Spicy Red Wine Pork Belly Bites

Spicy Red Wine Pork Belly Bites served with Roasted Honeynut Squash purée grilled over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal.

Goat Cheese & Mango Steak Bites

Goat Cheese & Mango Steak bites, these are the most delicious and elegant appetizer!

Cactus Prickly Pear Margarita

Who wouldn't want to sip on this amazing Cactus Prickly Pear Margarita? Especially on National Margarita Day!

Blueberry, Lemon Cream and Honey Heart Pastry

Just in time for Valentine's Day! These Blueberry, Lemon Cream and Honey Heart Pastries are so sweet and delicious!

Citrus & Herb Grilled Salmon

A super easy, quick, and flavorful salmon recipe, great for any night of the week. The fresh herbs and...
Main Course, Recipes
Spicy Red Wine Pork Belly Bites
Appetizers, Recipes
Goat Cheese & Mango Steak Bites
Drinks, Recipes
Cactus Prickly Pear Margarita
Dessert, Holiday, Recipes, Valentine's Day
Blueberry, Lemon Cream and Honey Heart Pastry
Main Course, Recipes
Citrus & Herb Grilled Salmon

Travel with the Wild West Viking

Take a journey, and experience the world, it's food, culture and people, this is the most fulfilling education.

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About me

Howdy! Hej! Bon Jour!
I am the Wild West Viking!

My name is Sara Line! Wild West Viking is all about my passions in life, including travel, real estate, food, drinks, and my deep-rooted Danish traditions. Join me in my journey!

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Ouzel Falls
Nature Bathing

Hiking in Colorado

Experience Colorado through my eyes!
My favorite hikes!
My favorite places to visit!
Restaurants, Cafes, Museums and more!

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Aperol Gin Sour | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Aperol Gin Sour

Gin Aperol Sour | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Aperol & Gin Sour

A refreshing and bright spring cocktail with bold citrus notes, slightly bitter with a touch of sweetness. It's the perfect cocktail to serve with appetizers or even just enjoyed during a simple get together. This vibrant orange-red cocktail is refreshing, bright and citrusy. A truly, easy to sip, and simple to make spring cocktail you are sure to keep on your spring beverage rotation!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks
Servings 1 cocktail

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz gin
  • 2 oz Aperol
  • .5 oz lemon juice
  • .5 oz simple syrup
  • 1 egg white

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice.
  • Shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds.
  • Strain and serve in a cocktail glass.
Keyword Aperol, Aperol Gin Sour, Gin recipes, Spring cocktails
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Snow Shoe Hare Trail | Golden Gate Canyon State Park | Wild West Viking
Colorado Life, Snow Shoeing

Snowshoeing at Snow Hare Trail, Golden Gate Canyon State Park

Amazing bluebird skies, a little windy but a wonderful 4-mile winter hike in the beautiful snow!

Snow Hare Trail is located inside Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Daily park passes are $10 per vehicle and can be purchased at the self-service kiosk at the parking lot or entrance into the park.

This trail is a well marked, forested trail with views here and there, some rolling hills with steep inclines to get the heart going. The sun peaked in and out of the snow packed trail, and definitely glad to have snow shoes as there were some deep pockets.

Plan on getting to the trail early (we arrived at 8:30 a.m.) as parking spots are limited, especially at this time of the year when the service road is closed.

This trail would also be great for a spring/summer/fall hike, with a quick snack/lunch break at Dude’s Fishing Hole.

Note: I always use All Trails app to keep me on track! Here’s a link to the trail!

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Moroccan Spiced Spatchock Cornish Game Hen | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking
Main Course, Recipes

Moroccan Spiced Spatchcock Cornish Game Hen

Moroccan- spiced Cornish Game Hen | Bjorn Bites & Booze | Wild West Viking

Moroccan Spiced Spatchcock Cornish Game Hen

Delicious, crispy skin, juicy and flavorful Cornish Game Hen served with herbed rice, grilled lemon and blistered tomatoes. Get ready to be transported to Morocco with this perfect, impressive dinner, and grilled to perfection. This dish was grilled on the Big Green Egg MiniMax over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Moroccan

Ingredients
  

Ingredients

  • 2 whole Cornsih Game Hens, washed, dried, and spatchcocked

Moroccan Spice

  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ginger
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

Marinade

  • 2 tbsp Moroccan Spice (see above)
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • salt & pepper to taste

Garnish

  • parsley, chopped
  • lemon slices

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients together in a bowl, stir to mix. Place mixture in a shallow bowl, and add Cornish Game Hens, rubbing mixture all over game hens, and let them marinate at least 30 minutes or overnight.
  • Prepare the grill, clean grates and heat to 350°F
  • Place Cornish Game Hens skin side down, to get a crispy skin. Grill for 15 minutes, and flip, grill for another 15 minutes or until internal temperature is 165°F. Check temperature with the meat thermometer.
  • Serve with chopped parsley, lemon slices, herbed rice and blistered tomatoes.
Keyword Cornish Game Hen, Grilled Cornish Game Hen, Moroccan Recipe
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Elderflower & Gin Spritz
Drinks, Recipes

Grapefruit & Elderflower Gin Spritz

Elderflower & Gin Spritz

Grapefruit & Elderflower Gin Spritz

This cocktail could very well be one of my new favorite spring cocktails! This fresh, floral, delicious and easy to make cocktail is perfect for a springtime happy hour! The perfect balance between the fresh grapefruit juice, added punch from the Elderflower liqueur, sweetness from the Elderflower syrup and a little sparkle from the Elderflower lemonade.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz Gin
  • 1 oz Elderflower Liqueur
  • 6 oz Fresh Pink Grapefruit Juice
  • 1 oz Elderflower syrup
  • .5 oz lime juice
  • Sparkling Elderflower Lemonade or club soda

Instructions
 

  • Combine everything in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake, serve in cocktail glass filled with ice.
Keyword Cocktails, Elderflower, Gin cocktails, Gin recipes, Spring cocktail
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Pineapple Fireworks Chicken | Wild West Viking | Bjorn Bites & Booze
Main Course, Recipes

Pineapple Firecracker Chicken

Pineapple Firecracker Chicken | Wild West Viking

Pineapple Firecracker Chicken

Grilled this amazing Pineapple Firecracker Chicken dish on my Big Green Egg using a wok! Wok cooking is super fast and easy! This dish will beat any takeout dish hands down, with tender chunks of chicken and a great balance of the fiery sweet and spicy sauce!
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into bite size (substitute tofu, pork, or shrimp)
  • 1 white onion, chopped
  • 4-5 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups multi-colored bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 cup pineapple, chopped
  • 1-2 hot peppers, thinly sliced (I used red fresno peppers, but can use Thai chili peppers depending on how spicy you liked it)
  • salt & pepper to season your protein
  • vegetable or peanut oil for your wok/pan

Sauce

  • ½ cup Pineapple Juice
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp plum sauce
  • 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tsp Sriracha sauce
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

Garnish

  • 5 green onions, thinly sliced
  • sesame seeds

Instructions
 

  • Heat grill to high heat, and place wok in your Big Green Egg (or grill) to heat up.
  • Mix all ingredients for sauce in a bowl, whisk together ingredients and set aside.
  • Season chicken (or protein) with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2 tbsp of oil in your Big Green Egg wok to heat up.
  • Cook chicken in your wok until done. Remove from pan.
  • Saute onion, garlic, and ginger for about 3-5 minutes, until onion is softened.
  • Add pepper, both sweet and hot, to pan and stir fry for a couple of minutes.
  • Add chicken back to wok, and add pineapples.
  • Pour sauce over ingredients, and cook until sauce thickens, and has coated all ingredients.
  • Serve over rice, garnish with sliced green onion, and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
Keyword Big Green Egg, Chicken on the Wok, Firecracker Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Grilling with a Wok, Pineapple Firecracker Chicken, Wok Cooking
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Love Potion Cocktail | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Holiday, Recipes, Valentine's Day

Love Potion Cocktail

Love Potion Cocktail | Wild West Viking

Love Potion Cocktail

This Love Potion Cocktail is perfect, easy to make and just in time for Valentine's Day! Channel your inner love witch and concoct a couple of these beauties for your loved one! You simply can't go wrong with Champagne, Aperol,, simple syrup, Cointreau and fresh raspberries! Happy Valentine's Day everyone! <3
Prep Time 10 minutes
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 2 oz Aperol
  • 1 tbsp muddled raspberries (fresh)
  • 1 oz Cointreau
  • 1 tbsp simple syrup
  • Champagne to top off glass
  • Fresh blueberries and mint for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Add muddled raspberries and simple syrup to champagne flute. Add ice.
  • Pour in Aperol on the side of the glass so it flows to the bottom.
  • Top off with champagne carefully.
  • Garnish with blueberries and mint.
Keyword Aperol, Champagne, Champagne cocktails, Love Potion, Raspberries, Valentine’s Day, Valentine’s Day Cocktails
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Grilled Bacon Wrapped Loaded Baked Potato Skins | Wild West Viking
Appetizers, Recipes

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Loaded Baked Potato Skins

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Loaded Baked Potato Skins | Wild West Viking
Grilled Bacon Wrapped Loaded Baked Potato Skins | Wild West Viking

Grilled Bacon Wrapped Loaded Baked Potato Skins

It's the Big Game Day so get your game face on and make some of these super easy, so delicious, fully loaded grilled bacon-wrapped baked potato skins! Grilled on the Big Green Egg MiniMax over red hot Jealous Devil Charcoal!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Appetizer

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 3 Russett potatoes (medium-size), baked and scooped out
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature, softened
  • ½ cup Colby-Jack, shredded
  • 1 jalapeno, diced
  • ¼ cup white onion diced
  • 3 bacon pieces, cooked, and chopped
  • 6 bacon slices (thin)
  • ½ tsp chili powder (I used Spicy Me's Taco AF)½
  • Sour cream and green onions (chopped) for serving

Instructions
 

Prepare Grill

  • Heat grill to medium-high (350°F)

Prepare Potatoes

  • Bake potatoes either in the oven, or a quick cook in the microwave. Once cooled, cut potatoes lengthwise, and scoop out insides leaving about 1/4" shell. Put the scooped out potatoes to the side.
  • Heat oil, and fry potato skins until light golden brown. Place on wire cooking rack to drain and cool.

Prepare Filling

  • Combine, cream cheese, shredded cheese, chopped jalapeno, bacon, onions and chili powder. Stir to mix well.
  • Fill potato skins with mixture until well rounded and full.
  • Wrap each potato skin with one piece of bacon tightly, use toothpicks if needed..

Prepare Potato Skins

  • Add bacon wrapped potato skins to the grill. Grill about 30 minutes (check halfway through).
  • Once bacon has become browned and crispy, remove from grill. Serve with sour cream and chopped green onions.
Keyword Bacon Wrapped Potato Skins, Big Green Egg, Big Green Egg MiniMax, Grilled Appetizers, Grilled Potato Skins, Jealous Devil Charcoal, Loaded Baked Potato Skins
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Blue Moon Jello Shot | Wild West Viking
Drinks, Recipes

Blue Moon Jello Shot

Blue Moon Jello Shot | Wild West Viking

Blue Moon Jello Shots

These Blue Moon Jello Shots can be made just in time for Super Bowl Weekend! This is a fun, albeit dangerous way of drinking a Blue Moon but also super delicious! Made with orange jello, Blue Moon beer, vodka and topped off with some cool whip. One could almost say its a dessert shot! Top it off with the traditional slice of fresh orange! Enjoy!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Drinks

Ingredients
  

  • 2 3-oz packages orange Jello
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup Blue Moon beer
  • 1 cup vodka
  • 1 cup cool whip
  • ½ orange, sliced into tiny slices

Instructions
 

  • Empty jello powder into heat proof bowl or measuring cup. Pour boiling water over jello, and whisk until powdered is completely dissolved (about 2 minutes)
  • Stir in Blue Moon and vodka
  • Pour jello mixture equally into plastic shot cups, and refrigeration until firm (about 2-3 hours)
  • Top off with Cool Whip for foam (I used a piping bag) and garnish with a tiny orange slice. Enjoy! (responsibly)
Keyword Blue Moon, Blue Moon Jello Shot, Jello Shot, Super Bowl drinks
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Grilled Black Garlic Chicken | Wild West Viking
Main Course, Recipes

Grilled Black Garlic & Soy Sauce Chicken Quarters

Grilled Black Garlic Chicken | Wild West Viking

Grilled Black Garlic & Soy Sauce Chicken Quarters

The flavor punch from the black garlic pairs so well with the umami-packed soy and oyster sauces. Together with a splash of Mirin sauce and Sake makes this dish a little boozy as well. I served this meal with grilled baby bok choy with an amazing sweet spicy sauce with just the right amount of tang and just on the edge of being too spicy. With a Red Cabbage & Cucumber salad with a rice vinegar dressing made this meal fit for a special occasion or any night of the week. (please see notes below for recipes for the side dishes)
Prep Time 1 day 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken leg quarters, bone-in

Soy Sauce Marinade

  • 4 cloves black garlic, minced
  • 2 cloves white garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp Mirin sauce
  • 1 tbsp Sake

Basting Sauce

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp Mirin sauce
  • 1 tbsp Sake
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp white pepper

Instructions
 

Prepare Chicken & Marinade

  • Cut 2 slits (2" long, not too deep) on the back side of the chicken leg, to let marinade permeate through the meat.
  • Combine all ingredients for marinade, stir to mix, and place in bowl or zip-lock back with chicken. Let rest in fridge for at least 24 hours. Remove from fridge at least 30 minutes prior to grilling.

Prepare Basting Sauce

  • Combine all ingredients for sauce, stir to mix, and set aside.

Prepare Grill

  • Preheat grill to 450°F.
  • Add chicken quarters, skin side down, and flip after 10 minutes. Continue flipping the chicken every 10 minutes or so (watch for any flare-ups). Baste the chicken during the last 10 minutes of cooking time with the prepared basting sauce (both sides of chicken), and continue grilling until internal temperature is 165°F. Let chicken rest for a couple of minutes, and enjoy!

Notes

Side dishes:
Grilled Baby Bok Choy with Ginger Chili Sauce
Red Cabbage & Cucumber Salad
Keyword BBQ Chicken, Black Garlic Chicken, Grilled Chicken, Sake
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Aebleskiver | Danish Pancake Balls | Wild West Viking
Christmas, Danish Traditions, Dessert, Holiday, Recipes

Æbleskiver (Danish Pancake Puffs/Balls)

Æbleskiver | Danish Pancake Balls | Wild West Viking

Æbleskiver (Pancake Puffs or Pancake Balls)

A Danish tradition typically enjoyed around Christmas time (but I think you can enjoy them any time of the year). These puffy Danish pancake balls are sweet delights typically served with powdered sugar and strawberry jam, although I have elevated them slightly this time with boozy strawberry coulis. Æbleskiver literally translates to apple slices, although we don't add these into the batter. You do need a special Æbleskiver pan (see below).
These are perfect for breakfast, afternoon tea, or a sweet after dinner treat.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine Danish

Equipment

  • 1 Aebleskiver pan
  • Blender
  • Sieve or fine mesh strainer

Ingredients
  

Æbleskiver

  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 cups flour
  • 3 eggs, yolks and whites separated.
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • powdered sugar
  • strawberry jam

Boozy Strawberry Coulis

  • ½ cup sugar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 12 oz frozen strawberries, thawed
  • 1 tbsp Grand Marnier (orange liqueur)

Instructions
 

Prepare Æbleskiver

  • Beat egg yolks, add sugar, salt, buttermilk, flour, baking soda and baking powder.
  • Beat egg whites until slightly stiffened.
  • Add egg whites to flour mixture.
  • Melt butter, place Æbleskiver pan on stove on medium heat. Brush butter into each hole. Ladle mixture into each hole about ¾ full. Cook about 2 minutes, and then turn carefully over on the other side (I use a wooden tool some people use a knitting needle), trying to spill some of the mixture into the hole as you are turning to make the pancake puff a little fluffy. Continue turning until the balls turn a nice golden color and are cooked all the way through.
  • Keep warm until ready to serve.

Prepare Coulis

  • Combine sugar and water in a small sauce pot over medium heat. Stir to combine and until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat.
  • Combine frozen strawberries and sugar syrup in a blender, and blend until mixture is smooth and pureed.
  • Pour puree over sieve over a medium sized bowl. Stir and push mixture into bowl until all liquid has been pushed through.
  • Add liqueur to mixture (if wanted). Stir to combine well.
  • Store in fridge for 5-7 days or freezer for 2-3 months.
Keyword aebleskiver, Danish Christmas, Danish food, pancake balls, pancake puffs, Sweet Treats
  • Aebleskive Pan : This is the pan that I have and have used for years. You can use a cast iron pan as well, but this one is very easy to use.
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