Driftless Appetite

Happy Halloween!   Muahahhhhahaha!!!  May I tempt you with a couple of treats?  I’ve never really dressed up for Halloween except once when I just moved to the States and I decided to dress up as a nurse.  I borrowed my mom’s scrubs and stethoscope.  This year I was going to be Jim Halpert from The [...]

Two weekends ago we went to Grandma’s Kitchen in Highland, WI based on a recommendation from Rick Terrien.  He said it was the place for pies.  It’s right on Main St, you can’t miss it, although there is construction partially blocking the street at the moment.  We originally intended to just stop in and sample [...]

Saturday was the last farmer’s market in Mineral Point.  Though I’m a little sad, I know that it’s part of living in a place where you have to shift with the seasons.  I’m not sharing a recipe today or a restaurant review but just a few favorite snapshots I’ve taken at the market.   The vendors [...]

It’s that time of the year again.  Gold and rust colored leaves are slowly falling and piling up in the yard.  The last of our apples have fallen and slowly rotting.  The perennials have dried up and the ornamental grass seems frozen in an ungraceful dancer’s position.  My nose, fingers, and toes are already numb.  [...]

Fritz & Frites is popular little gem in Galena, IL.  Look for the pretzel shaped sign on the north end of Main street.  The small menu samples from French and German cuisine, with dishes like rouladin, escargot, schnitzel, and poulet roti.  The quality of the food and the execution of the meal was really a [...]

Halloween is right around the corner.  Every year Keith has to have pre-Halloween candy.  I always say ‘No’ but he never listens.  He has already eaten two bags of Kit Kats and Twix.  Well…with a tiny bit of help from me.  Hey, who doesn’t have a hard time resisting sugar?  So what do you think [...]

Here’s a simple drink to make yourself on a cold October day.  Just sit inside, crank up the heat, and pretend it’s still summer.  Plus, it’s a great way to use up some of the 6 jars of grape syrup Leslie made.

…Chase him around the yard!  (Sorry, that was the best apple joke I could find). Our normal apple orchard is Oakwood Fruit Farm in Richland Center.  This year we decided to be a bit more adventurous and drive the extra 30 minutes to Gays Mills.  Gays Mills is a tiny little town with with a [...]

So far I’ve harvested about 30 lbs. of these midnight purple beauties from my garden.  The vines are about 5-7 years old and they were planted by the previous owners of the house.  I knew nothing about how to take care of grape vines.  So the during our first spring here I thought I might [...]

The eggplant is my favorite vegetable and I think this is the perfect way to enjoy its delicate flavor. Tortang Talong in Tagalog or eggplant omelet is a go-to dish for many Filipino households.  When I was young, I would only eat the end with more egg since I didn’t like the eggplant taste.  Now [...]