Sometimes, I feel like my life couldn’t feel any more like I’m on the most excellent working vacation ever. And then I find a way to enhance that feeling. To wit: On a recent day, I had to go to the mountain to fetch my broken-beyond-repair skis from Jans—and spend a few minutes researching the skis I should demo for my next purchase. I had Little Guy with me, which is code for: The conversation sounded absurd. “So, if I want an all-mountain ski—HEY LITTLE GUY, LEAVE THAT DISPLAY ALONE PLEASE—but something that will float nicely in powder, what do you think—GET OUT FROM INSIDE THAT HANGER ROUND.” Yeah, ever-so-productive and not at all frustrating, right?

Naturally, I aborted the mission and we headed back toward town and the rest of our errands. Only, I had one more stop to make—Deer Valley Plaza. Because I realized that it was closing in on dinner time, and I had many other errands to run. Sigh. So, I did what any self-respecting vacationing Mom would do. I stopped at the new Deer Valley Grocery and Deli (for old-timers, its in the space formerly occupied by the Stew Pot) to see what I could score in the way of take-out. And score I did: My family would feast that evening on not one but two different types of ready-to-bake pot pies. Chicken and Potato Leek. And while the Chicken Pot Pie was the bigger hit, in true Deer Valley form, neither disappointed.

What a treat to be able to pick up something that was, frankly, better than homemade. (I’m only a mediocre cook, I can make great soups, but my family are not the biggest soup fans. It’s quite the conundrum.) The crust was perfect—buttery-flaky. And the fillings were seasoned flawlessly. And, I was a big culinary hero just for putting some frozen food in the oven. (And the crowd goes wild….)

I’m a great fan of loading the slow cooker in the morning for a worry-free après ski dinner, but this could be my new go-to plan. It certainly requires less forethought. And much less chopping.

Also, Deer Valley Grocery~Cafe will remain open when the resort closes! You can now enjoy a Deer Valley to-go dinner all year!