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By Leslie
As I write this post it is negative 5 degrees F outside. I spent a good chunk of the afternoon clearing away snow from the driveway and sidewalks, a task I mostly enjoy. Today was one of those days. The snow was powdery and light, it looked beautiful all around. The kid across the street was sledding on a snow pile which led her about three feet in front of her and then she started rolling around in the stuff with joyous abandon only a child could demonstrate. Why is it that when we get older we notice more how it’s too humid out or how bitterly cold it is? I want that child-like joie de vivre.
The thought of cold salads make my teeth chatter this time of the year. I tend to want melted cheesy or fried anything but I know that’s not good for me. I’ve pacified this “evil” craving by making more warm salads. This is one of my favorites. It’s so easy to make and you can substitute whatever you might have in the pantry or refrigerator at the moment and create your own version.
Cozy Up with this Delicious Salad
Continue reading Warm Me Up Winter Salad
By Keith
On December 10th Arcadia (the new book store in Spring Green) hosted a special dinner with Isaac Spicer, the chef of Milkweed. Everything for the 5 course (+ an amuse-bouche) dinner was sourced locally, from within 30 miles of Spring Green (and local is not always an easy task in Wisconsin in December). After the starters (homemade breads with lots of whipped butter) there was a squash soup with micro-greens and pickled radish, followed by a roasted beet and Pleasant Ridge Reserve salad. The main course was Guinea Hog cooked with apple cider, served with wilted spinach and mashed potatoes+celeriac. Finally, for dessert, there was a a choux-style pastry filled with (lightly) carmelized apples and custard and served with more custard as well as raspberry and mint sauces. Given our previous experiences with Milkweed, we expected excellence and we were not disappointed. For me the highlight of the meal was the roasted beet salad, but the whole meal was top drawer.
Continue reading Milkweed @ Arcadia Dinner
By Keith
Gun deer season was nearly a month ago here in Wisconsin. For those of you who aren’t hunters, or don’t know hunters, it’s difficult to understand how big an event this is. In Wisconsin, it’s like the Packers playing the Bears, Bratfest, and fried cheese curds rolled up into one. Now, I’m not a hunter. It’s not that I have a moral aversion to hunting. More like a moral aversion to sitting in the cold woods for hours. In fact, I believe if we’re going to screw with the ecosystem (pretty much a given) it’s our responsiblity to try to manage the results. And part of that is taking on the role of the predator to control the deer population*.
As a dyed-in-the-wool capitalist, however, I decided to outsource my predation duties to another. My friend Jeremy Wilson was kind enough to share some vension from his freezer. A few nights ago we enjoyed some excellent tenderloin, which we prepared using Jeremy’s suggested recipe.
Continue reading There’s always next year…
By Leslie
Hello there, have you finished holiday shopping yet? I’ve got more than a few on my list to go plus a tree that needs to be bought and put up this weekend. For friends out of state I like to shop for gifts from Wisconsin Made, Bavaria, and Fromagination. Shopping online is very convenient especially when you’ve got some cookies baking in the oven. I know what you’re thinking. I promise, this is anything but another boring cookie recipe. Just look how sinful and delicious they look.
Grown-up Cookies
Continue reading Molasses & Apple Brandy Spice Cookies
By Leslie
Good morning everyone. I just received a message from one of our favorite local farmers Rink DaVee. He is offering a special Thanksgiving sale through his company website Green and Green. So if you need some greens, root vegetable, cheese, and more, go to the site today and sign up. Orders should be placed by 9PM tonight. Pickup location will be at Atomic Ice in Mineral Point on Wednesday between 4-6 PM. Please spread the word and feel free to give some feedback as he might pursue to expand this service in the future. I’m in, are you?
By Leslie
Care for a bowl of cheddar and fractal soup? No thanks? Just what is that strange, dinosaur-like item below? That my friends is a Romanesco broccoli. A gift from Jenny & Rink of Shooting Star Farm. Something between a standard broccoli and a cauliflower in flavor. The structure is described as fractal because it is built up of one shape that repeats over and over no matter the size. In this case it is self-similarity in spiral pyramid form. Like nature’s matryoshka doll I suppose.
Romanesco Brocolli, Brocoflower, Roman Cauliflower
Continue reading Brunkow Cheddar & Fractal Soup
By Leslie
The hot and humid growing days are over. I’m going to miss going to the outdoor markets, stopping at random roadside stands, kayaking on the river, and yes maybe even swatting away those pesky mosquitoes. Emily Dickinson said, “That it will never come again is what makes life so sweet.” I almost believe her. Below are pictures of some of the scrumptious local food we’ve purchased from our favorite local market. Many thanks to all of the farmers who work so hard to provide us with the highest quality meats and produce. See you next year?
Wait a minute, I just received an email from farmer Rink of Shooting Star Farm. It seems like there will be an indoor market for at least a few more weeks beginning tomorrow. There’s even a promise of tomatoes. Sweet!
Market Haul 2011
Continue reading This Little Piggy Went to Market
By Keith
I’ve been driving back and forth between Mineral Point and Minnesota a lot for work recently. I tend to leave in the middle of the night so I don’t see much going out, but I like to take the scenic route home. I ended up loving the drive along the Mississippi so much, Leslie and I repeated part of the drive over the weekend–along a stretch of the Great River Road between Prairie du Chien and LaCrosse. We were already fairly familar with the towns along the Mississippi from Prairie du Chien and on down. We have spent time in Marquette, McGregor, Guttenberg, Potosi, Dickeyville and Dubuque. And I’ve spent a fair amount of time further north along the Mississippi around Redwing, but we’d never driven the 50 miles from Prairie du Chien to LaCrosse.
Continue reading The Great River Road – Prairie du Chien to LaCrosse
By Leslie
Two years ago at the Spring Green Art Fair, I remember being drawn to some really striking and imaginative paintings by local artist, Nick Ringelstetter. I just knew I had to have one of his pieces someday. Two years later while visiting with my friend Claire at the Johnston Gallery in Mineral Point, she informed me that they had just started carrying some new pieces she thought I might like. They turned out to be Nick’s. I saw the one I just had to have, a quick photo text to Keith to see if he agreed, and we purchased our first painting. Quintessential Wisconsin isn’t it?
Cows & Moon
Continue reading Cocoa Coffee with Nick Ringelstetter
By Leslie
Autumn has been fantastic so far. Our weekends have been filled with trips to apple orchards, pumpkin patches, scenic drives, outdoor parties, and festivals. I love this time of the year. The scent of a freshly picked apple, rubbed onto your jeans or sleeve, before the first bite, burning piles of red and golden leaves, roasted pumpkins right out of the oven are just some of my favorite things. Have you been out enjoying the season? If you have, then you must have one or a few pumpkins around the house. If you do, I’d like to suggest roasting one of them for this healthy, easy, and tasty drink.
Extra Cinnamon on Top
Continue reading Easier than Pie Pumpkin Smoothie
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