High Altitude Quarantine Cooking

So. Here we are. At home. Like, all the time. Trying to work from home, trying to entertain/educate our kids, trying to find some sense of normalcy as we are forced into creating new routines we didn’t choose and worrying about the future of our health, our families, our economy, our culture. On the other hand, though, think of all the water being saved across the world right now with so many people not showering. #brightside

Despite my optimistic nature, though, I’m experiencing fairly constant low-level anxiety that peaks to trapped-animal levels a few times a day, and I know I’m not alone.

So far, we’ve been able to find plenty of groceries to keep our pantry and fridge stocked, so my main coping strategy is to cook All The Things. And I thought that maybe you might want to cook some things too. So I’ve put together a compilation of some of my most popular high-altitude hits. My recipes have all been tested above 9,000 feet, so if you’re living at altitude, you can make these without fear of chemistry disasters.

One more thing: please, help me help you by sending me ideas for something you’d like to cook that might need a high-altitude tweak. I will be your tester! I NEED PROJECTS, PEEPS. You can reach me through the contact links on this site, or find me on Instagram or Facebook.

In the meantime, be well, be safe, and take small pleasures where you can find them. I hope you find a few in the recipes below!

Bread

If you’re new to baking bread at altitude, this is a great time to start. I’ve got several quick bread recipes you can easily make in an hour or so using pantry ingredients. Even yeast breads are not difficult, but do take a little more time and patience. Which, hey, suddenly you have (time, anyway).
High Altitude Crusty French Bread – easy and so gratifying to pull out of the oven.
High Altitude Pizza Dough – make a double batch for dinner tonight plus extra to freeze for later. I have a sourdough version, too!
High Altitude Gluten-Free Bread – gluten-free friends, now’s the time to tackle a homemade loaf!
High Altitude Sourdough is super-delicious and always worth the effort (though it takes 2+ days, consider yourself warned).
High Altitude Beer Bread – dense, comforting, and makes killer toast.
High Altitude Cornbread – perfect alongside a big steaming bowl of chili.
High Altitude Cinnamon Toast Banana Bread – a cult favorite.
High Altitude Zucchini Pumpkin Bread – the perfect vehicle for stuffing some vegetables in your breakfast-cake.
Buttery Mile High Biscuits and scones (Orange-Vanilla, Brown Butter Pumpkin, Pistachio-Apple, or Savory Pesto Parmesan) come together quickly and make you look like a hero.

Cookies

Cookies and bars are fast and an activity for stir-crazy kids or other family members who need a project. What are you in the mood for? We’ve got:
Holy Grail High Altitude Chocolate Chip Cookies – my go-to recipe and soon to be yours.
High Altitude Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies – chewy, crunchy peanut butter and dark chocolate heaven.
Chewy High Altitude Ginger Cookies – big, full of spice, and oh-so-chewy.
Easy High Altitude Sugar Cookies – fun for cutting out into shapes.
High Altitude Brownies – the perfect balance of cakey and fudgy.
High Altitude Malted Butterscotch Blondies – the recipe that took a thousand years to develop. Rich and buttery.
Check out the Cookies and Bars category under Recipes for lots more!

Cakes

Make an occasion out of an ordinary day by serving an entire cake to your family. For dessert, breakfast, whatever.
High Altitude Lemon-Blackberry Breakfast Cake – no one needs to know you’re having cake for breakfast. Shhh.
High Altitude Lemon Cardamom Cake – serve with tea and feel refined even though you haven’t put on real clothes in four days.
Fudgy Chocolate Stout Cake – beer and cake in one. Win.
Chocolate Donut Cake – not just for birthdays! See also: cake for breakfast.
Easy High Altitude Vanilla Cupcakes – my most-pinned recipe on Pinterest of late. Get it while it’s hot!

Pies

I find the process of making pie comforting, and the finished product always feels special. For those who are skerred of making pie crust, this is your time to jump in (it’s not hard – promise).
Mojito Pie with Rum Whipped Cream – might as well start right off with the booze.
Honeycrisp Apple Pie – a comforting classic that reminds us of all that’s good about America, and who can’t use that right now?
Plum & Fig Galette with Crispy Prosciutto – good luck finding figs, but this is an opportunity to try your improvisational skills! (you can make it with pretty much any kind of berry or stone fruit).
High Altitude Pecan Pie – so rich, a single pie should last at least two weeks.
Extra-Spicy Pumpkin Pie – I know it’s March, but since the Hallmark Channel is running Christmas movies, this seems warranted.
Or just make a batch of the World’s Best Pie Crust and make your own filling – now or later.

Freezable Make-Ahead Meals

I don’t know about you, but I’m the sole cook in my house, and making multiple meals EVERY DAMN DAY can take its toll. Even though we’re stuck at home, I’d still like a night off from cooking now and then. So, in addition to supporting our local restaurants who are offering take-out, I’m pre-cooking a few meals to stash in the freezer for low-energy nights. Everything on the list below can be frozen for at least a month and brought out later when you’re ready. Check out my Entrees category for more weeknight ideas!
Make-Ahead Lasagna – Weighing in at 14 lbs, this behemoth casserole will provide leftovers galore.
Rich Homemade Chicken Stock – One recipe will yield several quarts, which can be used as a base for soups, sauces, or just for sipping.
Spicy Beef and Bean Chili – I make this for my husband every time he’s feeling blue, and he instantly forgets what was wrong.
Holiday Detox Soup – Not limited to the holidays, this healthy, hearty tomato-based soup is packed with veggies and flavor.
Chicken Pot Pie – A comfort classic stuffed with a thyme-scented gravy.
Cheesy Vegetable Pot Pie – Melted cheese and flaky pastry make you kind of forget you’re eating vegetables.