventurous cook looking for new recipes,
• If you have time and like spending time in the kitchen,
• If you like creating great flavors and serving quality food and quality ingredients, you’ll enjoy your time spent here.

You’ll find lots of Southwestern, Mexican and Colorado Comfort food recipes here.

Recipes that are proven reliable and proven delicious. My recipes are well tested. At times I’ll prepare a recipe 3 – 4 times before posting it here on this site. Seems I can always think of a way to make it even better before passing it along to you.

What Kind Of Food Will You Find Here?

If you love spending time in the kitchen, you’ll find well crafted adventurous recipes, that are big with reward. You’re guaranteed to find exciting flavors and ingredients:

• I consider soup recipes to be my specialty.
• We’ve spent a lot of time with our neighbors to the south, so I have fallen in love with and share the unique cuisine of New Mexico. The most popular recipe on my site is for New Mexico Carne Asada.
• I also share a lot fresh Mexican Food recipes. My inspiration comes from reading and studying recipes and theories from Rick Bayless and Diana Kennedy.
• I cook and share recipes that echo our Colorado Western Culture. Steaks and Burgers come to mind.
• I’m partial to French food, thanks to Culinary School, and from attending a Cooking School in France. And of course from Julia Child herself.
• And being from Kansas, you’ll find a couple of Kansas comfort food recipes sprinkled in here and there.

My Mission

My mission is to inspire you to cook as often as you can. So that you and those around you can begin to appreciate the art of cooking and the joy of gathering around the table to share food and conversation.

I hope to inspire you to pour your heart into cooking.

I hope to inspire you to take control not just of what you eat, but in how it’s prepared, and why it’s prepared. Cooking is about sharing love.

About Me

I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, which is where the title of my site was inspired … “Cooking On The Ranch”.

We’re South of Denver and at the base of our majestic Rocky Mountains, even though currently not a “Ranch”, the land our town sits on was in fact once a large working cattle ranch …before Denver urban sprawl claimed the land. We live in the spirit of those who settled here over a century ago.

I have published Cooking On Ranch since 2009, and now feel proud to bring an expert voice along with my passion for cooking to my readership.

Where I Came From

I grew up on a Farm in Reno County Kansas, west of Hutchinson, near Nickerson, Kansas. Being the daughter of a 3rd generation wheat farmer, I have a strong moral obligation to support local farmers, and ranchers.

My husband and I still own and manage our family farm in Kansas.

My mom and aunts were always in the kitchen, and I learned early the importance of using good quality ingredients and gathering family around the table to share meals.

Need Reasons to Cook?

• To Get Away: Bring Colorado Cuisine into your own kitchen, try: Chipotle Bison Chili with Black Beans.
• Because you Say Pot-a-to, try Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
• To Eat Better, try: Spice Rubbed Salmon with Cilantro Lime Butter
• To Explore Your Roots, try: Roasted Glazed Carrots with Honey and Lime
• To Steal The Show, try Fall River Prime Rib Roast
• To Make Mom’s Recipe Your Way, try: Old Fashioned Sweet and Sour Green Beans.
• Because Its Always Cooking Weather try: Hatch Green Chili, Colorado Style
• To Stir Things Up try Spicy Creamy Shrimp Pasta

Please join me in my adventures in my kitchen in the Wild West. I’m a student of all things Western, Southwestern and Mexican Cuisine.

Lea Ann Brown, Cooking On The Ranch